Chitown_Mike

Figured I would ask here too since I didn't get any responses in the C&V arena.

So saw an ad for a late 90's GT Palomar. Looks to be in solid condition and would fit me (potentially). I recently converted my early 90's Trek 800 Antelope to a drop bar, tweaked out tank. Now I am hankering for something else to tinker with come summer. Possibly convert to 27" rims (because that is what I have off my old Schwinn) and make a drop bar CX bike or just leave it alone.

Anyone have any experience with these? It looks to be in decent shape; rusty chain and cassette, but the frame looks pretty solid in the pictures. Plus I like the way the seat tube, chain stays, and top bar intersect.

Anything I should look out for or be wary of?

The guy is asking $55 for it. And anyone know where to look up a serial number?

Here is a picture of said bike:

RaleighSport

I did a 700c conversion with a tequesta.. after the novelty had worn off I quickly converted that bike back to 26" wheels. Also unless something changed a lot, Palomar was towards the bottom of the GT lineup at the time even at 55 I'd probably pass.

Chitown_Mike

Thanks for the input Raleigh!

Yeah I have been reading more and learning the levels of their bikes, I might pass. Plus what little I can find on the geometry this might be too big with a 24" frame. Pity, its a cool looking frame and I was thinking about building off of it into a drop bar conversion, but probably not worth it.

Any other opinions are appreciated.

Wo show

That looks REALLY tall. If it isn't your size I would pass, if it is your size, I am sure you can always sell it for what you paid for it if you didn't like it.

Chitown_Mike

Yeah I found what I think was the complete frame specs for that size, the seller states it is a 24" and my current MTB is 22" or 23" and fits a little on the big size, but after seeing the specs that would be too big and the reach a little too far for me. I passed on it because I didn't feel like spending more money than I wanted on it with the possibility it wouldn't work anyway.

If it had been cheaper maybe, but I passed.

RaleighSport

I had some time so I cruised your CL looking for GT's Mike.. and just wow. Assuming you're tall enough for the one you did the OP about I didn't see anything reasonably priced and quality on your CL in terms of GT mtb's. Is this an actual desire, or just just an impulse based on the pricepoint of the original bike?

Chitown_Mike

Impulse like a boss....haha. It isn't a brand specific thing, just saw a clean looking GT and liked it. I'd be happy with fiddling with anything. I used to build race cars, but bikes have turned out to be a lot cheaper and require less tools, wires, gas, and blood to build .

I wrecked my old road bike and wanted to use some of the spare parts and make a gravel grinder and probably leave it as a flat bar, skinny tires, decent components, and so on. I saw the frame and thought it looked pretty trick with the 3 triangle design, but the size wasn't going to work. Was just going to be a slow build summer project, but I will continue on poking around.

Chitown_Mike

And yeah, the CL bike stuff around here sucks big time. People either want top dollar for garbage, or there are plenty of others looking to score a deal it is hard to catch one.

However this is a bike swap meet this weekend I am going to check out so we will see. I need some odds and ends so I will poke around there.