So I have this bike:



It's a 1997 Trek 6500.

The plan, as it stands right now, is to replace it with a new MTB (I'm WAY past due to replace it, and my oldest son is starting to MTB with his own Trek so I want to ride with him this spring/summer).

Anyway ... it's basically stock. So 14 years of use, without a major overhaul, etc.

I'd entertained the idea of converting it to a CX bike so I can get my feet wet in CX this fall, and as of right now, that's the leading idea.

But I'm wondering what else I could do with it.

I've considered making it an urban assault type cruiser kind of thing, putting some fat "slicks" on it for riding around town. Also contemplated turning it into a 1X7 just for kicks.

So really, I'm open to suggestions. I don't have a misses to answer to, so my only real limits are my budget (which isn't much).

The immediate plan is to strip the parts off, do a complete tear down and rebuilt, possibly sand it and give it a new paint job (again, cheap, though I'm contemplating seeing about getting it powdercoated).

So, the good thing is, my options are pretty wide open. And the bad thing, is my options are pretty wide open.

Thoughts? If you had a semi-blank canvass like this, what would you do?

Man, that's just about to become retro cool. Any anodized parts and you'd almost be there.

Judging by how far back you've got the seat, this might not work- but I've always wanted to take a 26" MTB with classic geometry and throw some drop bars on there as a sort of adventure touring type rig. Could work well for CX duty as well.

It's funny ... as much as I want to replace it, I LOVE that bike

I'm definitely thinking about some drop bars ... one, just because, and two, for possible CX duty. Thinking I might have to put a much shorter stem on it though to accomplish that without being real stretched out while riding.

You would have to figure out the fit geometery, but a rigid fork and Salsa woodchipper handlebars would be cool.

Had contemplated going rigid on it ... and digging the woodchipper idea ...

and both get me closer to the CX idea ...

Just mind sprinkling but what if you got a LHT frame-set for 26" wheels and used it as a donor?

I'd go with fat slick and leave it as it is. Many times I wish I had a fat slick town bike to hit the town. Good for riding to fireworks shows etc. I have to ride my MTB but worry about tearing up the knobbies and a hassle to swap wheels again and again.

You'll also probably have to replace the shifters to make this happen.

Heck, if you're that fond of it, leave it! It's good to have more than one rideable bike anyway, especially if they're set up for different purposes.

I made my '99 cannondale f300 into a single speed path bike, it turned out pretty cool.

ill.clyde, I still have my '98 7000ZX. Just some maintenance and yours will be as good a mountain bike as most any non racer needs. The only upgrade I made to mine was the fork and it may've had it's own issues as my SiL recently found and bought the same bike and it's OEM Indy fork is just fine.

I run a dual pattern tire which works very well on technical trails in my area and isn't bad on pavement, if I remember not to lean into turns enough to move over onto the knobbies.

Brad

Jeep ... I like it! That's what I'm leaning toward at the moment ...

Brad ... there's something about those old Trek's, eh? Mainly it's an N+1 problem, of course ... I want something new, but don't want to get rid of my baby.

Right now I'm thinking I'm going to do a complete tear down and maintenance, possibly paint it, reassemble with some Kenda Kiniptions I found on Nashbar and convert it to a 1X7 for the spring/summer for use as a cruiser around town with my kids. Haven't decided if I'm going to make it a rigid, rebuild the stock shock or opt for a new one.

Of course pics to follow

I turned an old Trek 6500 into a SS MTB, I love it that way!

That is one sexy b****!!!

Wow, thanks for the compliments, was just trying to give him an idea. The bike was my first tear down and rebuild, it was fun to do.

Well, the tear down has begun. Took off the bar ends last night (they will not be returning), pedals, cranks, bottle cages, wheels, tires, tubes ... holy dry rot on the inside of those tires.

Removed the front derailleur and the rear, but both are caught up in the chain right now (because I couldn't find my chain tool last night).

Anyway, the "plan" is still a bit undefined, but I'm definitely going to a 1X7 set up.

Then the plan is to get it back together asap, so I'll be waiting on paint/powdercoating and a decision on the front fork. Going to clean and repack the hubs as well.

A new seatpost, possibly a saddle, a new chain, tires, tubes, rim tape and grips are on the immediate replace list. Going to replace the F/R brake cables as well as the rear shift cable.

You can unscrew the cage for the FD and remove it from the chain, and the outside cover on the RD also probably unscrews (so you can replace the wheels) and you can get it off the chain that way.

Its worth doing to the RD just to clean it. Its amazing how much gunk gets in there.

Yeah, gonna hit the bike shop on the way home to grab a chain tool, and the hardware store to get some degreaser, etc ... tonight will be cleaning for sure.

Still haven't completely ruled out a flat black rattle can paint job on this for the time being ... trying to decide how long I want to spend on this LOL

IMO?

Add a rear rack. Replace the tires with fat slicks. Go with a rigid fork if it's in your budget.

Turn it into your around-town errand-runner.

You can carry a lot with a rear rack, some grocery panniers, and a milk crate lashed to the top of the rack.

If you want a winter beater, it can do that, too. Just put the knobbies back on before you start riding in the slush.

ill.clyde, A rack is an ideal addition, I've used mine with about 20 lbs., I wouldn't exceed that weight with my Blackburn rack. When I ordered my 7000 in '97 I specifically chose it for the ability to mount a rear rack, oddly the 8000 model and above weren't provided the braze-ons on the seat stay. Your yr/mod was also available without the Indy front fork (is yours a late '97?) so there's an outside chance Trek maybe able to supply one for you.

Brad

I do get some odd looks when I'm riding the trails with the rack. Or the grey hair?

Love all the ideas ... I probably won't run a rack just yet, and honestly for the life of me I can't remember if it has mounts for a rear rack.

It's currently almost entirely in pieces in my living room (a benefit to being single!) ... I need some WD40 to unstick the bolts on the stem and then disassembly will be complete.

I say put it back together and borrow it to a fellow clyde/athena that is looking to get into riding.

So, the bike is stripped completely. Spent time this weekend on it, removed all the decals and sanded the frame, so it's ready for primer. Going to be out of town a few days, so paint will wait til then.

A few things ...

I'm thinking about replacing the headset. It's stock as is, nothing special at all. Seems like a reasonable slight upgrade.

I'm going to run the stock fork for now, with an eye toward either rebuilding the stock shock or going to a rigid fork in the future.

Also haven't ruled out replacing the cassette, depending on the condition of it when I pull it off the rim.

The major issue/hurdle is my crankset. Like the rest of the bike, it's stock, a 175mm Shimano MC-FC16, has a triple. However, after I removed it, it turns out the triple is all tied together. They're not separate rings. Cursory research basically tells me the crankset is nothing special, and finding a chainring for my planned 1X7 set up will be difficult if not impossible.

So it looks like I'm in the market for a single speed type crankset. Which will also mean replacing the bottom bracket.

Any tips on components? I don't want to spend a lot, but I also don't want to buy crap.

Finding a crankset was easier than I thought ... AND it will work with my BB

https://www.jensonusa.com/Retrospec-3-PIECE-Cranks

44T in white

Rebuild begins tonight