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Winter Mountain Bike Project

Old 01-23-08, 03:04 PM
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Winter Mountain Bike Project

This winter I found an old KHS mountain bike to convert to an expedition machine. I stripped it down to bare metal and installed two more sets of bottle cage mounts (it only had one) and brazed on a decent rack mount on the front fork dropouts.

Next I prepped, primed and painted it bright red so I'm more visible in traffic. I set it up with mountain bike running gear that I already had but took the advice of this forum on some things such as the Brooks B-17, the Road Morph pump and then decided on a Trekking handlebar. The tires are Conti Country Ride 1.75s.

I've got about 65 miles on it so far and love it, it's the only bike I have that I feel comfortable (I'm a decrepit senior type) riding with no hands.

Next things on my list are a proper seat post (using the old steel one now) and to build up a set of 36H wheels.

My only gripe so far is that when out of the saddle pedaling, I occasionally touch a shifter with my knee (SRAM X7). No big thing. When I'm loaded and traveling I find I rarely get up out of the saddle anyway, preferring to trudge along in low gears.

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Old 01-23-08, 03:25 PM
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Very nice - good deal on line for some built wheels - they get oem deals on parts we mortals can't match - incredible uses wheel ususally avaible as as well.
Again nice bike.
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Old 01-23-08, 06:14 PM
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26" 36H wheels seem to be hard to find. Let me know if you see any decent prices on those.
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Old 01-24-08, 08:14 AM
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Nice work. And you get extra points for doing your own brazing.

You might find a couple of 36 hole options on this page. https://www.cambriabike.com/shopdispl...=MTB+Wheelsets

Check the Azonic Outlaws and the XT hubs/Mavic 321 rims combo.
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Old 01-24-08, 08:23 AM
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great looking bike
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Old 01-24-08, 11:29 AM
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Oh very nicely done! And definitely extra points for the brazing.
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Old 01-24-08, 02:27 PM
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Truman

Thanks for the hint on wheels but those you quote are disc only aren't they? I would prefer something like the LX M580/xm317 they have on that page (non-disc wheels) but they only have them in 32H. That's been my problem. The price they have there for the 32H XM317 wheelset though is about what it would cost me to build just one rear wheel 36H myself!! Darn, maybe I'll have to stick to 32H wheels but I plan on some rugged riding.

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Old 01-24-08, 02:36 PM
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Bruce, probably - I failed to check that aspect.

I suspect the peace of mind from building your own to your spec might be worth a decent amount of inconvenience up front, rather than worrying if that 32 hole wheel will hold up out in the boonies.

However, I see that Peter White cycles will do Shimano LX hubs, Mavic F519 silver rims, and 36 14-16 Wheelsmith spokes for right at $300.

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/wheels.asp
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Old 01-24-08, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by brucewiley
26" 36H wheels seem to be hard to find. Let me know if you see any decent prices on those.
https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ils&ProdID=486
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Old 01-24-08, 06:39 PM
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rallymerkur

Do you know if the Adventurer rims have eyelets? I searched around and couldn't find a definite answer on that. I would assume they do but?

Although I have a couple of sets of inexpensive Alex wheels that have been fine I really would like to go with Mavic. I also would really like the opportunity to build up my own wheels but dang, at double the price it makes me wonder!

I got that book on building your own wheels, hence I'm stoked (dangerous?) now to do it. Great book.
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Old 01-25-08, 02:07 PM
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Good question. Ad doesn't say. The picture on alexrims.com looks like they do. But there's no mention in the literature. Oh wait, I found it on the tech tab. Where the adventurer specs say "SSE optional", SSE meaning Stainless Steel Eyelet. May or may not I guess. I think I may email Bikeisland and ask.

Those are some of the only 26" 36+ spoke wheels I could find in the lower price catagory. I'm in the process of rebuilding my MTB/touring bike and the wheels are hashed. They were Wheelsmith wheels from Nashbar - LX hubs (never again), 14 g. straight spokes and Bontrager Xc something rims. Hubs did not hold up at all or for very long; though I've heard that I may have got a bad set. The previous hubs, Exage (really dates the bike eh) I think, lasted much longer. The rims not so much either.

My sister in law used to own a bike shop and has the tools to build wheels, and the knowledge too. So I would really like to give that a try. It's just that right now I'm poor and I want to have my bike working by the spring. And I also need most of the drivetrain as well. I think the only thing in decent condition is the front derailler.
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Old 01-26-08, 07:51 AM
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I had the same problem. I had a new set of Sun CR18 32hs -in the end I bought a Sun CR18 36h rim from Harris Cyclery (I live close by) at about $30. Since I was lacing up the rims for disc brakes, I had to buy new disc hubs and relaced them myself. Adding in the cost of spokes and the new Shimano Deore 36h disc rear hub it came to about $80-$90. Of course I had a good 32h front rim already, but I'd guess it would have cost another $70 as well if I had to buy all the pieces. If you can lace your own rims my guess is that you could build a non-disc set with decent rims for about $150 or even less. Usually you see something on sale somewhere as well (e.g. I bought a front disc hub for $20 including shipping on ebay).

Edit: I should have added that I use the 36h for rear, a 32h for front.
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Old 01-26-08, 08:03 AM
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Nice work... Do you have any trips planned with your new machine?
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Old 01-26-08, 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by brucewiley
rallymerkur

Do you know if the Adventurer rims have eyelets? I searched around and couldn't find a definite answer on that. I would assume they do but?
Yes, Adventurer rims have eyelets. I have a set of Adventurer rims laced to XT hubs, and have been really satisfied with them (however, I only have 4,300 miles on them). The manufacturing tolerances aren't as tight as the likes of Mavic - there are some imperfections in roundness and in the braking surface - but for $25 a rim you just can't beat them.
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