Originally Posted by
AdventureManCO
Shoot, I wish I did! I had some photos up on another site, but they look broken right now and I can't find the original shots. I'll look for them. Right now the bike is in pieces (to get a frame weight...I think it is around 2250 grams for the 16") otherwise I'd just go right out in the garage and snap a pic.
The bike looked great. it was very lightweight, a great handler, nible and smooth - it felt like a good high end bicycle. It made for a great commuter, and was a fun project bike, sooo...basically the perfect bicycle lol. One thing I tend to notice about a lot of mtb to 700c conversions it that the bikes naturally seem to have a super aggressive stance - seat way up high, and bars way out forward and low. I can't really did that riding style, so mine was set up with a short stem and riser bars, putting the bars about level with the seat. I want the bars up even further, so I'm going to go with a higher rise bar or get a fork that has a higher axle to crown length.
With 700c tires on there, the wheels are honesty probably around the same-ish diameter that they would be with 26" rims and larger knobby tires, which is probably why I don't notice any bottom bracket height issues.
I like the idea of the disc brakes. I decided to go w/ standard v brakes to keep things simply and super lightweight. And it is/was a VERY lightweight ride! And it could go even lighter. I had a Cane Creek headset on there that was massive and was steel...weighed a ton. My goal is to spend a little more time on this bike and build it up using all USA parts. I know that is difficult, but hey, I need a good challenge.
Things like a Thomson seatpost and stem, King headset, phil wood bb, will make it easier. Cranks, handlebars might make that challenge a bit more interesting. But, we'll try!
That sounds awesome! Yes, that's why I have kept the frame all these years. I knew it would make a really good all-around bike. I am hoping it will be similar to when I was a kid with a BMX bike that I could just have fun riding around aimlessly or even for medium distance runs to the store or whatever. I have just been going back and forth on exactly how I want to do it. I want it perfect; I don't want to throw just anything on it just to make it work, so it's been taking a long time to do the research on what I need to make it work the way I want and also not look like it was cobbled together from the junkyard. So I realize it will also cost money; another reason I didn't just jump into it immediately.
I actually measured the wheels and tires a long time ago and realized it would work. I have read many things about it messing up the geometry and I couldn't figure out why. I guess I forgot about the outside diameter being the same and I just checked it yesterday and the wheels I have that are 700c are pretty much identical to large 26" MTB tires I have on another bike, so of course it will work fine without any issues with the geometry unless I try putting 29er tires on it (which wouldn't fit anyway). It's really the brakes that are an issue, as far as I can see. And since I am thinking SS, getting the right wheels with the right hub width could be challenging, as well, but if I have to, I'll use spacers on a standard MTB wheel or build it myself.
Keep me posted on your progress. I'm interested to see how it turns out.