Two Hot Vintage MTB Commuter Setups - The Radavist

I WANT something like this, and there is nothing local on craigslist.. I can ebay a frame for 1-200 USD…but I have no idea how much vintage old parts will end up costing. I feel like this bike will be better to tow my kids around on, put skinny tires on for some road use, and not cost as much as a cyclocross bike while still being able to do the same thing….and last generations.

any more modern wheel sets that are cheap and easy to obtain that would work? anybody recommend a certain cheap cromo frame?

You would be advised to spend some time looking through this thread.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...nversions.html

the bikes in the linked pics are not using mail order $200 frames and vintage components
they were built out old cheap old used old dead bike parts, discarded, scavenged, dirty rusty OLD
they are city dump specials, trash picked, thrift store, flea marked, home built heaps,
first get some tools, then start looking for stuff no one else wants, after that it is just a matter of getting dirty

I heartily second this very helpful suggestion.

Keep looking and waiting. 80's to mid-90's rigid mtbs are the most undervalued bikes on CL. Decent ones appear for below $100 all the time. Where are you located?

This is also a good thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ain-bikes.html

Hybrids are often cheap and are comfortable for urban utility. Both below are chromoly frames, alloy 700c rims, plenty of room for 38mm tires. Similar prices for similar quality MTB's, bought I try to stay away from frames under 16" size.

Bought in NJ Dec 2015 $45 - needs tires, chain, cables, housing, full overhaul, saddle


Bought in Detroit Nov 2014 $15 - needs tires, cables, hiusing, full overhaul.

thanks for the info! I ended up finding a mongoose cromo early 80s bike locally for 80 bucks. Will grab it later today if still avail.

I looked online,and it will be a little over $100 for dirt drops, new stem, and orange velo bar end shifters.

In the end it will pretty much be a cyclocross bike on 26" rims….or shell out 800 + for a cx bike? However the cx bikes usually do not have the options for racks, act.

which one would you guys rather have? i have around 15 26" tires chill in…and the mongoose conv will be done and said for around 250…vs 800+ for cx bike.

This is what I build. I prefer it over drop bar CX bikes and it cost me just shy of a 100$. I like to keep my head up during the commute. Monday morning drivers aren't always the most alert

Untitled by ctjr, on Flickr

I like both of those conversions a lot, especially the fork crown on the 'Goose, but you underestimate how amazing that Rock Lobster would be all tricked out with the Paul's Components the way that it is. That's something really special.

I wouldn't ride a commuter that's over 2000$ in parts alone, not even counting the awesome rock lobster frame. (1550$).