Vintage MTB To Upright Bar / Urban Bike Conversions
#951
Junior Member
Nice. Those copper fenders... were you actually able to find them in 26-inch size? I have a pair in 700c that I want to fit to a 1st generation Schwinn High Sierra (Pre-Cimarron). It's black, so the copper fenders will really class it up. But I figure I'll have to fit some pretty large tires to fill the gap, and I don't think these 50mm fenders are wide enough. Any advice?
Last edited by dualresponse; 08-16-22 at 09:24 AM.
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#953
Newbie
#955
Senior Member

An alternate approach to standard MTB fit with riser stem to compenate for the low stock handlebar position is a road-size frame with a short stem and HBs that sweep back to compensate for the long top tube. I could have gone shorter on the stem, but this fit the rider reasonably well.
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#956
Old Boy
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,359
Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.
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Golden Hour, Morning Edition

Love this bike!

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* (Secret tribute to Kurt Vonnegut. If you know, you know. If you don't, it would be hard to explain...)
__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
#957
Full Member
The bike, the build, the light & the composition...
Spot on!
Spot on!
#958
Senior Member
Thread Starter

My latest project...a mid 90's, maybe 96 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo mtb.
I prefer the old school 1" threaded steerer tube bikes , stems and headsets.
Even though this Gary Fisher has a 1 1/8th threadless set up with the fork steerer tube already cut to original owner's preferences
I decided to give it a go to get the bars up to my preferred riding height.
I finished it up today and like the position now.
I may go from a 10cm to 12cm stem but it rides very well with the new taller stem and new handlebar as well as the smooth rolling 26 x 2.1 Tioga Powerblock tires I have on it.
That deep purple is kinda cool I think.

Last edited by cooperryder; 09-05-22 at 03:24 PM.
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#959
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Better pics:



Took the front rack off because it looked too goofy. Wheels came from Bicycle Wheel Warehouse (XT disc hubs, 36 spokes for commuting/touring durability!), the bar is a Kalloy AL-030. I like this bar so much I have one on 3 other bikes. I have another bike with a Bontrager Satellite handlebar that I’m pretty sure is just a rebadged AL-030. So I guess you could say I’ve got 5 bikes with this bar…
The bike originally came with some dismal SunTour 3x7 components but I built it up with full XT 7 speed for a while. After accumulating enough bits and bobs, it’s now sporting a mishmash of Shimano 3x9 and a sweet SunTour XC Comp crankset. Shifts perfectly and rides really nice.



Took the front rack off because it looked too goofy. Wheels came from Bicycle Wheel Warehouse (XT disc hubs, 36 spokes for commuting/touring durability!), the bar is a Kalloy AL-030. I like this bar so much I have one on 3 other bikes. I have another bike with a Bontrager Satellite handlebar that I’m pretty sure is just a rebadged AL-030. So I guess you could say I’ve got 5 bikes with this bar…
The bike originally came with some dismal SunTour 3x7 components but I built it up with full XT 7 speed for a while. After accumulating enough bits and bobs, it’s now sporting a mishmash of Shimano 3x9 and a sweet SunTour XC Comp crankset. Shifts perfectly and rides really nice.
I think my early 90's Miele mtb has a similar tubing sticker. I'm going to double check that.
My Miele is a great riding vintage mtb with upright bars.
Is your Panasonic a 22 or 23" frame?
That crank blends in in nicely and looks great.
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#960
Senior Member
Thread Starter

This is another project bike from around 2 months back. It's a vintage Peugeot from late 70's best I can figure. I think it may be an UO10 but not certain. At any rate it's a real frankenbike build but it rides oh so nicely.
I completely disassembled and rebuilt with mostly parts bin components.
I spent about 30 to 40 minutes sanding that 22.2 tall dirt drop style stem to 22.0 to fit.
It allows me to get the bars to my preferred height.
Those are 650b wheels/tires. I'm going to add a tan saddle as soon as it arrives.
I've since changed out the black Tektro super long reach calipers to Tektro silver super long reach ones.
Last edited by cooperryder; 09-05-22 at 03:21 PM.
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#961
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I saw one listed on United Kingdom eBay for $405 listed as a 1984 model with 531 Reynolds and seller says it's been powdercoated.
Did all of them have Reynolds tubing from this era?
What year model is yours?
I screen shot 3 of the pics of that eBay listing.



Here's seller's description...
"Dawes Ranger ATB. Full Reynolds 531 all-terrain. Powder-coated and partially lug- lined. The original paint wasn't in great condition, but the frame is very sound. No cracks, bends, dents etc. I was going to fix that broken cable guide but it wasn't causing any issues.
It's been swapped to a deore 7 speed group with shimano freewheel over the heliomatic/maillard combination.
Got the original badge if you want it."
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#962
Old Boy
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DQRider, your Dawes Ranger looks terrific and great pic.
I saw one listed on United Kingdom eBay for $405 listed as a 1984 model with 531 Reynolds and seller says it's been powdercoated.
Did all of them have Reynolds tubing from this era?
What year model is yours?
I screen shot 3 of the pics of that eBay listing.
Here's seller's description...
"Dawes Ranger ATB. Full Reynolds 531 all-terrain. Powder-coated and partially lug- lined. The original paint wasn't in great condition, but the frame is very sound. No cracks, bends, dents etc. I was going to fix that broken cable guide but it wasn't causing any issues.
It's been swapped to a deore 7 speed group with shimano freewheel over the heliomatic/maillard combination.
Got the original badge if you want it."
I saw one listed on United Kingdom eBay for $405 listed as a 1984 model with 531 Reynolds and seller says it's been powdercoated.
Did all of them have Reynolds tubing from this era?
What year model is yours?
I screen shot 3 of the pics of that eBay listing.
Here's seller's description...
"Dawes Ranger ATB. Full Reynolds 531 all-terrain. Powder-coated and partially lug- lined. The original paint wasn't in great condition, but the frame is very sound. No cracks, bends, dents etc. I was going to fix that broken cable guide but it wasn't causing any issues.
It's been swapped to a deore 7 speed group with shimano freewheel over the heliomatic/maillard combination.
Got the original badge if you want it."
What I know is that this was probably the first mass-produced ATB/MTB imported to the USA from the UK. Mine is a 1984 as well. Remember, all of the quality manufacturers of the period were putting their best efforts into this potentially HUGE new market, which is one reason why I've made them the focus of my collection.
The catalog claims they were all hand-built, as does the original decal - I'll get some shots of those as I begin my painstaking preservation this winter. But I've just gone out to the shop and shot this for you:

"Guaranteed built with Reynolds 531 All-Terrain Forks, Stays, and Butted Frame Tubes" - The other decal on the right shows the tail end of"Hand-Built"
I looked-up the ad: It looks to me like the eBay seller removed the slingshot stem and took other liberties that significantly reduce the value of his offering. Also, I'm pretty sure he has the exchange rate wrong... things have changed, mate!

(Why is Pink Floyd playing on my internal gramaphone?)
Honestly, these first-generation ATB/MTBs were no great shakes off-road. They were modelled after the Mt. Tamalpais "klunkers", after all. And those were just stripped-down cruisers built by stoners. Dude! I raced my Lotus Pegasus at Big Bear and Mammoth mountains back in 1985-6, with the Marine Corps team "Devildogs" out of the special services lodge at Big Bear. My most vivid recollection involves descending on single track through the forest, arms straight-out in front of me, chest on the saddle (no dropper posts or suspension), hanging my arse out over the rear wheel for balance, then holes in my shorts and knobby-rash on my cheeks from the back tire bouncing over the rough terrain. At the end of a typical race, I looked as though I'd been sodomized by a Grizzly!


I know... you're welcome!
The way I've built mine up, it is the most comfortable of all my bikes on any terrain I would dare to ride. If you are interested in that eBay Ranger, I would show the seller this post and renegotiate the asking price.
Best of Luck!
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* (Don't worry, Kurt. I didn't forget.)
__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Last edited by DQRider; 09-05-22 at 08:17 PM.
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#963
Old Boy
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This is another project bike from around 2 months back. It's a vintage Peugeot from late 70's best I can figure. I think it may be an UO10 but not certain. At any rate it's a real frankenbike build but it rides oh so nicely.
I completely disassembled and rebuilt with mostly parts bin components.
I spent about 30 to 40 minutes sanding that 22.2 tall dirt drop style stem to 22.0 to fit.
It allows me to get the bars to my preferred height.
Those are 650b wheels/tires. I'm going to add a tan saddle as soon as it arrives.
I've since changed out the black Tektro super long reach calipers to Tektro silver super long reach ones.
Just... wow.
My imagination has been nudging me in this direction for a while now, but it looks like you have set the bar pretty high. What a beautiful machine!
What inspired you?
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__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
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#964
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I appreciate the compliment as your builds are all so very nice.
I confess I just look at Craigslist and FB Marketplace way to often for good deals on bikes that appeal to me with the idea I will disassemble it and build it up to accommodate my aging body. I cannot get comfortable on original road bars and low stems.
I guess there are lots more expensive hobbies to have and I try to keep my overall build costs reasonably low.
With lots of bikes coming through my hands over the years I have a pretty good supply of extra parts.
A fellow no more than two to three miles away listed this for $80.
It was my size ,60cm, and that color just hooked me.
I really like the aesthetics of most vintage Peugeots as their decals are so cool looking to me and this particular blue green looking color I really liked. They call it blue Astral but it looks more of a green than a blue to me.
I looked up blue Astral color and sure enough some shades of it look like this frame color.
It was a bit rough with some rust on various parts and a some scratches here and there but we call that patina don't we or I've heard Grant Petersen call it beausage.
The wheels were not in great shape either but I had this decent pair of 650b wheels and thought , why not try it?
After a complete disassembly I reused the original French bottom bracket , headset, and a crazy size 24 seatpost.
I'm actively looking for a better looking seatpost in that size.
I've had maybe 3 or 4 other Peugeots but not with a seat post that size.
After resolving the tall enough stem sizing by sanding I had trouble on long enough reach brake calipers to hit the 650b rims.
Tektro 559's, my go to long reach calipers just did not have enough reach.
I had these super long reach Tektro cruiser calipers in my parts and they worked.
Surprisingly I had bought them 5 to 7 years back for a vintage Peugeot Orient Express mtb with the under the chainstay brake.
I didn't care for the black so I got the same calipers in silver.
They are a bit on the funky side in my opinion but they are working well enough.
The bike originally had 27" wheels.
Best I can tell from the Peugeot catalog is that a 1978 Peugeot UO10 looks very similar with the decals and original parts and blue astral is listed as one of the available colors.
Goodness I got wordy.
But in summary the color and decals appealed strongly to me and I just got going picking this and that part from the bins until I had it rolling.
I like to get a bike rolling as soon as I can to see if I like it well enough to keep and then tweak and add this or that part or accessory to it.
The ride is superb even though the tubing is just listed as Peugeot lightweight tubing.
I would guess it's straight gauge.
I am very pleased overall with how this one came together.
A good friend that loves vintage bikes as well rode it and was impressed with the nice ride.
I'll snap some more pics after the tan saddle comes in and gets installed.
Thanks again and forgive the excess verbiage.
Last edited by cooperryder; 09-05-22 at 07:41 PM.
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#965
Old Boy
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I am sort-of snipping the bits that I want to reply to here...
Likewise, my friend. We share a common aesthetic and physiological circumstances as well.
Keep it up! Some of us here actually like to read!
Not sure who originally wrote it, but you and I work through the same formula: Quality lugged-steel frameset + quality MTB or touring drivetrain + comfortable, quality cockpit arrangement + quality mission-specific accessories = The Perfect Gentleman's Express Bicycle. They come in many shapes and sizes, but all of them possess these attributes in common.
I look forward to your ride photos and reports on this bike. And cooperryder? Do, please, be wordy.
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* 4U, Kurt.
Keep it up! Some of us here actually like to read!
I look forward to your ride photos and reports on this bike. And cooperryder? Do, please, be wordy.
*
*
* 4U, Kurt.
__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Last edited by DQRider; 09-05-22 at 10:42 PM. Reason: 11:42pm - Can't sleep again.
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#966
Full Member
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1988 Fisher Montare Deore. I restored this a few years back and it became the cruiser I’d take on family trips. Now set up for commuting duties after I sold my old LHT. Waiting for some fenders.
The big Bosco bars are great and it takes a front load well with the slack head tube angle.
The big Bosco bars are great and it takes a front load well with the slack head tube angle.

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#969
Senior Member
Thread Starter

Here's the type of sturdy cloth bag I sometimes use if on one of my bikes without a rack or basket or panniers and need to carry a few items.
I double tie it up high enough to avoid tire contact. Tire contact can cause a crash. I learned the hard way.
The cloth handle usually unties pretty easily. It helps to have two of the bags to balance the load .
I ride slower when riding with bags on the bars.
Caveat... Attempt this at your own risk.
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#970
Senior Member
Guess I could add this goofy thing in here. '96 Trek 930 converted from a Rock Shox Quadra5 to rigid, and a Soma Clarence bar for style:

Rack may or may not stay....

Rack may or may not stay....
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#971
Senior Member
I was looking back through some of this year's posts to this thread. Your Panasonic 4500 looks terrific and what nice upgrades.
I think my early 90's Miele mtb has a similar tubing sticker. I'm going to double check that.
My Miele is a great riding vintage mtb with upright bars.
Is your Panasonic a 22 or 23" frame?
That crank blends in in nicely and looks great.
I think my early 90's Miele mtb has a similar tubing sticker. I'm going to double check that.
My Miele is a great riding vintage mtb with upright bars.
Is your Panasonic a 22 or 23" frame?
That crank blends in in nicely and looks great.
#972
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
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Stumpjumper with risers in Manhattan

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#974
Senior Member
Thread Starter

My latest project...a mid 90's, maybe 96 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo mtb.
I prefer the old school 1" threaded steerer tube bikes , stems and headsets.
Even though this Gary Fisher has a 1 1/8th threadless set up with the fork steerer tube already cut to original owner's preferences
I decided to give it a go to get the bars up to my preferred riding height.
I finished it up today and like the position now.
I may go from a 10cm to 12cm stem but it rides very well with the new taller stem and new handlebar as well as the smooth rolling 26 x 2.1 Tioga Powerblock tires I have on it.
That deep purple is kinda cool I think.

The decals are purple but not the paint, however it still looks purple to me.


Last edited by cooperryder; 10-10-22 at 10:20 AM.
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#975
bOsscO
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