Originally Posted by SensibleCossack

Thanks to everyone for sharing their awesome rides!

One thing I've noticed is that many of these bikes are (or at least appear to be, based on saddle height) a larger size than the usual recommended Mtb fit. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about the merits of going for a larger frame size.

Originally Posted by SensibleCossack

Thanks to everyone for sharing their awesome rides!

One thing I've noticed is that many of these bikes are (or at least appear to be, based on saddle height) a larger size than the usual recommended Mtb fit. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about the merits of going for a larger frame size.

Originally Posted by DQRider;

[img

https://i.imgur.com/IAtg4vb.png
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Originally Posted by DQRider

That's obvious, when you think about it. These bikes have been built for comfort, not banging around off of trees and rocks in the woods. The larger frames flex more, softening the bumps, and you have more room to stretch out, so the upright bars make more sense. The best of the breed are basically beach cruisers with lightweight frames and high quality components, with the gearing to go anywhere you want. The ultimate all-rounder, if you will.


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Originally Posted by DQRider

That really was a magical morning...



Thank you for nice comments. Bikes and photography are the most complimentary hobbies.
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Originally Posted by ShannonM

Do you have an archive of your work somewhere?
--Shannon

Originally Posted by Korina

@DQRider, maybe it's time for an artistic bike photography thread. I'd do it, but I take pics, not photos.

Originally Posted by DQRider

Ugh. I suppose I deserved that. Sorry folks, for being so self-indulgent. Drillium Dude already has a wonderful thread for artsy bike photos. I've been a frequent contributor..

Korina, please explain to me the difference between "pics" and "photos". I ask this as a man who had to budget his enlisted Marine Corps pay to support two conflicting addictions: film and beer.

For me, there have been only "happy snaps", and "photographs". The difference being that the advent of auto-focus, auto-exposure, auto-everything cameras, and then the infernal "Smart Phones", has enabled any idiot to capture images good enough to post to their social media pages... these are "happy snaps".

Photographs, or "photos", are images captured by competent photographers and artists which exceed the mere documentary function of "pics" and venture into the artistic expression of a moment in time, captured in such a way as to convey the emotion felt when the viewer experiences the situation which has been captured with exceptional skill through technical means.

Or something...

You're welcome.
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Originally Posted by DQRider

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Dad in MN National Guard, me in USMC, Operation Team Spirit, Korea, 1988




Last photo I ever shot of Dad, 2018.


We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

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Originally Posted by Frkl

Here is the latest bike for my kid to ride to school and everywhere. This replaces an early 1990s Diamondback swept-back-bar conversion that was stolen. Man, I was really building up a collection with a progression of frame sizes so that everything could be passed down to the next youngest. But I guess this means I have to keep on building "new" ones. Oh, the tears of sorrow sweetly shed

The frame is a European spec and paint-job Marin Muirwoods from 1989 or 1990, depending on what vintage serial number thread you trust. You will be hard-pressed to find an American/UK/English-language catalog example of this. This is retro cred on the sly, I suppose. But who cares? It has a "super cool" black/white splatter paint job, so says my kid, and that's all that matters. Imagine that: in 2023, an 11-year old thinks a 1989 paint job is "super cool." Nothing is new, I suppose . . .

I kept it intentionally ratty to avoid the theft problem, and I kept the original Araya rims because they really do appear to be bomb-proof after 30 years. I restrung the back to a new hub because I like excuses to build wheels, but kept the 7-speeds, why not? I resto-modded a bit, in my opinion, to realize the full potential of the frame. Rear shifting is now XT, braking is done with LX cantis with Koolstop pads. Levers are "Shogun," a mid-1990s and now defunt aftermarket brand in Germany, but these are cold forged and machined and lighter than . . . anyone's business. Shifter (1x7) is a modern Acera trigger unit. But, really, this performs as well as anything current and better than anything before, and costs about 10 USD, so why not?

The bike meets all German street safety specifications (hence spoke reflectors), proving that a commuter can still be, well, cool enough for an 11-year-old.

Originally Posted by merziac

Standard MTB fit is compact by nature so as to be able manhandle them for control.

Bigger frames ride better? more like a well mannered upright/urban, road bike as long as they fit which is more important with an MTB frame being used as such IMO.

Many of us have and had road frames that are on the small side and have used workarounds to make them fit only to find out that a properly fitting frame rides magnitudes better all the while having thought they were fine with too much seatpost and too tall stems.

Originally Posted by DQRider

That's obvious, when you think about it. These bikes have been built for comfort, not banging around off of trees and rocks in the woods. The larger frames flex more, softening the bumps, and you have more room to stretch out, so the upright bars make more sense. The best of the breed are basically beach cruisers with lightweight frames and high quality components, with the gearing to go anywhere you want. The ultimate all-rounder, if you will.

Originally Posted by SensibleCossack

Thanks for the feedback! I've been fortunate to be able to collect a number of old mountain bikes ranging from 18" to 23" (in the seat tube measurement) to experiment with. They all fit. Sort of. I'm just under 6' and can barely stand over the 23" but it rides so nice on the street that I keep finding reasons to hang onto it. It was my everyday commuter for about a year, but the reach to the straight handlebars would make my shoulders ache on longer rides and I started looking for other sizes of bikes, and looking into upright handlebars and different stems, etc. I had been convincing myself that I needed a smaller frame, but now that I have some I've noticed that they ride differently and don't always fix the shoulder issue. Oddly enough the 18" and the 23" are both really comfortable in different ways. I'm definitely not arguing with the assertion that a properly fitting bike will ride better -- I think that's undoubtedly true. I guess I'm just not sure what my fit is for this style of riding. My bets are on the 20" or 22" -- I just need to keep experimenting with handlebars and different stems.



I'll add my praise for the pics (and photos). Thanks for sharing them!

A comfortable all-rounder is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm still experimenting with the various sizes and different styles of bars, which has been a lot of fun, hoping to dial in a bike (or two...or three...or...) to keep. I am realizing that for most of my life I turned my nose up at flat handlebars with any kind of sweep. "Cruiser" was a bad word -- they couldn't be a serious bike, could they? Man, I've been missing out. These have been so much fun to ride.

Originally Posted by SensibleCossack

Thanks for the feedback! I've been fortunate to be able to collect a number of old mountain bikes ranging from 18" to 23" (in the seat tube measurement) to experiment with. They all fit. Sort of. I'm just under 6' and can barely stand over the 23" but it rides so nice on the street that I keep finding reasons to hang onto it. It was my everyday commuter for about a year, but the reach to the straight handlebars would make my shoulders ache on longer rides and I started looking for other sizes of bikes, and looking into upright handlebars and different stems, etc. I had been convincing myself that I needed a smaller frame, but now that I have some I've noticed that they ride differently and don't always fix the shoulder issue. Oddly enough the 18" and the 23" are both really comfortable in different ways. I'm definitely not arguing with the assertion that a properly fitting bike will ride better -- I think that's undoubtedly true. I guess I'm just not sure what my fit is for this style of riding. My bets are on the 20" or 22" -- I just need to keep experimenting with handlebars and different stems.



I'll add my praise for the pics (and photos). Thanks for sharing them!

A comfortable all-rounder is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm still experimenting with the various sizes and different styles of bars, which has been a lot of fun, hoping to dial in a bike (or two...or three...or...) to keep. I am realizing that for most of my life I turned my nose up at flat handlebars with any kind of sweep. "Cruiser" was a bad word -- they couldn't be a serious bike, could they? Man, I've been missing out. These have been so much fun to ride.

Originally Posted by Korina

My favorite bar is the Velo-Orange Tourist Bar. The bikes may be compact, but the top tubes are loooooong for bombing down hills; add a long stem and you're riding in the Superman pose. Good luck with your quest, and please show us pics of your bikes!

Originally Posted by SensibleCossack

I've been interested in the Velo-Orange Tourist bar, so thanks for the recommendation, I think that might just nudge me over the edge to an actual purchase.

I like that they seem to be a happy medium in degree of sweep, amount of rise, etc. And it looks like you can grab the bars closer to the stem if you want to switch up hand positions, too.