1987 GT Pantera steel converted to SS
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1987 GT Pantera steel converted to SS
This is my regular singlespeed bike that I actually take out on the trails. As near as I can tell it's a 1987 GT Pantera built just before they started making the Panteras in aluminum. I bought it as a frameset from the LBS and built it up from clearance table and used items. It has horizontal dropouts and a U brake on the rear.
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Nice. Why haven't you updated a bit the bicycle adding a front suspension and V brakes? And please, what is your set up and your drive train?
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Originally Posted by caotropheus
Nice. Why haven't you updated a bit the bicycle adding a front suspension and V brakes? And please, what is your set up and your drive train?
The wheelset is a Nashbar bargain bin set that I couldn't have built for what I paid for it. It has Mavic rims with some version of Deore hubs (can't keep track of them anymore) with a nutted axle from Wheels Manufacturing in the rear hub to keep it from slipping. I had a quick release in there for a while but I had the rear wheel slip while climbing out of the saddle once and the chain came off. I fell and trashed my knee so bad I thought it was never going to heal and went with the nutted axle.
The crank is an RX-100 road crank with a Salsa 42 tooth chainring held in place by those Problem Solver chainring bolts. The rear cog setup is a spacer and loose single cog setup. It makes it a lot easier to change gears and doesn't look that bad. Right now it has one of those cheap steel cogs in place until I make up my mind what gear I am going to use - the hard core SS guys think the gear I am using is too tall. I will probably replace this gear with a Surly cog.
For the record, I will never do this again! If I ever own another SS it's going to be one that was built to be one - this has been a headache. Most learning experiences are, I suppose, but the cool thing is that I have gotten to ride this old GT in several configurations, and for an old GT fan that's cool.
Last edited by Far Rider; 12-27-05 at 06:09 AM.
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Thanks for your description. I would still suggest a front suspension and front V-brakes. Replace the cog as you want to (I whould recomend 24 teeth cog), and you have a perfect urban and country single speed assault machine.
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Originally Posted by * jack *
Nice bike. I'm fully rigid just looking at it...
I enjoyed the photographs, too.
Last edited by Far Rider; 12-27-05 at 09:04 AM.
#7
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Forget the suspension. Though a quality V-brake in the front may be a worth while upgrade.
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I have an old GT Zasker that I am running as an SS. Leaving some slack in the chain and using a tensioner like the Surly Singulator will allow you to use QR axles. Just beware of cheap tensioners, lesson learned the hard way.......
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Originally Posted by greybeard87
I have an old GT Zasker that I am running as an SS. Leaving some slack in the chain and using a tensioner like the Surly Singulator will allow you to use QR axles. Just beware of cheap tensioners, lesson learned the hard way.......
Does that Zaskar have track ends or something?
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Originally Posted by Far Rider
I have a Singleator that I am saving for my road bike (if I ever get around to rebuilding the rear wheel!).
Does that Zaskar have track ends or something?
Does that Zaskar have track ends or something?
PS: I am running a rigid fork as well, it'll make a better rider out of ya...