What to do? What to do?
11-26-10 | 12:36 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Lanterne Rouge
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 4
From: St. Paul
What to do? What to do?
I'm about to start my winter project, which is a 1987 Giant Yukon. I picked the bike up when I worked in a shop in college. Giant gave us a huge discount to get us to use their bikes. This one was pretty sweet in the day. Triple butted tubing, full Deore group and some decent wheels. Later they re-ordered their line and the Yukon became more of an entry level bike. Anyway ...
This bike as a mountain bike doesn't have any use for me. It is in serious need of an OA bath and a repaint. I was thinking of building it up with some 700s and drop bars, but changing the brakes may be an issue.
Does anyone have any opinions on what I should do with this frame? I'm open to all ideas.
Thanks,
This bike as a mountain bike doesn't have any use for me. It is in serious need of an OA bath and a repaint. I was thinking of building it up with some 700s and drop bars, but changing the brakes may be an issue.
Does anyone have any opinions on what I should do with this frame? I'm open to all ideas.
Thanks,
11-26-10 | 01:09 PM
#2
Bianchi Goddess
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
you might be able to find brakes that will reach 700c wheels from the crown and bridge but then the canti studs are flapping in the breeze.
I would use skinny 26" wheels and tires like a 1.25. then depending on location a double crank with 42/53 and a 12-19 Fwheel or cassette
it won't be quite as fast as a 700c bike but will make a good commuter/errand/ or even tourer
I would use skinny 26" wheels and tires like a 1.25. then depending on location a double crank with 42/53 and a 12-19 Fwheel or cassette
it won't be quite as fast as a 700c bike but will make a good commuter/errand/ or even tourer
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-26-10 | 01:15 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,081
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From: Nampa Idaho
Bikes: 76' Centrurion Pro-Tour, 86' Specialized Rock Hopper, 88' Centurion Iron Man, 89' Bruce Gordon "Hikari", 95' Rock Hopper Ultra.
I'd put it back together with skinny 26" tires, fenders, and Northroad or Albatross style bars. From the pics, your paint doesn't look so bad.
Cheers,
Chris
Cheers,
Chris
11-26-10 | 01:16 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
Bikes: many
you might be able to find brakes that will reach 700c wheels from the crown and bridge but then the canti studs are flapping in the breeze.
I would use skinny 26" wheels and tires like a 1.25. then depending on location a double crank with 42/53 and a 12-19 Fwheel or cassette
it won't be quite as fast as a 700c bike but will make a good commuter/errand/ or even tourer
I would use skinny 26" wheels and tires like a 1.25. then depending on location a double crank with 42/53 and a 12-19 Fwheel or cassette
it won't be quite as fast as a 700c bike but will make a good commuter/errand/ or even tourer
11-26-10 | 01:26 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 146
From: Oregon
As a matter of fact, I am currently biding up a Schwinn High Sierra to ride across country with drop bars and all that. The frame looks very similar as far as geometry goes. Anyway, I've decided to stick with 26" wheels. I threw some 700c's on there just to see how it looked/worked, but it looked awkward because the wheels we so skinny on a sort of beefier frame. I've decided to build wheels though, not put the originals on there.
11-26-10 | 04:03 PM
#6
Senior Member
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From: New York Metro Area
11-26-10 | 05:57 PM
#8
Spin Forest! Spin!
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Arrid Zone-a
Bikes: I used to have many. And I Will again.
I'm in the middle of finishing a similar build with a Trek 800 for my kid. Drop bars, and skinny 26" road tires. I agree with sticking to 26 mtb wheels, 700C is not a certainty that it'll all work....clearances, handling, pedal strikes.
If new wheel experimentation is necessary, I'd try 650 instead.
If new wheel experimentation is necessary, I'd try 650 instead.
03-16-11 | 07:39 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Lanterne Rouge
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 4
From: St. Paul
Bump, I got the frame back from the powdercoater this week. In the end I did opt for converting this to a 700. I changed out the fork with a Surly which solved my front brake issues. I am going to incorporate and xtracycle brake adapter for the rear brake. I also had some Velo-Orange fenders powdercoated in the same color. I'm not sure how I feel about the color yet. It was an impulse decision at the time.
03-16-11 | 07:58 AM
#10
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
What are you going to do about the rear brake?
This will be quite a handsome bike.
This will be quite a handsome bike.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-16-11 | 08:59 AM
#12
Ride heavy metal.
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,538
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From: Teenage Wasteland, USA
Bikes: '74 Raleigh LTD-3, '76 Motobecane Grand Jubile, '83 Fuji TSIII (customized commuter), '10 Mercier Kilo WT (fixed obsession), '83 Bianchi Alloro, '92 Bridgestone MB-1 (project), '83 Specialized Expedition (project), '79 Peugeot UO-8 (sold)
I like the frame color. The orange frame + orange fenders might be a bit much (aesthetically), but it's hard to say when it isn't yet completed.
But don't be disheartened about color - that's always changeable. Interested to see where this project ends up!
But don't be disheartened about color - that's always changeable. Interested to see where this project ends up!
03-16-11 | 10:56 AM
#13
Thread Starter
Lanterne Rouge
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 4
From: St. Paul
xtracycle makes a cantilever adapter that mounts to the current posts but has additional posts in the correct position. Mavic makes one as well but limits the tire size to a max of 25mm. I want to run at least 32mm tires on this.
03-17-11 | 07:31 AM
#14
Thread Starter
Lanterne Rouge
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 4
From: St. Paul
Added the fenders last night. I need to get some 35mm tires so I can tweak in the fit. The Surly fork has a huge clearance for fenders. So much so I will have to make a bracket for the front fender as it needs to drop down about 1 3/4 inch. The bars are also going to change as I want to incorporate more of an albatross bar.
09-10-13 | 03:20 PM
#17
Thread Starter
Lanterne Rouge
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 4
From: St. Paul
In reality it is more of a flesh tone. My wife seems to like it and it has become her bike. I really don't like the thumb shifters with those handlebars and may change them out this winter. I am also thinking of getting some new velo orange fenders as there is just too much of that color on the bike.
