Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
12-11-13, 01:08 PM
#2601
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Originally Posted by wrk101
Yeah, terrific Cimarron!
Great inspiration. We should start a Cimarron thread!! I tried to snag another one, but missed out. All the bikes I have, and my $15 Cimarron is my favorite.
Its one of Schwinn's sleeper vintage bikes.
Good excuse for me to post my latest iteration of the Cimarron. I swapped out rear racks with a nice one I picked up at the Habitat for Humanity store. Handles my vintage Madden panniers quite well. The rack is pretty nice, its modular (three pieces), so really adjustable for fit. No idea who made it. Similar in shape to your tubular rack, but it has an extruded aluminum deck.
Great inspiration. We should start a Cimarron thread!! I tried to snag another one, but missed out. All the bikes I have, and my $15 Cimarron is my favorite.
Its one of Schwinn's sleeper vintage bikes.
Good excuse for me to post my latest iteration of the Cimarron. I swapped out rear racks with a nice one I picked up at the Habitat for Humanity store. Handles my vintage Madden panniers quite well. The rack is pretty nice, its modular (three pieces), so really adjustable for fit. No idea who made it. Similar in shape to your tubular rack, but it has an extruded aluminum deck.
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12-11-13, 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by bconneraz
Here's my conversion; a 1987 Schwin Cimarron. So far this year, I've clocked 1900 miles on it, and despite being heavy, it's been the best commuter I've put together so far. It's built with a slew of fun parts that were on my previous mountain bikes; while it may look lke grandma's bike, closer inspection tells the story. 
12-11-13, 03:56 PM
#2603
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^^thanks.^^ Took a lot of patience, and more than a couple beers to get them right.
12-11-13, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Made a few changes to the Bianchi, and this thread can't have too many pictures.
12-11-13, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Made a few changes to the Bianchi, and this thread can't have too many pictures.
12-11-13, 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by debit
@ due ruote That is a really lovely bike.
Practical and ready for action, for sure.
12-11-13, 07:44 PM
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Made a few changes to the Bianchi, and this thread can't have too many pictures.
Nice, nice, very nice.
12-11-13, 08:28 PM
#2611
Thrifty Bill
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Due Ruote: Congrats on a great bike, and an outstanding picture as well!
12-12-13, 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Made a few changes to the Bianchi, and this thread can't have too many pictures.
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12-12-13, 12:51 PM
#2615
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Originally Posted by cyclotoine
this is such a great photo. I'd really like to know where it was taken. Shore of a great lake?
12-12-13, 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Thanks! That's Lake Michigan, north of Chicago. It was taken at dusk - the sky in the east picks up a lot of color this time of year; I have no idea why.
And that was the first major ride on my drop bar conversion....which is now settled into the trainer in the living room because of my broken hand, and Chicago's current Arctic temps.
12-12-13, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Made a few changes to the Bianchi, and this thread can't have too many pictures.
12-12-13, 03:26 PM
#2618
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Originally Posted by kehomer
Wow, very attractive bike. Are those chrome forks?
Chi Mike, pic was taken at Gillson Park in Wilmette.
12-12-13, 05:41 PM
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Late to the party, but very nice Bianchi. The little splash of red in the frame really helps the bar and seat pop Been on the lookout for a Prestige framed Grizzly for some time...
12-15-13, 02:19 PM
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Back when I did this conversion, I was determined to just leave the bike as it was; no rack, no fenders. Since pretty much every bike I own is pressed into use as a commuter and/or grocery getter, I wanted just one bike simply for fun. Yeah, that worked out really well. My current winter commuter:
I built up new wheels with Alex rims and SA drum brakes hubs, the dyno up front powering a B&M light set.
I built up new wheels with Alex rims and SA drum brakes hubs, the dyno up front powering a B&M light set.
12-15-13, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by debit
Back when I did this My current winter commuter:
I built up new wheels with Alex rims and SA drum brakes hubs, the dyno up front powering a B&M light set.
I built up new wheels with Alex rims and SA drum brakes hubs, the dyno up front powering a B&M light set.
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12-15-13, 04:19 PM
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Thanks very much!
To be totally honest, I haven't ridden much with cantis in the snow. I'm a chicken when it comes to winter riding and wanted as bombproof a commuter as I could manage, hence the drum brakes on both my winter bikes. I don't think they match the immediate stopping power of, say, V brakes, but they've always been pretty solid performers for me.
Originally Posted by cyclotoine
Very Nice! I like this a lot. Please indulge us on the drum brakes. Are they way better than cantilevers in the snow?
12-16-13, 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by kehomer
...Whatever I use, my 7+ decades old noodle knees and the local terrain require a triple.
I saved an old one and cut the top to make a sleeping support. Reminds me to be careful when I get up to pee, middle of the night. Anyway the left leg finally feels like it's steady healing, getting better and better. Between this support and fixing a vitamin A deficiency, there's hope!
12-16-13, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Thanks! That's Lake Michigan, north of Chicago. It was taken at dusk - the sky in the east picks up a lot of color this time of year; I have no idea why.
12-17-13, 11:08 PM
#2625
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My 1989-90ish Rocky Mountain Stratos, courtesy of our very own Sixty Fiver (thank you sir!). I'm working on making this my primary commuter bike and I'm not at all done, but it's so light and responsive (and surprisingly smooth) like this that I almost hate to add my lights, rack, and heavy bag.
And no, I'm not leaving the steerer tube like that.
And no, I'm not leaving the steerer tube like that.
