Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
#6276
Senior Member
What did you use under the bar tape?
#6277
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I guess it’s back to the co-op bins looking for a matching stem.
#6278
Senior Member
simmonsqc
What a beautiful build. Exactly (or close enough) to what I would do EXCEPT sandblasding. Sandblasting can work harden the frame material resulting in micro cracks and fissures. A chemical strip (caustic dip or chemical paint remover) is easier on the frame, but not the enviroment. Crushed walnut shells , peas, beans, etc can be used as a substitute when trying not to work harden a frame set.
Did you find out what the crown style fork was from?
rRgardless a beautiful build.
What a beautiful build. Exactly (or close enough) to what I would do EXCEPT sandblasding. Sandblasting can work harden the frame material resulting in micro cracks and fissures. A chemical strip (caustic dip or chemical paint remover) is easier on the frame, but not the enviroment. Crushed walnut shells , peas, beans, etc can be used as a substitute when trying not to work harden a frame set.
Did you find out what the crown style fork was from?
rRgardless a beautiful build.
#6279
Senior Member
Also, I didn't put anything under the bar tape as I recall. Does it look overly thick to you? Those are fairly narrow bars, so I was able to wrap it without too much stretch and with a lot of overlap, and the cables are under there. Maybe that's it....
Last edited by simmonsgc; 11-06-18 at 06:02 PM. Reason: ignored your question...
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Yeah, my dad really likes those elevated chain stay scotts...

One of those first carbon MTBs still going strong despite heavy use. But the steel one rides much nicer. Don't like the geometry of the "new" one.
EDIT: By the way.What 26 rims/wheels do you guys use? I found it quite difficult to find new 26 rim brake wheels that don't suck.Had to buy some rhyno lite from the US (living in europe) to build them up myself.
Last edited by emro; 11-07-18 at 06:11 AM.
#6281
Jedi Master
I found a set at rosebikes.com with XT hubs and mavic rims a few years ago that are pretty decent. Rose doesn't carry that set anymore, but they do have some others with 26" rim brakes. Nothing wrong with rhyno lites obviously.
#6282
Senior Member
Some really cool stuff in this thread. This would be fun as hell to do. I spent about 20 minutes plowing through the 80s-early 90s steel options at about 18" on Ebay, here's what I came up with:
High end fetish property:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-199...item214760894e - Grant Peterson cult bike with early Magura hydro cantis (!)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Qualit...item41f2918871 - Chris Chance coolness
Medium range for the wise consumer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...EAAOSwB4NWxePr - love the 80s Peugeot paint, check out that chrome fork and rear triangle, high end everything on this one. Might be my favorite, it looks spotless as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fil...4AAOSw8-lbz9BE - looks like it's been in a time capsule. Full Suntour deer head and roller cam awesomeness.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BIA...0AAOSwPyZanUqR - celeste lugged beauty (even the bar!) with Deore for cheap.
Beater but cool:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GAR...0AAOSwlzVb45tn - really cool raised seatstay look and reasonable spec at this price
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ross-Mt-Hoo...UAAOSw-FpbMqEZ - the entire frame is chromed, love the minimalist decals, cool (Nitto?) bar, nothing crappy on it. Spend a couple hundred more on this and it would be very sweet
High end fetish property:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-199...item214760894e - Grant Peterson cult bike with early Magura hydro cantis (!)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Qualit...item41f2918871 - Chris Chance coolness
Medium range for the wise consumer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...EAAOSwB4NWxePr - love the 80s Peugeot paint, check out that chrome fork and rear triangle, high end everything on this one. Might be my favorite, it looks spotless as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fil...4AAOSw8-lbz9BE - looks like it's been in a time capsule. Full Suntour deer head and roller cam awesomeness.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BIA...0AAOSwPyZanUqR - celeste lugged beauty (even the bar!) with Deore for cheap.
Beater but cool:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GAR...0AAOSwlzVb45tn - really cool raised seatstay look and reasonable spec at this price
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ross-Mt-Hoo...UAAOSw-FpbMqEZ - the entire frame is chromed, love the minimalist decals, cool (Nitto?) bar, nothing crappy on it. Spend a couple hundred more on this and it would be very sweet
Last edited by Hiro11; 11-09-18 at 04:01 PM.
#6283
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Some really cool stuff in this thread. This would be fun as hell to do. I spent about 20 minutes plowing through the 80s-early 90s steel options at about 18" on Ebay, here's what I came up with:
High end fetish property:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-199...item214760894e - Grant Peterson cult bike with early Magura hydro cantis (!)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Qualit...item41f2918871 - Chris Chance coolness
Medium range for the wise consumer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...EAAOSwB4NWxePr - love the 80s Peugeot paint, check out that chrome fork and rear triangle, high end everything on this one. Might be my favorite, it looks spotless as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fil...4AAOSw8-lbz9BE - looks like it's been in a time capsule. Full Suntour deer head and roller cam awesomeness.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BIA...0AAOSwPyZanUqR - celeste lugged beauty (even the bar!) with Deore for cheap.
Beater but cool:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GAR...0AAOSwlzVb45tn - really cool raised seatstay look and reasonable spec at this price
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ross-Mt-Hoo...UAAOSw-FpbMqEZ - the entire frame is chromed, love the minimalist decals, cool (Nitto?) bar, nothing crappy on it. Spend a couple hundred more on this and it would be very sweet
High end fetish property:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-199...item214760894e - Grant Peterson cult bike with early Magura hydro cantis (!)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Qualit...item41f2918871 - Chris Chance coolness
Medium range for the wise consumer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...EAAOSwB4NWxePr - love the 80s Peugeot paint, check out that chrome fork and rear triangle, high end everything on this one. Might be my favorite, it looks spotless as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fil...4AAOSw8-lbz9BE - looks like it's been in a time capsule. Full Suntour deer head and roller cam awesomeness.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BIA...0AAOSwPyZanUqR - celeste lugged beauty (even the bar!) with Deore for cheap.
Beater but cool:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GAR...0AAOSwlzVb45tn - really cool raised seatstay look and reasonable spec at this price
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ross-Mt-Hoo...UAAOSw-FpbMqEZ - the entire frame is chromed, love the minimalist decals, cool (Nitto?) bar, nothing crappy on it. Spend a couple hundred more on this and it would be very sweet
#6284
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That Fisher Montare brings back memories. I had one of those. It was pretty heavy but I loved the looks of the elevated chainstays.
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Andy
Andy
#6285
Senior Member
#6286
Senior Member
#6287
Full Member


Lousy co-op white wall knobbies finally gave up the ghost. Replaced with creamy dreamy schwalbe fat franks.
Also needed the indexed 9 speed bar ends on another bike so stuck Suntour bar cons and a 7 speed hub on there.
#6288
Thrifty Bill
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#6289
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#6290
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1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker II update
Thought I'd post an updated picture of my conversion (Flickr album).

I swapped out the rims to some Wolber / Super Champion Canyons (~28mm inner width) that came along with a bike I snagged for its crankset for another project. Those measured out about 4mm wider than the RhynoLite rims that were on there, and showed little wear. I've been looking for extra-wide rims to match the Compass Rat Trap Pass tires; I think this should do.
I also added a cheapo front rack (Sunlite) to match the back. I don't think I'd want to put much weight on it, but it could serve as a nice base for a handlebar bag. Is that supposed to be level, or tilted back to match the head tube angle? I kinda split the difference there.
Commute in this morning revealed an oscillation/rub on the rear wheel during braking, so I guess there's still a bit more work to do.

I swapped out the rims to some Wolber / Super Champion Canyons (~28mm inner width) that came along with a bike I snagged for its crankset for another project. Those measured out about 4mm wider than the RhynoLite rims that were on there, and showed little wear. I've been looking for extra-wide rims to match the Compass Rat Trap Pass tires; I think this should do.
I also added a cheapo front rack (Sunlite) to match the back. I don't think I'd want to put much weight on it, but it could serve as a nice base for a handlebar bag. Is that supposed to be level, or tilted back to match the head tube angle? I kinda split the difference there.
Commute in this morning revealed an oscillation/rub on the rear wheel during braking, so I guess there's still a bit more work to do.
#6291
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Joined the club






Like others, I have spent days/weeks lost in this thread (and also Craigslist). I just couldn’t find anything I wanted. Then in the span of 3 days, I bought a $5 Diamondback Sorrento, an $80 Trek 850, and a Cinelli for $300. All bikes pretty much had all their original components. The Cinelli came with all Sachs, and the DB even had the original matching Avenir water bottle. The frame on the DB is like new. The Trek is gonna need a strip and re-paint. I will keep these two frames for future projects to build and sell off.
I borrowed parts from the Trek and DB and am using parts from my own leftovers to rebuild the Cinelli into a version I like. I am not into square taper cranks, bar end shifters, quill stems, etc. Sorry. ��
There are only 2 other posts on the internet about the Cinelli Tiramisu. The one that actually has some info on it, the guy says they were only made in 1991 and are Columbus steel. The build for the Cinelli will be as follows:
Mavic X517 rims with ceramic braking surface and XTR hubs. From the Trek.
XT 11-36 cassette.
DT Swiss RWS skewers
Bontrager Connection Trail 2.0 tires. From the Diamondback.
Sram Rival levers and rear derailleur.
TRP Revox carbon cantilever brakes.
Sram Red crankset with 38t chainring.
Fizik Cyrano carbon bars.
Shimano Saint pedals.
Selle Italia Flight saddle.
Thomson stem.
Gonna go with white-ish bar tape.
Most likely black cable housing.
Last edited by JayChadney; 12-10-18 at 08:55 PM. Reason: Typo
#6292
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WOW that Cinelli is amazing. I would have settled for either of those other two as well. Good finds

#6294
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Bike Saviors is the best. The only thing better than the bikes and the parts is the people.
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All built

Made some last minute changes for the build.
Went with SRAM Red levers instead of Rival.
Sram XO rear derailleur instead of Rival.
Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes inssead of TRP Revox.
Also changed to a SRAM Red crankset over the Bontrager. Something was wrong with the BB for that crankset.
The 90mm stem is too long. I am thinking 70mm with 6* rise. How do stems shorter than 70mm work out for folks? A 50 or 60mm might just make for a perfect fit.
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#6296
Jedi Master
#6297
Senior Member
Great job all of the above. Love, love, love this thread.
#6298
Thrifty Bill
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Threadless conversion I put on the Ross Mt Whitney posted on the prior page. The Ross has a BMX sized stem, which made finding a replacement more challenging.

IMG_1783 by wrk101, on Flickr
Meanwhile, the steep and short stem I had on this 1984 Trek 850 came out of the bin. I always check for quill dirt drop stems at co-ops.

1984 Trek 850 by wrk101, on Flickr

IMG_1783 by wrk101, on Flickr
Meanwhile, the steep and short stem I had on this 1984 Trek 850 came out of the bin. I always check for quill dirt drop stems at co-ops.

1984 Trek 850 by wrk101, on Flickr
#6299
Junior Member
Made some last minute changes for the build.
Went with SRAM Red levers instead of Rival.
Sram XO rear derailleur instead of Rival.
Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes inssead of TRP Revox.
Also changed to a SRAM Red crankset over the Bontrager. Something was wrong with the BB for that crankset.
The 90mm stem is too long. I am thinking 70mm with 6* rise. How do stems shorter than 70mm work out for folks? A 50 or 60mm might just make for a perfect fit.
Went with SRAM Red levers instead of Rival.
Sram XO rear derailleur instead of Rival.
Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes inssead of TRP Revox.
Also changed to a SRAM Red crankset over the Bontrager. Something was wrong with the BB for that crankset.
The 90mm stem is too long. I am thinking 70mm with 6* rise. How do stems shorter than 70mm work out for folks? A 50 or 60mm might just make for a perfect fit.