murraysbikes123

It's a Velo Oange rack - Randonneur I think, I modified it to fit canti studs though. (They do a canti specific one but it didnt fit bikes with big clearances very well. Not sure what the new ones are like, could be better)

Medic Zero

Yes, that's the 1994 model Corrado. The serial # on the bottom of the BB shell could tell you what month the frame was manufactured.

Nice bike!

3speedslow

Can't believe I have not posted this latest upgrade to my High Plains.

browngw 

Good looking bike @3speedslow . I noticed some small stones in the tires in one of the shots. The crushed limestone in our neck of the woods can cause flats with some tires.

3speedslow

Thanks! I will do some preventative maintenance. Those bits are some of the grit they threw during our snow/ice event.

As a side note, I have claimed this to be a 20" frame. Duh, tape measure shows it to be a 21" ctt.

neo_pop_71

I wish you had dirt drop bars because a 1991 matte gray Stumpjumper Comp is my favorite Stumpy and I've yet to see one with a drop bar set up. One day I'm going to replace my beautiful gray, the only Stumpjumper that came stock with a matte finish and the only one I regret selling!

NerfHerder

Just caught up on the last 30 or so pages of this thread to gather inspiration for my 1988 Univega Alpina Uno. Keep up the great work, guys

valleysuper

In my efforts to use parts I have for my build, I could use some help.
From what I have read I think it will work, but if anyone with experience could help.

It’s a 1996 GT Karakoram with full deore 8spd on it.
Looking to run Ultegra 10 spd 50/34 crank, with 105 9 spd shifters and front derailleur. I’d like to keep the deore rear derailleur, and cassette that’s on it.

I have read that the 9spd 105 shifter throw will match the 8spd deore rear derailleur. Also that the deore rear derailleur could run as 8 or 9 spd? It was stated things change when 10 speed was introduced, but that 8and 9 speed throw ratios were the same on Shimano road and mtb shifters?
Does anyone know if there is truth to this?

Thank you for any help.

crank_addict

Personally, one truly needs to answer if this type of bike is worth it. I've converted a few, sold one (only because they wanted it really bad and I wasn't yet ready to part with ;-) and another two given away -beater grade but all very capable. Mostly its about a basic short riser stem, the drop bar can be anything with goal emphasizing extra hand positions and configuring the controls / levers.

There's no monetary value in a sense of collectability special, I see them as a cheap and utilitarian machine. Even if one has built their 'ultimate' drop bar conversion, there's better bikes more efficient to propel and OFTEN less costly.

As for performance related to how fast or better can one climb vs. new tech and frame geometry, evolution etc., these older AT bikes don't compare. Its easy to get caught up into them but should use some restraint.

If you're adding up to build one, consider the large availability of late model hybrids and atb's for cheap. Higher end stuff. $400 gets you mid - upper grade sometimes premium series pre-owned bike. I picked up a 2010 Giant Rapid 1, sub 20 lbs. weight for $165. Perfect condition, 105 group, 700x32c fit. Added some drop bar clamp-on bar ends and splurged another $20 for mudguards. That bike flys up hills and an impressive all around machine. I've done a few centuries on it but admit I much prefer an old classic steel bike more compliant in the ride delivery.

That said, I find these older ATB drop bar conversions fun and free me from worrying about a bike less likely to be stolen or banged up. It can be used for thrashing all season year round. Of course, most of us here are retro-heads so we gravitate and enjoy repurposing these bikes.

My 1992/93 Stumped frankenbike, BF B.O.C., LBS Edition whatever is an example. Oddly enough, at under $130 I'm questioning my budget.

Major metropolitan areas are loaded with 26" atb's and most bike shops have a pile of old frames to toss or donate. Not worth their expense to put new parts into or labor. To build or convert is all about a labor of love. You know it and so does the LBS.

Always good to be a customer and a donor of old bikes / parts, 12 pack. Every shop I've done this with appreciates it. The reciprocating is much about respect and having a fun satisfied feeling.

Picking thru the worst of trashed, dirty, rusty bikes can sometimes reveal potential good project framesets. This one is sized 19 1/2 inch, Tange Prestige, Specialized Direct Drive, retains the rear brake cable feed. Good geometry for a rigid fork, but originally suspended. The top tube has a small ding and had lots of surface spots which needed attention.

My budget includes many small NOS parts.... from the bike shop -yep. Dia-Compe 986 rear and Tektro clone cantilevers on the front with Coda pads. Unbranded NOS chrome fork ($10), Tange ends, cast crown. SKS Germany chromoplasti mudguards... NOS ($15). Axiom hollow tube rack. The splurge budget included new Brooks microfiber 3mm bar wrap (btw: made by the same supplier to Fizik).

If you use the forum BOC its a crapshoot plus consider the cost of USPS shipping. Fun to play but sometimes the bike shop is the better way to go. You can be more selective, often cheap next to free for old parts and no shipping cost.

Regarding free stuff. Bottom of the parts bins the headset is some BMX thread size, cludged made likely of three brands and a YST locker top nut. The seat post is another pieced together of various junk, multi brand... cradle parts, etc.. Tektro interrupters -new shop take offs, cable hangers, vinti Conti Avenue's 26 x 2". Specialized SPD pedals, Specialized riser stem. RX-100 dual controls that needed a serious tear down and clean to bring back into service. Old Specialized saddle bag. Odd lot cages and a first version Vista Lite LED rear light.

It came with the original Shimano LX derailleurs, rear LX hub / Specialized rim, Deore crankset + bb. I paid $10 for a needed used front wheel -Ritchey Vantage / Shimano XT hub. Trade on the Midge On-one bars. The center is shimmed to fit the stem.

The entire bike as depicted is exactly 30 lbs. Not lightweight by any standards but rides nice and comfy to where I could put long days on it.

Realistically, a far better bike recently acquired is a near new 1998 Cannondale hybrid with Headshock fork for $100. I put another $50 into it for a shorter and hard to find Cannondale stem and new rubber. With 700x45c, was gifted drop bars and triple dual control levers to make the conversion.... done. Superior over the above Stumpjumper.

[IMG]DSC_2440 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_2444 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_2450 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_2433 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_2438 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_2395 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

Clyde1820

Nicely done.

abshipp 

I finally get to post in one of my all-time favorite threads!

Currently a work in progress, but it should be finished within a week or so.

1985 Schwinn Mirada
Nitto RM-3 handlebars
Original Shimano thumb shifters, contemplating a move to barcons.
Cheap riser stem on right now, have a Nitto arriving early next week
Panaracer Comet Hardpack 26x1.95 tires on some newer Shimano hub wheels, Alivo hub in front, Parallax in rear.
Frame cold-set to 135mm

I'm pretty happy to be excited about this bike again. In the stock configuration it felt quite uninspiring to ride.

tiredhands 

Nice work! Great choice with the gold cable housing, it really makes that brown frame look stately and elegant.

abshipp 

You know, it was really a nice coincidence that I happened to have that housing just laying around. I think it compliments the frame silkscreen quite nicely!

Housing is Jagwire gold braided, FYI.

thumpism 

That's yellow. I was fortunate enough to find gold when I built up my bride's Black Lightning from a frameset and still have a scrap or two around. I'll get a pic.

abshipp 

Lighting makes it look a bit more yellow than gold, especially on the rear derailleur loop. I promise to get better pictures once it's finished!

Here's a more accurate representation (not my bike though)

yangmusa

Great to see another Mirada on this thread, and the exact same color as mine too! I'm still enjoying mine as an all-round commuter, tourer, dirt ride bike. It's comfy and has been completely reliable

wrk101

To me, part of the fun is creating a drop bar custom out of left over parts you have laying around. My Cimarron is on re-creation #4. The current version came about with the help of a wheel sale at a local co-op. And I started this thread with the 1988 Alpina Pro I converted. Since then I have converted three Cimarrons, a rare Lotus MTB, a 1984 Ross Mt Whitney (chrome) and a 1984 Trek 850. Up next is probably the 1983 Univega Alpina Ultimate I just picked up.

fliplap

Let me throw another Mirada on the pile. This time a 1987. Being from the era before top tubes got long, it's a 23" frame with a 58cm top tube, to mix metric and imperial a bit there.

Picked it up in rough shape on craigslist for $20 and spend another $100 swapping parts around at the local co-op. Every part cleaned, broken and worn out stuff replaced. Bearings were all replaced and repacked. New chain, brake pads, cartridge bottom bracket. About all that's original is the frame, fork and seat post.

Build is a mix of old and older. Nitto B115 45cm bars and a no-name steel stem. Sugino triple up front with a 9 speed rear and bar end shifters. 36h weinneman 519s on cheapy Shimano hubs. Kenda K-Rad 26x2.30 tires.

I have a set of giant wald fenders sitting in the garage waiting to go on. Still needs racks too.

It's tall, comfy, and great fun to chuck off curbs and bomb through parks on.

tiredhands 

Nice! Those are some beefy tires. I bet it feels like you're on a monster truck with a bottom bracket so high.

biketroubadour

Yup should work fine, you'll need a 9 speed cassette though (unless you already have) & 9 speed chain. You'll probably notice some minor chain rub on your 10speed crank when crosstrained though

wschruba

Trek 850 MTB, Drop Bar, Tourer build, frame courtesy of our own @wrk101:



One of these days, I will take a torch to the fork and add some hourglass brazes in lieu of the King Cage doohickies (which are highly recommended, btw--they're rock solid). Interesting tidbits: the rims were originally to be polished silver, but the guy at Velocity said that there would be a wait of two weeks for regular silver, then another week for polished. I opted for black, then, since that's what they had in stock. I went with those rims solely for one reason: rim brakes AND tubeless, the tires eventually to be replaced with RTPs, but the Serfas were on hand, if heavy.

abshipp 

I took a look at yours earlier in this thread. Looks great!

Love that color! Mine was $10 with only one wheel from a yard sale, but I've got a little more than $100 into mine .

I finally got to ride mine last night in its present configuration. Definitely a totally different bike than with the stock bars! And like everyone has said about these bikes, incredibly comfortable and stable ride.

wrk101

Glad to see that 1984 850 back in action!! Enjoy! Most people don't realize the first two year Trek MTB specs were much different than the later stuff.

badger_biker 

I opted for trekking bars on my Cimarron and just mounted Fat Franks on it. I'm looking forward to cruising the city trails with it this coming season.

bear_a_bug 

I just picked up an 85 Trek 870 over on the iBob list. What can I expect from the frame? I keep hearing about the 50mm BB drop, but honestly, I'm not sure what that means in the context of ride, fit, etc.