ish

High Sierras are better suited as a "poor man's Surly LHT" than original spec.

The Golden Boy 

I should know this- but what is the clamp diameter for MTB bars?

My 1987 stem is cool- it was black, but after my sister in law leaving the bike outside over winter- it weathered to a cool bronze color. The built in cable stop is a neat feature that looks to be more fully realized in the 1988 model.

Trekking (butterfly) bars are unique and cool- I had considered them for my HS a few years ago- but I actually forgot about them until relatively recently.

pastorbobnlnh 

Off the top of my head I don't know either (but I should). Soma says their steel Lautenhausser bars fit MTB stems.

bradtx

Trekking bars are a direct swap for flat bars and related control bits. Specs for a popular set: https://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/st...0052&langId=-1 .

Brad

rhenning

Most MT bikes handle bar clamp diameter was 25.4 mm or 1 inch until recently. Roger

badger_biker 

I'm curious about the catalog scan showing mid fork rack mounts but Bob's doesn't appear to have them. Also note the catalog picture has single eyelets at the drop out and Bob's has double. I saw this one listed but the lack of front rack mounts took it off of my list - very nice bike though - congrats Bob.

pastorbobnlnh 

Great eye for catching those differences. It's not unusual for variations between a Schwinn catalog and the actual Schwinn bike.



Since I doubt I'll use a front rack, the lack of the mid fork mounts is not a concern.

I've only ever dealt with one under the chain stay break caliper and I completely screwed it up. Any tips for this time around? I doubt I'll remove it. Just clean and lube it in place.

The Golden Boy 

Suntour Roller Cam?

I have such a hard time getting the cam placement right.

I know the arms are supposed to be at 33mm apart with the cam plate taut. There is a 3rd hand tool- you can find them on eBay for $3 or something- it fits into the allen nut on the roller, it spreads the arms to the proper width to install the cam plate.

Even though I had all the documentation and the fancy tool, adjusting brakes is just not my forte.

If it's a U-Brake... never mind.

pastorbobnlnh 

I'm assuming it is a U-Brake. That is the kind I messed up beyond repair on a dump-find bike a couple of years ago. I just don't want to repeat the same mistakes.



I tend to have the same issues with cantilever brakes. I spend way too much time getting them to work correctly.

dveneman

My HS (pictured when I had it set up as a SS)doesn't have low rider mounts on the forks either, unfortunately. These bikes are a little heavy but lovable. For me, very versatlie.

likebike23

Chainstay u-brakes are a bit of a pain, if only because of their location. Sheldon Brown wrote a u-brake article that I found helpful. Also, if you don't care if the bike is completely original, a new u-brake that takes threaded post pads is way easier to get dialed in. The Diatech hombre is cheap and works great. Good luck.

mparker326

I love under the chain stay u-brakes. Set up takes a little while to get used to, but once you figure it out, they work great.

As many bikes as you have to choose from, I'd wager these will wind up being a set it and forget it.

well biked 

At our shop, we were surprised to see some 2014 Fuji hybrids equipped with U-brakes. They're making a comeback! .....and actually, I think they're still fairly common on BMX bikes, too.

pastorbobnlnh 

Well I'll need to read up on the U-Brake and do my best to keep this one in good working order.

The Golden Boy 

Everything I've read that's critical of under the chainstay brakes is that they catch mud. If you're not mudding- shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I don't know if U-brakes have the same issues as roller cams, but I've heard you have to adjust the pad angles as the pad wears down- they wear "up" and head towards the tire because of the way they close, unlike regular cantis.

Grand Bois

U-brake and roller cam are two different things. I got tired of fooling with a roller cam and replaced it with a Campy Euclid U-brake. It's clunky looking , but it's an awesome stopper.

The Golden Boy 

Yes, they are different- however, they share the canti post placement with each other- unlike traditional cantilever brakes.

The roller cams are cool and beefy looking- they would be good stoppers if I was good at adjusting brakes.

dveneman

Haaa! I am with you there. A true test of patience it is.

pastorbobnlnh 

I had a bike with Roller Cams once, and sold it off after not riding it for a couple of years. They were a real challenge to dial in and set correctly. But IMO, no harder than cantilevers.

Maybe we on C&V can collaborate on developing a smart phone app which diagrams and describes setting up and adjusting the multitude of bicycle braking systems. It could become the handy little guide in the palm of your hand for all questions brake related!

On a side note an observation: I've been responding to this thread I started from Southern California, basically the greater LA area. I've been from coastal Orange County (Dana Point) to Oxnard and Santa Barbara, and I'm now in Santa Monica. I'm supposed to leave tomorrow morning but a winter weather event is forecast for NH on Wednesday, so if I get stuck an extra day, who's complaining!

Anyway, my observation: I can't believe the number of people on bikes! Wow! I've not been in the LA area for about 15+ years and I don't remember seeing so many the last time I visited. Now I know where all the Electras are sold. This is a rarely seen brand in New England. They are like Schwinns and Raleighs in the 1970s, at least along the beach. But also, in a long walk through inland Venice yesterday, I observed lots of people riding to and from wherever they were heading on a wide variety of styles. Granted the population density here in LA is about 100 times greater than where I live in NH, and that may describe the difference.

dveneman

"They are like Schwinns and Raleighs in the 1970s, at least along the beach."

C'mon Bob. You need to get more "hip" or "chill" or something like that.

pastorbobnlnh 

I'll "chill" enough when I get back to NH.

Until then I'll keep wearing my limited edition Brooks Vans shoes in order to be "hip!"

pastorbobnlnh 

My "hip" Vans shoes in Southern California.

pastorbobnlnh 

Quick update on the High Sierra:

Today rootboy traveled from his home on Cape Cod to the historic town of Hyannis, MA to pick up the High Sierra for me from the ebay seller. He reports "it is in great shape." rootboy will keep it safe until we meet up the end of April for our Cape Cod Rail Trail Spring Ride.

Good thing I have plenty to do until then. I'm really tempted to drive the 4+ hours round trip to retrieve it earlier, but I must resist temptation.



Scott took this picture in front of his new shed. My only question: "Where's the snow you lucky bum?"

pastorbobnlnh 

So here's my shout out of a big thanks to @rootboy and @top506! These two, along with my trail riding buddy Paul and his wife Debbie finally connected me to the High Sierra I purchased through ebay back in February.

Back Story Recap: The bike was at a LBS not far from rootboy on Cape Cod. Since I was planning to be on the Cape Cod Rail Trail ride the end of April, he would keep it until then. I didn't make the ride due to my father in law's death. So I asked Top if he could bring it back to Maine until we could connect in May, then June. I had a '65 Schwinn Super Sport to hand off to him.

Well, we couldn't get our schedules to coordinate to meet half way (about 4 hours round trip). But my riding buddy Paul and his wife were heading to Maine for Fathers' Day weekend, and on Monday would drive right by the place where Top works. They took the Super Sport and Top handed off my High Sierra. I was not able to connect with Paul until Thursday to finally see this bike in the flesh.

But wait! There's More! Paul has been riding an Access MTB I found at the dump and had given him. On our rides he told me about "the nice Schwinn MTB" he bought back in the 1980s, and how it was now at his son's house in Maine. He said we would bring it back to NH.

Low and behold, Paul had purchased an '86 High Sierra back in the day. So yesterday, we met to go on our weekly Rail Trail ride, he on his '86--- and me on my '88. We grinded 30 miles on the packed gravel. Came home and slept like a baby.

The Golden Boy 

High Sierra Gravel Action!!