It seems to me that people with old rigid mountain bikes like to post pictures of their bikes more than anyone else on this forum. Case in point, and further developing my ex-mountain bike theme, I ride this one to work from time to time:



I'm in the process of converting it to drop bars. Then it will really be an ex-mountain bike.

Mid eighties mountain bikes were really more all terrain bicycles and some were scaled down touring bikes with 26 inch wheels... as such they serve well as all rounders that are generally equipped with robust parts and have a nice ride quality and ability to take the beating that the streets hand out.

My 1987 Kuwahara Cascade was sold as a mountain bike and was top of the line model but was really a touring frame fitted with flat bars and 26 inch wheels and I have been running it with drop bars for 4-5 years and last spring set it up as my primary touring bike.

It just got new racks.

He has set up a couple of nice looking bikes.

Tim, what kind of fork are you looking for?

(disclaimer)I don't know really. Seriously, I know dick all about bikes, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can.(/disclaimer)

A random guy I met at a party said I could replace it with an after-market fork, but it had to be a special type, specifically for MTBs) because changing the rockshox could throw off the geometry of the bike and make it too low in the front. I can't remember what he called it though.

Many fruitless google searches later, and I've resigned myself to doing the bouncy thing on the pedals whenever I need to climb a hill.

Kona Project II suspension corrected fork... they are a thing of beauty and cost about $80.00.

That might explain my old BRC Megatour, it was a touring bike frame reworked to fit 26" wheels, but still set up as a tourer. The Kona Sutra is the most similar bike on the market now.

"Suspension Corrected Fork" That's sounds familiar. It's amazing what Guiness can do to a brain

Many thanks!

I know Surly has some nice looking Cro-Mo forks, and I remember seeing them as Suspension Corrected. Ask if your LBS can order them. They may also have a lot of old 26" forks, from upgrades to suspension forks, but they may mess up you Geometry.

I commuted a year on my Cannondale SuperV here in Florida when I did not have a road bike. What I did was get rid if all but the biggest ring and lock out the front derailluer. I then swaped the front ring for a 48t which was the biggest my crank could work with at the time with the stupid 94mm rings. I then locked out the rear shock and only locked the front shock when I was on flats mainly. I also put Electra beach cruiser tires on it that can withstand any glass or broken object in its way. The biggest problem I had was being flat here in Florida I found myself in the highest gear most of the time. Now that I have a road bike I use it to pull the kids in the trailer to the park on the weekends.

Shoemakerpom

While it may be slower, riding a mountain bike on pavement boosts the safety-commuter confidence. I ride a Cannondale F7 to work which gives me a decent workout despite the short distance. Sidewalks are crap and potholes/froze heaves are abundant. Also, the winter sand/gravel is around so knobbies are a plus. Lastly, when it's raining, it's nice having disc brakes.

Mine:

I ride a mountain bike everywhere. Despite the weight, the tires provide stability each time I go over a bump
or go over a patch of loose gravel or sand. After traveling with lots of other bicyclists during long trips, I left others behind when their tires blew on bridge decks, railroad crossings, pavement endings etc.

My bicycle is over 20 years old and in great condition.

My two commuters are converted mountain bikes. I didn't see a need to buy a purpose built commuter when I already had a good chassis to convert to commuter duty. The versatility and handling of a mountain bike suit my commuting than a skinny tired commuter. Just slap on some semi-slicks and I can tackle most surfaces on my commute - gravel, dirt, pavement... It does it all.

If I had to take a wild a** gues, I see 40% MTB, 40% hybrid, 10% drop bar and 10% other at work. Lots of people commute to work.

Aha. But rigid. I ride in the city, all pavement but lots and lots of potholes patches, debris, etc. I like MTB for the fat tires, tough frame and cheaper drivetrain components.

I like my mtb with offroad tyres for commuting. Its a jack of all trades and plentyfast enough. The front suspension will absorb any bump and the lowest gearing will climb... anything. Makes a great commuter for me.

Aftermarket rigid forks, as the cheap ones it came with stopped working after about 5000km.

Couldnt for the life of me work out how to get them apart.

Like these, little to no change in geometry.

z