merckx_rider

Yeah - you can do that... I've heard mixed tales of that kind of work. First - new paint will be needed. Next -I'm not a metallurgist but I do know, heating metal changes it. If I remember correctly, steel bike frames are cured/heated in an oven to temper them evenly. It sounds like you already have a nice bike, you should be sure that it stays that way. I'd get a second opinion from someone that doesn't stand to make any money on what to expect if you go through with getting something like that done. The fact that it will be brake attachments means your life will depend on them.

Suggestion: don't kill the messenger... Sell the bike and upgrade to a new one that fits your needs.

merckx_rider

As for your shop - I wish you well!! At this point the majority of your customers don't even know electric bikes are at the level they are. I've been following them for years but most of my biking buddies know little to nothing about them and when I do see one of them for the first time with my ebike they're floored at how good the technology is. Give it time go get out there a little more and a well run shop should do great.

InTheRain

I trust the guy that is supposed to make the modification. He said he has done this modification many times on steel frames. He has been a custom frame builder and designer since 1971. He has been a frame builder for several large bicycle manufacturers. If anyone can make it work, I trust he can. He loves bikes. He's a collector of vintage bicycles. While I am willing to pay him for a job well done, he's not out to just make a buck. If he didn't believe that this modification would work out well, I trust he would tell me to do as you suggested... upgrade to a new one (which I have considered... put the BionX on a Surly Ogre frame.)

merckx_rider

Not many people have access to some one of that caliber. Sounds like you are very lucky. I really envy you.

As for an upgrade, now that I've been riding fat tire bikes, I will never go back to anything else. A plain fat tire bike is too much work, but with the addition of the motor I can't tell you how much more I enjoy the ride.

Once you go FAT, you never go back

InTheRain

Merckx_rider. I've been working on this "disc solution" for several months now. While I trust the guy and his skills, I'm beginning to question his business and customer service skills. He never calls back, even when he says he'll call right back. I'm frustrated. I was speaking with a friend that is knowledgable about bicycles and he suggested possibly changing the front fork on my bike and going with a disc on just the front. Something I'm beginning to investigate.

As far as fat tire bikes. Yes, I wouldn't mind adding one to the stable someday. I see more and more of them around. They seem to be catching on. First one I ever saw was in the middle of a snow storm in Alaska about 8 years ago. The guy stopped about a block away from where I was headed so I stopped and talked with him about his bike. it was pretty cool. It was also the first Rohloff hub I had seen on a bicycle.