Nice! The bike comes with 38's. Usually the back clearance is more of an issue than the front. Let me know how it goes!

So to anyone that actually knows me - this is turning out to be a fairly predictable makeover ..... I'll be changing out the tires, pedals (Fietbob apparently liked those Ergon pedals so have some on order), seat, and adding Ergon GP5's. Oh yeah - and those funny lights of mine.

Hopefully some of the other details will make things a bit more interesting - hate to think I've run otta imagination already ....

Sunlite Kahn 700x50
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=431056
Michelin City 700x47
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=422680
Schwalbe Land Cruiser 700x45
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=21868
Continental CountryRide 700x47
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=600020
Continental RetroRide 700x50 CREAM COLORED TIRES
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=440172
Continental Comfort Contact 700x54
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=600030

Does this come with instructions?

Any idea how heavy those wheels/tyres are?!

This might be in a league all it’s own. Frankenstein-brid bike? LOL!

Looks like this little project could take a looooooonnng time! There's now three bikes in the works, a bunch of stuff still on the mail, and a pile of goodies that are on order but haven't shipped yet. Lots of people seem to be looking for low prices. I'm having a hard time finding some things in stock anywhere at any price! And none of its overly exotic!

But got the simplest one done - only cause there wasn't much to do. Giant presents their Seek line-up as Sport / City bikes. They also market it as a MAN'S bike - which is too bad because two of these are going to women! Personally I thought it was particularly interesting because its one of the few bikes on the market that have absolutely no cable runs along the top tube. Which makes it an ideal candidate for a frame bag. It also has clearance for wide tires and runs disc brakes.

But the low rise bar isn't ideal for attaching 'stuff' so the stem got swapped out for a flat-bar road model and so did the bars. Then after trimming the bar width 2", the Ergon GP5's went on. The Giant Urban saddle was swapped out for a WTB Pure V and the 700x32 Maxxis Detonator swapped out for some Hutchinson Python Gold CX tires the same size. HED Lolipop was used to mount an iPhone over the stem.

No longer a hybrid - now more like a mongrel!

Number two has gotten 700 x 40 Marathon Supremes, a Selle Italia Diva Gel seat, a pink RaceFace XC crankset and Ergon GP5 grips to date. Am still waiting on pink Jagwire Ripcord and Hyflow cables to install some dual action levers and brake calipers. Also still on order are some locks, Two Fish straps, a Shimano Pro Tri bar-bag and pedals. This is marketed as a man's city hybrid, but the pink, black and white color scheme and oversize tires make it a woman's rigid 29er.

And number three requires complete wheel builds and a new groupo on top of most of whats already been mentioned. I hate not being as busy during the winter - I get bored and spend waaaaayyyyyyy too much money!

Thought I'd post some of the 'WHY'S' here just to demonstrate that its not completely frivolous and that there was some kind of ratonale behind all this - even if that rationale doesn't apply to anyone else.

One of these bikes goes to Viv, who's coming up to 20. In Colombia spandex on solo riders isn't as common as it is here and chances she'll wear it for anything short of a full day outing in company are zero. So she gets a Selle Italia Diva Gel - it'll save her bottom. And since she's continuously been one of the top students in her school - I'm more than OK with that.

The Ergon pedals will let her use any shoes she wants to. BMX pedals with screws would work equally as well but those same screws can accidentally make some interesting marks on the backs of legs. These are legs that as yet don't have a mark on them. Lets not change that. The Ergon bar ends will let het take a more agressive stance if she wants to push things a bit. The lock on the bars is a reminder that its her bike not mine - and her responsibility. The pink cables and bar tape is a personal touch that'll also eliminate any chance her brother might want to borrow it He can use mine - it'll be built to take more abuse.

Fanny is 55 and has type 2 diabetes. The lower gearing of the RaceFace XC crankset will put everything within her reach (there are some interisting hills in Cali) and she likes pink anyway, and the GP5's will give more hand positions for better circulation in her hands. The saddle, lock and pedal choice for the same reason as for Viv. The Shimano Pro Storage Bottle and Shimano Pro AeroFurel Triathlon TopTube Bag will give her someplace to store any essentials for her diabetes and likely a battery for lights. The wider tires give better braking and a more comfortable ride.

The third animal is getting a complete Hone groupset and a beefed up wheelset as well as most of the other changes. Partly because I expect Carlos to borrow it ocassionally and partly because I'm considering outfitting it with Thule Pack 'N Pedal racks (formerly Freeload) That one could take a while because I'll be converting the front axle from QR to solid, have to special order spokes, and there'll probably be shipping delays.

Maybe someone already makes something like this ready to roll - I just haven't seen it myself.

I've had great luck with Specialized Nimbus tires. The 700C and 26" work great.

The Pugsley is functionally a 29'r due to the overall diameter of the wheels

The stock wheels with tyres, tubes and SS hubs are 8 pounds each... despite this the rollout is pretty remarkable.

I've found the nimbus tires are kind of heavy, and ride like slugs, except for the Nimbus Elite, which at $70 each is way more expensive than the Vittorria Hyper Randonneur and almost as nice.

Yikes! Two weeks and no guesses let alone winners!

Didn't think it was all that tough - guess I'll have post a picture. OK - later today.....
EDIT:



Pretty straight forward. Same axle nuts as on the rear axle. The Hone axles are both 10mm front and back. It did require replacing and modifying an axle, but besides looking cleaner than a QR, that has the advantage of one tool to remove / tighten both wheels, and because they all now require a 6mm Allan key, a little more theft deterrent than a QR axle.

Expect to put together a couple wheel-sets later over the summer.

So here are some photos of bike no 2 to date.


Selle Italia Diva Gel with seat post mounted dual Shimano Pro bottle cages
Objective: Increased comfort and convenience


RaceFace Deus XC crank 44/32/22
Objective: Lower gearing


Cut down Giant Contact flat bars
Giant Contact stem
Ergon GP5 barends
Shimano Hone ST-M600 Dual Control Levers
Objective: Better fit and increased comfort

Jagwire Hyflow hydraulic hoses
Jagwire Ripcord derailleur cables
Shimano Pro pink floral tape
Objective: A smile. Fushia is her favorite color


Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 700x40c tires
Michelin Protek Max tubes
Objective: Absolute flat protection

Still waiting on an Arbus lock, a Shimano Pro tri-bar bag and a couple other goodies.

Well that was entertaining!

Tried three different online spoke calculators to try to nail down correct spoke sizes for a wheel build for this puppy and got three different results back using the same info!

Don't have the patience for this. Measured everything in the shop and did a trial build using DT Swiss Champion spokes, which worked out just fine - and gave a different spoke length again. A simple cross three shouldn't be all THAT complicated to standardize.

But there'll be a couple more wheel sets to build - at least now when I order those Alpine III's I won't be wasting my time.


On the other hand, my 'dumb' axle modification made for a clean installation at the front end.


And the Schwalbe 700 x 50c tire has lots of clearance at the front end - cheapest front end suspension system on the market.


And the Token chain-ring bolts were a pretty good match for the crank

What year was your Stumpjumper?

1983 or 84



on this particular bike, I found 26x1.5's to be too light, and they made the bike's handling really squirrely.

A Hone RD has no provision for cable tension adjustment. I thought the simplest solution might be an inline adjustor, and the best place to install one turned out to be here.



A hone RD is a discontinued AM derailleur and had a reputation for being virtually indestructible - partly because its an axle mount and there's no derailleur hanger to bend or break off. Shifting is just as slick as the Deore it replaced.

The chain was swapped out for a SRAM PC 991 (NOT the hollow-pin version) for increased corrosion protection.

This bike is about ready to pack for shipping and I've already started laying out parts for the next one.

Squirely or not that Stumpumper is nice.

lol, I can't get that idea out of my head now. Now I'm wondering which single gear crankset would be compatible with an 8 speed chain and a rear derailleur. Also, what kind of chainline you'd need. And which brake levers would be compatible with those kinds of brakes. Or, even if you cand find road brake levers that are compatible with disc brakes. I don't know if you can find just the right side bar end shifter. Anyway, in the future I might really look into it.

The roads were dry enough that I could drag this baby home today. Slicker, smoother and of course slightly more compact than my own Giant, maybe partly because mine still has studded tires. Extremely easy to pedal and just keeps on rolling - the upgraded hubs do make an immediate difference. Weight is about the same as stock, but the user interface is much, much better. Besides the colour accents - the cable runs are obviously much tighter and cleaner than the stock bike. Can't pick out any complaints at all! Should be a great little bike for exploring areas in and around Cali!





EDIT: A 'hybrid' was initially supposed to combine some of the advantages of both a road bike and a mountain bike. Too many of the hybrids on the market today IMO, combine some of the worst features of both instead. These builds are my little effort to mix functionality and durability in a low maintenaince package. Weight is entirely secondary - excercise is supposed to be benificial.

I have the 29er. Fast, black, super smooth!

The final component selection resulted in twin bikes for the girls with the following build specs:

• Giant Seek 1 frame set in anodized black finish
• 30.9mm QR seat-post clamp
• Giant Connect flat-bar
• Giant Connect SL Stem
• Hone HB-M600 32H front hub axle modified from QR to 10mm solid axle and Y3C898010 Hone Hub Nuts and Washers. Laced to A719 double eyeleted rim
• Hone FH-M600 32H rear hub. Laced to Mavic A719 double eyeleted rim.
• Hone ST-M 600 9 speed dual control levers
• Jagwire Hyflow hydraulic lines (hot pink)
• Jagwire Ripcord full length derailleur cables (hot pink)
• Hone BR-M600 brakes
• Hone 203mm center-lock rotor -front
• Hone 160mm center-lock rotor - rear
• Michlin A3 Protek max tubes 700 x 35-48c Schrader valve
• Schwalbe Marathon Supreme
tires 700 x 40c rear, 700 x 50c front
• Selle Italia Diva Gel lady specific saddle
• Hone RD-M601 SGS low normal rear derailleur
• Hone front derailleur 601 dual swing
• RaceFace Deus XC crankset (pink) 175mm; Turbine rings 44/32/22
• RaceFace Team X -Type XC Bottom Bracket
• Ergon GP5 grips; bar-ends over-taped with Shimano Pro pink floral bar-tape
• SRAM PG-950 11x34, 9-Speed Cassette
• SRAM PG-991 Chain
• Bordo Combo Lite 6150 Link Lock, 85cm, Black; mounted above stem on HED Adjustable Lolipop
• Profile Design seat mount aero duo cage mount.
• Profile Design water bottle cages x 3
• Camelbak Podium water bottles x 3
• Topeak DeFender™ M1/M2 Set with Pedro's Tulio on rear fender clamp
• Twin Evo Spacebar Bicycle Handlebar Computer Mounts clamping a light mounting bar below the main handlebar.
• Twin 15/45 degree eliptical beam headlights
• Twin Serfas TL-200 rear lights

Yeah - I pretty much ended keeping the frame and selling off everything else. Still can't find a bike on the market they'd want to swap for.