My girlfriends got AT50's on her '85 black chrome Schwinn Sierra that I'm going to be converting to a tourer here in a few weeks. Since they were also OEM for tandems, I figured they are good cantis, anything we should know about them?

Badger,
I've got SKS Chromoplastic P65's on mine. My girlfriend has the P55's on her old mountain bike/touring bike and the narrower fender is a sleeker look. I like them. I tend to stick with silver when given the chance for these old 80's bikes. They seemed to love the chrome back then!

I've got the AT50's on my rockhopper and they stop the bike on a dime. They're my favorite canti brakes I've ever used. I think the "high profile" cantis were how the design was meant to be implemented.

I was looking at getting some for the touring bike I'm building. I've heard great things about them.

Nice! That whole bike ('85 Sierra) was a score*, I could replace the cantis with Tektro 720's or the Nashbar cantis, both of which are excellent BTW, largely due to the fact they are high profile design. I have an ancient set of XTR's that are close to 90 degrees also, they are on par with the Tektro's and the Nashbars performance-wise. The Nashbars are actually great when paired with a decent lever. Very pleased to hear that the AT50's are well regarded though, I've already got near OEM cables for them, it'll be nice to keep them along with several other of the original components.


* $70 bucks, I could resell the grips for half that! Not that I'm going to, they're awesome, and she digs them, so they stay unless she finds them uncomfortable, then I'm giving them a try! I'll post pics to this thread with it, and my revamped '88 GT Timberline MTB turned tourer here in a few weeks when they're built up.

I agree I like the look of silver and some black fenders I've seen tend to show mars or scratches more. I'll check out the SKS. I have them on my Expedition and they've lasted 20 years so far.

Five years ago, I decided to convert my late 80's/early 90's no name brand MTB to commuter purposes. Back then I had added a rear rack and fenders. I swapped out the flat bar to a riser bar, and changed the tires to Ritchey 1.4 slicks. I also put in clipless pedals. This is how the MTB looked after the upgrade 5 years ago:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=494413http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=494414

Recently I got the itch to make some additional changes. I ended up upgrading a few more things for commute & touring purposes:
- replaced saddle and seatpost
- replaced riser handlebar to trekking bar with Ergon grips
- replaced quill stem to threadless stem
- replaced clipless pedals to platform pedals.
- added handlebar bag
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=494415http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=494416http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=501348

BigSung,, I dig it, looks nice

Cool setup, gotta love butterfly bars!
By 'no name' do you mean there now isnt one, or do you really not know the brand/manufacturer? Just curious because its a nice looking(well thought out) rigid frame.

Since this thread surfaced again......I recently added fenders and a front rack. Only wish I could find a silver version of the Blackburn rack. I'm planning to get out on it for just a few days on the GDMBR in Colorado next summer.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...45519B8002.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...C0E5B7272B.jpg

Thanks. I know I spent way too much in upgrades, but it's finally where I want it to be.

It's a Motiv Rockpoint II, size Medium (19 inch). I bought it from Costco way back in the late 80s or early 90s (can't remember the exact year that I bought it). I removed the stickers for cleaner look. It was my first MTB, so for sentimental reasons I can't seem to part with it. The frame and fork is 4130 chromoly. The bike fits me well, and the ride is quite plush.

I took it out for a quick 15 mile ride that includes singletrack and road/bike path. Even with the semi-slicks, it handled well even after the rains. And I am really enjoying the butterfly bars.

I'm loving this thread. I've got an early 90s Cannuck made Peugeot I currently don't really have a use for. I keep thinking about selling it, but for some reason the neon green doesn't want me to let go. It needs some new shifters, anyway (the current one die in the cold). I can't decide between trekking bars, mustache bars, drop/dirt drop bars.

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/...psv0qb3mam.jpg

1989 Specialised RockCombo
 

I present to you my RockCombo, repainted and converted to 650b!

http://timcreamer.com/ramble/wp-cont...650b.-copy.jpg

Great thread.

I have two mtb's atm, one I'm riding now and the other in progress. Funny thing is they are both almost the exact same geometry (one is about 2" longer) but made of completely different material and weight.

The first was a freebie and is an 1987 era Raleigh Quicksilver LE, of which there is almost nothing about on the net. Obviously inspired by the Quicksilver movie (but those bikes were roadies). It is Al and heavy at almost 32lb's but solid like a tank. It's undergone a few changes, most notably the rear gearing (Mega Range), friction shifters to replace seized twisters and bars, which I swapped out for first trekking bars and now a set of sort of bullhorn type.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=500598http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=500600

The second is a 1992 steel Marin Pine Mountain that cost $55 and weighs about 20lb's with better components. It will inherit the trekking bars and probably the Brooks saddle and I may try some bike packing bags along with panniers. Otherwise it is just a strip down, repaint and rebuild project that I hope to ride in the spring of this year and across Western Canada in the fall.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=500602http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=500603

Nice! I'd love to find a RockCombo.

What's that front bag that you're rocking?

That is an early Acorn handlebar bag made in the USA Acorn Bags | Traditional Bicycle Luggage.
the rear is a Carridace bag from England.

1995 specialized Hardrock sport
 

This is my work in progress. Trekking bars possibly on the way. Kenda tires, Blackburn rack, fenders, and a new seat. Next up are a new chain and hopefully new shifters to replace the gripshifts, tune up, and maybe a paint job. It’s actually a size too big for me and I can just straddle it, but when riding it fits so comfortably! And it feels like a tank!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4b6c7dc533.jpg

1988 Panasonic MC4500

Man, that's a great looking bike! Agree about the silver front rack. That would really top it off. Did you ever find one? I wonder about aircraft stripper and steel wool...

Ride on,
Nick