I would LOVE to see photos of your MTB conversion
02-08-10, 08:53 PM
#177
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02-08-10, 10:18 PM
#178
Sorry didn't see your post until now. I had a Raleigh Technium model -I believe older than the one you posted -and rode it many many thousands of miles. It was my first serious xc bike, so it put up with a lot of pounding. I converted it to a commuter bike, and then to a tourer. It worked perfectly until.... I used to feel a clunk. I thought it was a bent crank arm hitting the chainstay, but nope. Then I thought maybe it was the bb, replaced it, but nope.
After a while I realized it was the frame integrity. I stripped any useful parts of it, and then took a hacksaw to make sure no one could ride it subsequently. As I was sawing it in half, I found one of the joints to be completely loose. While I'm not sure just one joint could have made the frame collapse, it was the thought that if one joint could fail, couldn't another joint separate as well? And probably with greater likelihood as more stress was now being placed on the other joints.
Anyway, yours might be fine. And of course, other non composite bike frames can have trouble too with bad welds. However, it put me off the Techniums for life -it may be a simplistic thing to say, but it made me suspect why the alu/steel bonding idea isn't still done nor was done by other manufacturers subsequently.
After a while I realized it was the frame integrity. I stripped any useful parts of it, and then took a hacksaw to make sure no one could ride it subsequently. As I was sawing it in half, I found one of the joints to be completely loose. While I'm not sure just one joint could have made the frame collapse, it was the thought that if one joint could fail, couldn't another joint separate as well? And probably with greater likelihood as more stress was now being placed on the other joints.
Anyway, yours might be fine. And of course, other non composite bike frames can have trouble too with bad welds. However, it put me off the Techniums for life -it may be a simplistic thing to say, but it made me suspect why the alu/steel bonding idea isn't still done nor was done by other manufacturers subsequently.
02-08-10, 10:29 PM
#179
Converted Specialized Hard Rock, with new powder coat:
more pics on this thread:
Building a bike up Is it worth it -Your choice
more pics on this thread:
Building a bike up Is it worth it -Your choice
03-28-10, 08:08 PM
#186
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
All geared up and am presently on a weekend shake down ride with everything being as smooth as silk.
03-29-10, 12:08 PM
#188
Senior Member
03-29-10, 01:01 PM
#189
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,799
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
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06-03-10, 04:30 PM
#193
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Sisters... and two of my favourite bikes.
1987 Kuwahara Cascade Expedition version.
1988 Kuwahara Shasta - Apocalypse bike
1987 Kuwahara Cascade Expedition version.
1988 Kuwahara Shasta - Apocalypse bike
06-15-10, 04:54 AM
#195
Newbie
That frame is too small for you by the look of the loooong seatpost and the loooong stem shaft. I'm pretty sure your knees are too close to the handlebar ends.
Cheapo LHT you say ? The Rockhopper owes nothing to Surly's LHT. I can tell, I own two, 1994 & 1998. Despite not being of the same generation, they're both light (100% DB Chromoly) and have a perfect steering. I wouldn't part with them unless I'd lose a leg (and my ability to ride a bike) !
Cheapo LHT you say ? The Rockhopper owes nothing to Surly's LHT. I can tell, I own two, 1994 & 1998. Despite not being of the same generation, they're both light (100% DB Chromoly) and have a perfect steering. I wouldn't part with them unless I'd lose a leg (and my ability to ride a bike) !
Last edited by Karloman; 06-15-10 at 05:10 AM.
06-20-10, 06:45 PM
#196
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Hello,
I recently returned to cycling and have found my old MTB to be much more comfortable than my road bike. I guess 14 years away from bikes and gaining 50 pounds will impact comfort on a bike, huh? I don't have any recent photos of the bike yet. But here's what I'm working with:
I have Forte 26x1.25" tires and a seatpost-mounted rear rack. I'm looking at suspension-compatible racks. But I also ride with some roadies and don't necessarily want the weight full time. Funny - this is coming from a 210-lb guy on a 35-lb bike riding amongst carbon fiber road bikes.
For simplicity, cost(?), and quick conversion between road and tour, I'm considering a BOB trailer. I also have a Trekking handlebar on my wish list. I'm doing well with wrapped bar-ends; but I'd like more flexibility. The Trekker just might give me what I'm looking for.
I'll post "after" photos when I've added the Trekker bar. I'll be riding this bike in my first century since 1996 on August 7th and hope to have more photos from that day.
I recently returned to cycling and have found my old MTB to be much more comfortable than my road bike. I guess 14 years away from bikes and gaining 50 pounds will impact comfort on a bike, huh? I don't have any recent photos of the bike yet. But here's what I'm working with:
I have Forte 26x1.25" tires and a seatpost-mounted rear rack. I'm looking at suspension-compatible racks. But I also ride with some roadies and don't necessarily want the weight full time. Funny - this is coming from a 210-lb guy on a 35-lb bike riding amongst carbon fiber road bikes.
For simplicity, cost(?), and quick conversion between road and tour, I'm considering a BOB trailer. I also have a Trekking handlebar on my wish list. I'm doing well with wrapped bar-ends; but I'd like more flexibility. The Trekker just might give me what I'm looking for.I'll post "after" photos when I've added the Trekker bar. I'll be riding this bike in my first century since 1996 on August 7th and hope to have more photos from that day.
06-21-10, 10:31 AM
#197
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That frame is too small for you by the look of the loooong seatpost and the loooong stem shaft. I'm pretty sure your knees are too close to the handlebar ends.
Cheapo LHT you say ? The Rockhopper owes nothing to Surly's LHT. I can tell, I own two, 1994 & 1998. Despite not being of the same generation, they're both light (100% DB Chromoly) and have a perfect steering. I wouldn't part with them unless I'd lose a leg (and my ability to ride a bike) !
Cheapo LHT you say ? The Rockhopper owes nothing to Surly's LHT. I can tell, I own two, 1994 & 1998. Despite not being of the same generation, they're both light (100% DB Chromoly) and have a perfect steering. I wouldn't part with them unless I'd lose a leg (and my ability to ride a bike) !
This is the latest pics for the shakedown ride.
]
Last edited by crimsonking; 06-21-10 at 10:35 AM.
