beicster 

I can't tell you anything about your frame but I hope you post more about this bike. I saw that for sale on the list and wished I was in a position to buy it.

wrk101

The first few years, the relatively low model numbers didn't represent low end bikes. My 1984 Trek 850 was full Reynolds 531 with all XT components. Later on, the 850 was a low end bike. Your 1985 870 was Tange Prestige frame, full XT components as well. So top of the line bike! I really wish Trek would have maintained some logic to its model numbering system. But it does create buying opportunities, as the average person doesn't realize that an early 8xx was something really desirable. Ride is all about fit. Had that 850 I owned fit me better, I would have kept it. Ultimately, it came down to either keeping my 1988 Cimarron or the Trek.

Velocivixen

Here is my 1995 Trek 820, which I've been slowly modifying. I just put Soma Portola handlebars and SunTour bar end shifters to improve my variety of hand positions. I really like this bike. It's ready for just about anything.
I will say that I ran out of cable tips, so that's why there are none on here. I'm getting a supply today to rectify the situation. Also the twine job on the right side needs to be redone.

Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr

Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr

Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr


Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Mountain Bike Drop Bar Conversion by velocivixen, on Flickr

TenGrainBread 

So good!
I recently sold my Trek 930 drop bar conversion...so that I could fund a new drop bar mtb project It will also be a '95 but this time something aluminum...

beicster 

Nice bike. When I first got into riding I was basically broke. But, I saved up enough money to buy that era of XT rear derailleur. I was so proud of that thing. I have always been partial to that style.

2cam16

Nice,VV!

superstring

I have that exact derailler in very good shape and I'd consider selling it, if you're interested (or anyone else).

tiredhands 

I haven't ridden every derailleur, but I think this XT model is my favorite. I have two short cage versions, one shifting 7 speeds and one shifting 10 with equal poise and confidence. Highly recommended!

Chrome Molly

That’s sharp, nice

Velocivixen

Hey, thanks everyone. I semi regularly go to a bike co-op in NE Portland and look through all their derailleurs, and shifters mostly. I bought that derailleur there for probably around $15 or so. I really like the look of them. Same goes for the SLR can’t brakes and levers. It’s worth it if you’ve got a co-op around. Most things are a bit dirty, but nothing a little TLC won’t take care of.

arex

Bueno!

wschruba

If you have a supply of brass spoke nipples, they will work great as emergency cable crimps. You can even cut the head off when you're done, if you have bolt cutters/hardened 'parrot beak' (wire rope) cutters.

cooperryder

That is a great looking Trek you have there. Nicely done!
I really like that color of green.
I have 2 1990 Trek mt bikes an 850 and a 7000.

I think I have them posted somewhere on this thread.

Velocivixen

Thanks @cooperryder. I like those early '90's treks. I had a lugged black 930 and eventually sold the frame. Definitely had a more "aggressive" stance vs the more town oriented 800 series.

Living in Oregon my entire life, my favorite color is, of course GREEN!

sloar 

I’m ready, just need a mountain bike.

3speedslow

Nice start Sloar, shouldn't be too hard for you to come up with a good sized mtb frame.

valleysuper

In doing over my 96 Karakoram I’m wondering what double crankset I may be able to use?
Has a square taper English threaded bb now 73 wide. Would replace with whatever I needed.
The existing deore cranks are triple with 94 bcd on larger 2 rings, and cant find any rings past 42 teeth. Was gonna just run it as a double... but would like to get to 50 teeth. Ideally run a 50/34 double.

Thx.

biketroubadour

I'm keep getting requests for inexpensive bikepacking rigs & inevitably the used frames I can get my hands on that suit my clients needs/budget are almost always 26er MTB frames. The trend is real

biketroubadour

I'd go for an FSA Vero if you want to stick with a square taper bb

abshipp 

Finally finished this up last night with installing the barcons and bar wrap and a new Nitto stem.

I've got about 25 miles on this so far, before the work I did last night. A ride around the neighborhood confirmed that the barcons are a great addition, and the fit feels perfect with the new stem.

simmonsgc

I like that one a lot! Good solid choices there...that's a setup that will never let you down (and if it does, you can rig a fix in the middle of nowhere).

tiredhands 

Wow, that's a stunner! The stem really ties it all together.

How do you like the Panaracer Comets? I'm looking at those for an upcoming drop-bar build and am wondering about their ride quality vs. rolling resistance on pavement vs. gravel. Their price is certainly the reason I'm looking at them in the first place, just hoping they might be decent for mixed conditions. Any comments?

Squeeze

Great-looking Mirada!

And, to steal a phrase from someone at this forum (sorry, don't remember who said this, or I'd give proper credit), you could throw a cat between the rear tire and the seatpost.

TenGrainBread 

That Mirada looks fantastic.

I have a question for all the drop bar MTB people. I often see people put those dirt drop bars on bikes like this with the bars angled upwards, so that the ramps are flat and the drops have a somewhat extreme angle, as abshipp's bike above.
I tried that setup once with a pair of Soma Portola dirt drop bars. My experience was that with the bars angled up like that the reach of the bars was pretty long. And being in the drops was somewhat impractical, because with that upward angle they were farther away, which meant I'd have to lean forward quite a bit and get low to be in the drops. Ultimately they were pretty uncomfortable in any position because both the hoods and the drops were quite far away with the bars angled up.

My takeaway from this experience was that these types of bars were designed to be angled so that the drops are parallel to the ground, or almost parallel, and the drops (behind the brake levers) would be the primary riding position. This makes the reach reasonable, and coupled with a very tall stem, allows you to have a wider hand position for off-road handling, and more leverage on the brake levers. If you look at the original WTB and Nitto dirt drops, that's how these were always set up.

So I'm confused why people angle them upwards, taking away all their advantages so they could ride on the hoods like a normal drop bar. If one wanted a position like this, I feel like a drop bar with a short reach and very shallow drops would make more sense (for example, the Soma Condor, or Salsa Cowbell, etc) for this riding position. With the dirt drops angled up like that, they just seem like a drop bar with a long reach and far-away drops, the opposite of what someone would want for offroad!

Anybody share this opinion or is my analysis idiosyncratic?

wrk101

A non-conversion conversion. Pretty close to stock. Needs some minor tweaks. Shows the concept predates this thread by several decades.

[IMG]1988 +/- Specialized Rock Combo by wrk101, on Flickr[/IMG]