Desert Ryder

If it's my size, Meh. Who am I kidding..... I'm going to be picking this 1986(?) DB Ascent for a crisp $20 bill. It looks original. Tange frame/Cro-Mo fork. I don't need it but what are some suggestions on what to do with it?
Leave original? Worth an upgrade? 1x crank conversion?

madpogue 

^^^^^ I wouldn't change a hair, right down to the pie plate.

gthomson

NICE Rockhopper mjj1015. That's dressed up to the nines. Did you have any problems seeding the tires on the wheels? I have the same tires on my Hard Rock but having a helluva time getting them to fit the rims properly.

cocoabeachcrab 

Schwinn Moab. i ride it on the beach. if there is a dirt clod on the road, i'll ride over that as well. fearlessly. possibly also double wide baby strollers, smartcars, and rich people from new york who are buying up my town, and the 100 decibel yipper dog downstairs. and the lawn guys who run that noisy ass leaf blower for hours on end to look like they are busy. also the liberty bibberty guy who is trying to replace doug and the emu. by then i'll be tired of riding over everything and will go home for a beer and to hide from the police who seem to have a problem with me running over things...

bargo68 

My latest CL purchase and current commuter: 1982 Univega Alpina Sport. It's an interesting evolutional step between BMX and MTB, or ATB to be true to the era.

madpogue 

^^^^^ "Compact" double front gearing, 25 years before they came up with a buzzword for it.

defmich

Drawing much inspiration from this outstanding retro-mod, mjj1015. Exceptionally well done!

seat_boy

The green tires really make this bike!

RALEIGH_COMP 

Just picked this up! 100 dolla made me holla

Bars/stem, wheels, fork, brakes levers and thumb shifters are not original 😑. Paint is rough too but maybe saveable... perhaps this was not that great of a deal in hindsight
First 970 I saw in a while and it was super close, I got excited lol. It being rough and mostly not original, I'm more inclined to be playful with the build...

daywood 

I’d be very happy with the deal, even if I ended up repainting it! To me, the appeal of these bikes is that they are such great platforms for playful and creative builds. I’d be OK if someone had already started down that path and passed along a set of good components to start my own keep/replace process with, even if they aren’t all original. I look forward to seeing what you do.

gthomson

Seeing that Trek 970 reminds me of a missed opportunity on my part. Has someone already started a post called regrets for the year? If not, this is one of those. The Trek 830 below, listed for $120, original owner and looked in great shape was mine, but I pulled out last minute feeling I didn't have the space for another bike. Regrets for sure. Love the colour scheme on this bike and it would have made a great mtn. bike conversion.

RALEIGH_COMP 

Thanks for the words of comfort! I was definitely having similar thoughts when talking myself into buying it . I will have to start a different thread on this build and see what fun suggestions people come up with.

LucasHartong

Never regretted this one.

Rick_D

Merlin, owned by my MIL that we acquired and I fixed up for my kid. She's since outgrown it, as the frame is a wee thing.

mountaindave 

Unless the frame is compromised and the components are shot, you got a deal! Those early 1990’s 970’s were mid-tier steel-framed bikes that indeed make great creative platforms. I’d have paid $100 all day long for that bike, especially with that generation of Deore DX and the thumb shifters.

With a threadless fork setup you have lots of options. Try some lightly swept back bars (~15 deg) and use it as a double track dominator. Throw on a front rack/basket and turn it into a super-commuter. It also has single speed potential (with a tensioner).

I found a 950 on the street with blown out shifters/cables. I fixed the RD in a single gear, scavenged a thumb shifter for the FD and made it a 3-speed - perfect for around town.

Just don’t leave it out in the rain.

t2p

one of my fav bikes

if I lived close by … not even close …

t2p

oh my that was a keeper

and especially because it is in great unmolested condition and still has the original rigid fork

I’m so far past the state of not having enough room for a another bike … or just about another anything … I make room … if I need to - I will break the bike down to be able to store it in a smaller space … (remove wheels, loosen stem so handlebar can be rotated)

Sedgemop 

Not mine. Thought y'all should see this one.

1984 "Green Trees" Schwinn High Sierra Mountain Bike 23" Top Model Fir - $400 (St Paul)

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/r...700248647.html

gthomson

I never thought of that. Will have to consider that for next time, thanks.

grasscutter

$35
Haven’t done anything to it yet besides air up the tires. Rides, shifts, stops fine. Frame is just just a tad tighter sized than I prefer.

PO had stem and seat cranked up waaay beyond a safe height… but then also paid to have it tuned up and new koolstops put on.

Not sure what I’m going to with it

AeroFred

That's really the type of bike I love !

Steel frame, cantilever brakes . . .

But I like to run them with fenders and a triple front.

AeroFred

I really love the geometry of the MTB in the 80's !

I love the fork, very unusual one btw . . .

AeroFred

Love your bike ! The MTB of the 80's have the best geometry. The fork is gorgeous !

AeroFred

What an interesting frame ! Can we see a more close-up picture of it ?

AeroFred

Mid '80s MBK Tracker, the french Klunker !