Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
12-05-13, 02:34 PM
#2576
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Here's my conversion; a 1987 Schwin Cimarron. So far this year, I've clocked 1900 miles on it, and despite being heavy, it's been the best commuter I've put together so far. It's built with a slew of fun parts that were on my previous mountain bikes; while it may look lke grandma's bike, closer inspection tells the story. 
12-05-13, 04:00 PM
#2577
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Thanks for the good word! On the crank, no telling what will turn up. I am partial to the Sugino XD600s however, having used them twice to build a Surly LHT and a Panasonic tourer in previous years. There was a used White Industries triple on ebay a while back that looked good. Whatever I use, my 7+ decades old noodle knees and the local terrain require a triple.
12-05-13, 08:12 PM
#2578
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This is a 1986 Stumpjumper frame I recently acquired. The original orange paint had been oversprayed and looked pretty bad. Had it stripped and powder coated in Candy Orange by a local outfit, Creative Candy in Dawsonville, Georgia. The base coat is silver with some metal flake added. The frame really pops in direct light. Before powder coating, I had Seth Snyder, a local frame and wheel builder, check frame alignment and braze posts on the downtube for the 105 shifters I will use. The last photo shows some of the parts; new, NOS and used already acquired for the build. Look forward to showing pictures of the completed all rounder sometime in the spring.
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12-06-13, 08:10 AM
#2579
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What's sick about downtube shifters? I also like bar end and STI shifters. When I converted my Panasonic MC5500 to drop bar, I used thumbies instead of bar ends (following your advice on how to install the thumbies). Really enjoy them. But I prefer DT, indexed shifters. Maybe old dogs/new tricks applies here. Also, I like not having the clutter of four cables up front.
12-06-13, 10:16 AM
#2582
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Here's my conversion; a 1987 Schwin Cimarron. So far this year, I've clocked 1900 miles on it, and despite being heavy, it's been the best commuter I've put together so far. It's built with a slew of fun parts that were on my previous mountain bikes; while it may look lke grandma's bike, closer inspection tells the story.
What rear rack is that? Looks like it would handle a gorilla sitting on it and not bend!
12-06-13, 11:12 AM
#2583
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^^ The rack is a Surly. No question that it's bomb proof; it weighs a ton, but I really liked the adjustability.^^
12-06-13, 11:22 AM
#2584
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They will and they weigh nearly as much as one. Heavy heavy racks. I have the front rack. Awesome design, would be even better in tubular aluminum.
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12-06-13, 12:32 PM
#2585
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Great Cimmaron, bconneraz! Very rugged beast, and I like those centerstands. They can hold up any loaded bike.
+1 on Frantik being positive over the DT braze ons. It's a rarely seen mod, but a cool one. The Stumpy frame looks fantastic and I can't wait to see the finished results as well.
+1 on Frantik being positive over the DT braze ons. It's a rarely seen mod, but a cool one. The Stumpy frame looks fantastic and I can't wait to see the finished results as well.
12-06-13, 07:28 PM
#2587
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This is a 1986 Stumpjumper frame I recently acquired. The original orange paint had been oversprayed and looked pretty bad. Had it stripped and powder coated in Candy Orange by a local outfit, Creative Candy in Dawsonville, Georgia. The base coat is silver with some metal flake added. The frame really pops in direct light. Before powder coating, I had Seth Snyder, a local frame and wheel builder, check frame alignment and braze posts on the downtube for the 105 shifters I will use. The last photo shows some of the parts; new, NOS and used already acquired for the build. Look forward to showing pictures of the completed all rounder sometime in the spring.
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12-06-13, 08:26 PM
#2588
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The color you chose looks not too far off from my '86 Nashbar Terra XT. Our frames are close cousins, both made in the same facility in Japan with matching geometry (same lugged fork), only the tubing differed as the Terra XT was made with Ishiwata CrMo. The stock gold metal flake color on mine is called "Sunset Orange"
12-07-13, 10:19 AM
#2589
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Close cousins is right, right down to similar frame colors. You say the tubes on your frame are Ishiwata? I don't know what type of steel the Stump's frame is made from but it's pretty hefty. Frame/fork weigh 7.6 lbs. The frame/fork decals read "Special Series Touring Cr-Mo Double Butted Tubing".
Shoot! A quick check of MOMBAT's Specialized spec chart identified the standard and team model Stumpjumper as being double butted Tange Prestige but was not specific beyond "Cro-Mo DB" tubing. Maybe it's Ishiwata like mine, our bike definitely have the heftiness in common! The Nashbar catalog states the weight is 28 lbs for a 21" frame. Both frames came with "Deerhead" XT components but I notice that the Stumpy came with a 5 speed freewheel, the Terra XT came with a Sun Tour Winner 6 speed freewheel. That proves the flexibility of those friction shifters, I've run them on 5, 6, and 7 speed set ups. By the way, SimiChrome from Germany really does a nice job on the XT components.
Here are a couple detail shots, one you can see the paint color a little better in the sunlight.
12-07-13, 10:36 AM
#2590
Banned
I put upright sitting bars on instead, 'albatross', bar thumb shifters, Old Mt bike wears studded tires now..
12-07-13, 11:28 AM
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Here's my conversion; a 1987 Schwin Cimarron. So far this year, I've clocked 1900 miles on it, and despite being heavy, it's been the best commuter I've put together so far. It's built with a slew of fun parts that were on my previous mountain bikes; while it may look lke grandma's bike, closer inspection tells the story.
12-08-13, 12:03 AM
#2593
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Really well done bconneraz, I dig the build as it's a cool mix of new and old! I'm surprised Thrifty Bill (wrk101) hasn't commented on your Cimarron, maybe he's on vacation because I'm sure he'll appreciate all the choice bits! Bill started this thread 104 pages ago and has done some fabulous conversion. My favorite being his "skinny" Cimarron, I love it because he was able to get his Cimarron down to 25 pounds and I couldn't get any of mine under 26... that damn magical pound elluded me on two different builds ('85 and '88 LE). Do you make the ride from the canyon to the sand? I live in North O.C. and frequent The Fullerton Loop and Carbon Canyon, I don't make it down your way often these days but I sure do love and enjoy the trails that surround you!
12-09-13, 01:21 PM
#2594
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Retro Tan Gumwall modifications - Mongoose
Updated the build for a retro look and hitting technical trails. Added to build as follows:
-Picked up a second set of Vuelta wheels ($65, last pair from Wheel and Sprocket outlet)
-New Duro Rocky Wolf Tan Gumwalls (ebay - $12 each plus shipping)
-Sram 8 speed 11-30 freewheel ($22 - bikewagon)
Also, gave up on my re-cover of the old Vetta. The vynyl I used cut too easily. Just went with a Brooks B-17 Honey.
Yes, it's a heavy S.O.B. but I love it.
-Picked up a second set of Vuelta wheels ($65, last pair from Wheel and Sprocket outlet)
-New Duro Rocky Wolf Tan Gumwalls (ebay - $12 each plus shipping)
-Sram 8 speed 11-30 freewheel ($22 - bikewagon)
Also, gave up on my re-cover of the old Vetta. The vynyl I used cut too easily. Just went with a Brooks B-17 Honey.
Yes, it's a heavy S.O.B. but I love it.
New to the forum and enjoying the MTB drop bar pix. I've been enjoying mine for about four years now. Originally a Mongoose Rockadile (1994) I've had since about 1996. Did most of the conversion about four years ago, with a few tweaks since. Great commuter, trail bike, touring, gravel, whatever. Some pix attached. Thanks!
Build
Original Stock Shimano STX Drivetrain
Original Vetta Saddle (re-covered in brown Oct 2013 to match new h-bar wrap)
Soma June Bug bars
RaceFace Stem
Surly 1x1 Fork (replaced an old aftermarket Rock Shox Judy) - BEEFY!
Shimano Bar Ends (Sweet!)
Tektro CR720 Cantis (old Shimano cantis had too much flex)
Cane Creek levers and Headset
Axiom Journey Rear Rack
Racktime front rack
Vuelta Zerolite Wheelset (Nashbar special - replaced original Arayas lent to brother-in-law) -Helluva a good set of inexpensive wheels.
Maxxis Overdrive Kevlar 26 x 1.75 tires (559-47)
Ahrens WiseCracker (the most important addition)
Build
Original Stock Shimano STX Drivetrain
Original Vetta Saddle (re-covered in brown Oct 2013 to match new h-bar wrap)
Soma June Bug bars
RaceFace Stem
Surly 1x1 Fork (replaced an old aftermarket Rock Shox Judy) - BEEFY!
Shimano Bar Ends (Sweet!)
Tektro CR720 Cantis (old Shimano cantis had too much flex)
Cane Creek levers and Headset
Axiom Journey Rear Rack
Racktime front rack
Vuelta Zerolite Wheelset (Nashbar special - replaced original Arayas lent to brother-in-law) -Helluva a good set of inexpensive wheels.
Maxxis Overdrive Kevlar 26 x 1.75 tires (559-47)
Ahrens WiseCracker (the most important addition)
Last edited by Goosecheck; 12-09-13 at 01:23 PM. Reason: added picture
12-09-13, 02:01 PM
#2595
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Those tires actually have a great look to them, but I bet they are heavy?
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12-09-13, 02:08 PM
#2596
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12-09-13, 10:19 PM
#2597
Thrifty Bill
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Really well done bconneraz, I dig the build as it's a cool mix of new and old! I'm surprised Thrifty Bill (wrk101) hasn't commented on your Cimarron, maybe he's on vacation because I'm sure he'll appreciate all the choice bits! Bill started this thread 104 pages ago and has done some fabulous conversion. My favorite being his "skinny" Cimarron, I love it because he was able to get his Cimarron down to 25 pounds and I couldn't get any of mine under 26... that damn magical pound elluded me on two different builds ('85 and '88 LE). Do you make the ride from the canyon to the sand? I live in North O.C. and frequent The Fullerton Loop and Carbon Canyon, I don't make it down your way often these days but I sure do love and enjoy the trails that surround you!
Great inspiration. We should start a Cimarron thread!! I tried to snag another one, but missed out. All the bikes I have, and my $15 Cimarron is my favorite.
Its one of Schwinn's sleeper vintage bikes.
Good excuse for me to post my latest iteration of the Cimarron. I swapped out rear racks with a nice one I picked up at the Habitat for Humanity store. Handles my vintage Madden panniers quite well. The rack is pretty nice, its modular (three pieces), so really adjustable for fit. No idea who made it. Similar in shape to your tubular rack, but it has an extruded aluminum deck.
Last edited by wrk101; 12-10-13 at 11:07 AM.
12-11-13, 02:27 AM
#2598
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i want one of those fillet brazed cimmarons! and/or one with black chrome. a buddy has a Sierra which has black chrome that has been painted over, similar to how my Univega was. the frame looks pretty nice though the components werent the best on the Sierra
12-11-13, 10:55 AM
#2599
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Yeah, terrific Cimarron!
Great inspiration. We should start a Cimarron thread!! I tried to snag another one, but missed out. All the bikes I have, and my $15 Cimarron is my favorite.
Its one of Schwinn's sleeper vintage bikes.
Good excuse for me to post my latest iteration of the Cimarron. I swapped out rear racks with a nice one I picked up at the Habitat for Humanity store. Handles my vintage Madden panniers quite well. The rack is pretty nice, its modular (three pieces), so really adjustable for fit. No idea who made it. Similar in shape to your tubular rack, but it has an extruded aluminum deck.
Great inspiration. We should start a Cimarron thread!! I tried to snag another one, but missed out. All the bikes I have, and my $15 Cimarron is my favorite.
Its one of Schwinn's sleeper vintage bikes.
Good excuse for me to post my latest iteration of the Cimarron. I swapped out rear racks with a nice one I picked up at the Habitat for Humanity store. Handles my vintage Madden panniers quite well. The rack is pretty nice, its modular (three pieces), so really adjustable for fit. No idea who made it. Similar in shape to your tubular rack, but it has an extruded aluminum deck.
And Frantik- just keep an eye on ebay; they either pop up for crazy cheap (I should have bought the last frame and fork I saw for 75 bucks a month or so ago) or they are crazy expensive. They are indeed gems.
12-11-13, 11:44 AM
#2600
Thrifty Bill
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+1 A black chrome High Sierra is on my watch for list. I like my black chrome Univega, but it is just too small.