digitalbicycle

My current ride is the 1990 Schwinn Voyageur in the picture below. I use it for commuting, short tours, and weekend rides that are usually no longer than 30 or 40 miles. I love the way it handles but really want fatter tires (biggest I can fit is a 32mm) and more clearance between the tires and fenders (stuff keeps getting stuck in there when I ride through mud or sand). I'm thinking about building up a rigid steel MTB but don't know where to look for a comparable ride/geometry.

Some things that I think make a difference in this equation are my desire for a short top tube and wanting to get the bars up equal with the seat for comfort. The Voyageur has a 57cm top tube which is very comfortable. The seat tube is 62cm c-c and you can see from the amount of seat post I've got sticking out that it's a reasonable size for me to ride.

I'm looking for some input about the feasibility of finding a rigid MTB that would handle and fit similarly to my Voyageur. I have a 22" '86 Stumpjumper Sport, which is beautiful and lugged and the top tube and standover are right, but the angles are so slack it feels like steering a yacht -- not nice and zippy like my 72.5/72.5 Voyageur. Any suggestions would be welcome.

leftthread

What are the top tube c/c and wheelbase measurements on the Stumpy, wheelbase on the Voyageur? I could check it against several rigid mtbs sitting around here.

digitalbicycle

The Stumpjumper has a 57cm top tube and a 109.5cm wheelbase. The Voyageur's wheelbase is 105cm.

ColonelJLloyd 

OP, some vintage touring bikes' cantilever brakes will allow for a 700c conversion. Have you looked into this option?

digitalbicycle

Yes, it'll take 700c's. But that only bought me maybe another 3mm tire width, with the same fender clearance problems, so I didn't pursue it.

ColonelJLloyd 

I see. So you're after 38-40mm tires and fenders and still want the zippy geometry of your Voayageur? Perhaps you should consider picking up a pre-canti Voyageur or similar sport-touring bike and converting it to 650B. There's an abundance of discussion and information on the topic in this forum.

digitalbicycle

To be honest, I'm hoping to get larger tires than that, which is why I'm looking into a MTB. I really like 1.95" tires for the city and dirt road riding I do. The 650B conversions I've seen don't look like they'd fit tires that big -- have you seen any that do?

jtgotsjets

Well the problem with the really old mtbs, such as your stumpjumper, is that they were built with "cruiser" geometry in mind—no doubt a result of the klunker guys' influence.

I believe mtb geometry started getting tighter with Bridgestone's MB series. I'd look for a late 80s MB-0, MB-1 or MB-2 to test ride and go from there.

ColonelJLloyd 

I have not, but then I haven't looked. I don't think any MTB is going to give you the same handling as a sport-touring road bike so there will be a point where you'll likely have to choose between the handling you want and 40mm tires or 1.95" tires and not quite the handling to which you're accustomed.

nlerner

I believe the Rawland Sogn was an attempt to do what you're trying, and it was made for the Pacenti MTB 650B tires.

https://www.rawlandcycles.com/store/i...intItemID=3421

I don't think it's being made any longer, but perhaps you could find one used.

Neal

Mr IGH

I assume your Voyager has a ~72* headtube angle. Most hardtail 29er frames have a 70* headtube angle. The Vassago Jabberwocky has a 71* HT angle and takes 700Cx2.3" tires. Vassago Fisticuff has a 72* or 72.5* HT angle and takes 700Cx45mm tires:

https://www.vassagocycles.com/jabberwocky/
https://www.vassagocycles.com/fisticuff/

ColonelJLloyd 

"Available as a frame set in Shart Brown". Nice!

KonAaron Snake 

This honestly sounds like a job for a custom builder.

Voyageur_guy

Awww looks just like mine. serious touring bike
I love that bike wish i rode it more the Daccordi has been taking all my time

nikkorod

Not to be a shill for Vassago, but I ride a fully ridgid Bandersnatch with their ODIS steel fork. They are nice bikes. Mine is currently set up as a 1x9. I would recommend them. Their mountain bikes ride differently. Feels like your riding inside of them and not on top. Sounds weird I know, but I was impressed with them. Their geometry is lower and longer then most 29ers

Mr IGH

I don't get the shill thing, did they give you a free frame? I have a Jabber, paid full price for it, it rides nice, I like it and tell other people about it. If they gave me a free frame and some cash, then I went around telling everyone how great it is, that'll be shilling. Buying something for retail and relating one's experience is just word-of-mouth reviewing.

nikkorod

No...nothing free here, but people who drop a$1200.00 on a bike are somtimes skewed, because of what they paid.

illwafer

OP,

ain't gonna happen at your height. if you were shorter, sure, but no MTB is going to be large enough.

i would look at some old bikes with 27" wheels and long chainstays. you might be surprised at the clearance you can get with 700c wheels.

Mr IGH

The Vassago comes in 60cm seat tube, that's 24", the Voyaguer is 25". The Vassago has a ~23" tt, his Voyaguer has a ~23" TT. It's a really close fit and and takes 45mm tires w/fenders. Has disc mounts too. I've been looking at this frame for quite some time.

Another option is the bikeisland Jury or Mercier Old School. They take 45mm tires, need to add some long reach brakes and the head tube angle is 74* and TT is 61cm for the 62cm, price is $215 and $250, cheap:

https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1184

https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1773

kaliayev

Real early 90s Trek 950s, lugged steel, geometry very similar to the 520. The 750 hybrid the same.