Chicago Al 

I'm looking for a couple of medium size MTBs (17"?) to convert to upright riding, gravel trails and so on with my wife. Not 'real' MTB riding, no shocks needed, but good tubing, relatively light weight, good components.

As a C&V guy, of course they have to be something...you know, COOL. Not actually rare or 'collectible'. Hopefully a 'ladies' model for my wife, which will make things harder.

Would also consider early hybrids like the Bridgestone X or Miyata -Cross bikes.

And oh yeah, I'm cheap!

Obviously Chicago was not a huge MTB site so pickings here are pretty slim. ;- )

A friend has a Bridgestone MB-3 but it's too small, otherwise that brand is rarely seen here, unfortunately.

I am partial to Miyata so an Elevation or the earlier -Runner series could work.

There are three Paramount PDGs (supposedly) for sale locally but the sellers don't even respond to messages

I see from threads here that the Univega Alpina is well regarded--and they have a Miyata frame!--but they're rarely seen here.

Obviously the Stumpjumper is classic, but prices seem to reflect that.

What else should I be looking for?

Mr. 66

Schwinn had some really nice products, the mid eighties stuff is right there for the type of use you want.

'02 nrs

hard to find in '87 but there were some gems.

Chicago Al 

Nice, '02...what is it?

Also: I can't see my original post now. Hope it's still there otherwise the thread makes no sense.

Chicago Al 

Can you all see my original post, starting with 'I'm looking for a couple of medium sized (17'?)...'

I can't see it at all, not even if I log out of BF. I wonder if I did something wrong, or the forum interface somehow deleted it.

But if that original post was deleted, wouldn't the thread disappear too?

I'll repost as best I can remember if the original is really gone.

delbiker1 

OP not showing. That is an interesting username coming from Chi town.

AeroGut

The top of the line Treks in the 80’s and 90’s were well made and aren’t hard to find in good condition.

clubman 

No original post Al

Chicago Al 

This is weird. If I go into my profile and look at my recent posts, then hover over the thread, I can see the original text in the little pop up box. Yet the post itself is gone. Forum software...

ANYWAY here's the gist:

I'm looking for a couple of hardtail mtn bikes for myself and wife, to convert to upright style, for riding on gravel paths etc. No serious single track, so no suspension or anything fancy needed. Nice tubing and good components though.

I'm 5'6" and she's a bit shorter but with longer legs, so I think 17" or so is probably the right size.

Being a C&V guy naturally I'd like them to be interesting or cool in some way. Our local CL is full of basic Mongoose, Trek 800, etc bikes but surely I can do better. Wife wants a step through frame so that does make it a bit harder.

Also I'm cheap...but aren't we all?

A friend has a Bridgestone MB-3 but it's unfortunately too small, and otherwise that brand doesn't show up here much. That's in the ballpark though, kinda cool, but not super rare or 'collectible.'

I'm a Miyata fan and one of the better Elevation or -Runner model would fit the bill.

I'd also consider nice hybrids like the Miyata Triple Cross, or the Bridgestone XO--never even seen one of those. Never had that kind of bike but seems like with wide tires it'd work fine.

There are *3* Paramount PDG bikes (I think a '91 Series 70, '92 Series 40, and '93 R50) for sale locally, but the sellers can't be bothered to reply to queries. I fixed up a PDG 20 a few years ago and daughter has it now--pretty nice bike.

A few people on the Mtn bike-to-upright thread have Univega Alpinas (Uno, Sport, etc) and that would be a contender (with a Miyata frame!) but they don't seem to turn up here.

Obviously Specialized Stumpjumpers are a classic, but they seem to be priced accordingly.

What else should I be looking for?

r0ckh0und 

Schwinn Sierra, High Sierra and Cimarron are nice. Some of the Schwinn Miradas were 4130 and nice frames in my opinion.

Spaghetti Legs 

I, too, have been snooping around for a smaller Mtb for my son. There’s a Shogun Prairie Breaker 1 on the cheap about a 30 minute drive from me. When I google there are pics of some with double plate fork crowns and nice seat stay caps but (as far as I can tell from one pic) the one near me doesn’t have these features. It does have RD cable stop on top of the chain stay which is interesting.

Anyway, despite the silly name, there are 2 or 3 versions of this around and they seem kind of cool.

https://charlottesville.craigslist.o...986268662.html

This particular one, I think, would be more of a project than I want right now.

Chicago Al 

Yes, that's the kind of thing! In fact I picked up a High Sierra, women's frame, for my wife last weekend. It is quite nice though not real light, and unfortunately it's too small.

It had been languishing on eBay with a starting price of $50 because the seller would only do local pickup. I PM'd with her and since we couldn't get direct contact info to each other thru the eBay filter, I just shot her a $50 bid and she accepted it. When I met her I realized the bike was not likely to fit: she was not even 5' tall. But she was a nice lady, turned out I'd been to parties at her building. She had kept the bike in dry storage since she stopped riding it, so it's near-mint, has original manual and receipt, a pump, etc. I'll pass it on, maybe after doing some adjustments and changing out the tires.

bikemig 

If stumpies are too pricey, go down the food chain a bit. I picked up an early 90s rockhopper recently for $50. Also I'd focus on the running gear more than a particular model, shoot for deore quality components which means that the frame will be decent quality as well.

This is likely too large for the OP but here is a good looking stumpjumper at a very reasonable price ($145)

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/b...977870180.html

There are 2 trek 930s listed, also likely a bit too large, at a hundred and some change.

There are some non crazy prices for old MTBs on the Chicago CL

thumpism 

What size do you need for your son? My wife is selling her 18" Peugeot Orient Express. Full CroMo with SunTour indexed thumb shifters. And it's not pink; that color is called Watermelon.

John E

I am partial to my red-white-and-blue Schwinn.

Chicago Al 

Well this is REALLY weird...now my original post is back up. And it was definitely gone, a couple of you saw that too. Right? RIGHT????

OTS 

Correct

It was missing.

cue Twilight Zone music

Twilight Zone

bikemig 

It disappeared and reappeared. Maybe the mods are playing with our minds?

BFisher

Trek 900 series (930, 950, 970) are nice. I have a '92 930. Earlier ones are lugged, later tig welded. Mine's lugged.

They pop up now and then for not much $.

cs1

Right.

beicster 

That is a beauty. How is the ride?

due ruote 

Rockhoppers are more plentiful than Stumpjumpers and are still nice frames. Rockhopper Comps have better components so maybe keep those on your radar.
Trek Multitrack hybrids are nice riding bikes and are generally well priced. I had one with 700c x 32 and fenders, and easily could have gone wider.

Chicago Al 

[Editing later on: it's a High PLAINS I had bought in the step through frame, a good bit lower on the Schwinn ladder.]

Funnily enough I just went and checked the High Sierra ('ladies') I bought last weekend and it's 17". Seems very small, but the only other 'ladies' frame for that bike is 21". Wife has a 21" frame mixte road bike, which is an unusually large mixte, though not a whole lot of seatpost exposed there. So a 17" mountain bike 'should' be right.

But she reports that on the High Sierra, with seatpost extended so that her leg extension was right, she felt crowded, like her knees came up too far in front. Maybe we're just not used to mtn bike fitting, and may need to look at it again.

Or possibly something like the Trek Multitrack hybrid (700c) due route suggests is a good, more comfortable option, there certainly are lots of them for sale.

Still hoping the guy with the Paramount PDGs will assent to at least letting me see them. Can't figure out why he keeps relisting them on CL if he doesn't want to sell...IS IT ONE OF YOU???

Murray Missile 

I imagine GT's aren't plentiful on your side of the state either but if you can find them they can make very nice path cruisers. I sold this Tequesta a few weeks ago only because it was too small for me and my wife has hip issues and has to have a step through frame now. I had it set up with a riser stem, bars and extra long seat post for awhile so I could ride it and it was SWEET!




Here it is set up for me, I'm 6' 1-1/2".



Here is one of my favorite rides, the paint isn't as nice as the Tequesta was but it fits me much better.

TXsailor

My High Sierra has 175 crank arms which could be the reason hers makes her knees come up too far if it does too.