Old Giant Iguana needs TLC
05-05-20, 03:48 PM
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Old Giant Iguana needs TLC
Hello and good day everyone..
I have an old Giant Iguana 26"wheel mountain bike that has no suspension that has a worn out drivetrain that I would like to replace if possible.
The original was a 21 speed I believe, but I am open to making it into something with only one front crank sprocket if possible.
In essence, I can see turning it into something just for the roads and easy trails, no knobbies or anything, just easy running tires etc..
Can anyone offer some pointers and possibly some links to hardware that can make this bike run again?
I am open to making it into a single speed as well, but I imagine that's not easily possible?
Not looking for space grade materials either.
I like the schwalbe big apple tires.
Thanks for any info you can offer
Scott
I have an old Giant Iguana 26"wheel mountain bike that has no suspension that has a worn out drivetrain that I would like to replace if possible.
The original was a 21 speed I believe, but I am open to making it into something with only one front crank sprocket if possible.
In essence, I can see turning it into something just for the roads and easy trails, no knobbies or anything, just easy running tires etc..
Can anyone offer some pointers and possibly some links to hardware that can make this bike run again?
I am open to making it into a single speed as well, but I imagine that's not easily possible?
Not looking for space grade materials either.
I like the schwalbe big apple tires.
Thanks for any info you can offer
Scott
05-05-20, 07:06 PM
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These are before and after photos of a Giant Iguana I rescued from a dumpster at my Sister in Law's condo. The after is a rattle can paint job and some of the mods you are proposing for your bike. Fun project.
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Don
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05-06-20, 02:33 AM
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Hello and good day everyone..
I have an old Giant Iguana 26"wheel mountain bike that has no suspension that has a worn out drivetrain that I would like to replace if possible.
The original was a 21 speed I believe, but I am open to making it into something with only one front crank sprocket if possible.
In essence, I can see turning it into something just for the roads and easy trails, no knobbies or anything, just easy running tires etc..
Can anyone offer some pointers and possibly some links to hardware that can make this bike run again?
I am open to making it into a single speed as well, but I imagine that's not easily possible?
Not looking for space grade materials either.
I like the schwalbe big apple tires.
Thanks for any info you can offer
Scott
I have an old Giant Iguana 26"wheel mountain bike that has no suspension that has a worn out drivetrain that I would like to replace if possible.
The original was a 21 speed I believe, but I am open to making it into something with only one front crank sprocket if possible.
In essence, I can see turning it into something just for the roads and easy trails, no knobbies or anything, just easy running tires etc..
Can anyone offer some pointers and possibly some links to hardware that can make this bike run again?
I am open to making it into a single speed as well, but I imagine that's not easily possible?
Not looking for space grade materials either.
I like the schwalbe big apple tires.
Thanks for any info you can offer
Scott
05-06-20, 09:36 AM
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Posts: 1,734
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
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I actually have an old Giant Iguana that I think was bought around 92. That is what I used to get back into riding 4 or so years ago and still ride it regularly. Mine is a 3 X 7 Shimano Altus setup and I've had no problems finding replacement parts and pretty inexpensively.
When I first got it out of storage, I found the rear wheel rim bent and purchased a used replacement wheel from my local bike shop. I think he charged me 15 bucks. Both trigger shifters were gummed up and I found replacements on amazon. I think those were less than 20 for the pair. The originals were a combo brake lever/shifter and the replacement was just the shifter so I took a dremel to the old levers to cut off the shifter part and have both mounted on the bars. There are plenty of tires available for the 26 X 1.75 rims from knobbies to slicks so you can run whatever tires you want. I have Schwalbe Marathons on mine. I also cleaned and repacked the bearings on both wheels and the fork bearings.
I think that is all I did just to get it in good working order initially. After riding it regularly for a while, I noticed a grinding sound in the bottom bracket so got a replacement for that, which was I think less than 20 bucks. The two larger ring gears were pretty worn so I found a replacement crankset on amazon that was around $40 and figured since I was doing that, I'd get a chain and cassette as well, neither was very expensive.
All that stuff was easy to find. Search for parts using Shimano Altus in the search.
I ride this bike in the early mornings and sometimes in the winter when the weather is lousy so I've also added fenders. Right now I'm putting 50-60 miles a week on it and it's quite reliable.
When I first got it out of storage, I found the rear wheel rim bent and purchased a used replacement wheel from my local bike shop. I think he charged me 15 bucks. Both trigger shifters were gummed up and I found replacements on amazon. I think those were less than 20 for the pair. The originals were a combo brake lever/shifter and the replacement was just the shifter so I took a dremel to the old levers to cut off the shifter part and have both mounted on the bars. There are plenty of tires available for the 26 X 1.75 rims from knobbies to slicks so you can run whatever tires you want. I have Schwalbe Marathons on mine. I also cleaned and repacked the bearings on both wheels and the fork bearings.
I think that is all I did just to get it in good working order initially. After riding it regularly for a while, I noticed a grinding sound in the bottom bracket so got a replacement for that, which was I think less than 20 bucks. The two larger ring gears were pretty worn so I found a replacement crankset on amazon that was around $40 and figured since I was doing that, I'd get a chain and cassette as well, neither was very expensive.
All that stuff was easy to find. Search for parts using Shimano Altus in the search.
I ride this bike in the early mornings and sometimes in the winter when the weather is lousy so I've also added fenders. Right now I'm putting 50-60 miles a week on it and it's quite reliable.
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