bark_eater 

I brought home a 1991 lugged steel Trek 750 the other day. It has a Suntour XCM(?) drive train with a 7 speed freewheel.... So basically I'm starting with a bare frame. My inclination is to build it up with dirt drops and 90's era 7 speed Shimano gear, because that's the era of bike junk I have on hand. But I'm certainly looking at this through a C+V lens, and was wondering how other folks might work with this as a bare frame.

As far as where I'd be riding, I've got a place to base camp off of the Maine Sunrise Trail and the connected web of logging roads, and adventures tend to be full self supported and a long walk home.

https://www.sunrisetrail.org/maps/

Here's a picture of a same year 23" bike stolen from the forum. My frame is 21" and should fit with drops as I ride a 23 road bike.


https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...e-capsule.html

mstateglfr 

This is by brother in law's conversion, pjcture taken easly in the process.
To get started, he basically determined the stem length needed to make some already owned drop bars comfortable, threw some friction bar ends on, and adds 41mm tires.
After some riding, he swapped it to a 3x9 drivetrain. Kept the original crank, changed the shifters, derailleurs, and wheels.


If you want to keep it c&v, then friction bar ends and 3x7 are the way to go.

bark_eater 

I've got a pretty good handle on what C+V parts I would use, and would love to run Suntour command shifters, but I think a Shimano cassette wheel set is needed, so I'm back to party tricks.....

dmark 

91 should be a cassette suntour 7sp bub

bark_eater 

Its a freewheel. I actually just took some some XCM parts of a similar vintage but mangled lugged Bianchi Hybrid that used a 7 speed freewheel. Ruined a tool trying to get it off the hub. This wheelset will end up elsewhere as a 126mm 5 or 6 speed depending on wheel dish.

dmark 

My 91 750 had a Suntour cassette (bad) but my 90 750 has a freewheel (better- for my use).

bark_eater 

At 250 lbs I'm just not sold on 7 speed freewheels, Though a Phil Wood 135 rear hub would be a fine solution if I trip over one.

DorkDisk

I made a winter all-rounder with a 94 21" frame. Rides nice.

brandenjs

This is a before and after on a 92 750 that I just rebuilt. Kept it as a flat bar because it was going to be a gift to a neighbor and it would have been more comfortable for him to ride. However we found another bike that fit better. I'm kind of glad because this is such a great riding bike. Had to switch out the Suntour RD with an RX100 I had around. Not sure if it will go drop bar or not on this one.

Jeff Neese

Here's my '91. Dia-Compe bar-end friction shifters coupled with an 8-speed rear cassette, Tektro RL340 brake levers. At some point I'll probably replace the crankset (probably a Sugino XD600 triple) but I need to wear this one out first. The stem looks kind of funky, but it's functional for now. These are a new set of wheels that I had built for it, but frankly I could have been very happy with the stock wheels and 7-speed freewheel. Tires are Schwalbe Little Big Ben.

bark_eater 

My first inclination was to build some thing like @Jeff Neese has. I'm not so sure about bar ends for something that will get a little Repac action on every ride in Maine. One option is to swap the cockpit, or even the entire build from my Koga Miyata, if I respace the wheelset to 135m. I've kind of committed to the idea of running something like Bruce Gordon Rock'n Roads on the Trek. The Koga Miyata handles Little Big Bens with fenders, but its a pavement bike and too noodley for loaded touring, so its going on a diet a some point.
I

Jeff Neese

Pardon my ignorance - what's the problem with bar ends regarding your Repack rides in Maine? Do you bash the ends of the handlebars sometimes, is that it?

I'm partial to bar ends and friction shifting on my drop-bar bikes and I have the Dia-Compes on two bikes. I fell in love with that setup when I had a 1983 Trek 720, and I just find it to be very comfortable and functional, and also super reliable. But I have bikes with trigger shifters too, and those are fine. Ultimately it's the frame and wheels that define the ride characteristics of a bike, not the shifters. You'll love the 750.

bark_eater 

Well....

Jeff Neese

Seems like the shifters are the least of your worries. I'm thinking collarbones, wrists, etc. I'm too old for that ****. Plus I don't have any bikes that I'm willing to bash up.

bark_eater 

I have no plans on taking my particular hill at speed, but it is part of bikes intended range.

mstateglfr 

OP- what are you actually thinking about doing for this build? 15 posts in and I am totally confused.
You mention wanting to keep it on the c&v side of things and like drop bars, but dont want bar ends. You mention going 7sp Shimano era, but also mention SunTour Command shifters.
I cant say bar ends make me fear going over the bars, but to each their own on that issue as I get that many just simply dont like bar end shifters.

If you want to go to Shimano 7sp shifting, maybe some Microshift/Micronew 3x7 STI drop bar shifters? They are inexpensive and proven.
...though if you go to STI style shifting, maybe Microshift's Advent drop bar shifting would be good? Wide range 1x9 and you can just choose the 1x crankset to match the gear range you want. My wife has Advent MTB on her 90s Trek 930 and we have it on one of my kid's bikes too.

tdilf

to the original question "what would you build?" - i would build profit by selling the bike.

Jeff Neese

If he goes with STI-style shifters, wouldn't he have to downgrade to V-brakes, or at least use Travel Agents?

mstateglfr 

STI is made for short pull brakes and cantilever are short pull.

bark_eater 

I posted this off of the C+V forum to see if there was anything to see in the wider world but....

mechanicmatt

I did this, but it is going to change soon...it takes a 45c tire max in the back, just for your records.

Craptacular8

Lovely. What stem did you use? Is that a VO?

Craptacular8

What stem is that, and does it fit 31.8?

Jeff Neese

It's this one. Not the lightest, but it seems well made. It's a 25.4mm clamp.

B Baosity Vintage Bicycle Quill Stem Size 25.4mmx100mm with 22.2mm Threaded Tube

Russ Roth

Perfect looking. I had one of those bikes way back when and sold it far too cheaply, always liked the paint job.

Once cased a jump on mine trying to hop a log, had the log been 8" high instead of 10" I'd have probably made it, but it wasn't. The result was a bruise on each thigh the size of a bread plate for well over a week and a new set of handlebars. Thankfully there wasn't a bar end to impale myself on. Nothing else other than my dignity or pride was damaged.
hi

My own version after a very fun time, don't have any clean pics of it. I had an old set of 8sp rsx shifters, so paired with an old 8sp XT rear der, old 9sp LX front der with the stock crank. Also kept the stock brakes and found an old 26" wheelset which are becoming kinda cheap to buy used as the size is being abandoned.