Vintage MTB To Upright Bar / Urban Bike Conversions
11-20-21, 02:22 PM
#876
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Location: costa mesa ca
Posts: 114
Bikes: 85 botteccia, 85 mcmahn tiatainium, 90 something trek clyde, early 70s schwinn tandem single speed, early 90s gary fisher aquila (the daily rider now!)
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Originally Posted by DQRider
What a beautiful bike! If this thread were illustrated by one single image, I can't think of one better than this.
The reason I love this thread so much is because these are the bikes that fulfill the bicycle's ultimate purpose: Useful Transportation
Utility bikes are awesome, but one-dimensional. You wouldn't take one on a ride just to ride (if that makes any sense).
I don't need to inform you on the limitations of Italian/French/British racebikes.
And the "Touring" roadbikes are wonderful for the sort of slim, lightweight athletes who buy them and promptly put on hundreds of miles.
For the rest of us, the lightweight chrome-moly frames, sturdy geometry, and massive gear range of the vintage rigid MTB is the perfect recipe for a bike that could actually serve as a sole mode of transport, in the right circumstances.
Got a family? Build or buy a trailer, mount seating on it, and a roof of some sort, and you have your basic family carriage. The strongest son or daughter gets the honor of driving! How's that for self-esteem building?
I'm just woolgathering here. But if our destiny involves travelling by people-power; the vintage, rigid, ATB/MTB is a perfect platform on which to build. Lighter, stronger, and faster than the old gas-pipe classics, I believe they are the ideal transportation for a diminished fossil-fuel future. Even for old-farts like me!
Both Vintage AND Classic I am...
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The reason I love this thread so much is because these are the bikes that fulfill the bicycle's ultimate purpose: Useful Transportation
Utility bikes are awesome, but one-dimensional. You wouldn't take one on a ride just to ride (if that makes any sense).
I don't need to inform you on the limitations of Italian/French/British racebikes.
And the "Touring" roadbikes are wonderful for the sort of slim, lightweight athletes who buy them and promptly put on hundreds of miles.
For the rest of us, the lightweight chrome-moly frames, sturdy geometry, and massive gear range of the vintage rigid MTB is the perfect recipe for a bike that could actually serve as a sole mode of transport, in the right circumstances.
Got a family? Build or buy a trailer, mount seating on it, and a roof of some sort, and you have your basic family carriage. The strongest son or daughter gets the honor of driving! How's that for self-esteem building?
I'm just woolgathering here. But if our destiny involves travelling by people-power; the vintage, rigid, ATB/MTB is a perfect platform on which to build. Lighter, stronger, and faster than the old gas-pipe classics, I believe they are the ideal transportation for a diminished fossil-fuel future. Even for old-farts like me!
Both Vintage AND Classic I am...
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11-20-21, 02:50 PM
#877
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Location: costa mesa ca
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Bikes: 85 botteccia, 85 mcmahn tiatainium, 90 something trek clyde, early 70s schwinn tandem single speed, early 90s gary fisher aquila (the daily rider now!)
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Originally Posted by DQRider
Speaking of mustaches (SOMA Mustache II, actually) - Here are some better pics of the Wheeler:
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11-21-21, 12:32 PM
#878
Old Boy
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Minnesota
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Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.
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Originally Posted by ocsawdust
great looking ride
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__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
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11-24-21, 02:16 PM
#880
Old Boy
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Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,314
Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.
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Originally Posted by oldtimeyirv
1992(?) Trek 7000 Kid Hauler
1) How do you like those tires? I've never seen them before, had to look them up. Eastern "Growler" tires, about $30 apiece?
2) I like the way you mounted the fenders - rather than trim the fender stays by cutting them to length, you bent them back to (guessing) provide static retention in case of fastener loss or failure?
Very cool bike!
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__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
11-24-21, 02:19 PM
#881
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Originally Posted by Korina
I hear you. I finally noticed that they're threadless stems; I prefer quill. It's semi-custom; I'm sure I could find something amongst the 20 sizes they offer. Doesn't matter, I'm getting this beautiful, rare, Araya mixte for a lot less.
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11-24-21, 02:22 PM
#882
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As most of us age, we either move our drop bars up or we swap them out for bars that allow for more of an upright posture. We are blessed to have so many options as we do. There's probably a combination for every situation, every bike and every owner. The trick of course is in finding what works for yourself without having to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars!
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11-24-21, 08:49 PM
#883
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by oldtimeyirv
1992(?) Trek 7000
I had that exact same model Trek 7000, same color but in a 22", I think.
I think its a 1990 model.
Trek brochure can verify if that's correct.
l wouldn't mind having it back.
I thought it was a relatively light aluminum frame.
It would take plenty fat tires which gave a great ride.
I stripped mine completely of paint and entertained ideas of polishing the aluminum to a shiny finish.
Finally I brushed on a burnt orange funky type of paint that actually dried pretty smoothly.
It was recommended to me not to powdercoat it for reasons of the heat from the process might effect the glue used on the lugs and tubes.
I liked the sturdy , industrial grade looking seat stay / seat post lugs they built it with.
Pic of mine is earlier this thread in the orange color.
https://www.bikeforums.net/20198925-post70.html
Enjoy.
Last edited by cooperryder; 11-24-21 at 08:57 PM.
11-24-21, 10:08 PM
#884
Cannon-dad
Originally Posted by DQRider
Two things:
1) How do you like those tires? I've never seen them before, had to look them up. Eastern "Growler" tires, about $30 apiece?
2) I like the way you mounted the fenders - rather than trim the fender stays by cutting them to length, you bent them back to (guessing) provide static retention in case of fastener loss or failure?
Very cool bike!
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1) How do you like those tires? I've never seen them before, had to look them up. Eastern "Growler" tires, about $30 apiece?
2) I like the way you mounted the fenders - rather than trim the fender stays by cutting them to length, you bent them back to (guessing) provide static retention in case of fastener loss or failure?
Very cool bike!
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I bent the fender stays because I didn't have the appropriate tool to cut them. But it worked out! Could probably still fit them to another bike if needed also.
Happy turkey day!
11-24-21, 10:12 PM
#885
Cannon-dad
Originally Posted by cooperryder
Nicely done.
I had that exact same model Trek 7000, same color but in a 22", I think.
I think its a 1990 model.
Trek brochure can verify if that's correct.
l wouldn't mind having it back.
I thought it was a relatively light aluminum frame.
It would take plenty fat tires which gave a great ride.
I stripped mine completely of paint and entertained ideas of polishing the aluminum to a shiny finish.
Finally I brushed on a burnt orange funky type of paint that actually dried pretty smoothly.
It was recommended to me not to powdercoat it for reasons of the heat from the process might effect the glue used on the lugs and tubes.
I liked the sturdy , industrial grade looking seat stay / seat post lugs they built it with.
Pic of mine is earlier this thread in the orange color.
https://www.bikeforums.net/20198925-post70.html
Enjoy.
I had that exact same model Trek 7000, same color but in a 22", I think.
I think its a 1990 model.
Trek brochure can verify if that's correct.
l wouldn't mind having it back.
I thought it was a relatively light aluminum frame.
It would take plenty fat tires which gave a great ride.
I stripped mine completely of paint and entertained ideas of polishing the aluminum to a shiny finish.
Finally I brushed on a burnt orange funky type of paint that actually dried pretty smoothly.
It was recommended to me not to powdercoat it for reasons of the heat from the process might effect the glue used on the lugs and tubes.
I liked the sturdy , industrial grade looking seat stay / seat post lugs they built it with.
Pic of mine is earlier this thread in the orange color.
https://www.bikeforums.net/20198925-post70.html
Enjoy.
I have had a few Cannondale frames powdered, but they are welded. Someone told me about aluminum lugs and heat. Thankfully the original paint is in good shape still.
11-25-21, 03:11 PM
#886
Senior Member
Panasonic Mountain Cat H
Short stem, alloy atv handlebars, odi grips...
Bmx cruiser style
seat was lowered soon after...
Short stem, alloy atv handlebars, odi grips...
Bmx cruiser style
seat was lowered soon after...
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11-28-21, 08:04 PM
#887
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
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Bikes: Fuji Touring Series V 1985, Motobecane Grand Touring 1982, Specialized Stumpjumper 1993, Raleigh International 1972, Raleigh Grand Prix 1972, Kuwahara Count 1983, Trek Cirrus 1987, Shogun 2001 1983, Cannondale SM700 1990
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Cannondale SM700, this bike rips. It would be too big for me without the handlebars like this. In the future I would like to change out the stem to something less embarrassing and remove the bar-ends altogether. The rack and water bottle cages glow in black-light. Downtube too thick to wrap my hand around; and yes, the top tube is parallel to the ground. 1.95" older specialized tires.
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12-06-21, 06:15 PM
#889
Junior Member
One 1987ish Panasonic Mountain Cat 3500 re-equipped to be the new barcycle. Also intended for bike trail duty and generally tootling around the neighborhood. It still needs racks installed, but I'm not happy with the available choices in the stash. Most of the parts came off a slightly less old Specialized performing the same role. Seatpost is an old SR, with Brooks "washers" for double rail saddles substituted for the single rail originals. The bike was previously equipped with a 15 speed, non-indexed drivetrain that mixed Suntour and Shimano parts. Online catalog says it was all Shimano originally. It now has a different mix, with Suntour indexed thumbies driving an indexing Shimano rear derailleur with a seven speed freewheel in back, and all Suntour friction up front. And yes, that is indeed a 24" lugged frame.
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12-19-21, 10:57 PM
#890
Senior Member
my newest upright mtn bike
shimano 600 crankset, xt thumbies, deore rear derailleur and vbrakes. rides real smooth.
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12-21-21, 09:06 PM
#891
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
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Originally Posted by 36Chambers
shimano 600 crankset, xt thumbies, deore rear derailleur and vbrakes. rides real smooth.
12-23-21, 12:32 AM
#892
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Korina
Which handlebar is that?
soma sparrow. My hands were having a hard time, so I tried to find something so my hands would not hurt as much. I found it second hand. 10 bucks. It has a little bit of sweep back to it, but I still have to lean out to hold on, which was my intent to try and get this baby as fast as I can.
12-23-21, 08:29 AM
#893
Old Boy
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,314
Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.
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Originally Posted by 36Chambers
soma sparrow. My hands were having a hard time, so I tried to find something so my hands would not hurt as much. I found it second hand. 10 bucks. It has a little bit of sweep back to it, but I still have to lean out to hold on, which was my intent to try and get this baby as fast as I can.
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__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
12-23-21, 02:21 PM
#894
Happy banana slug
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Originally Posted by 36Chambers
soma sparrow. My hands were having a hard time, so I tried to find something so my hands would not hurt as much. I found it second hand. 10 bucks. It has a little bit of sweep back to it, but I still have to lean out to hold on, which was my intent to try and get this baby as fast as I can.
12-23-21, 03:12 PM
#895
Senior Member
Originally Posted by DQRider
That's a beautiful bike! So well executed, it's a pleasure to peruse the details. Your choice of saddle, bars, and pedals was spot-on. Your decision to leave the crank alone, rather than doing the full blackout treatment, really makes this bike stand out. I feel the need to build a black city bike now... thanks?
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04-01-22, 04:21 PM
#897
Happy banana slug
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{bump} Any new builds out there?
04-01-22, 05:49 PM
#898
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Korina
{bump} Any new builds out there?I've missed this thread.
I hope for some new posts.
Personally I have 3 of the vintage mtb to upright bar builds and enjoy all 3.
At one point or another I think I've posted all 3
plus a few others that have passed through my hands and then moved on to new owners.
I have done a handful of other upright bar conversions the past year or so but all are either 700c or 27" wheel bikes.
As I've aged and my cruising speed has slowed the upright bars with taller stems just work well for me.
Ever now and then since starting this thread on 11-10-17 I've tried road bars again but keep coming back to upright bars.
My favorite two 700c upright bars conversion bikes are a Riv Sam Hillbourne and an Austro Daimler Vent Noir II.
Last edited by cooperryder; 05-09-22 at 02:23 PM.
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04-01-22, 05:53 PM
#899
Senior Member
Thread Starter
We could just open the thread to any upright bar conversion.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
04-02-22, 01:38 AM
#900
Happy banana slug
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Originally Posted by cooperryder
We could just open the thread to any upright bar conversion.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
