BigSung

Yeah, definitely a tough call thus I have been going back and forth on this for the last couple of weeks. I am tempted to keep the Apex for the fork mounts, but I keep on second guessing myself. I already have Salsa Vaya for loaded touring.

Ok...no more second guessing. I am going to keep the RH. After the tax prep, I will start the build on it

Thanks everyone for your input

scroungetech

Hi All,
So here are a few pics of my winter project, built up from east coast bike swaps of the last 6 months, plus CL, a few new bits, and a magic find at the local bike co-op, wtb dirt drop bars that got the whole project rolling. Gear inches from 18.9 to 111, 50-34-24, 12-34 7 speed cassette, friction shifting on thumbies, and quad brake levers. Super fun to ride so far and so fast!

arex

What's up with those front spokes?

scroungetech

Reflective stickers called Lightweights for Wheels. About 85 of them in a packet, available @ amazon & elsewhere online. They look _much_ brighter in car headlights, & like solid glowing hoops. Great for urban night riding.

3speedslow

You certainly have a nicely lugged Schwinn there! Don't believe it is a 91' though. Mine is a 90' built for the 91' sale year. Love to ride mine but don't find too many chances. As it is now.



I have aver actually changed it around at times for different uses. It's that versatile.

BigSung

The drop bar conversion of Schwinn Cimarron is still in progress. The CX tires finally arrived, so I got them on. Just riding around the block, they ride pretty nice. Hoping I can finish the build shortly so I can take it out for a real test ride. The left RSX brifter (front) just won't shift to the big ring using the Shimano XT FD-M730 no matter how much adjusting I do. So I went and ordered a bar end shifter for the front, and I am waiting for it to arrive. I think the final build will be at 24 lbs...currently at 23.7 lbs as shown.

bikehoarder

Hey everyone

I just finished my second drop bar conversion, this Univega Rover Sport. I found the bike for $30 and have had it built as SS and 1x10 mtb. It's a great ride, so it of course was my first choice for a drop bar mtb. I believe this is an '85, and I have never seen this paint scheme before. Anyonr have any facts on this model?
Anyways, here it is.
Specs:
Specialized Stout 26" wheels
WTB tires
Ritchey Bio-Max bars
Thomson +/-12 110mm road stem
Kalloy 26.4mm seatpost
Prologo Kappa Evo saddle
Original Shimano brakes
Shimano Tiagra 10 speed STIs
Shimano Ultegra Octalink crankset
Wolftooth 40t chainring
Shimano Ultegra 10 speed chain
Shimano Deore 10 speed cassette (11-34t)
Shimano Ultegra long cage 10 speed rear derailleur
Stock headset and Octalink bb
Ordered a RoadLink but I doubt I will need it now

I have plans for 1.5" tires and Paul brakes.. So more to come
Whatcha think?

3speedslow

It's good, I like the colour. If you like the WTB tires, try the 1.5 slicks. They are awesome for rotational weight loss and durability on the road.

supercharger

Bridgestone MB-6 Drop Bar Conversion - Imgur

woodboy

I posted this one a few weeks ago. Now with new wheels, seat post, and saddle it might be a pound or two lighter (still 30 lbs. though)...

richard4993

What would you guys think about converting my new to me Rockhopper Comp to drop bars. Already have two older Trek MTB's so I'm looking to do something a little different with this one. Also, would it be possible to find STI shifters that would work on a 6 speed?

bikehoarder

I would go with bar-end shifters. They make 7 speed STIs but any friction shifter would be better. There's also retroshift frictioners but that's big $$. Correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't seen any vintage 6spd STIs before.

bikehoarder

I mainly have the tires on because its what I had around. I'm on the lookout for a 1.75" but probably not slicks. Need a gravel/singletrack tire. Thanks for the advice tho, and yeah the paint is a big perk.

bikehoarder

I mainly have the tires on because its what I had around. I'm on the lookout for a 1.75" but probably not slicks. Need a gravel/singletrack tire. Thanks for the advice tho, and yeah the paint is a big perk.

arex

Schwalbe Marathons are a good treaded 26x1.75 tire...I really liked mine, though some people say they feel kind of dead.

kingston 

Ought to be a great candidate for a conversion, larger frame which is nice. I'm not an expert, but the frame looks similar to the original Rock Combo. I'm a fan of bar-end shifters on dirt-drops so I can't help you with the brifter recommendation.

Teamdarb

Andy_K 

I don't have this bike anymore, but every time I see this thread it makes me want to post this pic.



It never occurred to me at the time that this '89 RockHopper was "vintage". I should have asked more for it when I sold it.

richard4993

I'll probably end up doing it with bar end shifters as I was just given a free set of Shimano 600 brake levers that I hope will work on it.

BigSung

Very interesting. It looks like you have brifters with bar end shifters. Were you just using the brifter as brake levers?

Andy_K 

Yeah, I got the brifters broken at a swap, stripped the guts and used them as brake levers. Ugly, but cheap and effective.

seely

I'm seeing double, err, triple, guys!

3speedslow

. Can we get a quadruple! Or...

Great, still rolling with yours I see! Every time I take it on a ride people have a time believing it was not originally built as a tourer. They made a great frame with these lugged Schwinn High Plains!

BigSung

Just picked up a used On One Midge bar from ebay. Once it gets here, I will finish up the build, now that all the necessary parts are in The Salsa Cowchipper bar is still backordered with no ETA though...I will deal with that when it comes.

badger_biker 

They are hard to come by and I feel fortunate I was able to find one for my Panasonic build (#4600 in this thread). I think you'll like it and if I ever drop bar my Cimarron that is what I'd like to go with.