Mountain bike conversion

[kaidotech]

Went down to the bikeshop today and brought in the rest of the parts I had. So long old Diamondback frame. You got me down the XXDiamond at Vail without getting me killed.

I almost kept the forks in that box just for the sheer cool factor of them looking like coil-overs. Even the guy at the bike shop said he had never seen coils over the shocks on a bike fork. Granted they were under the rubber boots before, but fuck ugly boots. The fork was waaaay too long for my frame though.



Tried out a GT fork but it didnt work either so I'm going to keep the one on it for now.



I kinda need an opinion at this point. Which bars would look best on this frame, baring in mind future slick tires, white frame paint and mint/light blue parts?

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[kaidotech]

Ah, yeah those are horiz. d/os. I always think of track ends when I think of horizontals. I'm not a bike nerd, but like you I was into BMX when I was younger so I know how to work on bikes. I've been thinking about selling Shogun to a hipster and building an MTB but I just can't bear to part w/ the super smooth sailing from my road bike. I suppose I could build another bike... But I just moved to an area that's mostly road bike territory. A few months ago I lived about 2 miles from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, so that would have made perfect sense.

Are you s/s or fixed? I prefer s/s... I'm not in nearly good enough shape for a fixie haha

Singlespeed with a freewheel hub. Before I started all this I was a bit ignorant to the term and thought fixie meant singlespeed. I almost ordered a fixie hub... man that would have sucked. I had a bike when I was 7 that was a pedal-backwards to brake and that was fun... when I was 7. I'm hoping when its all said and done it just looks like a big BMX bike, but I wanted that extra size and height since I'll be taking it to Breckenridge, and Vail, CO soon.

[StatusRacing]

Ah, yeah those are horiz. d/os. I always think of track ends when I think of horizontals. I'm not a bike nerd, but like you I was into BMX when I was younger so I know how to work on bikes. I've been thinking about selling Shogun to a hipster and building an MTB but I just can't bear to part w/ the super smooth sailing from my road bike. I suppose I could build another bike... But I just moved to an area that's mostly road bike territory. A few months ago I lived about 2 miles from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, so that would have made perfect sense.

Are you s/s or fixed? I prefer s/s... I'm not in nearly good enough shape for a fixie haha

[kaidotech]

No idea what Moose is talking about... I've built several single speeds (both road and mtb) and never had to buy a new wheel. Also, you've got semi-vertical dropouts I believe. Sheldon Brown has a pile and a 1/2 of info on conversions. Google his name, you'll find his site.

I've also never bought new anything beside the rear rear sprocket and chain when doing conversions. I generally spend under $100, including the bike. I don't even bother buying new chain ring bolts/spacers. Dremels were invented for a reason, and I paid good money for mine.

This was before I swapped to a single speed. Near perfect horizontal dropout w/o hanger.


I read Sheldon's page like a year ago, and Ive already finished the SP conversion so I dont need any info on it, but I appreciate the recommendation. At this point Im just making it look nice. So far I've spent $40 including the bike. I am buying the chain ($8) grips ($12) and seat ($12) new, and my bars used. I should come in under $100. Havent looked for the slick tires yet. I want to find some from Maxxis.

[StatusRacing]

If you want a fixie you'd be better off buying an old road bike, then you need to buy a rear wheel (&front if you want a matching pair) with a single gear hub, you could remove the two other sprokets off the front and run the smaller one or if you're doing it proper you'd get a new set of cranks and suitable gear. With the old road bikes it's nicer imo coz you can just cut the handle bars up etc but with these mountain bikes it's not really worth it after buying all the shit to convert it over you could have bought a new fixie. Plus it'll look gay IMO

Also you being 6'2 on a 22" frame is going to be big and akward ;p The're also 24 or 26" wheels btw.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BARBICAN-ROAD-BIKE-RETRO-VINTAGE-/320743950631?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4aadd44927

+ new wheels and cranks, chop the handle bars, done

No idea what Moose is talking about... I've built several single speeds (both road and mtb) and never had to buy a new wheel. Also, you've got semi-vertical dropouts I believe. Sheldon Brown has a pile and a 1/2 of info on conversions. Google his name, you'll find his site.

I've also never bought new anything beside the rear rear sprocket and chain when doing conversions. I generally spend under $100, including the bike. I don't even bother buying new chain ring bolts/spacers. Dremels were invented for a reason, and I paid good money for mine.

[kaidotech]

Put on a new fork and a new headset to lower my bars until I get in my new BMX headset. Taking FOREVER coming down from Niagra Falls, NY to Houston, TX. I found a venerable bike heaven today behind a local bike shop with at least 300 vintage racing and cruiser bikes from the 80s. I'm going to go back later and hopefully get him to let me pick through his parts. A nice vintage seat and pair of bullhorns would be nice.

The bike looks so much better now. More low-slung and expensive instead of a cheap walmart bike. Grabbing some pedals and arms tomorrow at the shop. Here's where it's at today;

Start


Naow

[firelizard3]

I think it would look ridiculous. But whatever.

You'll find that as you lighten the bike, it will be much more responsive and faster. Shedding a couple pounds or even a few ounces off something that already doesn't weigh much (compared to a motorcycle or a car) really goes a long way. Swapping to lighter handlebars and front forks, and ditching the multiple gears at the crank will really help. So will getting a lighter front wheel (huge, huge difference)

[kaidotech]

Yeah it's a shitty Next from WalMart but it was $20, light and had perfect vertical dropouts so I kept it. Its funny how much of a difference a new bottom bracket and hub can make, and this thing is FAST. I blew past my friend the other day and he could barely keep up trying to find the right gear when we were racing.

Would it look too stupid to wrap the frame in white bar tape? Got the idea last night from a friends headers. lol

[Jersh]

i definitely see myself getting into bikes once i'm all done with baseball. i've been following the build the whole time and this seems pretty sick, but every time i see the frame all i can think about it the bike section at Walmart. keep up the work man.

[kaidotech]

Lol agreed it's pisswater, but im a part time bartender so I hardly drink beer anyways.

I also don't really do any barspin or BMX tricks, just like dirt jumping/racin g and doing downhills.

[firelizard3]

That's because fixies aren't meant for doing tricks.


And PBR is a terrible beer.

[.:dutchtuner:.]

don't let the fork curve forward to much, that will make it impossible to do barspins and stuff
have the same problem with my fixie.

[kaidotech]

Only way to explain this...



Went down to a local bike shop today with two Diamondback wheels, a set of singlespeed conversion cranks, spacers, and a cassette tool. Guy traded all that for a completely new rear wheel with single speed hub, a new sealed shimano bottom bracket, and a new chain, and a new rear tube.

Bringing a Diamondback Peak frame down which he was interested in trading for a set of handlebars, a new rear V-brake, and a new front fork. I went on a 5m ride today, and the front fork is really bothering me. It feels almost as if the wheel is too far back on the frame, so I'm going to specifically get a fork that curves forward at the bottom to move the wheel out. The bike is light as fuck, and jumps easy.

Pics for justice!

[kaidotech]

Okay, roughly put the bike together tonight. Its ride-able but I have to bring it down to a bike shop to have them repack the rear hub on my other wheel so I can put on the single speed cog. This wheel is a temp freewheel with the chain tightly on the preferred gear ratio. The front stem is in, and the temp headgear is on until my BMX headset gets here to bring the bars back. Pretty happy with how the chain/front crankset gets along so I'm not going to worry about replacing it for a while.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FGYKY6"]Amazon.com: Delta Alloy Threadless Bicycle Headset Adapter: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]
is the link for the stem I used. Slightly went up in price but still a good deal.



To do list:
-Maxxis slick tires
-White chain
-rear hub rebuilt
-Diamondback urban camo seat put on
-cut off front brake mount on fork with dremel wheel
-cut off front/rear gear line tubes on the frame
-sand entire frame down and paint with primer, then gloss white
-possibly rebuild front crankset with single speed crank and arms, new set of pedals

[kaidotech]

When I install it tomorrow I'll post up pics and a link where you can get it. Was only $15 w/ free shipping on amazon!