What Shall I Do With this?

theredsnapper

Hi Everyone...

Here's my first post on bikeradar and actually the start of me getting back on a bike again!

I'm in the process of trying to get one over on the taxman and will be sorting my voucher out on the cycle to work scheme soon enough, but whilst thats going on I was just wondering what I could do with my faithful old steed...my first, and dont laugh, 'proper' bike, a Trek 950 single track, in purple!

Now as it has a threaded head and old Shimano Deore LX gears, I just dont know what to do with it, it's a small 15-16" frame from what I remember and there are loads of folk riding single speeds or even single front chainwheels, give me some ideas!

I'd probably want to use it on road and off trail a bit, but my cycle scheme beast will sort out the heavy duty stuff...I could even use it to get all yoof like....being 41 and all!

Here are a few pics I've nicked off the web, mines not too bad, though not a minter!

http://fresno.craigslist.org/bik/1556270351.html

Thanks in advance!

Red

ps....or should I just bin it?

nicklouse

moved to general as it is not really a Tech question.

I would make it a single speed. (if it is a cassette on the rear wheel)

see the FAQs for how to.

biff55

hi and welcome.
as for throwing that ^^ away :shock:
dont , it looks hyper slick and i'm sure there's more fun to be had on it when you get back
into riding.

nicklouse

biff55
pics not of his

biff55

nothing stopping him from returning the bike to that condition though

scars

Keep it and singlespeed it buddy

Retro steely SS conversions are big at the minute

Hell if your looking to bin ill have it

theredsnapper

Hi,

Thanks for the move...I'll get the hang of it soon enough!

Yes, it was well used when I was into riding, and mine I suppose is not far off that one still, just needs all the cables and stuff sorting...I was thinking either a single speed, though I do live in the Derbyshire Dales, Peak district on the doorstep, so a few gears might help, though it would still be good for the road!

I'll have a pike round, but the skinny tubes do look rather retro which always appeals....how might someone go about giving the paint work a nice freshen up....rattle cans are so vulgar!

I'll try and source some pics! Here's another I found on the net of one thats been done:

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/502/242925TrekSS.jpg

I need to speak to some retro folk...it might give me a nice little project!

Red

biff55

theredsnapper wrote:

how might someone go about giving the paint work a nice freshen up....rattle cans are so vulgar!

strip frame of components and send off to be powder-coated ( smooth gloss finish , many colours )
will look better than new 8)
reasonable costs too.

Andy B

theredsnapper wrote:

I need to speak to some retro folk...it might give me a nice little project!

www.retrobike.co.uk

Hope you have deep pockets & short arms though, it's a bit addictive is this mountain biking malarky, even the retro stuff

Do not sell your current bike, as mentioned above, singlespeed it or restore it.

bomberesque

+1 for singlespeeding it. Conversion kit is about 30 quid. makes an interesting variation on riding a geared bike and pretty good training too. Be prepared for confused looks and "wtf are you doing that for? just get some gears hurr hurr" comments. Once you're legs are up and running though they'll be calling that from behind as they hump up the hill trying to keep on your back wheel!

a full restoration is a lovely idea, but as stated be prepared to drip some cash.

theredsnapper

Cheers for the answers so far, I'm thinking get it all stripped and re-build as a ss...I'll keep the questions coming if you dont mind.. :?

For example I'm thinking of which forks to put back on, and whether it can be converted to threadless!

ok..now let me order that cycle to work thing first....

Red

bomberesque

the frame in the picture looks to be non sus corrected and if I have my guess right is 1" steerer?

if either is true I'd keep the original rigid forks, I'm not honestly sure if there's any 1" Aheadset stuff available and certainly a replacement fork will be a struggle.

If you have a 1 1/8" steerer then you can change it to a threadless system, you will need a fork, headset, spacers and stem plus some pretty involved tools to fit the headset, although your LBS should be willing to set it for you for cheap. Look for a fork with an A2C matching the one you have (I'm guessing 400mm +/- but measure it) then you won't affect the handling or overstress the headtube. Nashbar in the US do a nice non suss corrected carbon one (at least used to) for cheap.

stubs

Keep it as a pub/shopping bike if you get your self something nice and shiny you wont want to let it out of your sight

theredsnapper

Aha...just checked, 25.4mm stamped on my zoom stem...so thats good for an 1"1/8 yeah?

Future proofed eh....

Oh and how might I post pics onto my posts?

Cheers,

Red

nicklouse

theredsnapper wrote:

Aha...just checked, 25.4mm stamped on my zoom stem...so thats good for an 1"1/8 yeah?

Future proofed eh....

Oh and how might I post pics onto my posts?

Cheers,

Red

25.4mm is 1"

how to for pics in the forum FAQs.

theredsnapper

You see what you're up against...I'm a bit of a tool!

So I've only got an inch...Doh! Added to my dinky 15.5" frame!

I'll think of something!

Red