1992 Trek 8000 Disc Conversion

[TimBish]

Hello all,

I thought I'd share my recent project. It may not appeal to all, but I've had this bike since 1992 and we have some great memories together. I've upgraded it to fixie, using a bolt-on adaptor and after initially running 46:18 I'm now running 36:20, which is much better for the snow and ice of an Icelandic winter.

I got a great deal on some secondhand Hope Mono6 brakes, both with 203mm rotors, and my main hardtail MTB already had Hope Minis, so I grasped the opportunity to do a chop 'n' change. I put a Mono6 on the front wheel of each bike, and the Trek now runs a Mini on the rear wheel, with a 140mm rotor.

I made the disc mounts and the jigs myself, then got a local guy to weld them in place. The front is 8mm stainless steel plate, and the rear is 8mm aluminium plate. I managed to get the jigs right and I'd say the accuracy of the mounts is within 0.5mm.

 

[TimBish]

A few more pictures...

I'm running studded tyres both front and rear and they add a lot of weight and drag, but are the only way to keep riding on solid ice.

The bike rides really well and only needs a new stem to completely sort the geometry.

 

[BobCatMax]

i love it in a pervy way. are you sure it's 92? I thought they were red.

either way, total overkill on the brakes, i bet it stops on a penny, leaving you to carry on

 

[TimBish]

Deffo '92. Bought it in Edinburgh and remember it well. The colours were either this purple or white, with purple lettering.

Yes, the brakes are mentally powerful and I can lock up the rear wheel with one light finger application, but that's the way I like it.

My other MTB is now even more ridiculous, with a 160mm rotor on the rear I have to actually use quite good braking technique to retain control.

The main reason for liking the good brakes is that when I'm screaming downhill trying to max out my cadence, I want the brakes to work the very moment I hit them and give my poor muscles instant relief. They certainly do that! (I hit 157rpm just the other day...)

The other really big reason for me is the absence of maintenance. The tarmac here is made using lava dust, which is incredibly abrasive, and the gritting when it snows is basically ground up lava mixed with snow. It simply destroys rim brakes.

 

[merckx]

nice way to keep the old girl going and useful to you.

 

[BobCatMax]

Just out of interest, do you know what size seat post clamp it has?

 

[TimBish]

27,2, I seem to remember, but I can measure it and I'll let you know.

...Have you got one?

 

[TimBish]

...and just to prove what a freak I am, I'm considering fitting some of these to the frame:

http://www.ahrensbicycles.com/Sliding-Dropouts.htm

I know it'll cost, but I sort-of don't care, because it would mean that I could so easily convert between regular, fixie and singlespeed.

 

[BobCatMax]

I think I have a 7000 from the same year. Bonded ally tubes to cast lugs.

Its missing a seat post clamp, and yea it does fit a 27.2 seat post but not the corresponding clamp :?

 

[TimBish]

Ok, I'll measure my clamp and let you know.

I get the feeling that these bikes were either uncommon or unpopular, but I don't know why. It's a great, stiff frame...