Bootstrap Bob
Retro Newbie
So those of you who like to preserve the factory condition of old mountain bikes will probably not like what I am proposing but it's what I intend to do anyway. I have been down the retro rework route and after 32 years of owning this bike I would like to give it a make over.
A little history first.
After purchasing this bike in Leeds in 1993 I used it for several years for what it was designed for, mountain biking.
As we approached the mid 90's I moved away from Yorkshire and moved to Essex where there wasn't a great deal of mountain biking to be had so most of my riding was roads and lanes. Then it was down to the south coast where there was at least the South Downs.
Just before the millennium I moved north again to Oxfordshire where there are the Cotswolds but after a friend of mine's father had gone through cancer we were having a chat down the pub and had this crazy idea of cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats for Cancer research. So after a bit of a rework the Lava Dome, being my only bike (other than an original Raleigh Ultra Burner) was converted into a road bike complete with mudguards, a rack and bike bags.
In 2001 we did the ride and enjoyed it so much that two years later we did it all again but from coast to coast. It's amazing that a bike that was designed primarily as a mountain bike is such a good road bike when fitted with the appropriate components.
From that point onwards the bike spent a good 13 years as a road bike touring around the Cotswolds with like minded people until our two growing boys wanted to go off mountain biking. It was time for another rework, back to its original mountain bike spec but this time it was sporting a set of Pace Airforce forks, a gift to myself after the successful End to End ride.
Unfortunately I had not anticipated how much mountain bike design and components had moved on and my old Lava Dome felt very inadequate against the modern technology. In 2016 I finally decided to buy another more modern mountain bike and the Lava Dome was parked up in the shed where it has remained since.
So here we are in 2025 and once again I find myself preparing for another rework and refresh of the old Lava Dome. It won't be a mountain bike but it has proven itself to be a great touring bike in the past so that's where it is going again ready for another coast to coast ride in the summer with my wife along the Hadrian's wall route.
So my reason for posting is to see what thoughts anyone has on what I should swap out or change to make it more modern tourer?
The frame is looking pretty rough now but nothing a re-spray couldn't sort out, maybe not the original colour either. I can hear the screams as I type this but I was very impressed with enc's Lava Dome rework while browsing the forum.
Currently fitted:
Shimano Deore XT Hubs
Shimano Deore XT parallelogram V-brakes
Shimano Deore XT levers and shifters.
Shimano Deore LX derailleur
Shimano Exage front mech
3 x 8 drive train
Pace Airforce forks.
All other components are as it was from new.
Here is the Lava Dome in its current state.
This is what it looked like after it's last rework.
A little history first.
After purchasing this bike in Leeds in 1993 I used it for several years for what it was designed for, mountain biking.
As we approached the mid 90's I moved away from Yorkshire and moved to Essex where there wasn't a great deal of mountain biking to be had so most of my riding was roads and lanes. Then it was down to the south coast where there was at least the South Downs.
Just before the millennium I moved north again to Oxfordshire where there are the Cotswolds but after a friend of mine's father had gone through cancer we were having a chat down the pub and had this crazy idea of cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats for Cancer research. So after a bit of a rework the Lava Dome, being my only bike (other than an original Raleigh Ultra Burner) was converted into a road bike complete with mudguards, a rack and bike bags.
In 2001 we did the ride and enjoyed it so much that two years later we did it all again but from coast to coast. It's amazing that a bike that was designed primarily as a mountain bike is such a good road bike when fitted with the appropriate components.
From that point onwards the bike spent a good 13 years as a road bike touring around the Cotswolds with like minded people until our two growing boys wanted to go off mountain biking. It was time for another rework, back to its original mountain bike spec but this time it was sporting a set of Pace Airforce forks, a gift to myself after the successful End to End ride.
Unfortunately I had not anticipated how much mountain bike design and components had moved on and my old Lava Dome felt very inadequate against the modern technology. In 2016 I finally decided to buy another more modern mountain bike and the Lava Dome was parked up in the shed where it has remained since.
So here we are in 2025 and once again I find myself preparing for another rework and refresh of the old Lava Dome. It won't be a mountain bike but it has proven itself to be a great touring bike in the past so that's where it is going again ready for another coast to coast ride in the summer with my wife along the Hadrian's wall route.
So my reason for posting is to see what thoughts anyone has on what I should swap out or change to make it more modern tourer?
The frame is looking pretty rough now but nothing a re-spray couldn't sort out, maybe not the original colour either. I can hear the screams as I type this but I was very impressed with enc's Lava Dome rework while browsing the forum.
Currently fitted:
Shimano Deore XT Hubs
Shimano Deore XT parallelogram V-brakes
Shimano Deore XT levers and shifters.
Shimano Deore LX derailleur
Shimano Exage front mech
3 x 8 drive train
Pace Airforce forks.
All other components are as it was from new.
Here is the Lava Dome in its current state.
This is what it looked like after it's last rework.
