BillUp
Retro Newbie
Hello all, and thank you for creating this amazing and ultra helpful forum. I have been scouring this forum for over a week now, and I am so thankful it exists, or I would be stumped on a lot of issues I have encountered, after deciding to overhaul my Saracen Maxtrax from 1997.
I first purchased the bike from Halfords in Maidenhead in 1997, and have owned it ever since. I think I paid £699 for it. Back then that was a lot of wedge for me lol. I rode it for years mainly on the road, but took it off road whenever I could. I loved that bike and still do. After suffering from mental health issues (depression) I let it go into a state of disrepair (or so I thought). I left it in the garden for years. So much so the bind weed completely covered it up, making it vanish from sight, hence why I forgot about it. I'm now 48 years old, 17 stone, and feel like shit. I hate running as it does my knees in, so I decided I need to get back out on the bike.
I was going to save for a second hand one, but then I remembered I had the Maxtrax. I thought it was going to be totalled and irreparable, after sitting in the garden for many years. After digging it out of the undergrowth, to my surprise I was amazed just how good the bike had held up. The frame is 7005 Aluminium, and the rest of the Aluminium parts have stood the test of time weather wise. Of course there are a lot of parts that have completely perished. The tires, chain, seat, grips, brake pads, and all the cables need replacing. Yet everything else seem to be in good health. Obviously it all needs to be stripped down, cleaned, inspected and serviced.
Now while I'm a competent home mechanic, I don't really know a lot about the upgradability of the running gear. What parts I may be able to replace for more modern ones. I know I'm very limited. So if out of the kindness of your hearts you can help me in any way I would be overchuffed. Below is a list of questions I could really do with some help. I'll start with the most important ones, and as I tick them off I'll go with the less important ones. I have watched many videos on YouTube, read this forum for any advice about the Maxtrax of which I found these posts...
Another Forum Users Overhaul: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=140745
The Shimano Parts Catalogue for My Bike: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/M ... gues/1997/
The 1997 Catalogue With My Bike in it: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/1 ... n_1997.pdf
I mean you absolute legends finding these
First Off is it possible to change the crankset to something more modern and to maybe a 9 speed as they are more widely available? The teeth on my chainrings have had it from years of abuse, and I am struggling to find new replacements. The crankset itself seems to be fine. The chainrings are 22/32/42 on the 97 Shimano Deore LX Crankset.
Second, am I able to replace the Shimano rear cassette with maybe a 9 speed, even 10 speed? I have had a look behind the cassette, and there does seem to be a spacer, so I'm not sure if I am able to put a more modern one on with more cogs, and in turn do the same at the crankset end? Would I have to replace the front derailleur as well doing this, and the gear shifts? To be honest I am fine with 24 speed, its just if I can "upgrade" I would like too.
The third issue is the wheels and tires. The wheels are 26'' and the tires are Ritchey Alphabite 26 2.1. Now I have done some research here as I was confused why my wheels were only 22'' in circumference, and what I found is this goes way back. What the 26'' takes into account is the profile of the tire when fitted. So the wheel is 22'' and the tire is 2.1'' top and bottom, making the 26''. I know I'm teaching you to suck eggs but I'm proud of myself for finding that out Now I know I can no longer get the Alphabites, so was looking at other tires. My rear wheel has a slight buckle, and both have some loose spokes, which I will sort out (hopefully) as I really can't afford to buy new wheels and tires. I would rather refurbish the wheels, which are in good condition apart from the slightly rusty spokes. My wheels (Mavic 238 559x17) are 17mm wide, and apparently that is quite narrow, but what I have read is I have some leeway here. I could get anything from 26-1.75 to 26-2.4 and they should fit. I have seen some lovely Michelin fat tires, or the Continental ones. Still most of them are 27.25 inches so my choices are limited.
Wow I knew I would do this. I have written a essay. Let me finish here for now. I'll post a few pictures. I am silly as I should have taken some pictures of the bike complete, and as I found it in the undergrowth lol, but I started to strip it down, before I had the chance. I thank you for any help you can give. I thank you for this amazing forum. And I thank you for reading this to the end. I'll buy a Retrobike T Shirt and Sticker pack if you read the lot lol.
PS If you look at the last picture, you can see I am missing the bottom cover on the left gear shift SL-MC38. If anyone has one going spare, I have the cash waiting.
I first purchased the bike from Halfords in Maidenhead in 1997, and have owned it ever since. I think I paid £699 for it. Back then that was a lot of wedge for me lol. I rode it for years mainly on the road, but took it off road whenever I could. I loved that bike and still do. After suffering from mental health issues (depression) I let it go into a state of disrepair (or so I thought). I left it in the garden for years. So much so the bind weed completely covered it up, making it vanish from sight, hence why I forgot about it. I'm now 48 years old, 17 stone, and feel like shit. I hate running as it does my knees in, so I decided I need to get back out on the bike.
I was going to save for a second hand one, but then I remembered I had the Maxtrax. I thought it was going to be totalled and irreparable, after sitting in the garden for many years. After digging it out of the undergrowth, to my surprise I was amazed just how good the bike had held up. The frame is 7005 Aluminium, and the rest of the Aluminium parts have stood the test of time weather wise. Of course there are a lot of parts that have completely perished. The tires, chain, seat, grips, brake pads, and all the cables need replacing. Yet everything else seem to be in good health. Obviously it all needs to be stripped down, cleaned, inspected and serviced.
Now while I'm a competent home mechanic, I don't really know a lot about the upgradability of the running gear. What parts I may be able to replace for more modern ones. I know I'm very limited. So if out of the kindness of your hearts you can help me in any way I would be overchuffed. Below is a list of questions I could really do with some help. I'll start with the most important ones, and as I tick them off I'll go with the less important ones. I have watched many videos on YouTube, read this forum for any advice about the Maxtrax of which I found these posts...
Another Forum Users Overhaul: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=140745
The Shimano Parts Catalogue for My Bike: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/M ... gues/1997/
The 1997 Catalogue With My Bike in it: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/1 ... n_1997.pdf
I mean you absolute legends finding these
First Off is it possible to change the crankset to something more modern and to maybe a 9 speed as they are more widely available? The teeth on my chainrings have had it from years of abuse, and I am struggling to find new replacements. The crankset itself seems to be fine. The chainrings are 22/32/42 on the 97 Shimano Deore LX Crankset.
Second, am I able to replace the Shimano rear cassette with maybe a 9 speed, even 10 speed? I have had a look behind the cassette, and there does seem to be a spacer, so I'm not sure if I am able to put a more modern one on with more cogs, and in turn do the same at the crankset end? Would I have to replace the front derailleur as well doing this, and the gear shifts? To be honest I am fine with 24 speed, its just if I can "upgrade" I would like too.
The third issue is the wheels and tires. The wheels are 26'' and the tires are Ritchey Alphabite 26 2.1. Now I have done some research here as I was confused why my wheels were only 22'' in circumference, and what I found is this goes way back. What the 26'' takes into account is the profile of the tire when fitted. So the wheel is 22'' and the tire is 2.1'' top and bottom, making the 26''. I know I'm teaching you to suck eggs but I'm proud of myself for finding that out Now I know I can no longer get the Alphabites, so was looking at other tires. My rear wheel has a slight buckle, and both have some loose spokes, which I will sort out (hopefully) as I really can't afford to buy new wheels and tires. I would rather refurbish the wheels, which are in good condition apart from the slightly rusty spokes. My wheels (Mavic 238 559x17) are 17mm wide, and apparently that is quite narrow, but what I have read is I have some leeway here. I could get anything from 26-1.75 to 26-2.4 and they should fit. I have seen some lovely Michelin fat tires, or the Continental ones. Still most of them are 27.25 inches so my choices are limited.
Wow I knew I would do this. I have written a essay. Let me finish here for now. I'll post a few pictures. I am silly as I should have taken some pictures of the bike complete, and as I found it in the undergrowth lol, but I started to strip it down, before I had the chance. I thank you for any help you can give. I thank you for this amazing forum. And I thank you for reading this to the end. I'll buy a Retrobike T Shirt and Sticker pack if you read the lot lol.
PS If you look at the last picture, you can see I am missing the bottom cover on the left gear shift SL-MC38. If anyone has one going spare, I have the cash waiting.