Converting retro mtb French Alps commuter - any tips?

[SantaHul]

Hey gang I'm moving to the alps in a few months and I'll need a cheap bike that can do it all; snow, mountains, load-carrying, commuting etc. and be locked up outside at night.

Looking at a simple 90's mountain bike, tange/cromoly frame and two seperate braze-ons on the rear dropout for rack and mudguards. My max budget is around £100 and I'm in no rush to buy. Been checking out old Spesh's and Trek's. Fancied a Marin but they've all only got one braze-on max.

Normally ride a 17/18" frame, some people say get a frame a little bigger but not sure, I've commuted a few times on my 17" Orange Gringo and was always quite happy.


Love to hear any opinions though. I'll have to depend on this bike for a year or so and I don't fancy trying to get a replacement off French eBay :?

 

[Mahoney1978]

Stumpy? Not that I've got one, but just always had the feeling they'll do anything and everything. It'll be a crime leaving it outside, but if you can pick a well used one up for around the hundy mark, you probably won't mind leaving it outside.

Sounds like an interesting trip - have fun and good luck.

 

[Tad]

Stumpy?

It's what I commute on, an '88 Stumpy. Admitedly I don't live in the Alps. I do 6k miles a year on it on bridle paths mainly. A brilliant grin inducing ride every day.

Schwalbe Marathon plus tyres for when it's not icy (most puncture resistant tyre I've ridden), Schwalbe Marathon Winter in the ice and light snow (spiked version that rolls quite well when there's a thaw too) Schwalbe Ice Spiker for deep snow and you'll smile all the way there and back.

Decent mudguards, none of this crud catcher crap, proper guards. They look cack but you'll be grateful for them. Just take them off in deep snow.

 

[SantaHul]

Cheers guys, pretty much what I was thinking. Anybody familiar with AlpineStar? Seem to be a few of them coming up, and the name seems apt, but I don't really know anything about them.