Just picked up this Univega Alpine 5.7 (bike packing base)

[sefton1275gt]

Looks unused, well built and surprisingly light.

Stem is really long so it feels too low.

The idea is to make a back-packing bike to ride from Inverness to Cape Wrath.

I mistakenly presumed it would have a quill stem to get the position nice, high and comfortable for long days in the saddle.

...so I'm a little worried it will be too aggressive/low on the front (unless a shorter stem helps)

(Something of a bargain too)

 

[widowmaker]

Nice!

 

[Lucidone]

Should be a 1" steerer on that JIC you're looking for new stems.

I love that paint - really classy and with one of my favourite understated groups too! Looks like a great bike!

 

[Joe_Rides]

Very nice, and loads of stem options. Shorter, high-rise, swan neck etc etc. Just got to work out what you need and get searching. Look forward to progress!

 

[sefton1275gt]

Interesting, I've never seen those swan neck stems before.

I'm a little gutted it's not got a quill stem (i do like a quill stem, practical and looks classy)

 

[sefton1275gt]

How strong are the wheels/rims.

 

[dirttorpedo]

Nice looking bike. If you want to go with drop bars and get them high you could go with a cygne/limp dick stem and get them waaaay up. If you aren't as concered there are many ahead style stems with a decent rise - you could probably find one used locally. Another option is to go with a new handlebar with a lot of rise. Redshift has a drop bar with a nice riser to it. And there are lots of mountain bike and alt bars (klunker anyone?) with rise. If going with a mountain bike bar / alt bar you could probably get a nice amount or rise that doesn't look goofy with a careful selection of riser stem and bar.

 

[Lucidone]

My better half used one these before fitting some low rise BMX bars.
If you fancied trying one in an efficient manor let me know..

 

[joglo]

hi, I have shared already my concerns,

Post in thread 'Univega alpina ? Any good (good base for a backpacking bike)?'

Apr 7, 2025

I'm a big Univega fan, had an Alpina bought new in the nineties.
Its a great bike, as others said already, just not sure if it's the right ride as backpacking, long distance bike?
I have bit of experience, have ridden mine on bike packing trips to Austria and Tuscany back in time.

The steel frame and stays are pretty flexible, offer comfort and is quite light. But it has typically a sporty geometry as popular in the 90ties and a pretty short head tube, no suspension adopted fork till 1997 and therfore a really low front. Plus originally a flatbar and long flat stem.

I would rather keep...

• joglo

• 

as I have used back in time my Univega Alpina for bike packing trips, but this was at an age of 20, nowadays I would simply use but also recommend another bike or basis for long distance trips.

The bike itself is great, in particular also that year, should be 1995 and that a bit uncommon but great paint job.
It has the formula 969 tubing.


And last but not least, everything is possible

It looks like this guy has even moved away from ahead-set. Is that even a different fork?
https://www.bikeforums.net/18752975-post1.html

 

[KayOs]

Congratulations! Really nice catch in an awesome condition.

I use my Alpina for bike packing too because the frame is really comfortable as @joglo just said.

I simply but on a riser bar (and a brooks) and it feels just right for me, even on longer trips.