Picked up an old ladies Raleigh Pioneer 10 speed hybrid in original trim (complete with steel riser bars & stem, plastic cantis, plastic brake levers, plastic 2x5 thumbies, plastic pedals) but in good nick, and have given it a bit of a makeover into my girlfriend's new commuter bike - the only stock parts are the front wheel and rear rim, headset, seatpost clamp bolt and front reflector.
She needed something capable of carrying heavy loads day-in-day-out to work and the shops over Manchester's terrible roads (if you've cycled in Trafford and Stretford recently you'll know what I mean!) at speed in all weathers - her old Falcon singlespeed wasn't cutting it and she still wanted something reasonably retro but with fatter tyres, stronger brakes and her favourite handlebars - so here's the Monstertrolley! If asked we tell people it's a Xybrid - a CX inspired hardcore commuter hynrid bike with drop bars and humungous tyres! It's got enough clearance for her snow tyres (not long now!) and the only thing we might change now is swapping the chainring out for a 42/44t.
- Frame & Fork: 1990 Raleigh Pioneer Classic (other suitable candidates were old Treks and Specialized but we’ve a soft spot for Pioneers, this one has a decent frame and nice wide rims and it was cheap!) with 130mm OLD rear end
- Headset: original (refurbished)
- Stem: alloy riser quill with twin-bolt faceplate (high and short, puts the drops in the same position as the old risers)
- Handlebar: On-One Midge (multiple hand positions with shallow drop, wider flare and cheaper and more colourful than WTB or Salsa variants)
- Bar Tape: Cinelli Mike Giant with Cinelli gel pads (Mike Giant is a San Fransisco graf and skate legend)
- Brake levers / Shifters: Shimano 105 STIs (work perfectly with cantis)
- Brakes: Shimano cantilevers (they do the job)
- Brake Pads: Aztec (better than Shimano, cheaper than Kool Stops)
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 (short cage suits 1×9 perfectly)
- Cassette: Shimano HG50 (does the job)
- Chain: SRAM PC951
- Cranks: Shimano MT60 (ancient but still working fine)
- Chainring: Middleburn 36t with MRP bashring (chainring is new, may gear up to a 42t at some point but bike is still being tested)
- Bottom Bracket: FSA sealed cartridge (heavy but cheap)
- Pedals: VP-566 flats (she doesn't like SPDs or toeclips)
- Rims: Alesa 36 hole (original to the bike, nice and fat at 17mm ERTRO)
- Hubs: new Shimano Tiagra at rear (converted to solid axle) with original Sachs up front
- Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Dureme folding 700 x 40c (pretty much the widest we could fit in the mudguard and a bargain from a certain German discount bike store right now) with Schwalbe’s studded Marathon tyres ready for the coming winter
- Saddle: Specialized Lithia 155 (rider's favourite with the all important cutaway)
- Seatpost: Kalloy (replaces original chrome item)
- Seatpost Binder: cromo (stock)
Extras: inline adjuster and hanger for rear brake to replace original roller, Blackburn P-clips for powdercoated luggage rack, original front reflector, 5W Saik LED front light, Knog rear light, rear mudguard, eyeball bell
More info & photos:
http://deadrats.co.uk/2012/11/the-monst ... e-xybrids/
She needed something capable of carrying heavy loads day-in-day-out to work and the shops over Manchester's terrible roads (if you've cycled in Trafford and Stretford recently you'll know what I mean!) at speed in all weathers - her old Falcon singlespeed wasn't cutting it and she still wanted something reasonably retro but with fatter tyres, stronger brakes and her favourite handlebars - so here's the Monstertrolley! If asked we tell people it's a Xybrid - a CX inspired hardcore commuter hynrid bike with drop bars and humungous tyres! It's got enough clearance for her snow tyres (not long now!) and the only thing we might change now is swapping the chainring out for a 42/44t.
- Frame & Fork: 1990 Raleigh Pioneer Classic (other suitable candidates were old Treks and Specialized but we’ve a soft spot for Pioneers, this one has a decent frame and nice wide rims and it was cheap!) with 130mm OLD rear end
- Headset: original (refurbished)
- Stem: alloy riser quill with twin-bolt faceplate (high and short, puts the drops in the same position as the old risers)
- Handlebar: On-One Midge (multiple hand positions with shallow drop, wider flare and cheaper and more colourful than WTB or Salsa variants)
- Bar Tape: Cinelli Mike Giant with Cinelli gel pads (Mike Giant is a San Fransisco graf and skate legend)
- Brake levers / Shifters: Shimano 105 STIs (work perfectly with cantis)
- Brakes: Shimano cantilevers (they do the job)
- Brake Pads: Aztec (better than Shimano, cheaper than Kool Stops)
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 (short cage suits 1×9 perfectly)
- Cassette: Shimano HG50 (does the job)
- Chain: SRAM PC951
- Cranks: Shimano MT60 (ancient but still working fine)
- Chainring: Middleburn 36t with MRP bashring (chainring is new, may gear up to a 42t at some point but bike is still being tested)
- Bottom Bracket: FSA sealed cartridge (heavy but cheap)
- Pedals: VP-566 flats (she doesn't like SPDs or toeclips)
- Rims: Alesa 36 hole (original to the bike, nice and fat at 17mm ERTRO)
- Hubs: new Shimano Tiagra at rear (converted to solid axle) with original Sachs up front
- Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Dureme folding 700 x 40c (pretty much the widest we could fit in the mudguard and a bargain from a certain German discount bike store right now) with Schwalbe’s studded Marathon tyres ready for the coming winter
- Saddle: Specialized Lithia 155 (rider's favourite with the all important cutaway)
- Seatpost: Kalloy (replaces original chrome item)
- Seatpost Binder: cromo (stock)
Extras: inline adjuster and hanger for rear brake to replace original roller, Blackburn P-clips for powdercoated luggage rack, original front reflector, 5W Saik LED front light, Knog rear light, rear mudguard, eyeball bell
More info & photos:
http://deadrats.co.uk/2012/11/the-monst ... e-xybrids/
