WandsworthRouleur
Pace Fan
Well, I've been well and truly bitten by the Retrobike bug.
I've bought and done up an RC200 F6 frame set (see elsewhere on these boards -- really must update that thread, the bike is looking awesome now, and rides like a beast. A very stiff beast!).
I've also just bought (from this very forum!) a mid 90s Zaskar frame for 24" wheels for Master Rouler once he outgrows his Islabike. Can't wait to get started on that as a father/son project -- paucity of decent non-BMX 24" wheels and forks notwithstanding!
So, now it's the turn of Mrs Rouleur! She has an early 2000s Trek of some description, with plain Deore groupo and Judy forks in need of a decent service. The big problem is that it's seriously heavy and with too many gears for a non-cyclist to contend with. So, she finally cracked and is allowing me to 'Invest' in a Retrobike for her.
It's mostly going to be used on road and forest fire trails. If I was buying new, one of the current crop of adventure bikes would be ideal. But I'm not, so what bike to get? I'm thinking some old zingy steel or really light aluminium might be just the job. No or minimal front sus and a 1x7 or 1x8 gear setup would do the trick.
I had a rigid 95 and 96 Marin Pine Mountain BITD, so that's on the list. I also like the look of something like a 97 Kona Kilauea (with P2s). Maybe a 'Dale M400 to go super light?
So, what am I missing? It's got to be cheap, so nothing exotic like a Yo Eddy. Maybe a P7? Something less obvious? I'm waiting for inspiration! Especially if you have something to sell that would suit a someone 5'8"...
I've bought and done up an RC200 F6 frame set (see elsewhere on these boards -- really must update that thread, the bike is looking awesome now, and rides like a beast. A very stiff beast!).
I've also just bought (from this very forum!) a mid 90s Zaskar frame for 24" wheels for Master Rouler once he outgrows his Islabike. Can't wait to get started on that as a father/son project -- paucity of decent non-BMX 24" wheels and forks notwithstanding!
So, now it's the turn of Mrs Rouleur! She has an early 2000s Trek of some description, with plain Deore groupo and Judy forks in need of a decent service. The big problem is that it's seriously heavy and with too many gears for a non-cyclist to contend with. So, she finally cracked and is allowing me to 'Invest' in a Retrobike for her.
It's mostly going to be used on road and forest fire trails. If I was buying new, one of the current crop of adventure bikes would be ideal. But I'm not, so what bike to get? I'm thinking some old zingy steel or really light aluminium might be just the job. No or minimal front sus and a 1x7 or 1x8 gear setup would do the trick.
I had a rigid 95 and 96 Marin Pine Mountain BITD, so that's on the list. I also like the look of something like a 97 Kona Kilauea (with P2s). Maybe a 'Dale M400 to go super light?
So, what am I missing? It's got to be cheap, so nothing exotic like a Yo Eddy. Maybe a P7? Something less obvious? I'm waiting for inspiration! Especially if you have something to sell that would suit a someone 5'8"...
