I've built a (pub) bike and it actually works
Discussion
Much to my surprise.
I've been basically scratching my head for a few weeks figuring out how to to make one bike out of two piles of junk.
I started with one 2005 Hotrock frame and forks.
I added wheels from my dead Diamondback and grips and saddle discarded from my Trek. Then added new cables, noodles, chain, seat post and rear derailleur.
Took it out at lunchtime and....it works. Gear alignment spot on from scratch, much to my amazement.
Hardly a great achievement in the scheme of things but very satisfying for me. I now have a fully functioning but very rough looking 26er which is actually fun to ride and can be left anywhere without my fretting.
Total cost was c £120. Knowing what I know now I could probably have done it for less that £100 but, hey, it's still cheap as chips.
Happy days.
I've been basically scratching my head for a few weeks figuring out how to to make one bike out of two piles of junk.
I started with one 2005 Hotrock frame and forks.
I added wheels from my dead Diamondback and grips and saddle discarded from my Trek. Then added new cables, noodles, chain, seat post and rear derailleur.
Took it out at lunchtime and....it works. Gear alignment spot on from scratch, much to my amazement.
Hardly a great achievement in the scheme of things but very satisfying for me. I now have a fully functioning but very rough looking 26er which is actually fun to ride and can be left anywhere without my fretting.
Total cost was c £120. Knowing what I know now I could probably have done it for less that £100 but, hey, it's still cheap as chips.
Happy days.
Footnote; I commuted in on it today and it was surprisingly good. Final spec;
2005 Rockhopper Sport - frame, forks, BB, cranks, bars, brakes, front shifter - £65
1993 Diamondback - pedals, cages, cable outers, various fixings - free
???? Canondale - Mavic rims - £50
2014 Trek Cobia - grips - free
New bits - Giant seat post (£7), Chinese eBay saddle (£4!), Shimano 46 tooth chainring (£14), Shimano 11-28 cassette (£10), Shimano rear changer (£15), chain (£12), 4 x new cables (£6), Conti SportContact 1.5 slicks (£30), 2 x rattle cans to paint forks (£10)
So £223 all in.
Man maths, though tells me to deduct the consumables (cables, chain, tyres, cassette) which came to £58. So that makes it £155.
And the Mavics were a vanity purchase (they are light and look good in black but were not necessary) so the basic bike was just over £100.
Result. I like n+1.
2005 Rockhopper Sport - frame, forks, BB, cranks, bars, brakes, front shifter - £65
1993 Diamondback - pedals, cages, cable outers, various fixings - free
???? Canondale - Mavic rims - £50
2014 Trek Cobia - grips - free
New bits - Giant seat post (£7), Chinese eBay saddle (£4!), Shimano 46 tooth chainring (£14), Shimano 11-28 cassette (£10), Shimano rear changer (£15), chain (£12), 4 x new cables (£6), Conti SportContact 1.5 slicks (£30), 2 x rattle cans to paint forks (£10)
So £223 all in.
Man maths, though tells me to deduct the consumables (cables, chain, tyres, cassette) which came to £58. So that makes it £155.
And the Mavics were a vanity purchase (they are light and look good in black but were not necessary) so the basic bike was just over £100.
Result. I like n+1.
Watchman said:
Fabulous. Perfect pub bike like mine. No-one will steal it - don't take that the wrong way.
Hope so, WM. Half kicking my self for T Cutting the frame, rattle-canning the forks and fitting the black Mavics. Before that it really DID look like a dog's dinner.
Just couldn't resist making it look a bit better.
I spent a fortune on mine - although I did buy tools too.
The bike was in a bad way - I needed to throw away a lot of rusty bits. The only bits I could save were bare ali, so I replaced the rusty bits with more bare ali. When I'd finished I thought it looked quite decent but the frame lacquer was damaged and since then I've been thinking about stripping it and cleaning it up... defeating the whole object of having a rough-looking machine for the pub. Doh..!!
Chap around the corner was given two perfectly decent Halford specials. I think they are the Carrera type. Both in black, decently light (the steel front forks notwithstanding) and although his wife has used hers a bit, he hasn't used his at all. No-one ever gives me bikes despite me virtually being a collector (by dint of the fact I've more parts in the garage than Halfords has). I know loads of people I could give a bike to who would use one. I've nearly given my pub bike away a few times but I've managed to hold onto it for "lending" purposes. Three "lends" this year means I have been right to keep it.
Watchman said:
I spent a fortune on mine - although I did buy tools too.
Watchman said:
The bike was in a bad way - I needed to throw away a lot of rusty bits. The only bits I could save were bare ali, so I replaced the rusty bits with more bare ali. When I'd finished I thought it looked quite decent but the frame lacquer was damaged and since then I've been thinking about stripping it and cleaning it up... defeating the whole object of having a rough-looking machine for the pub. Doh..!!
Exactly. I was talking to a fella in the office about powder coating and he looked at me and pointed out that it's a pub bike.....Watchman said:
Chap around the corner was given two perfectly decent Halford specials. I think they are the Carrera type. Both in black, decently light (the steel front forks notwithstanding) and although his wife has used hers a bit, he hasn't used his at all. No-one ever gives me bikes despite me virtually being a collector (by dint of the fact I've more parts in the garage than Halfords has). I know loads of people I could give a bike to who would use one. I've nearly given my pub bike away a few times but I've managed to hold onto it for "lending" purposes. Three "lends" this year means I have been right to keep it.
It's great to have lending bikes. When I visit my BIL's in Norfolk and Dorset there's always a spare bike or two. Keep it.Re the parts; I've now got a wheelset, crankset. brakes, bars and changers for a nice 90's steel rigid - next project.....
Although I keep seeing very decent sub-10 yr old disc 26ers too.
Must fill those niches, must use those tools :-)
Watchman said:
I don't know where you live but if you lived in the Midlands - anywhere close enough to encourage me further in person - I'm certain it would lead to my wife divorcing me.
Currently in London. Toying with the idea of moving to Norwich. The target house may well have a garage. Or a large garden, big enough for a proper bike storage area/workshop/bike stand etc.Funny, I used to dream about having an Integrale tucked away or a Bertone GTV. But now I want bikes, more bikes :-)
Don't know what other people think but I reckon the stickers need to go make it unattractive to thieving gits. Anyone with even a minor knowledge of bikes will know a Specialized has a value. I remember a guy at work had a Kona covered in electrical tape, looked a right mess but was a great bike underneath.
Type R Tom said:
Don't know what other people think but I reckon the stickers need to go make it unattractive to thieving gits. Anyone with even a minor knowledge of bikes will know a Specialized has a value. I remember a guy at work had a Kona covered in electrical tape, looked a right mess but was a great bike underneath.
Good point. Still might do that.Was originally hoping to just peel the decals off but they're under lacquer.
I ran my old Diamondback under tape for a very long time for that very reason.
Bonus was that it was time warp underneath when I finally removed the tape 15 year later.
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