|   Pre-SS: His SS Story... | PROGRE-SS
Jun 26, 2002 10:32 AM | | Afternooon all (Or good morning all you west coasters),
So I've finally done it. After many months of asking silly, perhaps absurd, and numerous newbie single speed questions, searching everywhere for a mtb worthy of converting (and I do mean everywhere from police auctions to eBay to the mtbr classifieds, all the local newspaper clasifieds, consignment shops, thrift stores, Goodwill, Sally Ann, LBS's and even the curbside trash on garbage day) I've finally done it. I plopped done the cash and bought me a bike for converting. One of my coworkers saw me searching eBay one day and though to ask what I was doing.
"Looking for an inexpensive mountain bike to convert to a single speed" I said.
"Geez, I've got a bike that I bought a while ago that I've barely even ridden. Let me find out the make and model and get back to you on Monday".
"Cool" said I.
I find out she has a '96 16.5" Trek 930 Singletrack that she said she only rode several times since purchasing the bike. I don't even think it's been off-road!
"What do ya want for it?" I say.
"Around $100-125."
"SOLD!!!!!! " I yelled. That was last week.
So yesterday, after arriving late to work due to my wife's dr's appointment running late, I call up my coworker to me me in the parking lot so I could take the bike off her rack. I spot the bike and car in the lot and all I can say is sweet!!!! I haven't really had time to look at the bike due to the new baby and all but it appears to be in showroom condition. This looks like the beginning of a beautiful relationship!!
So, be warned!! Many more absurd conversion questions to come!! (Like at the end of this extremely long post!) To those who made it this far, thanks for reading!!
Ok, here are the questions!!
1. Being an older bike, it has canti brakes. I assume this means tire choice will be minimal due to tire clearance?
2. When I do decide to change the OEM sterrin setup from threaded to threadless, what are some quality, inexpensive components regarding fork (rigid or boingy), bars, headset and stem? Are the Nashbar branded components any good?
3. And what about pedals? Right now I'm gonna "borrow" the ones of the Iron Horse, but once I upgrade, what should I look for and while we're at it what about shoes? again, looking for good quality, inexpensive stuff a la Nashbar/Performance/Supergo?etc blowouts?
Thanks again!!
Pre-SS |
| Congrats and a couple of anwsers | shiggy
Jun 26, 2002 10:58 AM | | Cantis have as much or more tire clearance as Vs. You can use as big a tire as can fit the frame.
Threaded/threadless: There is no reason to switch unless/until you go to a suspension fork. You can still get quill stems if you need a different size. No reason to spend the money now. The cheap house brands are just fine if weight is not a major concern.
Have fun with the new bike! |
| Pedals/shoes | CaveRock
Jun 26, 2002 11:41 AM | | I have some of the $30 Ritcheys from Pricepoint.com on my DiSS. They work just fine and the grey color matches my brakes, so I'm stylie, too!
As far as shoes go, I like the hiking-boot looking ones or the skate shoe looking ones. The trails I ride are very technical and rocky, and sometimes a hike-a-bike is required. I'd much rather have a heavier hiking-boot style shoe for added off-bike walkability that a slippery soled racer shoe.
Get to work on that conversion, boy! |
| Nice job | CRBob
Jun 26, 2002 12:01 PM | | Sounds like you got a great deal. Ill add my two bits to the answers to your questions. do NOT buy a Nashbar stem. some of their stuff is good, but stems are not something they do well. I just yesterday returned a nashbar road stem that I got for my fixie because it was an absolute noodle(flexy) and it creaked non stop. constantly. For what I paid I am getting a salsa stem. just shop around. Stay with the rigid for a bit, suspension's for girls and guys with weak arms. I kid...serously though, ride rigid. for shoes and pedals Im a huge fan of ATACs. they can be had in the aluminun flava for about $30-40. I like specialized shoes, they always seem to be trying to get rid of some mt comps or teams on the specialized website. |
| I can donate some SPD pedals... | DAS
Jun 26, 2002 12:18 PM | | Pre-SS. I have some extra Ritchey mtn pedals, SPD compatible. Want 'em for free? no problem.
email your address
das@singlespeed.net |
| I can donate some SPD pedals... | PROGRE-SS
Jun 26, 2002 12:58 PM | | Thanks DAS!! Like I said in my email to you, I hope someday to return the same generousity that has been bestowed upon me here on this forum. If I haven't said it enough, THIS FORUM AND EVERYBODY (well, almost everybody) ROCKS!!! I can feel the brotherly love!! Thanks again DAS!!
Pre-SS |
| Pre-SS, what size shoes... | Gary in VA
Jun 27, 2002 5:12 AM | | do you wear? I've got an extra pair or two that are a bit small for me. |
| Pre-SS, what size shoes... | PROGRE-SS
Jun 27, 2002 8:31 AM | | I think around a 7.5/8. I've got small feet! |
| Sorry... | Gary in VA
Jun 28, 2002 6:05 PM | | but my shoes won't fit an elf. |
| just ride it as is for now... buck a mile | jh_on_the_cape
Jun 26, 2002 12:28 PM | | just ride it as-is. i sometimes catch myself spending too much time and money doodling around with my bike. just ride it! my rule of thumb, i do not spend more than $1 per mile i ride. so don't spend a penny until you get 100 miles offroad on the bike for the $100 you spent. i dont ride with a computer, i just figure about 8 miles an hour or so. so ride an hour per ride, so a couple rides a week, so a couple months before you do ANYTHING to the bike. if it's in showroom condition you shouldnt have to. i tend to ride a more than that, so i spend more, but i wear the stuff out faster. i am still riding off the 700 miles on my new CUSS!! keeping it stock until then. well, i put a 2.5 weirwolf on the front, that's another 40 miles. and another 70 miles for the egg beaters... oh geez, i better go for a ride so i can get some new grips! |
| Dang! I do not even want to think about... | shiggy
Jun 26, 2002 12:52 PM | | ...how many miles I would need to put on the MC before the next part swap/repair!
Good idea though! |
| Sounds like a good idea to bring up with my wife! | PROGRE-SS
Jun 26, 2002 1:02 PM | | jh, sounds like a good idea!! Maybe I should invest in a bike computer and explain this buck a mile idea to my better half!! Kinda like earning my rewards, eh?? Cool!! Yeah, once I get the conversion done and buy a new set of grips, unless I just ust the gripshift grips, I probably will keep the Trek as is, and no new additions for a while!
Pre-SS |
| Welcome! For future reference, please... | gonzostrike
Jun 26, 2002 2:00 PM | | DO NOT write about yourself in the 3d person.
i.e., "Pre-SS, His SS story" -- when in fact, YOU are Pre-SS.
To many people, writing about one's self in 3d person screams arrogance and insecurity.
You seem like much too nice & sincere a guy to be perceived erroneously. Next time, simply say "My SS Story" |
| and I just thought it was a play on the word 'history!' | hisSSstory (nm) ya know
Jun 26, 2002 2:11 PM | | |
| ... Bob Dole would have to disagree with that statement nm | GlowBoy
Jun 26, 2002 2:46 PM | | |
| But that's how the ROCK talks!! lol!!!! | PROGRE-SS
Jun 26, 2002 3:12 PM | | Hey Gonzostrike,
I think I just spoke/wrote in the 3rd person in the topic title. I didn't go talking like the Rock throughout my little story, not to my knowledge anyways. But while we're talking about talking in the 3rd person...
b CAN YOU SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLWHAT PRE-SS HAS COOKIN? |
| Oh please! | funkpunk
Jun 26, 2002 5:15 PM | | Give the funkpunk a freaking break! |
| George is getting upset. | Carl Mega
Jun 26, 2002 5:35 PM | | Why would George steal from the Yankees? |
| George likes his chicken spicy! | :-P (nm)
Jun 27, 2002 6:17 AM | | |
| I'm happy its not a Michael Jackson reference! (nmi) | Jonathan
Jun 26, 2002 6:01 PM | | . |
| OH Yeah! | red-haze
Jun 26, 2002 9:11 PM | | ride it as is for now. canti-s will work fine, but replace the pads with kool-stops as soon as feasible. v-brakes will bolt right on too, may be able to get the cheap shimano alivios at lbs for cheap too. and some v-brake levers too. but the kool-stops will make the most difference. read up on how to set up canti-s correctly.
shoes, cannondale makes a great shoe that seems to be onsale most of the time, performance/pricepoint. mc900 or some such. wider than average, softer tread (grips rocks better when hike a bikin) and time cleats fit inside the level of the tread (again good for rock climbing). $40 or so.
fork- use as big a tire as can fit, if ya got a buddy that rides d/h he/she may have a nokian gazzi for cheap, all those tires have nice thick casings (puncture resistance) so you can run low pressures. mellows out the ride just right but still preserves the rigid forks efficiency.
ride it. take a vacation to the nw and visit me.
bob |
| The steel-is-real man wants to help Pre-SS keep the dream alive | the steel-is-real man
Jun 27, 2002 8:36 AM | | The steel-is-real man says that the Trek 930 is a good frame and Pre-SS could have spent mucho dollars without doing any better. He thanks Pre-SS for rescuing this frame. He thanks Pre-SS for helping to keep the dream alive. He would like to donate items that help Pre-SS keep the dream alive, so long as he can continue to protect his secret identity (and keep referring to himself in the third-person).
SIR-Man has,
-rigid fork, threadless, 413mm axle to crown
-salsa moto ace stem, 100x5
-answer hyperlite bar, 23"
-pedros grips
-shimano SPD 535s
-one good kevlar tire
-some common bike tools
-other stuff he can't think of right now
SIR-Man says he will cover shipping. He just wants to know that he is donating only items that are really needed. He wants to be able to help others keep the dream alive, too.
He suggests that Mr. Pre-SS leave contact information. |
| The steel-is-real man wants to help Pre-SS keep the dream alive | PROGRE-SS
Jun 27, 2002 9:51 AM | | If MR. SIR-Man wants to help PRe-SS keep the SS dream alive, Pre-SS says "JUST BRING IT!" Pre-SS would also like to thank SIR-Man for his generousity to the Pre-SS dream!
Pre-SS doesn't want to seem like a freeloader to all the people out there, but he cannot decline the good fortunes bestowed upon him by the fine people of the single speed forum. As Pre-ss has said before, he would like to someday be able to bestow upon others the kind generousity that has been given him. And if anyone should have a problem with Pre-SS for accepting these kind offerings, then bring your Candy-A$$ down to the squared circle so Pre-SS can take this steel frame, turn it sideways and shove it up there Candy-A$$es and then lay the Smack Down followed by a Rock Bottom and then a Poeple's Elbow!!!!!
Should SIR-Man want to contact Pre-SS he can email him at jamesbonifacio@hotmail.com
PS: Any similarities between Pre-SS and the WWe's The Rock are purely coincidental! |
| eelpie says "that's some tough talk from a guy riding a | eelpie
Jun 28, 2002 6:30 AM | | 16.5 inch frame and wearing size 7.5 shoes!" Name the day and the time, baby, and eelpie will bring his candy ass. Course, if you succeed, you'll be back to where you were before...SS-less again!
Seriously, congrats on making the move. Enjoy it! |
| Yo.... | the steel-is-real man
Jun 28, 2002 7:32 AM | | Check your email.
Let's see what stuff you need. I'm guessing that fork and stem will be high on your list. A threadless headset won't be a heavy lift. Supergo has decent Tange ones for $19. The FSA Orbit DL seems pretty good, at about $25. And you can get a Cane Creek S2 for only $35 at places like Jensonusa. That's a pretty decent piece for the money.
I think that the buck-a-mile suggestion is a great one. And Shiggy makes a good point too about how you can ride this bike as-is. But threadless setups sure are less hassle in the long run, so you might as well take advantage of the freebies.
SIR-Man |
| BCRider was heard ..... | BCRider
Jun 27, 2002 3:15 PM | | ...to exclaim "Well, it's about bloody time and good on PreSS" upon his reading the start of this thread.
BCRider also said that PreSS should just try riding that fine steed as a ridgid but to get some big fat tires like Kenda Kinetics 2.35 or favourite equivalent for the conditions in that area and run them at a softer pressure like 28 to 30 PSI. His reasoning for this choice was that fatter low pressure tires had been found to be surprisingly shock absorbent while still allowing the front steering to be amazingly responsive and communicative. He is not that much in love with front suspension since trying his full ridgid SS.
BCRider was further heard to offer to all that would listen that canti's can be made to work well but were a pain to set up. He said that cyclocrossers deserved canti's as a punishment for riding in the dirt while secretly wishing to be roadies ( I'm sure he meant that last bit as a joke but please take it out on him and not me... :o) ). He said that PreSS should try to find some cheap V brake package somewhere but wished him good luck in the meantime with learning the secrets of good canti performance.
Ya know this is really hard for me....er.... I mean BCRider.... to talk like this........
BCRider also says good luck with BOTH those babies, the fleshy poopy one and the greasy oily steel one. Just be sure of which one you're getting the shoes for. And just before he left BCRider suggested that if the SS is any indication then PreSS had better start shopping now for a bike for the fleshy poopy baby..... :o) |
| Nice.... | singleminded
Jun 27, 2002 6:12 PM | | Thanks for the good read.
Hey Pre-SS! I caught your email address in your reply to the great SIR-Man. An email's comin' your way... |
| re: Pre-SS: His SS Story... | single & rigid man
Jun 28, 2002 8:15 AM | | The single & rigid man says to give him a yell when Pre(now Post?)-SS wants to try that baby out. He also says the Tourne is only about twenty minutes away from Pre-SS, & a good place to SS.
BTW, S&R says to just keep the Canti brakes for now. Ride it a few times first to see for yourself what needs upgrading. Don't worry about getting everything just right, just go out & ride it. He also says that a rigid setup with some big tires at low pressures works great where Pre-SS is, here in northern NJ. S&R put a 2.5" WTB Weirwolf on one of his bikes and seems to like it a lot. S&R runs BMX platform pedals on his SS & said he likes them lots too. And lastly, the single & rigid man says for someone to please come & open up a big can of whoopass on him if he ever writes in the third person again.
single & rigid b4bru@aol.com |
| |
