|   Looking to rejuvenate the blizz | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 3:09 PM | | Well after a couple of attempts to sell my beloved blizz on ebay unsuccessfuly, I've decided to bring more life back to the blizzard rather than buy a cushy FS next year. My other hobby of 4x4ing has been eating up more cash than I'd like, and I'm itching for some new coilovers for my Tacoma rather than coilovers for an mtb=(
Anyways, here's the plan, new 80 mm fork up front (can't go any longer travel at my wieght or I'm likely to rip the headtube off), new wheels, and an Avid disc up front.
Now here's what I'm interested in hearing opinions about, the new blizzard frame has a strut welded on the rear triangle between the seat stay and the chain stay to strengthen the frame for a rear disc.
Is it possible to retrofit my '99 to accept a rear disc (disc tabs and a similar strut)? OR is the spacing between the chain stays different between a disc and a non-disc frame? If any west coasters could direct me to a good shop to get this done at (plus a new gun metal grey powder coat), it would be appreciated. I'm relocating to Alberta in a couple of weeks. |
| I don't have a clue about retrofitting...... | celly
Nov 27, 2003 3:24 PM | | but what's this you say about Alberta?
e me!
bc |
| Geritol and some rocket fuel = | JimC.
Nov 27, 2003 3:30 PM | | I called Scott at Rocky for ya, em eff. He says don't do it. The frame carries a lifetime warranty and that goes out the window. the issue lies in spacing to accommodate the hub he claims. also he said very few if any shops will touch it as it creates a liability for them with the frame breaking.
(604)527-9906 <-- Scott in Cust. Service
It'll probably work but he says don't. You could fix it up and repaint it and sell in when you get to AB? What town/city eh?
Further south is good, Yellerknife is way north. Jim |
| OK, that kit I mentioned... | race frehley
Nov 27, 2003 3:40 PM | | Don't use it :-) |
| Geritol and some rocket fuel = | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 4:00 PM | | Hey Jim,
Moving to Grande Prairie, not super south, but closer to bigger urban centres and the Rockies!! Yeehaw. I've been off the bike for a year now, and am smoking like a trooper, so I'll spend this winter getting myself into fighting shape.
I saw your link for Brake Therapy, that does seem way expensive, it looks like a front disc will have to do. Thanks for all the info. |
| I have a Brake Therapy floating on my Bullit... | CraigH
Nov 27, 2003 5:20 PM | | Ya, the conversion won't be cheap.
For brakes almost as good as disk, consider a Magura hydraulic rim brake for the rear. |
| re: Looking to rejuvenate the blizz | race frehley
Nov 27, 2003 3:37 PM | | The space between the dropouts is exactly the same. There is a kit/adapter to add a rear disc - don't know where to get it or how much $, maybe someone else here has the scoop on that. If it were me, I wouldn't bother. I'd go disc on front and V on rear, and adjust the modulation on the levers for a good balance.
As for a refinish, my first call would be to Rocky themselves. They can refinish it AND put new decals on. If you don't care about the decals, then any powdercoating shop can do it. |
| Brake Therapy | JimC.
Nov 27, 2003 3:41 PM | | http://www.therapycomponents.com/btmoreinfo.htm (warning...it's a FLASH site)
http://www.therapycomponents.com/btmoreinfo.htm
I beleive the thing is about $300 USD, dang near $450 CAD for Mudferret.Ex- Spen-sive. Jim |
| That is the floater, the adapter is a little cheaper I think. NM | CraigH
Nov 27, 2003 5:21 PM | | nm |
| re: Looking to rejuvenate the blizz | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 4:01 PM | | Judging by the posts so far, it looks like I'll have to do just that, v in the rear. As far as powder coating, Im looking for a nice flat finish, and decal free. Almost like getting a new bike:-) |
| Give Dekerf a buzz... | skogan
Nov 27, 2003 3:48 PM | | not sure if Chris would work on a different make of bike but when I had my Generation refinished they said there was no problem with having a disc brake mount welded on. Also consider them for the repaint. They don't do powdercoating but the new in-house process they use is much better than what they had in the old days, it holds up very well. You could have new Rocky decals installed and clearcoated over this way too..
http://www.dekerf.com/ |
| Give Dekerf a buzz... | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 4:03 PM | | Will keep that in mind. It looks like I'll pass on the rear disc, according to the info JimC found for me, it'll void my frame warranty. Thanks for the info. |
| Give Dekerf a buzz... | skogan
Nov 27, 2003 4:11 PM | | So where abouts in God's Country are you moving to?
Oh never mind, guess I should have read the previous posts ;o)
You'll have to hook up with Tomahawk Rob/Endo and come down to pay us a visit! |
| Give Dekerf a buzz... | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 4:21 PM | | Moving to Grande Prairie, I was through there at night and I remember some nice valleys, no rock unfortunately (?). I've never lived or ridden anywhere that wasn't super rocky, so it may take some serious adjusting. I'll have no excuse not to drive to great places to go riding now that I'll be south of '60'. |
| You'll probably be happy with a disc/V combo... | GirchyGirchy
Nov 27, 2003 4:58 PM | | I know I sure am. I upgraded to an Avid disc in the front about a year ago, but because of a lack of rear disc mounts, I kept the rear V brake. I honestly can't think of one time I've just stopped and thought, "wow, I really need a disc in the rear." And I've had my share of muddy rides.
However, I haven't tested it in the snow, where I know my V's were lacking...I can't wait to try that out. I didn't put my Avid on until after snow season last year.
Maybe a rear one would be nice, but I always have enough power to lock the rear, so I figure it's not needed. |
| Try a Magura hydraulic rim brake in the rear... | CraigH
Nov 27, 2003 5:23 PM | | Almost as good as disk. |
| Try a Magura hydraulic rim brake in the rear... | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 5:29 PM | | That's one option I overlooked. It seems that Magura rim hydro's are being neglected nowadays, definitely a viable alternative. |
| I'm running them on a bunch of my mtn bike that don't... | CraigH
Nov 27, 2003 6:25 PM | | have disk mounts.
Lots of used Magura hyd. rim brake sets around as people have taken them off when they installed disks. |
| You'll probably be happy with a disc/V combo... | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 5:28 PM | | Now that you mention it, I've never been in a situation where I wanted more rear brake power, with the exception of when I've been messing around with trials type stuff, but I can live with that. Thanks for the input. |
| Yup. Since ones most powerful tool... | Not Duckman
Nov 27, 2003 5:45 PM | | ...on the entire bike is the front brake, the most to be gained is here..regarding the benefot from improved modulation as well as wet/mud weather performance in general. The rear needs little power relaltive to the front to be locked, even when wet. Anything more is a waste anyway. This is sorta common on older HT's i've seen around..um..like my old Moab. Been a disc front for awhle now. Have 2 all disc nrs's as well. Ride the Moab alot, and never have i missed the disc in the rear, for what thats worth. Hate that mud noise tho. Have 4 disc fronts i swap amg the 3 rides. |
| re: Looking to rejuvenate the blizz | wickerman1
Nov 27, 2003 6:53 PM | | |
| Where are you moving from?nm | wickerman1
Nov 27, 2003 6:53 PM | | |
| Where are you moving from?nm | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 8:02 PM | | Moving from Yellowknife, I've spent about 1.5 years up here after moving up from Sudbury. It's a cool city, but just a wee bit too far north and isolated for my taste. |
| I can relate! | AK Ken
Nov 27, 2003 11:25 PM | | Light at 10 am and dark at 4 and still losing 6 minutes a day.
New job?
Ken |
| I can relate! | mudferret*
Nov 28, 2003 10:07 AM | | The days sure are getting short fast. I was pleasently surprised by lots of fresh snow this morning tho. I'm accepting a position with a company I worked for before. |
| damn!!!! | wickerman1
Nov 28, 2003 6:26 PM | | And I thought the first time when I went to Sudbury on tour the smoke stack at the nickel mine was the friggin north pole because it felt we were driving for hours to get there!!!...until we had to play in Chapleau...now thats a ghost town |
| damn!!!! | mudferret*
Nov 28, 2003 6:53 PM | | Yeah, Chapleau is a pretty sad town. I hope you saw more of Sudbury than the ugly area around the Big Nickel (the Big Nipple as MikeT calls it:-), it's actually morphed into a beautiful city in the past 20 years and has awsome trails. |
| I run my blizzard with disc/V combo... | Diamond Dave
Nov 27, 2003 8:20 PM | | and there isn't a ride that goes by that I don't wish I had rear disc. It's not a matter of stopping power. It's maintenance, poor wet condition performance, and wearing through the braking surface of the rear rim. Minor things sure, but terminal upgraditis makes me want disc in the rear too. I am sure of this, adding a front disc will certainly rejuvenate the blizz.
Good Luck.
DD |
| here's your answer. | scrublover
Nov 27, 2003 8:38 PM | | www.vulturecycles.com will do it for ya.
as well as www.spicercycles.com
depends on how important your rocky warrantee is to you; how likely is it that you think you'll ever actually use the warrantee?
i had gene at spicer add a rear disc mount to my curtlo hardtail. took of the v mounts, added the disc mount, redid some cable guides so i could run full cables to the rear brake, and derailleurs, and repowdercoated it in my original color. total cost = $160 including shipping back to me.
has been working great so far.
check the ss board, too. lots of folks over there have had frames redone in various ways.
scroll to the bottom of the link; at work now and only thing i found searching with a pic of the bike. i can get detailed ones of the mod if you woant.
scrublover "Front Range passion this morning." 6/27/03 8:22am |
| here's your answer. | mudferret*
Nov 27, 2003 9:05 PM | | Thanks for the input. Detailed pics would be great, you can hit me up at maynardnwt(at)hotmail.com
thanks. |
| here's your answer. | scrublover
Nov 27, 2003 9:48 PM | | no problem. i really highly reccomend gene spicer. he's done a couple things for me; all at very good prices, with fast turn around times. the repaint on my curtlo has been more durable than the original. the disc mount worked great; everything bolted right up to it. the frame looks like it was disc brake only from the beginning- you can't even tell it ever had canti/v mounts on it. did have to do my own decals, but sounds like you want no decals anyhow.
i'll get some pics to you in the next day or two.
dave |
| sorry for the hijack but... | race frehley
Nov 28, 2003 12:00 AM | | Where'd you get that really tall rigid fork? |
| surly karate monkey 29" fork. | scrublover
Nov 28, 2003 1:53 AM | | bikeman.com and aebike.com have them.
i got this one on ebay for about half retail, and another one from a shop; a take off form some guys who'd bought a KM frame/fork and didn't want the fork. i used a dremel tool to lop off the v-brake mounts, and then cleaned it up with a hand file before painting over the stubs with some nail polish.
it's pretty tall. if you don't want quite that tall, you can also get the surly instigator fork. disc and v, remeovable v mounts (or cut them off) and beefy. it's still taller than the dimension disc fork, and has straight blades, too, if you like that look. (i do.) |
| Wade (vulture cycles) put a disc mount on my '92 Blizzard | shiggy©®
Nov 28, 2003 10:15 AM | | Works great. |
| yeah, i know he does that stuff, but.... | scrublover
Nov 30, 2003 8:11 PM | | id no personnal experince with him, and had with gene spicer.
fwiw, the stuff i've seen of wade's over on SS looks great!
i think either one would be just fine. i went with gene because he was closer to me, and i had heard of him first. |
| Welcome to Alberta! | Kenny©
Nov 28, 2003 7:10 AM | | I have no help on any of your questions unfortunately but I do own a sweet blizz frame ('03) and am luvin' it! Powdercoat looks sweet too.
And appologies for the lack of short term memory but were you the person moving to Lethbridge?
K© |
| Welcome to Alberta! | mudferret*
Nov 28, 2003 10:05 AM | | No, I'm moving to Grande Prairie. I remember catching pics of your blizz, that is one fine ride. |
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