[Closed] Building a 'rest of life' bike?

Every bike I buy is bought with the intention of it lasting me a life time. I've managed to keep one for 3 years.

I think maybe just the frame would last that long; steel - yes, titanium - should do, aluminium - no way.

But as for componentary 5 years of frequent use perhaps. More basic, heavy componentary might last longer.
But post pic's when you've completed your hardy perennial.

iI've bought a few bikes for life. I gave up on that and accepted I'll probably keep trying new ones.

That said I have a custom steel hard tail I doubt I'll sell, same for my Heckler. My Tourer is close too (ti)

I spoke to bob jacksons a year or so back about something like this, similar sort of idea to a singular peregrine but with rohloff and couplings to split it, they they could do all manner of things. I decided on a new motorbike in the end lol

Got a road bike painted by they it was a lovely job. Website is rubbish but they know their stuff, worth a phone or call in they are up near stanningley 😉

just built a salsa vaya. not sure it's my bike for life, but it might fit your needs...

Would be a xt shod 5 spot for me.

Ton ...get thee toJD cycles. Some lovely tourer bikes.
Or a full custom Bob Jackson, maybe not a "last" bike, but certainly the potential to be a constant companion supported by a stream of biking mistresses.

thought about a good quality steel frame, zinc sprayed prior to painting.
highish front for comfort.

I got a Ti bike for life in 2006.
I sold it in 2009.

I'd suggest trying a steel Jones, but you may be on the height limit? I'm 6'1" (people taller ride them happily) and mine is the first geniune candidate for a 'does more than most, does many things better than most' bike for life I've ridden. 'Bombproof' design. Works for long road miles as well as most off road stuff, makes a fantastic tourer. A unique bike for certain. Mine is coming with me all the way to sock n sandals fred-ism age )

If you are not going to use it a huge amount or really roughly, there is no reason aluminium won't last twenty years - I have recently built up a Kona Kula with rigid ali forks for much the same duties you describe, fitted with 26 x 1.75" touring tyres & its plenty comfy enough copmared with the 20yr plus steel framed Trek 950 it's replaced. I mainly chose an ali frame for stiffness under touring loads though.

steel or ti jones for deffo. it's the one bike that will never be sold from my collection.

It needs to be a special frame that you wont get bored of. Stick some nice handmade wheels on it and the for the rest, whatever budget allows, can always upgrade gradually to keep it fresh.

conrad, to be honest i have lost interest in pretty much all other bikes.
only certain types of bikes have been suitable for me in the past, as you know.
and now, cos of the riding that i can do, this has been cut down a bit more.

i do like the look of jones frames.

Yeah Jones then sell it to me cheap 😉

I can always bring my steel truss up to you big fella for you to have a bimble on.

tazzy, cheers mate....would be ace, but i dont see myself pootling round at 65 on a jones spaceframe. 😆

I've been accused of riding a bike that looks like it has a zimmer frame up front.. you'll be fine! : )

but i dont see myself pootling round at 65 on a jones spaceframe.

but just think of the beard! it'd be like gandalf. 😀

😆

awfully morbid post this, yer still a lad 😛

[img] [/img]The guy's got style.. One day, that'll be me )

Triggers brush !

but just think of the beard! it'd be like gandalf

What mudgard for stopping yer beard from getting caught in the spokes?

1.75 = touring tyre widths now?

😯

Ton, are you saying you're only 49? shame! 🙁 hope it was a wild ride until 2 years ago.

awfully morbid post this, yer still a lad

iainc, sorry mate, not meant to be morbid.
just looking for ideas for a bike that will last me and be suitable for a bit of everything.

Mrs Busydog reminds me that I said each of the last 3 new bikes was the "last one ever", to last until I'm room temperature. Haven't had the nerve yet to tell her about the 29 I have my eye on to "really, really" be the last one

I'm partway through the build of mine, well I hope it is. Love to ride distances, finish the day in a different town or county to where you start, but most roads aren't nice places to ride anymore so traffic free touring, bit of road if it's quiet, but lanes, Sustrans, bridleway and the odd bit of singletrack thrown in. Sold my road bike last year after failing to ride past interesting lanes or bridleways and popping the odd spoke or getting the whole thing clarted up so the wheels wouldn't turn even by hand.

So a Salsa Fargo is taking shape. Drop bar, 105 shifters, but CX levers on the tops as well, XT gearing, Shimano CX disc brakes, Tubus racks and fat guards to go over tyres up to 2.2. Got some Big Apples and Marathon XR ready for it. I might get it finished next week or the week after. Just standard wheels from a 29er for now, but once I'm sure it's a keeper I'll have a dynohub front made up for it and make up some lights and charging gubbins for trips. It's an XL so you can have a bimble on it sometime.

Nice steel frame? Road friendly? Take proper tyres too?

Singular Gryphon sir? Built mine up 50-34 at the front and 11-36 (11-28 on the second set of (skinny) wheels) at the back. Almost all finishing kit in red or silver alloy. Brooks saddle. Brown bar tape. Hope V-Twins with 160 disks. A pannier rack. Drop handlebars but sizing the same as a Swift.

Looks like a 1930s touring bike, but goes like the modern machine it is.

Now I just need to check if it takes mudguards - Sam to the forum please

Need to go shopping:

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s143p2323

Happyto help!

Oh and...

Kryton57 - Member

Would be a xt shod 5 spot for me.

Got one of them, an old Horst Link one, much better bike than I'll ever be a rider.

Disc Trucker?

One of those cracking Spa Cycles titanium Tourer/Roughstuff frames built up with your choice of kit?

How about a frame building course and roll your own? 🙂

Rusty, thought about a frame building course. a nice Dave Yates/M Steel
29r style tourer would be nice.

For me it'd have to be light, tight and have clown wheels so either a steel roadie, steel cross or a 29er.

Made by some poncy artisan frame builder in Boulder or Macclesfield, light wheels 10speed would do.

Wouldn't it?

On the other hand, my favouite bike at the moment is an old steel Rockhopper done up as a tourer (well, it's got a rack, Brooks, flat bars and slicks 🙂 ).
It's soooo nice to ride. You just forget it's there.

I really fancy a Surly, but I don't think it'd actually be a better bike.

Would be a xt shod 5 spot for me.

Good God man, you're not even 50 yet. A bit early to be giving up on mountain biking and planning your old age isn't it? But if you insist I'd say that a Singular Peregrine would fit the bill.

You want a 'standard' steel tourer with good clearances and decent mid range kit on it. If you look after it, it'll last ages. I keep posting up pictures of my 531c tourer bought in 1984. There's very little original on it now and it's been refinished by Mercian.

In that time it's had a new rear dropout as the original fractured drive side. The rest is 'as is' except fro the paint and components that have been changed as they've worn out.

Unless something dramatic happens, I'll be keeping it forever. It's still being put to good use, just last year covering 4200 miles on the TransAm.

[i]thought about a good quality steel frame, highish front for comfort. [/i]

Just what I thought, well except the zinc spray.

Why not try some [url= http://www.bespokedbristol.co.uk/ ]quality window shopping[/url]

Even if you don't buy ,you might see your dream bike 😉

My first thought was Spa Cycles, but I really like the look of a Roberts Roughstuff frameset

Any of the thorn do anything for you, at cycle sense an tad they have some nice van nic that may fit the bill and a dutch firms stuff , is it kuga ?? If memory serves. That could be worth a look mate

If I had the cash I'd be goin with a custom build and get exactly what you want, and a rohloff lol

This is my "rest of life" mountain bike - a gradual evolution of bits and pieces that have travelled some way with me and ended up staying because they're so good. It's very light, very fast, very comfortable and should last forever - although I read about a cracked Global TH1.5 frame last week so now I'm not so certain. A bike like this is easy to carry up mountains, fast and reliable on a long mountain day and a good deal less tiring than a heavy FS rig. The weakest point is those Hope wheel bearings, which do seem to need replacing every couple of years. It has thumbshifters too, dinky little Suntour XC Pro jobs, which can be indexed or friction so are perfect for reliability in the field.

I don't plan on changing much on this bike, it should do me now until I can't ride any longer. It won't get much use anyway because I've gone over to the more subtle delights of the road though it will be out in the snow this afternoon!

[img] [/img]

Jones for sure - mine will be staying with me! - 3 bikes in 1 - 700c touring wheels, for , er, touring, 50mm wheels for the rough stuff and a fat front for fun times = 1 bike to rule them all!

@Globalti With a saddle angle like that, you'll not have to worry about having the snip when you're done breeding 🙂

I've built a few "rest of my life" bikes for people. Generally they're at or past retirement though 😉

Considerations have been things like can you add electric assist later and stuff like that...

Salsa Fargo 😉

if the folk who think i am calling it a day, cos i am too old, or lazy read my op, the reason i am doing it it because i am no longer able to ride offroad like i did in the past, on the terrain that i did in the past, at the speed i did in the past.
therefore, this rest of life bike is NOT a symbol of submission, it is a bike to enable me to carry on doing the kind of riding that is suitable for me to carry on into oldage.

Take a trip to Bespoked Bristol in April for some inspiration....consider 9 speed stuff as road and mtb can be mix and matched...(they made the cable pull ratios different when they went 10 speed)..or go rohloff/alfine..(i prefer the latter)...something like a Singular Peregrine but custom would be where my money would go.

Fargo + a zillion.
On road, off road, tour, mtb, road, mudguards with big tyres, more bosses than you can shake a stick at, suspension or rigid forks, variour pannier options, drop bar or sit up and beg position if your back goes and available in Ti if you get a stiffy for it.

Built up a Van Dessel WTF for similar reasons, more ride from the door than bike for life. Its quite heavy but good fun. I've ridden it round Delamere no problems, road and bridleways in Norfolk and plan to ride a easy short tour in Scotland this summer. 29r wheels, drop bars with 42/24 x 11/28 gearing. If you get the new bike built up how about a STW bimble to celebrate.

suspect I'm there

2 O 5s 2005(think) + 2009, building up 26", 9sp, generic bits spares set along the way, more than enough function for my ability, only change would be a motorbike if the law opened up for offroad (ho ho lookout for the falling pig excrement) and keeping an eye on leccy bikes for when my body really starts to go/when we get the 'last house' so we can nip down the pub

retirement, caravan and remote Scotland plans

Got a Merlin XLM in 96 as a bike for life three years later replaced with a Orange Sub 5 that's gone to ( Fisher Rosscoe currently no doubt replaced with a 29er full suz)
The only bike I kept hold of is the Dave Yates from 91 in 531c, did 65 miles yesterday on it.
A contender certainly. Salsa Fargo, Steel crosser with disks something like that would be on the list.

Go on a frame building course - such as the Dave Yates one. Build the bike you want. You will never sell the first frame you have built/nobody will ever buy it.

I built a fixed gear road bike on his course a while back. Due to a change in my commute to a much hillier area and a dodgy knee i do not ride it as much as I would like but i will never get rid of it. A very nice riding frame.

If you don't fancy building but want a nice light tourer try the Gunnar Sport. I have one with steel forks - very nice True Temper frame. Does everything you require above - fits 28s the full guards or larger without. Nice to ride without a rack and lighter wheels also.

Ton - if you want a look at my Gryphon, let me know. Too small for you but it'll give you some idea.

Oh yes - you don't sell aerials for DAB do you?

Full marks for throwing yourself into what you can do rather worrying about what you can't do.

In your position I would be talking to a frame builder. Mainly as its just such a good excuse.

However an off the peg tourer would meet all your needs. A mate has a Dawes galaxy with replacement hand made wheels that would meet all of your needs off the peg. He has the bars really high although that is with quite alot of spacers. But if i was talking to a frame builder I'd be looking for something similar which could take 2 inch tyres.

Do you know whether you want drop bars or not. That seems like the first question and all other decisions will follow this one

Ayup Ton- maybe should get your old Peugeot hybrid you used to ride back out of the shed 😉

Seriously though,for different reasons I bought a Kona Sutra a few years back. It's a great bike. Not the lightest,not the fastest but it has racks front and back,full guards, is capabale of a bit of off road and very comfortable for all day rides.All of which fits your description. I keep trying, but TBH I can't find anything I don't like about it.

Audax bike.
I have a Ti road bike from 2004, but I ended up putting old race bits on it over time, people just assume it's my race bike now.

I do get a sentimental attachment to things, like I would like a Bob Jackson Audax Club and built to last. No STIs bar shifters etc, and I'd look at it and think we'll be around together for a while.
So I think that's the sort of thing to look at, they just seem immune from change!

has anyone ever thought about building a bike that will last the rest of their lives?

No, where's the fun in that?

Giving up buying bikes is like giving up on life.

Something bespoke. I like the idea of build it yourself. [url= http://www.thebicycleacademy.org/ ]LINKY[/url]

And a Rohloff.

If I bought a motorbike it would last me the rest of my life.

Less than a week, I reckon, which is why I've never got on one.

Life is too short. Don't buy a bike for life. Buy one for now. Love it and move on. What we want from biking changes with us. Don't be tempted to define your riding by the bike you ride, I have two bike and it means I don't have to pigeon hole myself in to one thing or another.

Something from Ibis I reckon.

I've already had my old carrera for most of my life, and it's not going anywhere soon.

But as much as I love my 2 mountain bikes, I don't expect them to last forever- bits will wear out, new stuff will come along that does the same job better. I could build a bike today that'd need only minor replacement parts until the end of time, downside is it'd be ****.

Giving up buying bikes is like giving up on life.

The Roberts Rough Stuff mentioned above - really nice.

I'd second whoever said going to Bristol Bespoked if you want something special and don't mind a wait(my Paulos Quiros took 6 months from first contact to built frame)

I looked at lots of different builders on the net and then went and spoke to 5 at Bristol.

I have a surly 1 x1 and karate monkey that I intend to keep long term. The 1 x 1 has changed guises over the years and my favourite KM is currently fixed. Both may end up a afined if my knees finally pack up.
I quite like the idea of a Jones except it's probably too big and I'd have to sell one of the Karate Monkeys and I like them too much.

I have ordered a custom bike from 18 bikes which will be a rest of life bike.

I'll have my other bikes along side it but ultimately this is the bike that will last through the ages.

Simple hand made Singlespeed road frame, Upright position, Pauls components throughout,

A bike for riding to the pubs, shops or just going for an easy ride down the summer lanes.