Do I want a resto-mod 26er hardtail? + let’s see yours.

If you’re worried about tyre clearance and general modern compatibility what about a Stridsland Beachcomber?

Reader’s Rig: Tobias’ Stridsland Beachcomber Ti

Currently only in ti but I think steel orders are open or coming soon.

TBH unless you really like the look of modern kit on an old frame or fancy a project build I’d probably just buy a complete retro bike of decent quality as there are plenty about in great condition and 3×7 works fine in LX/DX/XT flavour, especially with Deore or XT thumbies. It’ll cost miles less than building one up, will hold it’s value better and you can easily change the tyres and bars.

Just stick a wanted add up on retrobike.co.uk and you’ll have plenty of options or decide what you want then wait for an ebay bargain. In the last 6 months I’ve picked up two very decent and very original Orange Clockwork’s for well below £200.

Oh how I wish I’d have kept mine.

It prompted so many builds afterwards, with the best probably being a rigid On One Whippet (New style)

I do quite fancy a project, but I’ll buy a whole bike and probably keep most of what’s serviceable. I’m not really worried about the value of it either.

Nice as that bike is Squirrelking, it’s not really fitting the brief!

This looks like a solid prospect, not too far from where I live. 

This looks like a solid prospect, not too far from where I live.

Looks decent that

Here’s mine I did last year as a commuter, starting with a BFe 26 frame and some wheels off the classifieds here. Rest was a mix of old and new bits. Great fun building it up. And makes a nice leisurely commuting bike.

Some of these look beautiful.

In the back of the shed I have a very early Kona Cinder Cone, 90-91 I think. P2 forks, Suntour XC LTD thumbies and derailleurs, DiaCompe brakes. To get this to era correct parts I’ll need a cranckset, rear wheel, tyres, saddle and seatpost, grips and, of course, bar ends.

Although it’s very tatty, there’s only surface rust. If I do it up, it’ll become just another shed queen. I’m probably going to get the frame and forks resprayed, then decide what to do. The cost of the needed parts is a bit silly, given that it’s not a particularly special bike.

Convince me which way to go… do it up fully, or strip it down, clean everything up, sell them on to other more worthy projets.

Used my Dialled Alpine with 160mm Lyrik and Kenda slicks to get to the workshop occasionally. Very cruisey…. Brilliant for wheelies.

Probably retro now given it was over 10 years old.

I think my duster skinny is 2012 but looks like it’s 15 years older (except the EBB, the single speed drop outs and the disk brakes).

Skinny prestige tubing? Ayes aplease.

seadog101
Full Member
Some of these look beautiful.

In the back of the shed I have a very early Kona Cinder Cone, 90-91 I think. P2 forks, Suntour XC LTD thumbies and derailleurs, DiaCompe brakes. To get this to era correct parts I’ll need a cranckset, rear wheel, tyres, saddle and seatpost, grips and, of course, bar ends.

Although it’s very tatty, there’s only surface rust. If I do it up, it’ll become just another shed queen. I’m probably going to get the frame and forks resprayed, then decide what to do. The cost of the needed parts is a bit silly, given that it’s not a particularly special bike.

Convince me which way to go… do it up fully, or strip it down, clean everything up, sell them on to other more worthy projets.

TBH mate I wouldn’t re-spray it if you are not going to use it. Get the bits you need, clean it up then enjoy looking at it. That way you maintain the interest of the retro crowd if you decide to move it on later as you’ll never get back the money if you refurb it.

Yes you do. Was out on this this evening.

In the back of the shed I have a very early Kona Cinder Cone, 90-91

If that’s a splatter paint version then it would be a crime to repaint.

I’ve got a 1990 splatter paint fire mountain arriving some time in June which I’m getting quite excited about.

Nice as that bike is Squirrelking, it’s not really fitting the brief!

No worries, just putting it out there as a curveball.

I still want another 99 GT Timberline in whatever the green colour was called, I’d probably size up but given how thin on the ground they are I wouldn’t be fussy.

Couple of mine

The key for me is modern folding lightweight tyres, light wheels, 11-42t 1x 8/9spd.

The stumpjumper has a crotch grab lever dropper post too now.

Couple of mine

Love the Giant

If anyone wants something a bit newer I have a 2010 P7 I’m looking to shift, it has an 8 speed Alfine at the moment but have some bits spare that could do 3×8 if you have a wheelset to put on it. Currently has a Cromoto Grande but have the original Toras if you feel that’s too light 😆

1999 dekerf, bought second hand in 2000. disc mounted, resprayed with salsa cromoto forks to match and SS’d in 2012. plus front added in 2016(?) Stooge Junker bars in 2019. Still a hell of a lot of fun to ride, and SS hurts me on the hills every time! might lower the gear at some point.

I *might* have a 1997/1998 Privateer frame spare….

Dear god, restomod? My newest and ‘current’ hardtail is a ’97 Airborne Lucky Strike. Disc Mounts added after a decade but otherwise just fine and will do me for a while yet.

TBH mate I wouldn’t re-spray it if you are not going to use it. Get the bits you need, clean it up then enjoy looking at it. That way you maintain the interest of the retro crowd if you decide to move it on later as you’ll never get back the money if you refurb it

That’s the thing, I’ll probably not get much time to ride it, shed very full as it is!

Dear god, restomod? My newest and ‘current’ hardtail is a ’97 Airborne Lucky Strike. Disc Mounts added after a decade but otherwise just fine and will do me for a while yet.

Bet you don’t own a TV, do you?

😉

1992 Rudy Project Yuma
Build thread.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/attachments/rudy-project-yuwa-1992-93-003-large-jpg.115888/

Mate of mine has a complete Marin Hawkhill that he wants rid of if that’s of interest?

I have a Schwinn Homegrown USA frame in the shed. Paint is pretty tatty. Beautiful lightweight xc frame from around 1998. V brake only.

Loved that bike for years, sharp, lightning fast even for my unfitness level since been used for a commuter hack, winter SS, xc rides. Absolutely no desire to ride it any more as the two bikes that have followed have been so much better. Every time I build it up it just gets passed over for the 29r.

If anyone wants a project I’d happily offload it.

In fact I’ve got a 2004/5 ish Gary Fisher Tasajara WSD that needs moving on too. That needs photographing and listing in the Classifieds as well this weekend.

Sorry post sort of became a stealth ad 🤪