Any Bicycle Enthusiasts?

[Ford2112]

So my latest obsession, err project, is to refurbish a vintage 1991 GT Timberline Mt. bike into an around town single speed cruiser. This will evolve over time. My buddy is into building bikes and scores all kinds of gear. 1980s sugino cranks. The frame is the old steel tubing before they changed it.

I plan on blinging it a bit more. For now I need to polish the frame. The cranks need a bit more polishing as they were pretty beat up when I got them. We ordered some blue tires for now but eventually I may get some blue anodized wheels with sealed hubs and put tan walls on them. Grips will be replaced and I will match those to the tires . I have a line on GT end caps and will get a chain tensioner to replace this funky one with a Paul chrome tensioner.  

Anyway here are a couple 'before' photos. If anyone else has some old bike projects it would be cool to see them.

The u brakes wouldn't work in the front but I like how it came out. Gearing is 38-17 which suits me fine for light trail and flat use. Some gravel.

[MoeFOH]

27 minutes ago, Ford2112 said:

I plan on blinging it a bit more

I foresee a new "Pimp My Ride" segment on here for you, Bob. Maybe with a cigar review woven in. 

[bmac]

Aluminum frame?

[Ford2112]

8 hours ago, bmac said:

Aluminum frame?

No, this was true temper steel tubing.

[bmac]

Awesome brings back great memories.Those were the bomb.

[Ford2112]

The Zaskar was the aluminum frame. In the early 90s I had a Raleigh. Great bike. Got stolen. This frame and build just fell in my lap. 

[KCCubano]

1 hour ago, MoeFOH said:

I foresee a new "Pimp My Ride" segment on here for you, Bob. Maybe with a cigar review woven in. 

I will take a "Pimp My Ride" segment by Robert over a Kirby video all day long!

[BrightonCorgi]

You must be pretty tall, no? Lovely bike shop you got there. Quite serious. Campagnolo spoken here as well. Both my bikes are Campy!

[NYGuido]

That is so freaking cool. It makes me want to dust off my idea of turning my old Cervelo P2 into a fixed gear to cruise around Queens when the weather gets nicer. 

[Ford2112]

5 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

You must be pretty tall, no?

Not really. Just under 6 foot. I think its a 20 inch frame actually. I seem to sit on it fine. I just got it done. That bike shop belongs to an obsessed bike enthusiast friend, lol.

[NYGuido]

2 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Not really. Just under 6 foot. I think its a 20 inch frame actually. I seem to sit on it fine. I just got it done. That bike shop belongs to an obsessed bike enthusiast friend, lol.

Ahhh, so his bike shop is akin to a lot of our cigar storage? Gotcha!

[El Hoze]

I have a roadbike that I have used for a one and done Ironman race. The bike was a grind for me, I have not sat on that tiny little seat since. My arse thanks me for it. 

I am in the process of buying a mountain bike for summers in Colorado now that my son is old enough do it with me. Prices are absolutely insane! I got him a mountain bike for his 7th birthday the thing was $1200. It’s nice but man the last time I bought a mountain bike in probably 2005 or so prices and technology were definitely a level below where they are today. 

Growing up my buddies and I used to race BMX. My best friend started collecting vintage BMX and freestyle bikes and it’s basically a collection of all the bikes you wanted as a kid…a Hutch Trickstar, GT Pro Performer, PK Ripper, Thruster, a few Cycle Craft. They definitely bring back fond memories. 

 

[El Presidente]

I have a Los Angeles cigar loving mate currently riding his bicycle from Melbourne to Brisbane 1800 km 1100 miles in the peak of Australian Summer. 

Last heard he was in Newcastle. He is due to hit the Czar deck in March...sometime. 

He was struggling. 

[Ford2112]

8 hours ago, El Hoze said:

I have a roadbike that I have used for a one and done Ironman race. The bike was a grind for me, I have not sat on that tiny little seat since. My arse thanks me for it. 

I am in the process of buying a mountain bike for summers in Colorado now that my son is old enough do it with me. Prices are absolutely insane! I got him a mountain bike for his 7th birthday the thing was $1200. It’s nice but man the last time I bought a mountain bike in probably 2005 or so prices and technology were definitely a level below where they are today. 

Growing up my buddies and I used to race BMX. My best friend started collecting vintage BMX and freestyle bikes and it’s basically a collection of all the bikes you wanted as a kid…a Hutch Trickstar, GT Pro Performer, PK Ripper, Thruster, a few Cycle Craft. They definitely bring back fond memories. 

 

I had a Raleigh Technium in 1990 that was a sweet bike. All the full suspension stuff was way above my skill levels. I had friends who did downhill, one of them broke bones and I was never into that sort of thing. This is for getting out and light duty low impact cardio. And I will look cool, in my mind! 🤣

[El Hoze]

7 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

I had a Raleigh Technium in 1990 that was a sweet bike. All the full suspension stuff was way above my skill levels. I had friends who did downhill, one of them broke bones and I was never into that sort of thing. This is for getting out and light duty low impact cardio. And I will look cool, in my mind! 🤣

The full suspension stuff is crazy but kind of the norm now it feels like. In Colorado a lot of it is downhill, people even take the ski lifts up at the resorts and bike down. It always seemed wild and kind of silly to me, and also scary…I am fine falling on snow, rocks and dirt are a different story and some of these trails are crazy. But my son is all over it and I am pretty confident on a bike so I’m going to give it a go. 

I think anyone on a retro bike looks cool! You’ll definitely get some compliments from those whose opinions matter! 

[NeoGeo]

It's tough to tell from this picture (I'll try to upload a better one later), but I have this pretty cool older Electra cruiser that bought from a family-run local bike shop up in San Jose, years ago. While I stopped using it for the longest, I knew I didn't want to get rid of it and glad I didn't. 

This is going to be my project to get it cleaned up and rideable now that I live closer to the beach after moving to San Diego area. Ironically, Electra was a family business started in down here in Leucadia, but since becoming part of Trek, feels like I have to hunt more for things I want. Hoping it won't be too much work or trouble, and not near as complicated as your job, but I'm looking forward to it. 

[Ford2112]

5 hours ago, NeoGeo said:

It's tough to tell from this picture (I'll try to upload a better one later), but I have this pretty cool older Electra cruiser that bought from a family-run local bike shop up in San Jose, years ago. While I stopped using it for the longest, I knew I didn't want to get rid of it and glad I didn't. 

This is going to be my project to get it cleaned up and rideable now that I live closer to the beach after moving to San Diego area. Ironically, Electra was a family business started in down here in Leucadia, but since becoming part of Trek, feels like I have to hunt more for things I want. Hoping it won't be too much work or trouble, and not near as complicated as your job, but I'm looking forward to it. 

There are a lot of forums and vintage bike restoration is popular. YouTube has videos of guys who are 'gun ho'. Cruisers are awesome and lots of fun!

[Ford2112]

My tires got here today. Blue tan walls. Until I get my wheels built, this is what will ride for now.

[BrightonCorgi]

I started bicycle racing when I was 12 and did so through most of high school until I go taste of reality knowing I was not going to be in the TdF. Tough life lesson. There were two brothers from a couple of towns over that I raced against and it was like I was standing still. They were in a different league. Little did I know they would become national champions.

[Fuzz AI]

I still have my old 1986 BMX Mongoose Expert hanging up in the garage. All original parts.

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

My tires got here today. Blue tan walls. Until I get my wheels built this is what will ride for now.

I fully support you Robert

Loud and proud! 

[Ford2112]

4 hours ago, Fuzz AI said:

I still have my old 1986 BMX Mongoose Expert hanging up in the garage. All original parts.

Post that up! I always wanted a PK Ripper. I had a mongoose. My friend had a Patterson. Haro was popular. I took a lot of tumbles on my bmx.

[joeypots]

Nice bike. I love the tires. It's going to be a beauty. Bike obsession has increased dramatically around here since Covid. I ride for exercise pretty consistently. I have friends who are or were competitive and what people unfamiliar with the sport think is a long ride or a high mile count is interesting. Hard cores are amazing.

[NYGuido]

6 hours ago, joeypots said:

Nice bike. I love the tires. It's going to be a beauty. Bike obsession has increased dramatically around here since Covid. I ride for exercise pretty consistently. I have friends who are or were competitive and what people unfamiliar with the sport think is a long ride or a high mile count is interesting. Hard cores are amazing.

When I did Ironman triathlons, I’d do 200-300 mile training rides on the weekends. I rarely had anyone want to tag along the whole way. And yes, I used to be in that good shape. Emphasis on “used to be.”

[joeypots]

5 hours ago, NYGuido said:

When I did Ironman triathlons, I’d do 200-300 mile training rides on the weekends. I rarely had anyone want to tag along the whole way. 

I ride mostly 20-40 miles when weather permits. I set a goal of 100 miles a week and go for it. Nothing like a good cigar after a long (relatively) ride.