Okay, first off - what a fun experience this was. I have learned so many things by just poking around over the last month that I'm pretty sure I won't need to ever take a bike to the shop again to have something adjusted or fixed. If you have the time and ambition to figure out lots of details, I would suggest this to anyone serious about cycling on or off road. You can save yourself a ton of money by not having to go to the bike shop. Though, nothing seemed easy or straight-forward, I kept my patience and worked maybe 2 hours at a time. I probably have near 20 or so hours on the entire project. Tonight, I thought the install of new brake pads would be a snap, but that too was trouble - mainly because the new rims are so much more beefy and wide, I had to adjust everything from the levers all the way down to the tiny set screws on the v-brakes. Almost every single thing on this bike needed to be re-adjusted, moved, replaced or cleaned. I would like to get out and go for a maiden voyage this weekend in the snow. Take the Garmin with, see what it does, although I don't have the extra cadence/speed sensor yet for the mountain bike. D@mmit, can't wait for spring!!!
New External BB (instead of traditional internal cartridge-style). Will probably have to replace this cheapy with high-quality one this summer, but we'll see how long it will hold up. This is "new" technology - well, at least for a 13 year old bike it is.
All new drivetrain. SRAM X-9 derailleur, 9-spd cassette, chain, light weight MTB rims with Shimano XT hubs. Chainstay sticker from France. The country. My first ever piece of international mail. If you look closely you can see the quick-link in the chain. Supposed to be for easy on/off without having to break the chain, but it was a b!tch to get unhinged the first time I tried.
Front end. Could have probably bought new brake levers, new mechanical ones are cheap. You can see the new carbon-fiber SRAM X.0 shifters. They're a dream compared to the old sloppy ones I removed. They were well overdue for the trash.
Not sure why this shot is so crappy, but my camera didn't like even the forced-flash. Maybe The General Lee is just too intimidating now. HA
Why not just by a brand new lefty with full suspension and disc brakes?
ReplyDeleteNice job Tony, it looks sweet. I need to do that to my old mongoose.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me Heath, I looked hard and long at an entirely new bike - several of them. A lefty was right up there at the top of list, but I would have ended up buying another $2000+ bike in order to get what I would want. I bet I didn't spend more than $600 updating this one. That includes around $80 or so in tools. These updates should last for a few more years at least before I have to go "shopping" again. Then maybe "The General" gets retired to just family neighborhood rides. I don't think I could ever sell it.
ReplyDeleteNice work. I can't wait to get back out on the trails and rock with the General.
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