UK and Europe · Public discussion

Not sure what bike ...

elyob · 2007-05-04T14:53:12+00:00

Okay, I'm stuck on what to do and thought the FOAK on this group could advise. As some of you may remember, my alu mountain bike frame has cracked, pretty much writing it off. That bike was 6 years old and about a grands worth at the time. (Kona Muni-Mula). Since then, I tended to do very little 'proper' off-road and did more towpaths, average cross-country and city cycling. I also loaded the bike up once a year for a 10 day camping trip, and other shorter ones. That's two rear panniers and a tent on top of the rack. I also sometimes got for a hack over the trails in the North Downs, but never mud-plug anymore. Okay, so I'm not really sure what to do. There are three thoughts ... 1/ The mountain bike was comfortable enough for touring and generally was good for the job, and maybe get a direct replacement. I like having shocks as I tend to hit roots and stuff head-on. I do hack about and still get a little air from time to time. Some shocks I can lock off when touring would be handy. 2/ I am thinking of buying a new frame and switching everything across. But I guess I may end up having to buy new handlebars and possibly wheels (having done 6 years of abuse). The shocks have never been serviced in 6 years either. Is this a fools golds way of doing it? I've not had great luck on eBay yet. 3/ Should I think about a different type of bike? Maybe an Audax type bike? I already have a £400 racer which I am using more & more, so an Audax bike is too "racey". Oh, and yes, I'm pretty broke... Any advice?

Started by elyob · 4 May 2007 · Last activity 10 May 2007 · 5 posts · 325 views

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Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 4 May 2007
Last activity: 10 May 2007
Original author: elyob
Posts: 5
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 325
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Disc brakes Specialized Urban riding

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Original post
elyob
Archived post

4 May 2007, 14:53 UTC #1

Okay, I'm stuck on what to do and thought the FOAK on this group could
advise. As some of you may remember, my alu mountain bike frame has cracked,
pretty much writing it off. That bike was 6 years old and about a grands
worth at the time. (Kona Muni-Mula).
Since then, I tended to do very little 'proper' off-road and did more
towpaths, average cross-country and city cycling. I also loaded the bike up
once a year for a 10 day camping trip, and other shorter ones. That's two
rear panniers and a tent on top of the rack. I also sometimes got for a hack
over the trails in the North Downs, but never mud-plug anymore.
Okay, so I'm not really sure what to do. There are three thoughts ...
1/ The mountain bike was comfortable enough for touring and generally was
good for the job, and maybe get a direct replacement. I like having shocks
as I tend to hit roots and stuff head-on. I do hack about and still get a
little air from time to time. Some shocks I can lock off when touring would
be handy.
2/ I am thinking of buying a new frame and switching everything across. But
I guess I may end up having to buy new handlebars and possibly wheels
(having done 6 years of abuse). The shocks have never been serviced in 6
years either. Is this a fools golds way of doing it? I've not had great luck
on eBay yet.
3/ Should I think about a different type of bike? Maybe an Audax type bike?
I already have a £400 racer which I am using more & more, so an Audax bike
is too "racey".
Oh, and yes, I'm pretty broke...
Any advice?

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Andreas =?iso-8859-1?Q?Schulze-B=E4ing?=
Archived post

4 May 2007, 15:43 UTC #2

Am Fri, 4 May 2007 15:53:12 +0100 schrieb elyob:
Quoted message said:
2/ I am thinking of buying a new frame and switching everything across. But
I guess I may end up having to buy new handlebars and possibly wheels
(having done 6 years of abuse). The shocks have never been serviced in 6
years either. Is this a fools golds way of doing it? I've not had great luck
on eBay yet.
If you enjoy assembling a bike, have all the tools and know what to do that
might be an option - but you might end up paying the same if not more than
for a completely new bike. The Czech company Fort produces good
value-for-money frames:
http://www.fortframes.cz/english/index.html
Andreas

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Mark Thompson
Archived post

4 May 2007, 20:00 UTC #3

Quoted message said:
2/ I am thinking of buying a new frame and switching everything
across. But I guess I may end up having to buy new handlebars and
possibly wheels (having done 6 years of abuse). The shocks have never
been serviced in 6 years either. Is this a fools golds way of doing
it? I've not had great luck on eBay yet.
If you're going for shocks and hydraulic disc brakes prepare to spend a
lot of money. New is prolly better and cheaper, if less satisfying.
Quoted message said:
3/ Should I think about a different type of bike? Maybe an Audax type
bike? I already have a £400 racer which I am using more & more, so an
Audax bike is too "racey".
I'm in a similar boat, just owning a full-on road bike like you. My next
bike is probably going to be a hardtail/unsuspended mtb that'll double up
as the shopping/touring bike until I can add a third steed. Let us know
what you decide so I can steal your logic.
Quoted message said:
Oh, and yes, I'm pretty broke...
Ah, same boat then :/

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squeaker
Archived post

5 May 2007, 08:13 UTC #4

Just it depends a) how shagged the rest of the bits are, b) how
mechanically adept you are - may be related to a)...., c) whether or
not you enjoy building / recycling bike bits....
Sounds like a hardtail would do, so a <£100 frame from Merlin might
suit? http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Sale_Frames.html

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elyob
Archived post

10 May 2007, 13:12 UTC #5

"Mark Thompson"
<pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
2/ I am thinking of buying a new frame and switching everything
across. But I guess I may end up having to buy new handlebars and
possibly wheels (having done 6 years of abuse). The shocks have never
been serviced in 6 years either. Is this a fools golds way of doing
it? I've not had great luck on eBay yet.
If you're going for shocks and hydraulic disc brakes prepare to spend a
lot of money. New is prolly better and cheaper, if less satisfying.
Quoted message said:
3/ Should I think about a different type of bike? Maybe an Audax type
bike? I already have a £400 racer which I am using more & more, so an
Audax bike is too "racey".
I'm in a similar boat, just owning a full-on road bike like you. My next
bike is probably going to be a hardtail/unsuspended mtb that'll double up
as the shopping/touring bike until I can add a third steed. Let us know
what you decide so I can steal your logic.
Quoted message said:
Oh, and yes, I'm pretty broke...
Ah, same boat then :/
Hmm, the thread "Tourer or Audax" has a couple of nice bikes in there ....
the Specialized bike is really nice.

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