Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes

gclark8

The Elwood uses a wider rim than a road bike, 28mm is the narrowest I would fit. You can get, in 28mm, Ultra Gator Skins or Sport Contact from Conti.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

robalert

i fitted a Michelin Transworld 700x32 to my wife's elwood, and that looks thin enough... barely bulging from the rim. Definitely notice the rolling difference to the standard no brand 40C and grip levels are much improved

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

artemidorus

Cassette systems had become standard on 7spd by/before 1991, had they not? My '92 MTB certainly had a cassette, and I don't remember anyone I came across having a freewheel bike from that era.

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"All that we see and seem is but a dream, within a dream..."

xxamr_corpxx

Change of plans - When I picked up the Elwood the back hub was busted (still a very good deal though even without the back hub).

I've put two 700 x 23 wheels on with WTB Caminos, and they seem to work fine although the V-brakes will need a few hours of adjusting. The original 14-34 cassette has been replaced with the 11-23 from my old roadie.

I still need to put on a flat bar and a lower stem, but there are a few things I need some technical help on :

The suspended seatpost weights a ton and seems to be fatter than my road bike's seat posts. I would like to replace it with a lighter one. What's the best way to go about this?

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

gclark8

The seat post will be 30.8mm diameter, there are some light alloy ones around.

V brakes should be adjusted to suit the new rins.

Shimano make an 8 speed hub (freehub body) for that wheel, I have one here.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

gclark8

Update; Several projects on the go at the moment:

Restore a 1980s 10 speed Gordonson steel bike for a loan bike. (it went out today)

Tidy up a 1050s ladies bike, upgrade with brakes.

Upgrade a Diamondback MTB for Road Touring, 28/38/48 crankset, 11-24 cassette, new Chain & Front Derailleur.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

xxamr_corpxx

I went to the LBS yesterday and the mechanic told me he had never heard of 30.8 - he did have a selection of 30.9 and 30.6mm seatposts. Which one would be better?

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

cluster blaster

I just wonder why did you buy the Elwood in the first place - seems that there's a lot work to be done ... wheels, casette, seatpost, handle bar... why didn't you just buy a new flat-bar bike. If you like Giant frames (I susct you do, if you're willing to do so many upgrades on the Elwood) then CRX4 would be just fine and would cost only some $200 more than a new Elwood (just guessing)...??

xxamr_corpxx

Cheapo deal from a friend, got it almost for free and I had an old set of 6 spd wheels that had been sitting aside for years. Basically it's something I'd like to build up as a cheap commuter. I've done the project costings, and if I purchased the seatpost 2nd hand it would cost me less than a good dinner.

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

gclark8

For Elwoods and the like, I use a Kalloy 27.2 Suspension Seatpost and a Silver Alloy Adaptor 27.2-30.8mm #750811 from Giant. (This week, fitted to a Rincon)

__________________
Cheers,
George.

xxamr_corpxx

I finished the Elwood today...

The handlebars were taken off a Malvern star 10 speed MTB, stripped and spraypainted. It's quite heavy but it weighed less than the riser bars that were on it before. Also it turned out the stem was adjustable so I didn't need a new one. The suspension seatpost was replaced by a 30.6mm alloy seatpost (guess it worked). I took off the plushy OEM saddle and put a 20 year old Sella Italia leather one on instead.

I went for a ride on it and it feels positively zippy for a hybrid and even more comfortable. I think the main differences was the seatpost and shedding all that weight from the wheels.

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

gclark8

Further to the above:

The 1950s ladies bike had shot wheel rims 26x1 3/8, rust, so went to a a friend for a garden ornament. I still have the new 26x1 3/8 Tyres and Tubes (37x590) for it.

The 1980s 10 speed Gordonson steel bike came back from loan and the front hub was a bit loose. Further inspection revealed a cracked hub at the bearing contact point, sotihs afternoon I purchased a new pair of ALLOY 27x1 1/4 wheels! The old wheels have a Shimano Uniglide hub and Cassette, so they are free to anyone in Perth to pick up.

The Diamondback is just waiting on a new front axle kit and bearings.

Another 10 speed ladies bike is waiting in the wings.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

robalert

OK, got more stuff for my apollo

slowly collecting more parts...

recently recieved my SRAM X9 shifters and rear deralleur and new HG73 chain and PG990 rear cassette... these will go on once i decide on what rims to go with

what do you recommend? seem the WTB dual duty are strong and effective, but no necessarily light. With my 105 kg and somewhat liking for rough tracks and gutters, i thought i should go for strong rather than super light

any other suggestion for rims

must have rim brake capacity

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

artemidorus

Velocity Deep V

__________________
"All that we see and seem is but a dream, within a dream..."