P
Pilgrim
Guest
Last night I lost my two month old Swobo Folsom to a guy with a pair
of bolt cutters. In mourning, I'm on eBay building it's replacement. I
need some help with some technical aspects and wanted to get some help
from you guys.
The Folsom I just lost was quite simply my favorite bike of all time,
and I've ridden quite a few. At first I was skeptical about it's fat
knobby tires, but after stomping around on curbs and barreling down
gravelly hillsides, I'm 100% sold. I need at least 35mm wide tires
just to survive my devil may care riding style. It also taught me that
platform pedals, and coaster brakes are beautiful things. Coming to a
nice long sideways skid makes me feel like a kid. However, I never
really appreciated the fat aluminum tubing, they used for the frame,
and the single speed was often too high for the hills, and too low for
racing bike messengers.
So here's what I want to build; a classic narrow tube steel frame and
fork in the BOB tradition. Tires fat enough to ride up onto a curb at
full speed without fear of pinch flats or bent rims (I only weigh
about 150lbs so that might not take a huge tire). Tread with a nice
road-like center, and lugs toward the outside of the tire to give me
some traction in mud, and grass. An internal gear hub with coaster
brake, and cantis up front.
I have already found an old Schwinn Sports Touring fillet brazed frame
which I like. I'd appreciate any advice that can be provided about
tire/wheel sizes and these frames. I believe that it should be able to
accommodate a 700cX35mm wheel, but 26in wheels with fatter tires could
be an option as well. I basically want the fattest tires that a skinny
kid like myself could realistically need while stomping around the
city, but not necessarily doing competitive downhill racing. The
Folsom had 1.95" tires, and they seemed just a bit on the chubby side.
Also, I've picked up a Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub on the cheap. I need
to know what sprocket, and chainring sizes I need to set it up with.
As I said I'm a welterweight, and I can keep up with the bike
messengers so I don't really need a granny gear, but I'd still prefer
the widest range of gear ratios that I can get. Can anyone tell me
what sizes I should be looking for?
of bolt cutters. In mourning, I'm on eBay building it's replacement. I
need some help with some technical aspects and wanted to get some help
from you guys.
The Folsom I just lost was quite simply my favorite bike of all time,
and I've ridden quite a few. At first I was skeptical about it's fat
knobby tires, but after stomping around on curbs and barreling down
gravelly hillsides, I'm 100% sold. I need at least 35mm wide tires
just to survive my devil may care riding style. It also taught me that
platform pedals, and coaster brakes are beautiful things. Coming to a
nice long sideways skid makes me feel like a kid. However, I never
really appreciated the fat aluminum tubing, they used for the frame,
and the single speed was often too high for the hills, and too low for
racing bike messengers.
So here's what I want to build; a classic narrow tube steel frame and
fork in the BOB tradition. Tires fat enough to ride up onto a curb at
full speed without fear of pinch flats or bent rims (I only weigh
about 150lbs so that might not take a huge tire). Tread with a nice
road-like center, and lugs toward the outside of the tire to give me
some traction in mud, and grass. An internal gear hub with coaster
brake, and cantis up front.
I have already found an old Schwinn Sports Touring fillet brazed frame
which I like. I'd appreciate any advice that can be provided about
tire/wheel sizes and these frames. I believe that it should be able to
accommodate a 700cX35mm wheel, but 26in wheels with fatter tires could
be an option as well. I basically want the fattest tires that a skinny
kid like myself could realistically need while stomping around the
city, but not necessarily doing competitive downhill racing. The
Folsom had 1.95" tires, and they seemed just a bit on the chubby side.
Also, I've picked up a Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub on the cheap. I need
to know what sprocket, and chainring sizes I need to set it up with.
As I said I'm a welterweight, and I can keep up with the bike
messengers so I don't really need a granny gear, but I'd still prefer
the widest range of gear ratios that I can get. Can anyone tell me
what sizes I should be looking for?