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Bored tonight, so decided to see what I could bodge together as a beater bike for just getting muddy and pottering about locally. Dont really need a third bike, but enjoyable as a cheap project and a welcome distraction from the Mrs' boring TV programmes. Based it on an old Specialized Hardrock 29 frame and some shite forks that barely move (well, I like rigid forks anyway!), and some wheels that probably have their own gravitational pull. Cobbled together an acera / altus / deore drivetrain and gone for miss matched formula and tektra brakes. Haven't finished yet as inevitably I didn't have quite enough parts - an external bottom bracket, 9 speed chain and a new tyre needed after I found a tear in the old ground control I dug out from the back of the shed (after struggling to get it on the wheel and wasting time blowing it up of course!). Will probably scour ebay for cheap nearly new to keep the cost as low as possible, but looking forward to getting it finished in the next couple of weeks and having a spin on it.
Anyone else been building a cheap old beater lately? Or been riding on one you've already done? Pics for inspiration if you have please!
Not built recently, or actually used very often at all, but this is mine.
Early 90s steel Peugeot MTB frame that I had kicking about, some 90s Tange forks from eBay, a load of random bits I had in the parts bin, and some cheapo bars from the 'Bay too.
Everything stripped and sanded to varying levels of raw finish.
Ive currently building a girly trapeze bmx hybrid / mtb with a bafang mota cruiser bike that some might say is a CHEAP hack.
Opinions are like parched foals.
& it has new shiny Chinese parts.
& i don't know how to build bikes anyway !
Good night & God bless.
I tried, but got caught up in the 'trickle down' trap and posh bits came from the good bikes when they get upgraded and I've ended up with a singlespeed Roadrat with carbon forks, Dura Ace cranks and hydraulic discs🙈
I tried, but got caught up in the ‘trickle down’ trap and posh bits came from the good bikes when they get upgraded and I’ve ended up with a singlespeed Roadrat with carbon forks, Dura Ace cranks and hydraulic discs🙈
This is what happens to me every time I try to do this!
the trick to that is to do what colournoise did.
1inch threaded headset bikes, limits any notions of upgrading
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The hardrock is very pretty
My Cannondale 29er got nicked so thus is my only bike. Commute, pub and a bit of gravel use.
I tried, but got caught up in the ‘trickle down’ trap and posh bits came from the good bikes when they get upgraded and I’ve ended up with a singlespeed Roadrat with carbon forks, Dura Ace cranks and hydraulic discs🙈
This is what happens to me every time I try to do this!
Same here, hence why my 'cheap' Voodoo Hoodoo has ended up with some Fox 32's with Fit4 damper with a Superstar front wheel to fit (roughly similar value to the original bike!), some RaceFace Turbine cranks and some Renthal carbon handlebars! All the parts have been donated from my other bikes as they get upgrades/retired, the only things I've bought new for it are a Brand X headset, a spoke and 1 set of brake pads. Even the Brand X dropper post was one from another bike. If it hadn't been for the crazy-high secondhand prices of parts last summer it would have ended up with Hope brakes, a Titanium railed Fabric saddle and a full XT 11 speed drivetrain too!
I've seen new bikes with a lower spec on every part for well over £1k, so much for a cheap muddy day/pootle bike that's cheap to fix with basic kit.
Kona Bike.
10 years of abuse. Lives outside. Currently at the gym with my son.
Shimano 3-speed Nexus hub with coaster brake, Shimano dyno-hub with roller brake.
Shown here with a Follow-Me tandem attachment - now long sold-on.
This is the current guise of my beater bike. Originally a DayOne, but with added 3 speed Nexus gears, rack, mudguards and flat bars for all the praticality.
Pub, commute, shops, even did a 60odd mile gravel event on it last autumn. Upgrade incoming soon with any luck via Bikes2Work scheme.
@joshvegas I'm one and the same.
The bars are just bar ends shifted up near the middle. I believe the kids on the internet call it Ghetto Jones.
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Actually I literally meant what handlebars are they, they look like a good amount of sweep for what I want. from that new angle it looks like they're just "town bike" bars?
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#strong seat post game ^
@joshvegas ah, they were planet X hobbies from years ago.
These look of the same ilk.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/brand-x-trekking-high-rise-bar
https://i.postimg.cc/TwTYh33r/97-B0-B065-8803-44-BD-BD34-756-AADCF81-EE.jp g" target="_blank">
https://i.postimg.cc/TwTYh33r/97-B0-B065-8803-44-BD-BD34-756-AADCF81-EE.jp g"/> [/img][/url]" alt="456C" />
My 456C which has now been relegated to pub/shopping bike.
Here it is locked up outside Waitrose.
If you always have a pub bike on the go there is going to be trickledown. my '94 DBR sports Chris King / HOPE / XT / TALAS / Thomson...etc.
This is my Jaspa. It's a replica 1920's track racer, kitted out with Sturmey Archer chainset and 2-speed, kickback rear hub with coaster brake. Oh yeah, it's a lethal combination. To take my mind off the whole instant death thing whilst innocently trying to change gear, or heaven forbid, levelling the pedals when bumping up or down a kerb, it's a very comfortable pub bike. The springy, hand built steel frame, Brooks saddle and hand wound Brooks leather grips are lovely contact points.
Now, I'm goint to try and post an image of it....
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Bloody hell, as MTBers, we've still got something to learn about slack geometry from that beast!
I feel drunk just looking at it!
It's applying contemporary head tube angles to the seat tube. Mindblowing stuff 🙂
Hang on! Is that my lovely Jaspa you're having a pop at?
It's an incredibly comfortable bike to ride, just don't try to change gears, cause you'll brake suddenly. Nor should you try to use the rear brake if you don't want to instantly change gear. I suppose turning is a bit of an acquired skill as well. It does need a lot of turning space. Other than that, (oh and the fork legs have a disconcerting habit of not actually looking straight, I think the left fork leg is slightly leading the right), but other than that it's one of the nicest bikes I've ever ridden. In a straight line....on the flat.
🙂
Your saddle is probably further over the back wheel than my Dyno Glide.
But at least I don't have to lean so far forward.
Hang on! Is that my lovely Jaspa you’re having a pop at?
It’s an incredibly comfortable bike to ride, just don’t try to change gears, cause you’ll brake suddenly. Nor should you try to use the rear brake if you don’t want to instantly change gear. I suppose turning is a bit of an acquired skill as well. It does need a lot of turning space. Other than that, (oh and the fork legs have a disconcerting habit of not actually looking straight, I think the left fork leg is slightly leading the right), but other than that it’s one of the nicest bikes I’ve ever ridden. In a straight line….on the flat.
I'm quite a fan of the wine bottle holder if that gives you any comfort? 🤣
This is my pub bike. Probably dates from the 1960s. Fixed wheel, back brake fitted because I sometimes ride downhills and I managed to find some reasonable tyres for the 27" wheels.
Heres mine, Sunn Solo road bike frame, delightful plastic headset cups that give the relaxing feeling of totally indirect steering. Mismatched wheels, road brakes with v brake levers so the leverage ratio is wrong - great lever feel, terrible power. Flat bars 1 x 7 with a Sunrace shfiter, ancient Acera derailleur, and a Shimano XT crankset. Probably my favourite bike.
This started out as a beater. Then I spent a bit too much money. Ho hum!
