-
Piccies
4 Attachments
-
-
Oh I've got the original front guard and rear rack too. Just not in pics. Will probably try to keep both guards on as part of the build.
-
Thinking of taking inspiration from these:
1 Attachment
-
-
• #5
Yes yes and yes! So many retro MTB related projects nowadays, I am happy with that.
This Courier looks absolutely amazing too, it would definitely look rad with dirt drops, go for it!
As for tyres I'd go with some gumwall Maxxis DTH's in 26x2.30 if it fits. Would look hella awesome on this one. -
DTH's would look ace I agree. I already have a set of Super Motos in 26 x 2.35" that I was planning to fit however, hope they fit!
Ive just picked up a new saddle, not original but pretty close in style and material. Probably a bit more comfortable for a drop bar setup. Speaking of which, does anyone have any views on Nitto RM-3s? They look like the sort of thing I want but have never seen a set let along ridden with them.
Also do I go for bar end shifters or thumbies on the bar tops?
-
• #7
Bar ends look cleaner for sure, but I like the thumbie setup better honestly. If I'm correct these frames clear 2.4" tyres without much of a hassle - but I can be wrong of course. The saddle looks great, would match the setup nicely. :)
-
Almost got all the bits I need to crack on with this build. Since the last post I have accumulated the following:
Suntour friction bar end shifters
Shimano SLR non-aero levers
Specialized BB-1 original dirt drops, 58cm wide!
Nitto MT-10 dirt drop stem
Nitto M12 rack
Dia-compe brake hanger.I still need:
Some vintage translucent spiral cable outer, both brake and gear.
Bar tape
Spokes to rebuild wheels. (going to replace original rusty ones with plain gauge stainless).
6 speed chain.If I don't get on with the BB-1 bars Im planning to try a set of Nitto RM-3s instead. Hopefully these will work out ok as they do look good.
Ive also just bought a Followme Tandem to tow the eldest kids bike, really well made contraption. Slightly worrying that her bike plus the followme will have cost more than this MF including the refurb!
-
I think I'm there with the parts now. It has come in a bit more expensive than I had initially planned due to needing loads of little odds and sods that you don't need on a modern bike (cantilever rack bolts, special cable ferrules for non aero levers, more special ferrules for old bar end shifters, new dia-compe straddle wire hangers, decent smooth stud canti brake pads etc). The headset was also pretty rough looking, with most of the chrome having flaked off and allowing the steel to rust, so I managed to pick up a NOS Shimano 105 threaded 1" headset for it. This is sealed too which will help.
The frame is now stripped down to give it a good clean up. Im not repainting it, but want to get rid of as much rust as possible. Ive spent the last couple of evenings attacking it with T-cut to get rid of the rust stains. Once the stains are gone Im just planning to treat the rust spots and wax the frame to give it some protection. Im also planning to keep it dry from now on so should not allow the rust to come back too quickly.
I test fitted the Supermotos before de-lacing the wheels, they fit both ends! There is about 3mm clearance on each side at the rear, but the front is fine. The original fenders also still fit and have clearance so these will be going back on too. I've since stripped down the hubs, and have polished up the front hub shell and one rim. Bar some inevitable surface pitting they have come up nicely. The bearings surfaces and seals from the front hub look to be in decent condition so Im hoping for a successful outcome with this. I hope the rear is as good.
I was thinking of replacing the bottom bracket with a trusty BB-UN55 however have since learnt that the Sugino / Sakae one is asymmetric. The DS taper sticks out about 7mm further than the NDS. Im going to renew the bearings therefore but am doubtful how good this will feel as it was rough before I took it apart. Any cartridge options for an asymmetric 127mm JIS axle?
Current build includes:
Rolls saddle
Suntour friction bar end shifters
Shimano BL-1050 SLR non-aero levers
Specialized BB-1 original dirt drops, 58cm wide!
Nitto MT-10 dirt drop stem
Shimano HP-1055 headset
Nitto M12 rack
Dia-Compe brake cable stop and straddle wire hangers
Cinelli cork tape
Schwalbe Supermotos in 2.3" x 26"
KMC X8-99 silver chain
Smoke translucent spiral outer cable for both brake and gear.
Arundel Stainless bottle cage.
DT Swiss champion spokes for wheels.
New G10 bearings for hubs and BB.I still need a shiny 26.4mm seatpost and a pair of period platform pedals. What does anyone have kicking around?
-
Sorry for the lack of updates. With 2 kids under 3 and limited free time I've been focus sing on getting this finished rather than photographing every step. I'm not far off finishing it. Still not cabled however I took it for a little spin around my street earlier to gauge the position. It's going to be fun!
-
Looking great so far!
-
Sorry about that! Yeah it's coming together alright. The rear hub was a proper ball ache to get right. Half the point of the bike was to tow my daughters bike, but the followme adapter nuts only come in 10mm. The original axle was 9.5mm 26tpi. I fitted a new Wheels axle, cones, and a complete bastardisation of spacers and nuts to get it working with the original seals. Runs really well now and spacing is good. The BB was a turn up for the books, cleaned up beautifully. With new G10 bearings and DA grease it spins better than my modern DA hollowtech BB equipped bikes.
-
It lives! Hoping to get out for a small ride tomorrow morning before the snow to try it properly. I hope it doesn't ride as short and tall as it looks. Still need a few little extras to get it how I want, some matching Suntour cage pedals, a rack top bag, mudguards, second cage fittings etc, but am pretty happy with how it's come up so far.
-
That's lovely! A beautiful result. I'm hopeful of eventually doing something similar myself.
-
so sick!
-
Super super cool!
-
Yeah 2.35". They actually roll really well, I used to use them on my Santa Cruz when I was just plodding along towpaths. They suit this far better though.
Didn't manage to get out before the snow in the end, so small 45 minute shakedown ride tonight. Initial observations are: the slack head angle (67 deg) and high rake fork make for interesting handling. It doesn't like turning sharply at all. The brakes are crap, but I wasn't expecting much more. Inevitably the new chain on old freewheel combination does slip a little, most noticeably on the 24t cog. May have to try and track down another wide range 6 speed freewheel. Saying all that it does plod and cruise very smoothly and surprisingly effortlessly. Friction bar end shifters are going to take some getting used to but suit the bikes nature perfectly; like having to double clutch old cars with non synchro gearboxes. All the normal bar positions are usable too. I expected it to just be ridden on the drops but the tops are lush for just skulking about the streets.
Need to try it loaded up with kids seats and stuff next.
-
Rad project and great write-up!
-
We introduced the 3yr old to her first pedal bike today. She's nailing the balance bike but still a bit short to ride her new Isla so took her out with the followme for the first time also. She absolutely bloody loved it! Brilliant bit of kit, and the muddy fox worked like a charm pulling it. Asking her to pull her rear v brake is almost as effective as pulling both my cantilevers amusingly, but they are just about adequate. We only did about 20 mins doing laps of the local park but given how much she liked it I can definitely see some cool summer days out with her coming up. Next need to try it all with the Hamax baby seat fitted, so I can put the 6 month old on the back too. I'm rapidly becoming one of those Eco bike types I used to point and snigger at when a teen, but I love the concept now.
2 Attachments
-
vpCogworks
slothy
jr
si_mon628
Jalopy-Véloist
cryptthing
Tijs
picklejuice
hp93-
Post a reply
About
Muddy Fox Courier drop bar conversion & restoration
Posted by
@joel_austen
I've been slowly getting fed up of using my Straggler as both a winter trainer and a family bike with the kid seat on the back. My calfs rub on the Hamax bracket on the seat tube but it is a faf to constantly take on and off. I've been thinking of getting a beater to use with my daughter on the back for a while now. Talking about it to my dad, he had just about decided to throw this old Courier away thinking it was only worth scrap value, so he let me have it instead. He's had it from new and while I was too young to remember, there are a few photos of me on the back of it as a tot. So there is a bit of sentimentality involved, id like a similar set of pics with my girls on the back to look back on.
While this ticks the box of being a dedicated bike for the kid seat, I'm thinking of spending a little on it and fitting dirt drops. Any recommendations? I've actually got a near identical '87 model as well that I picked up for pence to strip for spares. The f&f will remain my dads though for posterity. Also tempted by a front rack of some sort and large volume slicks. Ideas welcome.
The kit on it is old but decent, full Suntour groupset, Dia compe brakes, Sansin hubs, Sugino chainset, Araya rims etc. Amazingly it is completely original except the grips. Even the brake blocks and tires are original (not sure how the tires haven't let go yet given how frayed the carcasses are). The spokes are v rusty as so will probably rebuild the wheels with stainless ones.
Thoughts on the build welcome. Don't want to spend much on it, but prepared to give it a thorough overhaul to make it run efficiently again. Pics to follow.