Just another 90's MB with a pizza rack...

Hello!

My first time sharing a build on here so please be gentle with me.

Bought a 90's rockhopper from the fantastic @crossedthread (top guy, recommended seller!) here... https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/367255/

With a view to turning it into a gravel 1 x thing with a pizza rack so I can sack off my sweaty backpack. First impressions are it's surprisingly light for it's age, been told it has some fancy-ish tubing, so that's nice. Bars are wider than anything else I've ridden for about 15 years, so looking forward to smashing about on it around the marshes/flats in E London.

First pic is how I took delivery - frame, wheels, stem, bars, saddle, v-brakes, levers and a crusty BB.

On order are...

• Halo twin rail skinwalls
  
• Specialized pizza rack
  
• 2nd hand Trivativ crankset w/narrow wide chainring with is way too small, so will have to replace
  
• Gummy deathgrips
  
• 9sp cassette
  
• Deore rear mech
  
• Deore shifter
  
  

So far only the cassette and grips have arrived, so it looks as is in 2nd pic (apologies for inclusion of new pup, couldn't resist), more to be delivered today hopefully!

No idea weather groupset will work as this is my first deviation from roadie/fixed stuff, but fingers crossed! Also need to get the autosol out for the not-so-shiny bits, illustrated in the last pic.

Any feedback/ideas welcome!

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Little apprentice to help I see :)

Rad project! More puppy content is also welcome.
Also, get some nice wide tyres!

OK, first issue...

BB came out fine, frame was measured (admittedly didn't measure the BB axle) and new one purchased from LBS, cool.

Except, this frame seems to have come with a weird offset BB (see images) where the drive-side BB axle/spindle is recessed into the BB.

Me and LBS are stump(jumper)ed, they've asked me to take the frame in to help remedy by either finding a BB with the same spec as original (seems unlikely) or work out some sort of hodge-podge-bodge.

But, seems as this fine forum is a veritable fountain of knowledge, thought I'd put it out here too!

Halp! Plez!

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Get one of those ‘threadless’ versions (which you use if the bb threads are stripped) instead? Not that I have any experience of them but might be the answer?

That BB spindle is asymmetric to accommodate the triple chainset. Get the correct BB for the truvativ chainset you say you are going to fit. If you throw of the spec of that someone may be able to tell you what to get

Thanks both!

Don't have the spec as such but here are a couple of images...

Going back to LBS with all the bits now

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Success! @Matt101 was right in that the old BB was spec’d to whatever the old crankset was, so didn’t really matter. Some careful measuring with the very friendly LBS mechanic suggested a 122mm BB and viola!

Now looks as you see below. More parts hopefully arriving tomorrow 🤞

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Lovely Halo’s

How are you planning to attach a pizza rack without mid fork eyelets? I'd love to get one on my old mtb

I got a small front rack that mounted through the v-brake posts

I'm hopefully going to bodge some brackets to attach the mountings to the forks and then the centre eyelet at the top of the forks, otherwise it's new forks'o'clock. But hopefully not.

If you are feeling adventurous, rivnuts in the existing fork?

Rivnuts! I've always wanted a crack using those! It would be a hell of a lot tidier.

Thoughts on compromising the strength of the fork??

What are you using the Pizza Rack for? Besides having a front rack? Like are you putting a basket on there, or panniers?

Edit-

I think rivnuts on the fork leg is mental, personally. But what do I know 😅.

I’d get someone to add some braze ons if I had to have them. But would prob just go for a different rack

Yeah I was wondering if I could just drill and thread mine - but I don't think I'll get the location symmetric on both sides and I'm not sure the wall thickness of the fork would offer enough thread. I guess rivnuts would solve the 2nd problem.

Pelago commuter in black mounted to the mudguard eyelets would give similar carry options and load capacity but for more £££. Might be cheaper than new fork + pizza rack though!
You can also add low rider pannier supports

I’ve used Rivnuts once to put water bottle cages on an old steel frame. Would not be comfortable doing it on a fork.

So I don't need to wear a backpack. 8kg max I'd of thought

@MCamb - As in you think it would compromise strength? I don't want this to turn into the next #teamjdmitch

Get a Wald?

Soma Porteur mounts to the axle and is height adjustable. I've got it on my 90s MTB and it's rock solid. Wouldn't buy new as they're £££ but highly recommend if you can score a 2nd hand one.

Anyone want one of these 😅…

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Pizza-Rack_95421.htm?sku=336469&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuPDzqrz08gIVxbHtCh0R3gNnEAQYASABEgL0wvD_BwE

Success! @Matt101 was right in that the old BB was spec’d to whatever the old crankset was, so didn’t really matter. Some careful measuring with the very friendly LBS mechanic suggested a 122mm BB and viola!

:) think you mean Voila!

On reflection, think I’ll just go for this along with a beefy downhill stem to stop it slipping

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I’m using one of these racks that mount to the brake bosses and fork crown with a Wald basket zip-tied to it on my Bianchi. It’s of a similar era and has no fork mounts.

I’ve used front racks for years for commuting and have found baskets are way more practical for carrying stuff.