Retro (Dawes) MTB goodness + bits

I have been deliberating for a while how I can get into mountain biking on a budget and I've been looking for a retro MTB for a long time. I haven't got the money for something newer and this will really be just for bashing wheelies and short trips.

Anyway, everyone is clearing out their uni rooms this week and this bike was 2 minutes from mine with 'free bike' written on some paper taped to it. It is way too small for me, being 6ft5 (I think every mountain bike I've ever looked at is), but I reckon it's worth keeping.

It is a complete dawes, with shimano 200GS groupset with biopace chainrings. No idea about the wheels or anything else. I've never really messed about with mountain bikes or canti brakes before so this should be a learning process for me.

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Some inspiration:

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I'd pull the seat post out and turn the seat clamp through 180 degrees so there is a little layback like there should be. Give the moving bits a quick spray of 3 in 1 or WD40, pump up the tyres and see if it suits your needs due to your freakish size! It it works for you then do your worst if it doesn't pass it on. It looks a reasonably large frame so I suspect you'll do alright.

Any more pics of the bianchi?

What the constable says. But I think you'll do ok, raise the quill stem a bit and put some risers on. You'll probably fit the frame a lot better than whoever rode it last by the look of things!

What size is the frame? I'm 6'8'' and riding a 57cm c-t seattube mtb and it kind of works

I've gone on holiday for a few weeks so I won't be near the bike for a while. Constable I agree fully; get it running as cheaply as I can and see how it goes. Bianchi picks negative sorry and no idea what size it is as I'm away. I'm not to sure on MTB sizes anyway but I can do measure the various tube lengths.

Finally got it home. Cables cut, bike cleaned, seat raised, stem raised and some bits taken off. Had some help with wheel spacing from Tom from the forum and this 7 speed rear wheel is almost certainly 130mm, though could be cold-set to take a modern 135mm wheel. (investigating currently)

Sizing is 57cm TT and 55cm ST. With the adjustments made this morning, I think it could fit 6ft5 me. Hoping to get it finished as cheaply as possible because otherwise I may as well wait and save for a modern hardtail. Thoughts on where this should go would be welcomed, thanks

pics

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would suggest maxxis dth tyres, i have them for 2 years and crazy happy for them, just don't buy chinese front rack( broken already)

That is superb! Thanks for the tip. What mudguards / stem are you running?

I see your going for a longer handlebar stem so don't forget to turn saddle clamp round and make it a layback. Not trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs etc.

mudguards are similar to SKS bluemels. stem is original Trek singletrack

Hadn't even noticed the seat clamp... I was even adjusting it today to try to move the saddle back a long the rails lol. Cheers, will sort that tomorrow and look at parts @togas

Bike apart with virtually no problems, which is a relief. Trying to do this as cost effectively as I can (free bike, would be nice to do under £50) and so I'm only replacing what I really need to and buying used when I can.
To do:
-Clean the bike again - degreasing etc.
-Rust proofing - few bits of spot rust, especially around the BB. Will probably just rub this down and clear lacquer it.
-Service wheel hubs (tyres are fine for now, rims are true)
-Replace chainrings - probably go for 1x narrow wide for cheapness rather than replacing all 3. Thoughts?

• Clean bits up like the bottom bracket, headset etc and replace bearings.
  
  

To Buy:
-new grips (£5)
-cables (£5-10)
-wider bars (£10)
-clear lacquer (£3)
-headset bearings (£2/3)

• canti brake pads (£5)
  -7 speed chain, 'bay (£7)
  -pedals (£5-10)
  -narrow wide chainring, ebay (£15)
  -headset bearing. Is this 1 inch threaded? (£2-3)
  
• 7 speed cassette (£15)
  
  

As and when:
-mudguards
-gum walls
-better saddle/seatpost

May need some advice as I go please as this is my first mtb project / first geared project and first project with canti brakes. Is there much difference in stopping power if you upgrade the brakes? If anyone has any of the parts mentioned above knocking about spare to sell/donate, please message me!

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I never got on with that type of cantis. I'd go for some cheap V-brakes if I were you.
Easier to set up and much more braking power.

Can anyone shed any light as to why the bottom bracket that I just cleaned, degreased, regreased liberally and put back in finger tight is unsmooth? so frustrating. The bearings looked fine

Ordering some headset bearings tonight so I can get the fork back in which will most my morale.

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Can anyone shed any light as to why the bottom bracket that I just cleaned, degreased, regreased liberally and put back in finger tight is unsmooth?

Stupid question perhaps, but did you orientate the bearings the right way?

I did it the way they came out so that the ring on the top in this pic was facing the inside of the BB, and so the balls' faces were facing the inside of the locking cup

goes the other way around iirc, you want the bearings on the axle side so it can roll around the cone I think?

also, best inspiration for you via @t0-ster

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That bike is some serious inspiration. I will try and flip the bearings round the next time I have time to work on the bike, thanks

Cheers ;)

Yea this looks promising. Keep it up @georgeholmes26 !

Just realised. Seat post bolt belongs in the bodge thread.
But hey, if it works..