Search results for:

It's been a really fun project and although I've spent more than I had initially planned. I haven't exactly broken the bank with anything I've bought so far.

Filter out the auctions that are, as you say, often overpriced and just filter by Buy It Now and sort low to high. Keep on looking, I scored this for <£100. That said, it's an awkwardly large frame and that's my second main gripe after the inability to use anything other than a U brake for the rear. Still, very charming to ride and takes me back to the 90s. Great fun.

Paint looks great in daylight. Also really love those bars - what are they?

I mean we all know that but never admit it.

Cage is en route. I have a 9 speed 11-32 SRAM cassette lying around somewhere so I'm close to ordering an X5 trigger and mech. Will update.

Looks like a fun build and love the lugged frame. Not too wild on the spoke lacing - needs something silver and classic looking!

Got a nice NOS Tranz X brass seatpost bolt to replace the awful eBay one that was on there and scored a nice made in England CNC'd X-Lite Seatpost... Mmmmm CNC.

Also have a yellow Selle Italia Turbo on the way to match the stem and thinking about brazing on some disc brake mounts hmmm.

Also this is potentially going on:

I'm not local to that area. I'm over toward Gateshead so the only time I'm up Hexham way is on my bike. Often ride up there then through Linnels/Slaley/Derwent etc.

There's a load of old DiamondBack mountain bikes for sale on eBay. You should have a look, you might be able to buy it back! Haha

Cheers. Paintjob is definitely my favourite thing about this bike too.

Just need a decent framebag now and some 9 speed gear on there. Was looking at SRAM earlier so will sort it next week and post some updated pics.

Yep, the old rail bridge. I've actually never cycled any further on than that point but I know there's a nature reserve down that way. Will have to head down someday soon.

Bit of an update on this. All fully setup now, took it out for a spin along the tracks down the river Tyne and the Arione crushed my bollocks. So a quick look on Gumtree got me this nice Brooks for twenty quid. I've decided I like the bars and want silver stem and seatpost to match. Needs a rear brake, too sketchy with just a front V on gravel.

It's installed correctly. It physically will not fit any other way other than with the pin against the 'lip' on the derailleur hanger and it won't move any further under the chainstay, it appears faulty to me. I've had the spring out and flipped it etc and no good.

So for reference, this is an old Trek I had which had the same setup and worked faultless:

I cannot match that angle with the gold tensioner I have now. A shame as it's nearly 30°c outside!

Quick update, parts I needed have now arrived to complete the build.

Now having a bit of bother with chaindrop which I believe is from a cheap, nasty tensioner from eBay. Played around with the chainline and it's constantly the same issue so I've ordered a Gusset Squire then hopefully it should be good to go.

What's the plan for the Flite? For sale?

You mentioned tyre clearance and having to deflate the front tyre to get it between the front V-brake... How is it functioning? All good? I have similar clearance, currently have 2.25's on with a V-brake at the front and wondering how they're going to function with such wide tyres. Any problems? Love the colour of that HardRock.

Also you need this if it'll fit:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143603825518

Intrigued. USA paint got my attention. And anything from the 90s. Brand?

I mean it has to look good because it's nearly the same price as what I paid for the frame + forks.

@bigshape Absolutely haha, definitely going to have a look about and see what's on offer. So you have used the AD990's? What they like?

What bars are they?

Such a lovely colour frame and build. Looks solid!

@si_mon628 I did think the edges looked a bit lethal. Will sort the alignment once I have everything to build it up, cheers pal!

@bigshape I'll have a little look on eBay although I don't know whether they may be a bit long and stretch me out too much. I agree it would look great though.

@vp1337 good to know. Thanks for getting back on this. I did see Dia-Compe had a few offerings on eBay, the Hombre Universal and AD990 are reasonably priced and look okay. There's one in particular from them which I believe is the AD999 which looks nicely CNC'd and they do some nice 90s ano colours.

Feel like I'd need a silver seatpost to match though. Might order an adaptor and see what the fits like.

Just for fun more than anything. It will be going once the black quill arrives and eventually some black bars with more sweep back so I'm more upright.

Thank you though!

Bit of an update, few more parts rolled in. Discovered that the rear brake bosses and where they are means I can only run a U-Brake, which is a bit disappointing because I'm quite fond of stopping. Any suggestions on a semi-decent U-Brake?

BB installed, chainset/cranks finished nicely with some gold Titanium chainring bolts.

I'm currently waiting on only two parts, crank bolts and a shitty 80mm quill stem because this bike is looooong. Was tempted to get an adaptor and run this god awful, but maybe also not so awful, PZ Components stem I had lying around.

Anyway, pics:

So, quick update, wheels, cranks and chainring have arrived. First bollock dropped; pedal thread is old 1/2" thread and the cranks take normal 9/16 so back to eBay I go. Pleased with the wheels for what I paid. Also attached a little mock up pic. Have a feeling I could run in to problems with the spindle length of the BB, crank arms may not clear the chainstay, but we'll see. Trial and error.

Disc specific wheel is something I can't afford right now, but possibly sometime in the future it may be something to look at. Cheers for suggesting, it wouldn't have even crossed my mind. I'll see how much I use this first before I plan any more major upgrades.

Apologies for double post, still working out image hosting/posting.

NOS MKS pedals have arrived, really pleased with them.

Discs are not something I'm well versed in. How straightforward a job is it?

Also looking to keep the cost as minimal as I can and the maintenance as fuss-free as possible.