ORBO GT - The Pigeon Roost

[Chuy]

I’d like to join my first ever build off!

Got myself a cheap 90’s GT Palomar, nothing really special or stand out about it. No special 90’s GT paint job, grip shifts and just plain boring.
What’s a Palomar?

This is how i bought it and the following pic is how it currently is after the tear down.
Plan on a complete rebuild, including new paint scheme and turning it into a flat bar/street gravel rig.

 

[dropstep]

I love the triple triangle frames! Kind of miss my steel one even if the one I have now is better in every other way.

 

[Pondo]

GTs are among my favorites. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Very cool start! I wish you a lot of fun on your first build!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Solid platform. Should make a nice little dirt road speedster. Believe it or not, pigeons can fly at speeds up to 90 mph!

 

[Bike from the Dead]

That is... one odd name for a bike. If not for the definition, I would've thought "Palomar" was something more exotic, like the name of a Spanish city or volcano or something.

Odd name aside, that's a pretty nice bike. Looking forward to seeing how you paint it and modify it!

 

[jimmythefly]

There are a handful of things around California named Palomar, including a mountain top, which seems more in line with GT's bike naming.

 

[Chuy]

Thanks everyone for the boost. Feels different building a bike for the build off then to build one with no audience.

That is... one odd name for a bike. If not for the definition, I would've thought "Palomar" was something more exotic, like the name of a Spanish city or volcano or something.

Odd name aside, that's a pretty nice bike. Looking forward to seeing how you paint it and modify it!

I thought the actual meaning of the word would give it some deeper meaning, it didn’t. It was just funny!

Giving it that name did help me thinking of a paint theme, more on that later.

I was messing around with a 700c fork. My 26x2.1’s cleared ok so I’ll be running these forks (maybe). All depends on the v brake reach

 

[Chuy]

Looking at pigeons for inspiration. I even asked BING Chat to create me a bicycle inspired by a pigeon and it wasn’t far off from what I was thinking color wise.

I’ll have some help in the paint dept. my sister gifted me her cricut machine. That machine can make it all.

 

[OddJob]

Welcome to the fun of an RRB build off, and community of like-minded RaT RoD bike nuts!

Cool start with the GT frame. A current trend in the MTB world is the 'mullet' bike; bigger wheel and tire in the front (700c / 29") and a smaller in tbe rear (27.5 or 26"). That might be an option to set your build apart from otbers.

Love the idea of a pidgeon paint scheme!

 

[Chuy]

Welcome to the fun of an RRB build off, and community of like-minded RaT RoD bike nuts!

Cool start with the GT frame. A current trend in the MTB world is the 'mullet' bike; bigger wheel and tire in the front (700c / 29") and a smaller in tbe rear (27.5 or 26"). That might be an option to set your build apart from otbers.

Love the idea of a pidgeon paint scheme!

What are the odds I was actually thinking of a mullet bike.

 

[Pondo]

mullet bike

An old school 69er could be cool

 

[GeePig]

I see that it has a clear plastic spoke protector, something that seems to be generally unloved.

Would it be possible to paint the spoke protector in some way such that they become as viable as an aluminium one?

I actually have a translucent red plastic one marked 'ROMET' that came off a bike built by another company, who were buying parts off the rapidly failing Communist era Romet bicycle manufacturing company in the 1990s. I have it sitting on my shelf above my computer.

Now I see people fitting aluminium ones, but these clear plastic ones are there on the original bike in many people's projects, and then they are gone. I have three - the red one which has cracks, a clear one that has cracks and another clear one that has a large chain bash in it. If I find a good one then it will be painted and fitted...

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Would it be possible to paint the spoke protector in some way such that they become as viable as an aluminium one?

Not sure what paints you have available to you in Poland

 

[GeePig]

Not sure what paints you have available to you in Poland View attachment 257026

yes, maybe something like this, I have never looked at that part of the paint section, but there should be something.

 

[Chuy]

I was looking at everyone’s builds and there’s some real good builds going on!

I go back and forth between a 700c and 26” wheel for the GT. I made a layover comparison and here it is. Considering if I go with the 700 it would be on a 700x47 tire. The pic show a 38c tire.

I like the angle approach with the 700 wheel in front seems as it might help with the rollover on gravel and fire roads.

 

[Chuy]

Here we go finally two wheels that almost match in color and height. I also love the fact that it looks like it’s going fast.
Going to build it up over the weekend and go for a dry run. Get a feel for the geometry.

 

[Pondo]

Looks good with both wheel sizes. It will be interesting to see how it rides as a 69er.

 

[Chuy]

Plans change buts it’s alright.
Most likely running a 26 all around on a MTB fork. It is a OFF ROAD Build Off is it not?

Here’s the likely groupset I’ll be running.

 

[Chuy]

I have 2 vintage Roxshox forks.
Judy XC
Quadra 10
So far I’ve read the Judy ‘a we’re trash to some and ok for others. They prob both need to be rebuilt even though they both have good spring action.
I haven’t heard much negative about the Quadra yet but I’m just starting my research.
Anyone here have any history with these forks? Good or bad?
I prefer to rebuild the Quadra and use that due to the straight straight fork style it has.
Please steer me in the right direction if possible. I’ve been a single speed rigid fork type of guy my whole life, I usually ran away from spring forks.