I'd love y'all thoughts on this. I want to make a fat tire roadbike, either like a 10 or 12 speed (or even a 1X5 or 1X6). Drop bars or bull horns. I'd love to see any y'all created, please post some pics! Seems like mid 80's Mountain bikes are the fastest fodder to start with, '85 being the sweet spot. But if you've done it to a 60's or earlier bike, derailleur, etc, I'd REALLY like to see it!
So far, I grabbed an 80's Marukin hand made 12-speed Japanese bike (w/ 27" wheels), and threw a 26X2.125 up front, and fell in love with the look, and I love the ride of fatties. But it will not work in these forks! (Rubs like hell!)
The other problem is this is the tallest bike I have ever seen and even me being 6-foot it is too tall for me, I'd be singing falsetto if I had to flat foot it. (But again I love the tall bike look with fatties! Oh well.)
Another problem is I want a biplane style fork rather than a unicrown, cause it looks more vintage. And finding one that will fit this almost 10 inch tall steer tube, and fat tires is hard!
I guess there are a bunch of ways to skin this cat. I think I'd like a lugged frame however I slice it.
1. Get a vintage 10 or 12 speed roadbike with enough room in the rear for the 26X2.125 at least, probably needing spacers for chain line. And source a early style fork that is wide enough, from an earlier balloon bike. Keep drop bars.(This would be great especially with a fancy lugged frame like a 70's peugeot. But still a lot of fitment issues I'd imagine.)
2. Get a 84-85 or 86 early mountain bike, before they started using the unicrown fork style. Add fat road tires and drop bars and call it a day. (Fastest and cheapest route I think?)
3. Get a really old, straight frame balloon bike, get adapters to fit geared sprockets. Drill for derailleurs and figure out the brakes (drum or drill for calipers or braze for disk (or source early clamp on disk brake).) Add Drop (bull) bars. This is my favorite option, but the most expensive and time consuming.
4. Get a Surly! Hell a Pugsly with drop bars! (Naw, not enough cash, and where is the adventure in that!)
So I am thinking of trading this Marukin in for something that is right where I need it to be, with a bar swap and a tire change. In 84-85-86 a bunch of companies were making ATBs (early mountain Bikes) with the non Unicrown forks. My LBS has a 85 Peugeot "City Bike" that could easily take 26X2.125 tires (I think an 'Orient Express" would be even better though), and has the correct (Non Unicrown) style fork. Some new fat whitwall, brick color etc. tires, that will probably fit on the stock rims, and drop bars and I'd be riding! The Miyata "Runner" bikes from the same era should also work as would the early Ross Mt. bikes (Mt. Hood etc, etc.) and many other '85ish makers.
Anyway, I'd love y'all's thoughts on this! Anyone done it?
So far, I grabbed an 80's Marukin hand made 12-speed Japanese bike (w/ 27" wheels), and threw a 26X2.125 up front, and fell in love with the look, and I love the ride of fatties. But it will not work in these forks! (Rubs like hell!)
The other problem is this is the tallest bike I have ever seen and even me being 6-foot it is too tall for me, I'd be singing falsetto if I had to flat foot it. (But again I love the tall bike look with fatties! Oh well.)
Another problem is I want a biplane style fork rather than a unicrown, cause it looks more vintage. And finding one that will fit this almost 10 inch tall steer tube, and fat tires is hard!
I guess there are a bunch of ways to skin this cat. I think I'd like a lugged frame however I slice it.
1. Get a vintage 10 or 12 speed roadbike with enough room in the rear for the 26X2.125 at least, probably needing spacers for chain line. And source a early style fork that is wide enough, from an earlier balloon bike. Keep drop bars.(This would be great especially with a fancy lugged frame like a 70's peugeot. But still a lot of fitment issues I'd imagine.)
2. Get a 84-85 or 86 early mountain bike, before they started using the unicrown fork style. Add fat road tires and drop bars and call it a day. (Fastest and cheapest route I think?)
3. Get a really old, straight frame balloon bike, get adapters to fit geared sprockets. Drill for derailleurs and figure out the brakes (drum or drill for calipers or braze for disk (or source early clamp on disk brake).) Add Drop (bull) bars. This is my favorite option, but the most expensive and time consuming.
4. Get a Surly! Hell a Pugsly with drop bars! (Naw, not enough cash, and where is the adventure in that!)
So I am thinking of trading this Marukin in for something that is right where I need it to be, with a bar swap and a tire change. In 84-85-86 a bunch of companies were making ATBs (early mountain Bikes) with the non Unicrown forks. My LBS has a 85 Peugeot "City Bike" that could easily take 26X2.125 tires (I think an 'Orient Express" would be even better though), and has the correct (Non Unicrown) style fork. Some new fat whitwall, brick color etc. tires, that will probably fit on the stock rims, and drop bars and I'd be riding! The Miyata "Runner" bikes from the same era should also work as would the early Ross Mt. bikes (Mt. Hood etc, etc.) and many other '85ish makers.
Anyway, I'd love y'all's thoughts on this! Anyone done it?
