SquashCycle Bikes

[Squashfest81]

Messed with a couple wheel options to run these 700 by 32’s. They are definitely jammed in there. So, it’s close, like, almost there close. My plan is to clearance the fork headtube where it pokes through. Tons of room to gain there. Then shave a little off the bottom of the brake pivots. I’ve got a couple styles to try there too. Anybody done this to fit fatter stuff?

 

[Squashfest81]

 

[mogandave]

Why not drill a new hole and raise the brake?

 

[Squashfest81]

Mogan, I could on the fork, maybe, but the rear isn’t an option. The inner fork will definitely need a grind. The brakes will just get a little clearance on the belt sander.

 

[Squashfest81]

Going to lay out the bike mod plan:
1. Trek 950, get the Girvin stem and bars on from the ATX. Clean and get her shifting.
2. Diamondback 29er. Toss on the Deore canti brakes from the ATX, bar ends, vintage brake bridge things to get it all 90’s, but 29er.
3. Plan the Fuji Tiara.
4. Clean up the purple Cilo roadbike.
5. Pull apart the 50’s Columbia and linseed oil the entire bike including wheels. Use a bb adapter to run a square taper Stronglite crankset. That will be the only shiny aluminum bit on the bike.
6. Stumpjumper, toss the Bomber fork on and get it back to 3 by 8.
7. Deep clean the ‘93 Proflex 953.

 

[Squashfest81]

That’s a hefty project list. I’m in no rush, and new cool stuff could show up at any moment, but I want to get the ‘91 Trek 950 ready to ride and make some progress on the 29er before 29’s, which I may call the Retro 29er.
That bike will then need a 90’s spray job.

 

[Squashfest81]

Been thinking I wanted to take the 96’ Cinder Cone out. Funny how rough a ride the rigid is. Might be my lightest of the mtb stable.

 

[Squashfest81]

Stripped down that vintage Giant ATX of all its goodies. Diacomp ss7 levers, Diore xt derailleurs, Diore lx cantis, pink quick releases and that Girvin flex stem. All that early 90’s sweetness will upgrade the ‘91 Trek 950.
The blue anodized brake bridges will mount on the retro 29er project with the canti brakes off the 950.

 

[Squashfest81]

Pulled the Retro 29er down to get the look with the brake bridge parts.

 

[Squashfest81]

And with a 26in wheel and tire in front for reference. I’m still amazed how much larger a 29 is. Excited to ride it.

image hosting

 

[Squashfest81]

Pulled the Flexstem apart for a clean and to drop the hardware in the evaporust. I plan to get all the parts lined up before I pull the 950 apart.

 

[Squashfest81]

Pulled these off an old girls cruiser. Was planning to toss them both on my 70’s Schwinn mtb project, but I can’t run the rear with the big internal hub. Whatevs, I’ll run the front.

roll a d4

 

[Squashfest81]

 

[Squashfest81]

While cleaning the Flexstem I just couldn’t deal with that blue elastomer, so I did some googling. It appears Girvin may have sourced its elastomers from skateboard truck elastomer’s.
Huh, 6 bucks on Amazon and they look rightish.

 

[Squashfest81]

Quick thinning on the belt sander and we are styling. I’ll spray that red brake guide tomorrow.

 

[kjdhawkhill]

While cleaning the Flexstem I just couldn’t deal with that blue elastomer, so I did some googling. It appears Girvin may have sourced its elastomers from skateboard truck elastomer’s.
Huh, 6 bucks on Amazon and they look rightish.

That's a cool cross compatibility, if I've ever seen one. Not necessarily surprising given the era, but hopefully it encourages someone to find another source for the "same" part.

 

[slowtwitch73]

There was a period of time.. couple years in the early to mid 90's where Girvin really had the mtn bike world by the tail. Wonder what happened behind the curtain to cause their demise.

 

[banjopete]

Everyone realized it's just a truck bumper on a stem.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Everyone realized it's just a truck bumper on a stem.

I was more referring to their frame n forks...but their stems also had a following, along with softtride.

As with everything bicycle, it had already been done pre 1900.

 

[banjopete]

I was more referring to their frame n forks...but their stems also had a following, along with softtride.

As with everything bicycle, it had already been done pre 1900.

Ah totally, I remember softride, and have vague memories of a bike they made too. It was a changing time on the scene and rockshox was about to upset the whole shebang with their world beating front forks along with manitou.

 

[Squashfest81]

Painted white and back together.

 

[Squashfest81]

Stole a few minutes to rip the lid off this hardware drawer to organize bike stuff. It’s a work in progress that will go in the big drawer with the bike tools.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Are you in Mass?

If so dig us up a vintage Fat Chance!

 

[Squashfest81]

Are you in Mass?

If so dig us up a vintage Fat Chance!

I am.
Always on the lookout for cool bike stuff, but I haven’t snagged one yet. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[Squashfest81]

Found this 90’s DB Approach on the Facebook. I love the vintage look and being a similar style to the Lakeside frame I have, I thought the 29er wheels would fit. Well, the front fits, but the rear is too pinched in there. Ahhhhh, that didn’t go as planned.

 

[Squashfest81]

Here is the look with 29in tires I was going for, but the rear is a no go.

 

[manbike26]

Loving this thread! Great work on the flexstem.

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks manbike26.
Decided I’d try to spread the DB chain stays like I did the Schwinn. First attempt helped, but I need more.
Going to super spread, jam a big socket in close to the BB, and then pinch them back in! Maybe?

 

[Squashfest81]

The pic is ridiculous, so we will leave it out. Got the frame spread just enough to get the 29er in there. I was getting worried.
I think I’ve got a nice roadbike headset to run. Need brake levers, a 7 speed thumby shifter, and bar ends.

 

[Squashfest81]

Saved this Trek 720 from scrap. The frame was just too pretty to leave. I’m on some 700c kick. Now to figure out what to do with it and the Fuji Tiara? Someone is getting those 700c by 32 tires and someone is getting the 700c knobbies off the Diamondback. Drop bars? Straight?

 

[Kent_B]

Saved this Trek 720 from scrap. The frame was just too pretty to leave. I’m on some 700c kick. Now to figure out what to do with it and the Fuji Tiara? Someone is getting those 700c by 32 tires and someone is getting the 700c knobbies off the Diamondback. Drop bars? Straight?

Drop bars and shifters, maybe fenders would make a nice commuter.

 

[Squashfest81]

This Hardland had been nagging at me for a few weeks. I finally had to bring him home. According to the dude it was built by these guys in a warehouse in Fall River Ma. in like ‘98. Anyone know anything? The google has almost no info?

 

[kjdhawkhill]

This Hardland had been nagging at me for a few weeks. I finally had to bring him home. According to the dude it was built by these guys in a warehouse in Fall River Ma. in like ‘98. Anyone know anything? The google has almost no info?

I got nothing. I was a rigid/cantilever/townie young curb-casing teen in that era.

How has the compression on that fork held up? Rear?
Are there even rear parts available at this point? If ProblemSolvers or some other aftermarket company makes a solution for the rear, it might be worth it.

 

[Squashfest81]

Hawkhill, both shocks actually feel good. I think this bike had a very easy life. It’s pristine. Like an indoor, dry, and heated life.

 

[Squashfest81]

Met a cool bike dude last weekend and he hooked me up with parts.
I started the rearrange on the Trek 950. Flexstem is on along with xt thumbies. Ss7 brake levers, and bar ends. Switched the tires to some rugged older set.
Going to switch the cables to black and linseed oil the frame.

 

[manbike26]

This Hardland had been nagging at me for a few weeks. I finally had to bring him home. According to the dude it was built by these guys in a warehouse in Fall River Ma. in like ‘98. Anyone know anything? The google has almost no info?

That one got me stumped, never heard of that brand. The URT style design fizzled out in the late 90s, so I think you're right on with the age. Thanks for sharing the pics!

 

[Squashfest81]

Been slowly working through the grits to get these cranks polished. I’ve been wanting to try some polishing, but it’s not going to be my thing. I have hours into sanding these and I expected better. They are shiny enough for me.

 

[Squashfest81]

Looking back at the before pic, I’m more pleased.

 

[Squashfest81]

Saved a beat bike for its parts. Going to see if I can remove the black from these Diore xt cranks? Then the crankset, xt bb, and black ops pedals can go on the retro 29er.

 

[Squashfest81]

While on a making things shiny binge. I stripped the funky bar-end, sanded, and shined it up with a soft wire wheel.