It's so pretty! I love that year/color Hardrock. Well done! On Friday, December 16, 2022 at 9:53:31 AM UTC-8 Paul Clifton wrote:
> I thought y'all might like to see how the Clemified Hard Rock came out. I > put Boscos instead of Albatross on because it seemed like it'd work better. > > [image: hard-rock-side-sm.jpg][image: hard-rock-front-sm.jpg] > > It's worth mentioning that the seat tube bottoms out with about 3 inches > of post still showing. The means that the minimum saddle height (as is) is > like 32" from the ground. So she won't be able to put her feet on the > ground while sitting on the seat anyway. I thought about cutting the seat > post down, and I still might. But if I cut off too much, she won't be able > to get the seat up to her PBH minus 11 saddle height from the bottom > bracket. So I figured I'd wait and let her ride it before I make any > destructive modifications. > > The stem has a similar problem. Between the minimum insertion mark and > where the stem bottoms out is like 1 inch (because the head tube is so > short). So I have it set up with a Technomic to get the bars high, but I > will take a stem with a shorter quill in case we need to get them much > lower. I'll also take the Albatross bars with me, in case the Boscos come > back way too far. > > But I rode it around to button everything up this morning, and it feels > GREAT! Now just to get it half way across the country and see how it works > for its intended rider. > > Paul in AR > > On Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 5:03:26 PM UTC-6 Paul Clifton wrote: > >> What do y'all think about putting friction bar end shifters on Albatross >> bars for a new rider? >> >> I'm just looking for opinions since I'm stumped on this build. >> >> My options are more-or-less indexed or friction 9 speed Microshift >> thumbies, friction bar ends, or buy some rapid fire shifters. >> >> I (selfishly) want to keep the thumbies for a different build for myself. >> And I'd have to buy a set of rapid fire shifters - which has its own >> problems (derrailer/cassette mismatching ...). >> >> So I want to know - Do you think a new rider would be irritated by >> friction bar ends? >> >> Here's the long story: >> >> I have a very short friend (4'11" - PBH is 72). If money and availability >> were no object, I'd buy her a 45cm Clem and be done with it, but I can't do >> that myself, and she'd never spend that kind of money on a bike (at least >> not until she catches the biking bug from this bike I'm building her since >> it'll be the first bike that's ever fit her). >> >> So my goal is to build a bike that fits her and is so fun to ride that >> she'll want to ride bikes all the time and eventually just buy a Clem. >> >> I finally found a frame that will fit her. It's a tiny (41 cm) 90s >> Hardrock step through with 26" wheels and Shimano 200ES drive train, which >> is low end 90s 7-speed stuff. It has a triple crank that I will leave in >> place (buttery smooth even after 30 years). Both derailers are in good >> shape, but they're low end 90s stuff, so I doubt they feel great, but I bet >> they'd work with friction just fine. It came with junky old rapid fire >> shifters, so those are definitely getting replaced. >> >> I'm planning to put Albatross bars on this bike, so my quandary is about >> the drivetrain. I'd like to use as many parts from my bin as possible, but >> I can't decide which combo is gonna work best and be the most fun for a >> timid rider. Buying new parts is no big deal, but I don't see the point in >> spending a bunch of money in the event she doesn't ride it much, so here >> are the relevant parts from my bin: >> >> - Rear wheel options - 7 speed cassette wheel with good cassette. >> 8/9/10 speed wheel with no cassette. >> - Shifters -Microshift 9 speed thumbies (I kinda want to keep these >> for another build). Shimano bar ends that no longer index. >> - Derailers - New Altus 8 speed RD. Old Sora 9 speed RD. Shimano >> 600ES 7 speed RD. >> >> So here are my options: >> >> >> 1. Keep the old 7 speed stuff. Friction bar ends or friction thumbies. >> 2. Buy a new 8 speed cassette. Use the Altus RD from my box. Friction >> thumbies or bar ends. >> 3. Buy a 9 speed cassette and a 9 speed derailer. Indexed Microshift >> thumbies. >> 4. Buy a 9 speed cassette, derailer, and rapid fire shifter. The >> Sunrace 9 speed stuff comes out to about $60 for the whole set up. >> >> I have a new 3x rapid fire shifter for the front, but I hate how those >> shift, and I don't think I have a matching derailer - I can test the 200GS >> FD that is on there, but I personally think friction front is the way to >> go, and I definitely prefer a bar end for that over a thumbie, because the >> leverage feels better to me. >> >> Since bar ends are just such a joy to use and have so much leverage, I >> suspect the Altus derailer and a 8 or 9 speed cassette with a friction bar >> end will be fantastic for her, but I'd love some second opinions, and since >> it's winter, I'm sure there are plenty out there, so feel free to make blue >> sky suggestions :) >> >> Here's the bike before I tore it down to grease everything[image: >> signal-2022-09-20-09-24-24-645.jpg] >> >> Thanks, >> Paul in AR >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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