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Okay, this isn't really my first hardtail mountain bike, since I still have the
Fuji I got from Sports Authority for $150 back in 1997. But that has a solid
fork, and I'm afraid to ride it on trail. H came out with us for a ride, and
brought his Schwinn with a RST fork. I borrowed it, and it really wasn't a
bad ride. And it climbed really well. Then I saw this large GT frame on eBay's
"going, going, gone" for $69, so I grabbed it.
I figured the frame would sit for a while, while I found stuff to put on it.
My theme was light, since the frame is so light that I thought the box was
empty when it arrived. I didn't know where I was going to find a cheap, light,
quality fork, and then I saw this RockShox on eBay. It's a new 1998 SL, 2.7lbs.
I read the reviews on mtbreview.com, and they
indicated that it was light, and would work okay if you didn't ask too
much from it. I'm also thinking of this bike as a road/city/urban bike, so
a lightweight fork will be nice, and it won't have to do too much.
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Progress has been slow, as I find time and parts. The frame
came without the little plastic cable guide that screws to the bottom of the
bottom bracket shell, so when I was in Atlanta recently I looked for one at
REI. They sold me a generic Shimano guide, but told me I should check a
dealer for a GT-specific guide. I found a GT dealer in Atlanta, who told me
they just use the Shimano guide. Then I had to find a screw to hold it on.
I'm not sure why, but the hole is tapped for a 10x32 screw. I thought bikes
were all metric. I first got a regular allen cap screw, but it stuck out so
far that I made an extra effort to find a button-head screw. Looks much
better now.
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The frame also came without rear brake posts (bosses) so I had to get a pair
at an LBS. They came with red locktite on the threads, but the guy at the LBS
suggested putting Never-Seize on there as well. He has a cool haircut, so he
must know what he's talking about. I guess the locktite and the Never-Seize
can fight it out.
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I got more parts today. I won an eBay auction for some used parts - front
and rear derailleurs, bottom bracket and cranks, and combo shifter/brake
levers. All 7-speed stuff. It turned out to be pretty low-quality stuff.
The bottom bracket rumbles, and the cranks are 170mm. I think I can use the
derailleurs and shifters. And the bottom bracket for now.
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Long time since the last update. The bike has gone together, been ridden a
bunch of time, been stripped for parts, and sold as frame and fork on eBay.
Need to add more details.
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