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None of our cycles have custom frames but none are standard either. I have listed the modifications we have made. Hopefully there may be some useful ideas amongst them. I have also commented on each. A modification I have made to most of the current bikes is to fit 2mm brake cables if at all possible, both straddle and main cables. This was not possible on the back cable on the tandem as the cable stops were too small.
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BQIt was a real problem to get a good bike to start the kids on. I liked this BQ because it had a ball bearing bottom bracket - many others had plain bearings. It proved it's worth, being handed on to my 2 daughters in turn (It is shown resprayed for them). The main improvement was to fit bushed stabilisers for them. When we finished with it we were able to sell it on.
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He really was happier about this bike than he looks! |
BMX (unknown make)Douglas's next bike was a BMX. He certainly loved it and played the hooligan on it.
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Raleigh SportsMy brother-in-law had a Raleigh tourer in the garage and offered it to me. It got me back on cycles as I recovered from ME. I dismantled, overhauled and sprayed it. A truly worthy bike. Once I realised I would be cycling a lot we sold it on and I bought my first MTB, the Trek 830 |
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Raleigh (unknown model)This was an odd city bike which was given to me by a colleague at work. It did up nicely but sadly handled just as well as it looked! Douglas used it for a short time after he out grew the BMX but we realised it had to be replaced by something more usable.
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Raleigh MustangI decided to get Douglas a "real" bike next. The Raleigh Mustang was well built if rather heavy. It had cantilever brakes so at least it could stop.
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Raleigh Co-CoHaving gears transformed the capabilities of the kids on the cycles. Doug's first geared bike was a Raleigh Mustang which we sold to replace with this Co-Co. Although a bit heavy it was well made and proved durable.
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Orbit TandemThe Orbit company has changed hands since we bought ours but they still have a reputation for value for money and that was a principal reason for choosing ours. It was partly made to our spec, particularly the choice of colour. The frame is Reynolds 531. It is twin lateral and a bit whippy when my son and I start trying hard on it but just fine otherwise. I bought a style and size that enabled it to be used by all the family simply by changing bars and the use of kiddie cranks or crank shorteners.The wheels, mudguards and cranks were all good quality, the original handlebars, stems, pedals and saddles diappointing. Although the Shimano gearset (6 speed block) was not top of the range it was good stuff. I have gradually upgraded many parts especially brakes. As the tandem is being used less now and we are moving I have decided to put the tandem up For Sale
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Trek 800Trek were one of the first companies to build good quality kid's mountain bikes and this one has definitely given value for money.The main drawback remained the oversize cranks, replaced by TA Cyclotourist.
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Saddle: San Marco Concor |
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KonaAn odd one this. It looks like a Cinder Cone but but is spec'ed as a Lava Dome. Leisure Lakes made it up for us as the small frame was very hard to find. Main changes have been the addition of tele forks and mudguards and again X-lite bar ends. Lovely bike.Often run on spare set of wheels fitted with slick tyres for touring and until my daughter bought her Dolce road bike
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Forks Rockshock Quadra 21 |
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Trek 830My first mountain bike. A good entry bike, we rebuilt it for my son when I moved on. In the end almost everything was changed, although the Suntour XCE gear set stayed. Front changer was later Sachs and Gripshifts went onto Bramha bars (not easy). Front suspension was complimented by suspesion seat post. Brakes were Dia-compe 986. Next assignment for this frame was to carry a Cyclaid motor - see.
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Dismantled. Equipment transferred to Orange |
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Specialized Rockhopper
This is one I really wanted - the very last year of Suntour equipment
- 8 speed microdrive. All sorts of touring gear added, mudguards,
rack, lovely old Nelson saddle bag, best change was to a Titanium
Flite saddle but really little else. I had a spare set of wheels
built by Wheelcraft on reconditioned Suntour hubs to
carry Specilized Fat Boy slicks and my off-road tyres are
narrow Specialized Hardpack.
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Saddle: Sella Italia Flite Titanium |
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Orange C16RThe ultimate upgrade to the old Trek? As my son out-grew my old frame we transferred all the kit to this very light, short and well finished frame. Even then we have had to fit raised downhill bars and bar ends to give him a comfortable riding position.
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Saddle: San Marco Concor |
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Diamond Back TopangaMy wife decided if she couldn't beat me, then keep an eye on me. She has toured extensively on this bike. The lady's frame is very short and suits her well. We went for comfort and fitted a Brooks sprung saddle and a set of sit-up-and-beg bars. Seperate brake levers are used with the quick-shift which she likes mounted on seperate brackets. Tyres are Ritchey Quads - the best all terrain tyre ever made? Gearing has been dropped 2 teeth fitting a Shimano 400 chainset to replace the Bio-pace rings which I had originally moved through as near 90 degrees as I could.
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Saddle: Brooks Countess |
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Cannondale C400My second daughter also having outgrown the Trek 800 we have put this up for sale and bought our first alloy framed cycle. It was one of the modern style on "comfort" hybrids. The reach was short and the riding position rather "sit- up-and-beg".Initial comment was the standard gearing with large chainrings and a block designed for micro-drive is ridiculously high for a leisure bike. Well, this bike did not last long. My daughter took her bike to University and some low life scum stole it from outside the lecture theatre. Two consolations are this was the least modified of all our bikes and I had not wasted a lot of time setting it up and our insurance replaced it with a near equivalent Trek
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Saddle: Selle Royal Gel on PM-780 suspension post |
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Trek Navigator 400Supplied by Wheelies Direct to replace the stolen Cannondale, I did not realize initially the 400 is fitted with a hub gear. As this was to be largely a town bike I was quite happy with that. My younger daughter prefers a comfort set up to sports and the reactions of my other daughter and wife were interesting. My daughter thought is was a big, heavy high bike and, compared to her close-coupled, radical Kona, it is. My wife merely said if daughter #2 didn't like she would have it! Along with the hub gears, a rear drum brake was fitted. The frame is alloy and there are RST suspension forks - fashion? Possibly but, if the bike suits her purpose, that's fine. The Trek served well enough as a hack around Edinburgh for 2 years. The hub gear did eventually play up, I think partlu through the seals not being very robust. Rather than spend money on it my daughter gave to a cycle refurbrishing scheme when she moved abroad.
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Saddle: Bontranger Webspring with suspension post |
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Specialized DolceThis came right out of "left field". My daughter (the Trek owner) hurt her knee skiing and was unable to run. She worked however in a cycle shop and was taking a serious interest in cycle sport including road bikes (and roadies - I think!) She bought this to help her train and strengthen her knee. When she said it had a girl's frame I was disappointed until I found out what Specialized do is make a frame proportioned for females yet retaining 700c wheels With an aluminium alloy frame, carbon fibre fork legs & seat post this seemed particularly good value. Hideously light, fast and classy, it nearly broke my heart when my daughter sold it when she went abroad. Back in the country, she bought a replacement in the later silver colour and is competing in triathlons and considers a quick 40 miles including a couple of climbs over 200M a good warm up (mad girl!) And, here comes another: big sister is fed up being passed on the road and bought yet another Dolce after checking out the alternatives and deciding it was the best value. We don't think it is as attractive in the black/white colour but it will go just as fast.
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Saddle: Body Geometry Dolce on Specialized carbon fibre seat post. Handlebars: Specialized Zertz Womens on 3D forged alloy stem. Wheel: Alex DA-16, 700c, stainless spokes Tyres: Specialized Mondo Comp, 700 x 23c, Flak Jacket. Brakes: Dual Pivot with Shimano Sora Dual Control levers. Gearset: Shimano Tiagra rear / Sora front gears, Sora 12-25 cassette; HG50 chain Specialized chainset Mudguards & Carrier:You're kidding? |
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Revolution Compact Bought partly to give #2 daughter a bike she could take to her summer job and now kept as the family hack, this very reasonably priced cycle from
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op
, is a quality piece of kit made by the world's biggest manufacturer of folders, Dahon.
So it flexes a bit under stress and the reach is a bit short. It folds up really compactly and rolls extremely well and has godd useable gearing. Value for money and oh so functional.
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Frame: aluminium
Wheels: 20" alloy rims
Tyres: Kenda, semi-slick0
Brakes: Pro-Max V
Gear set rear deraileur - Shimano EZ Fire
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Mr Happy rides again
