Flea market findings 3.

almost a bargain


The four tyre were 27,5 Euros
I'm afraid you're right: it's going to be a hard session to mount those heavy,
steel-belted Michelins :?
By my intention the first debut of this set will take place at Bihor, Romania (there are the nearest mountains from here)

fdoc

If you want some practical advice: don't use them! Keep them for a period theme build, but be aware they are no good in any other circumstances except pouring rain or heavy mud.

I all my years racing mud tires were good to have around and they saved my ass quite a few times. But that is racing. If I were to ride in rain on a normal day (non-racing, that is) I would always choose normal tires, even worn out ones. I think they are better and learning now to skid and drift is fun! Actually some of my best riding days were during rain with tires sporting 20% "meat" and a healthy "I don't give a ****" attitude. Otherwise, mud tires are heavy, difficult to put on the rims, as I said, and quite dangerous in the dry.

The Bihor area is good, but if you feel like something else, you can always give me buzz and I'll tell you what else there is handy and maybe close enough to you. What gravity bike do you have?

Mx

P.S. I might need to mention I have a brand new set of Intense Spikes and a set of team-issue prototype Intense Mud 2.2's from 2002 which I kept until now and still are in very good condition. That will give you some insight about how much I used them. Bear in mind that I ride daily during summer, that I didn't miss a national race since 1997 and that rain is pretty common around here.

respect

Thank your for your advice:I really appreciate that and respect the knowledge and experience you have.
I myself not a sportsman,but an accomplished amateur cycle-tourist still decades. I use a bike at least 350 days a year
being a family doctor by doing my job I ride almost every day making 120-150 kms per week(it's not a big city and a plain county),plus ride cycle for joy & for keeping my shape inrespectively of the season (my favourite conditions are the frost and snow) So my intention was to mount these special tyres on "spare" wheelset and use them exclusively off-road in deep snow :roll: What do you think,are they suitable for this purpose?
I know it is possible the get snow-chain for mounty-tyres,but this solution could be applicable also :? Or not?
It was only a few years ago when I "discovered" off-road cycling for myself and I feel this a great challenge -although I'm 50 years old now :shock:
I don't use/have DH bike,posses a retro-mounty(a modest thread here)
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... highlight=
and the "modern"' mountain ride is this one:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... highlight=
Since then the Merida got a Shimano Deore LX hollowtech crankset, CoolStop brake pads,its original X-mission stem-bar-seatpost combo and a Ritchey WCS saddle. The Kästle's current state in shown below...
My rides:
Hercules Globetrotter 1985 old school heavy-steel long-range tourer
Bottecchia Sprinter 1991 swift Italian steel-roadie
Corratec 3003 1995 city-crosser
Peugeot Berkeley 1994 multitalent tourer
K2 C50 1994 26'er single-speed custom crawler
Kästle Sport 305 1997 full-rigid steel-mtb
Kelly's Definite 2007 28'er alu-crosser
Merida Matts SE 2005 heavy-duty alu mtb
Spec' HardRock 1989 full-steel/full-rigid mtb Cinderella

Hey, doc! It's nice to see these builds - they are different to what you normally see around here, but that's what makes them special. Keep it on!

As for the mud tires, of course they are an option for riding in the snow. I forgot about that, silly me! I wouldn't go for chains, as they can harm your bike, as far a I can imagine... Between those two sets, I would choose the Panaracer Spikes, as the Michelins are full fledged DH tires and you'll be carrying around extra weight for nothing. I didn't think about having an extra wheelset, just for the mud tires, but if you can afford it, go for it - it's a good option. I always keep a mud tire mounted on an extra front wheel, all pumped up and ready to go, but mainly for the races.

Stay safe,
Mx

thanks again

Thank you Maxi',I surely will keep your advice: the Michelin DHs go to the attic. As I have a 26'er "spare" wheelset(Deore LX GoldEdition hubs -last years birthday present from my mate,rims Bike Positive:nothing special)the Spikes will be mounted for snow-duty...
B.t.w.,I post some current pics of my Merida in its original thread.

Cheers:fdoc

b.t

Don't worry about Bike Positive parts! We know them inside out over here, as a lot of our bike culture is in direct connection with Hungary. It's really funny you mention it, because I am currently building a 2009 Kona Fire Mountain and it happens to have a lot of (decent) Bike+ parts on it and I didn't meant it to be that way - it happened by chance! Today I got a second hand saddle for it which a friend of mine didn't need anymore. Guess what it was when I got it! Bike Positive! I had to laugh, really. And today, while working on the bike, I thought about how I'd explain this brand to the people over here on Retrobike: "You see, it's just like Point, only it's hungarian..." )

I guess there is such a brand in every country, really!

Oh, if you want to keep the Michelin spikes as log as possible, try to wrap them in something, because UV's harm rubber in a big way! Always keep tires in dark and dry rooms!

Cheers,
Mx

bike+ parts

Parts/bits and accessories branded this name have an acceptable reputation in Hungary. They're not premium,nor low-end products:usable things on payable price in a good average quality -although made in "somewhere" Far-East...
More than a half year ago at one of the local retrobike-parts flea market
I changed a BikePos.adjustable stem for this item. It was without its center part,therefore I had to find something for replacement.The sturdy piece was crafted by a local master,made from steel w brass cap cap:weighs almost the same as the hole aluminium body of the Cattlehead-stem. Later the fellow whom I've changed with found the original plastic Syncros piece and gave it to me.
fdoc
PS:the Michelins are already at the attic in the shade

My friend, I have a Cattlehead Hinged stem just in that fashion: with the original locking mechanism, but without the original cap. My pals at the LBS cut a spacer and there I have a nice stem on my bike. I am sure other Retrobike users would scream if they saw that makeshift piece, but who cares, really?

Take it easy,
Mx

the wrong side of the former iron-curtain


Well,it's still not so simple to live,to work,to build or rebuild retrobikes,etc.,in these regions of Europe -we know that.
After all,we also try to make something special,e.g.gathering even such incomplete bits and sometimes we must improvise... :roll:

Coincidence! My mate's making me a top cap like that this week.