Marin single speed project

MOVED TO READERS WIVES SECTION AS REQUESTED!

Just taking a break and enjoying the first PoTM uploads, I thought it might be time to share you a few early stage photos of my latest project.

Some of you have offered inspiration (recovering saddles, de-bossing the frame etc), sound advice (such as removing the old stuck seatpost), recommendations (for local powder coaters), and good VFM parts (Retrobike has so far been the source of the wheels, forks, seatpost, handlebars, cranks and chainring that I'll be using) so a round of applause to to you all.

The project's objective is pretty simple - build up my battered old '98 Marin frame into a nice single speed retro-ish hot rod on tight budget, doing as much of the work as I can myself and using up as many parts as possible from the shed (tyres, spacers, grips, top cap, pedals, stem, brakes)... and repair my chain tensioner once and for all (anyone know where I can get spare mount and bolts for a DMR STS?)!

Anyway, here's the progress so far... I took the opportunity before it goes off for a new paint job to hand face to BB shell and headtube with a file, and then - as I'm not going to using a rack or mudguards - I borrowed an angle grinder from my buddy Alan and off come the bosses:







As it's definitely going to be single speed, I though I may as well remove the gear cable guides... there's no going back now:





... and while I'm at it, that integrated seatpost clamp was battered... brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp!



I've tidied this up a bit now... does anyone have a 30mm Hope clamp to sell / swap? I have a spare one from my Kili comp but I want a beefier one in blue please (QR or bolt)

Right, hope you all have a nice weekend, riding preferably (don't forget your camera)... I'm off to buy some caustic soda

it's pretty much finished!

May I present version # 1 of my finished single speed...

The powder coating turned out beautifully I think (many thanks drystonepaul!), really finishes off the areas which I ground off!

It's reasonably light given that the triple butted frame ain't no featherweight, and it's running a fairly sensible 53” gearing... first test run today, no doubt a little fettling to do as it beds in but initial signs are good... it handles well, the fork is pretty good and very light, the brakes are lovely (never had the pleasure XT v-brakes before!) and I'm very proud of my saddle recovery! There's a few bits which may change, but it's a definite keeper... for now!

A mix of new and old as you can see, went a little over budget here and there, lots of parts sourced from fellow Retrobikers (massive thanks to you all!), a few from eBay and CRC (brakes, seatpost, headset, Hope stuff, BB, single speed gubbins) and the rest from the shed...

here's the full spec:

Frame: powder coated 1998 Marin Hawk Hill (18.5”)
Fork: 2000 model Marzocchi Z4 Flylight Air - from Retrobike
Headset: Ritchey Logic (new)
Stem: Club Roost I-Beam 95mm
Top Cap: Hope Head Doctor
Handlebar: Qranc mid-rise 665mm - from Retrobike
Grips: DMR lock-on (new)
Bar End Plugs: Hope Grip Doctor
Bottle Cage: Tortec alloy
Frame bolts – M5 button (new)
Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M739
Brake Levers: Shimano Deore XT M739
Brake Pads: Fibrax
Inner Cables: Jagwire (new)
Outer Cables: Shadow red (new)
Crimps: black anodized (new)
Chain Tensioner: DMR STS (new)
Sprocket: A2Z 18 tooth (new)
Chain: KMC Z (new)
Cranks: Shimano Deore LX 170mm - from Retrobike
Crank Bolts: Shimano
Chainring: Azonic 37 tooth (NOS) - from Retrobike
Chainring bolts: Shimano(?) - from Retrobike
Bottom Bracket: FSA 68 x 118mm (new)
Pedals: DMR V8
Rims: Mavic 220 - from Retrobike
Hubs: Shimano STX-RC Parallax - from Retrobike
QR Skewers: Shimano STX-RC - from Retrobike
Spokes: stainless - from Retrobike
Tyres: Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 – one from Retrobike (one from the shed)
Tubes: unknown Presta - from Retrobike
Valve Caps: Middleburn CNC Presta bullet (NOS) - from Retrobike
Saddle: Avocet (DIY recovery with old leather jacket)
Seatpost: 25.4 x 400mm (new)
Shim: Cane Creek 27.0 (new)
Seatpost Clamp: Hope single bolt (new modded for stronger steel bolt)

and here's the bike:

:shock:

well done that man, that looks ace!

Do you think it would it be sacralige to de-boss a Orange clockwork????

bike

Love pink pedals smart bike colours a bit wacky

Re: bike

PINK GRIPS":55yfhesr said:

Love pink pedals smart bike colours a bit wacky

Click to expand...

are they? maybe it's just the pictures but it's just white with blue and red - no pink! thanks tho..

thedirtyroger":uqxz7rwc said:

:shock:

well done that man, that looks ace!

Do you think it would it be sacralige to de-boss a Orange clockwork????

Click to expand...

cheers! re: the Clockwork, maybe the mudguards / rack mounts... are you sure you want to go the whole and hog and remove the gear cable stops? esp. when it's a much rarer frame than this?

Nice work. Looks really good mate.

cheers! just got onto the man like Gil for a decals quote, was thinking of white with blue surrounds - what do you guys think? I don't think it needs any more red, but I do think blue surroundings on the decals would help to tie in the fork colour :?:

Personally I'd go with the palest grey...so they are only just visible.

I know that bench... ;-)

Mr K