Is my bike such a classic?

[Zippy]

I have several problems with my MTB, Specialised Hot Rock, which I have had for over 30 years:

Alu seat stem is frozen in the CroMo frame. have tried soaking in penetrating oil and twisting the saddle, but not the seat in the vice thing yet.

Caliper brakes rear have lost their plastic lugs which apparently help to increase the return tension of the calipers so brake pads are slow to disengaeg from the rim.

Rear wheel (QR) is dragging out of the frame when pulling off despite changing QR skewers a couple of times. Hopefully new axle cones and skewer should have sorted this one.

But the techy was saying that I may find increasingly less imperial parts as they come to need replacing - headset is one inch, which I understand is becoming rare to find.

Its a shame as this is my first bike I bought for myself and is still in really good condition. Have I got a classic now that is going to need making obsolete?

Re: the seat stem, I was thinking of makingup a caustic soda solution, turning the bike upside down and squirting the solution through the drink bottle lugs to dissolve the stem out rather than trying to chip or saw it out?

Would like to keep the bike going if possible, but is there a point at which sentimentalism is silly against logic where safety and performance are concerned?

 

[jay clock]

is there a point at which sentimentalism is silly against logic where safety and performance are concerned?

yes. And my guess it sounds like you have reached it. Modern v brakes are so massively better than caliper brakes. That alone would be enough for me....

 

[plank]

I dont know if it will help but I had a seat post stuck and found a drain cover with gaps the same width as the top of the seatpost and used it to twist it free by sticking it in upside down and pulling the headtube.

 

[Zippy]

I am still to try jamming the square end of the stem in a vice and using the frame as a lever upside down. The lbs won't do this as they have twisted so many customer's frames, so are reluctant to try.

 

[accountantpete]

If you dare you could try heating the seat tube. The seat post will have bonded to the seat tube and this may break the bond sufficiently. I'd start with pouring very hot water on just the tube then jam the square end in a vice as you suggest.

 

[Zippy]

Heat - hairdryer? and the up-side-down vice thing. I'm sure the missus has one - a hairdrier that is.

 

[Mr Pig]

Hotrock? Isn't that the kids one? My son has a Hotrock.

 

[Zippy]

well, I've only got little leggs! 19" frame I seem to remember.

edit - OOh - sorry I just looked at my original post - its not Hot Rock, its a HARD Rock.

PS: I still have little legs!

 

[Amanda P]

One inch threaded headsets are not obsolete. They are still fitted on new bikes (albeit mostly utility bikes), and you can still buy good quality ones.

Suspect your tech may be trying to tempt you to buy a new bike...

I have an elderly Marin Palisades Trail. The paint was knackered, so I took the opportunity to braze on extra brake bosses and cable guides and generally update it a bit before it was powder coated.

 

[Steve Austin]

its not 30 years old.
the problem with restoring old bikes is that there comes a point where you are spending more restoring/modernising than you would on a new bike. If you can get away with a few new parts and some oil, then keep it, but if its beginning to cost £100+ then i would consider a whole new bike.
GT aggressor, giant XTC can be got for about 250ish so might be worth looking at them..

 

[Steve Austin]

I do ride a 20 year old trek MTB everyday, but the only original part is the frame. Every other part is less then five years old.
Your hardrock could be modernised, but is gonna cost you

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I do ride a 20 year old trek MTB everyday, but the only original part is the frame. Every other part is less then five years old.
Your hardrock could be modernised, but is gonna cost you

My Galaxy is like this. I spent more than it was worth on it a few years ago, but it was worth it to me. That's what it all comes down to.

 

[Zippy]

sorry - not 30 - 20 years old - feeling my age today!

Just collected my bike from lbs, stopped off to buy Plusgas, ammonia and caustic soda.

If all else fails I'm looking at a new commuter, but I am attached to my bike!

 

[Mr Pig]

If its beginning to cost £100+ then i would consider a whole new bike.

I agree, even a used one. Lots of people buy bikes with good intentions and never use them. About six months ago I found a mate a brand new condition GT MTB for less than half what it would've cost new. The guy had bought it for his girlfriend and she didn't ride it once!

 

[02GF74]

sorry - not 30 - 20 years old - feeling my age today!

my saracen is 1994 vintage and still going strong. the onlyh provs I had recently is getting chain rings for the now obsolete shimano crank but all other components should still be avialable. it is top notch frame/forks but becasue it has no syuspensio nad V-brakes, to the untrained eye, doesn;t look special for stealing hence is perfect as a commuter.