Montague Paratrooper Mountain Bike Transformation (Part 4 - Handlebars, Pedals and Accessories)

I was happy to retain my original handlebar stem which meant I could keep the original bars too.   It appears if I replaced the stem I would have needed new bars as the modern stem bar clamp is larger than the older ones that fit my original bars with smaller diameter.  That's $50 I get to keep!

Bars were modified as follows:

• Grips - MEC Ergo grips ($6)
• Bar ends - from the bike parts box (free)
• Cycle computer - old school but functional from the bike parts box.  Just needed a battery ($2)
• Bell - from the bike parts box (free)
• Handlebar bag - triangular 'glove box' bar bad for keys, phone, etc. from parts box (free)

Pedals are an old pair of the Shimano combo SPD/platforms that I have used on an assortment of past bikes.  From the parts box (free). I expect to be riding 50/50 with cycling shoes/hikers so this type of pedal is brilliant.  

Picked up a new MEC Bike Planet pump ($12) that mounts on the water bottle cage mounts.  It colour matches the frame quite well.

Seat/tool bag is re-purposed from the bike parts box (free) as were the tools within..

Here is the result of the make over project posed on the Poco Trail on the first summer evening of 2017 with the Pitt River in the background.

Montague Paratrooper Mountain Bike Transformation (Part 3 - Forks)

The Paratrooper came with middle of the road suspension forks which have developed a bit of a 'clunk' in recent years.  These were perfectly adequate for light duty trail riding but just not required for the new street incarnation.

The plan is to switch out the suspension forks for rigid ones.  Three good reason to do this:

1. Performance -The suspension on a bike actually works against the rider on hard surfaces as some of the pedaling energy is absorbed by the suspension rather that being transmitted to the rear wheel.  I expect this is more applicable to full (front and rear) suspension bikes.
2. Weight - Suspension forks are simply heavier than rigid ones.
3. Fenders - Much easier to mount full fenders or front racks on rigid forks.

Replacing suspension forks with rigid ones is not as easy as finding some old rigid MTB forks and jamming the into place.  Doing  this would mess with the original bike's frame geometry.  If you look at the distance from the top of the tire to the crown of the suspension fork you will notice it is 3-6" to allow for the movement for the wheel as it is pushed into the suspension.  Rigid forks on older MTBs or on road bikes have much less clearance as the wheel does not move relative to the fork.  Therefore, to maintain the correct frame geometry a longer rigid fork is required.  This is know as a 'Suspension Corrected' fork.

Suspension corrected forks are a bit of a specialized item and wound be the most pricey component of this project.  I wanted to keep the front disc brake so the replacement would need to have the mounts for this.

Bike Nashbar sells this item online for about  $60 US but I also found a pair at the Bike Doctor in Vancouver for $119 CAD.  When I factored in the exchange rate, shipping and duty the price was pretty much a saw off so I picked up the local ones.

The new fork has the mounts for either caliper or disc brake mounts.  I would guess there is  approximate two pound weight savings with the rigid fork over the old suspension one.

Installing a new set of forks requires these be dry fitted and then hacksaw the fork tube down to size to fit.  I had to think about this because another goal of this project is to raise the handlebar height and this is the time for contemplation... The current setup has the bars about 2" below the saddle height.  This worked for me for trail riding but for the new street incarnation I wanted to bring the height up flush to the saddle height as this is how my Bike Friday is configured and it really works for me.  After exploring replacement stems (wound not work) and doing a little research I purchased stem spacers ($1 each) which fit over the fork tube between the headset and handlebar stem and allow for the stem to be fitted higher up the tube.

Adding the spacers allowed me to raise the stem/bars six centimeters and happened to put stem in just the right position on the tube that no hack sawing of the tube was required.  How often do things work out like that?

Original lower setup

New higher bars

Attaching and adjusting the front disc brake caliper was very straightforward.

On my test flight the forks worked just great!  After riding the 20" wheel Bike Friday this seemed a very smooth ride on the gravel roads.

Montague Paratrooper Mountain Bike Transformation (Part 2 - Tires)

The quickest and easiest performance bang for your buck when converting a MTB into something a little more roadie is to ditch the knobby tires and replace with street tires.  For this change you get higher pressures and lighter tires with lower rolling resistant tread.  There are several manufacturers of 26" street or touring tires ranging in price from $25-$60.

From the Bike Doctor shop in Vancouver I picked up a nice set of Continental Tour Rides 1.75" tires. These have a raised smooth centre tread for street rolling and some side tread for some gravel traction.  Added bonus is the puncture resistance sub tread.
All this for $24.99.  Perfect for this project!

Below is a close up of the old trail knobby tire compared to the new street treads.  Rolling resistant improvement for asphalt and hard packed surfaces is pretty obvious with the 57 psi max. touring tires.

While the wheels were off I took the opportunity to clean the hub and rims.  Free wheel was removed for cleaning.  The dust and lubricant combines a create a dried crust on and between the teeth which makes for rough shifting.

Montague Paratrooper Mountain Bike Transformation (Part 1 - The Plan)

2003 - Purchased a  Montague Paratrooper folding mountain bike.  It has served me well for bashing around on the local trails with the kids when they were younger and early on I set it up for some overseas touring.

2008 - A Bike Friday Pocket Llama with its 20" became my ride of choice for everyday riding and touring.

The Paratrooper languished in the back of the corner of the garage...

2017 - With the theme of downsizing and simplify echoing through our household it is time to reduce the bike fleet and the old Paratrooper came up for consideration.  As a true mountain bike it is outdated by current standards and an unhealthy clunk has developed in the suspension forks. However, I do like to do road rides with some of the local Meetup groups and enjoy riding the local dykes and networks of cycle paths where a full wheel hybrid type bike is more suitable than the Bike Friday...

Time as come to give the old Paratrooper a new lease on life.  Trying to keep to a minimal cash outlay and by re-purposing bike parts have kicking about I propose that the Paratrooper will be transformed into a nice little bombing around bike.  And it folds!

Here is the plan:

1. Tires - replace the knobbies with a set of lighter, higher pressure street or hybrid tires
2. Forks - replaced the worn out suspension fork with a rigid one
3. Handle bars - add bar ends and softer grips for improved comfort for longer rides 
4. Stem - replace with higher angle to soften riding position to a slightly more upright
5. Electronics - add speedometer/odometer
6. Fenders - maybe
7. Rack - unlikely as my BF is all set up for this if hauling is required

Salt Spring Island Summer Solstice Microadventure Challenge

Alastair Humpreys is a British adventurer who has created and promotes the concept of 'Microadventures'.

http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/

The idea behind this is that with some creativity one can experience adventures in the outdoors in short, simple, local, cheap and fun.  Not everyone can drop everything a blast off the Mongolia or Patagonia but short hike, bike or paddle closer to home could be quite doable.

On his web site he is running the 'Summer Solstice Microadventure Challenge' for this week.

With this is mind and a free weekend on my hands I decided to pack up my bike and overnight gear and catch the after work ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island (1.5 hrs - dinner, nap).  From Swartz Bay I caught the smaller ferry to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island (0.5 hr).

Disembarking at 7:40 pm I had a tranquil twilight ride along country roads to the love Ruckle Farm
Provincial Park.

 Briefly held up by a sheep road block.

Camp set up by dark and enjoyed a drink and late dinner before turning in at 10:30 pm.

Awoken at 5:00 am by the early daylight the sounds of birds.  Hot breakfast and a couple of cups of coffee preceded my leisurely packing up and hitting the road back to Fulford.


I was a bit early for the return trip to Swartz Bay so I practiced the bits of only two songs that I know (Year of the Cat and Imagine) on the outdoor piano at the dock.

 A Father's Day -1 bonus  was having Sam cycle out to join me for lunch at the Stonehouse Pub in Swartz Bay (highly recommended).  Caught the 3:00 pm return ferry and was home by 6:00 pm.

Nice little get away.

Birkenstock Sandals - Me?

Just being upfront, I am not really much of a sandals guy and the last person to wear a pair of Birkenstocks or Birkies.  This has changed thanks to Inge and Roy some of our Camino buddies who introduced me to the plastic Birkenstock Arizona sandal.   These things are classic style Birkenstock but made of that plastic material similar to that used in the Crocs.

Super light, water impervious, comfy, inexpensive and sock compatible make these the perfect apres Camino walkable shoes.  Just right for giving your feet a break after all day in a hiking boot.

I bought a pair of these last winter and have become huge fan.  These are house slippers, hostel shower shoes, garden dog walking, car washing, beach shoes of choice. Very comfortable but I cannot vouch for the durability yet but at this price not really a big deal.