Help me find examples of old steel hybrids

I'm in the market for an old steel hybrid (or just a frame) for my 2 speed project. After wasting a lot of time trying to unseize a seat post on an old Trek 800 Mountain Track, my dear brother suggested a 700c instead of a 26". That suggestion makes a ton of sense as my 3 speed rolls 700c and therefore I'd have spare wheels and I could swap the tires, just stock one size of spare tubes etc.

What I need help with, dear Chainlinkers, is finding examples of what I'm looking for so when I post to the Marketplace and Craig's I can cite those names as the kinds of bike/frame I'm looking for.

Also, if you have a tall version of a bike or frame that meets the requirements we can cut the process short by just selling me the bike or frame. :)

Must have:

- horizontal dropouts 

- 700 c 

- tall enough for a 6' 3" rider. (22"+)

Nice to have:

- canti brake bosses

- lots of braze-ons for racks and fenders

- rigid fork

So help me refine the search. I'm also happy to entertain suggestions about the list of requirements. My goal is to build a 2 speed, year-round commuter/utility bike. The initial build might be a SS/fixed that I'll ride while I'm building the rear wheel.

I've had a load of trouble with fender clearance using an old road bike frame for my 3 speed build, so to avoid that, and so that I'd have more room to experiment with different tires I'd like the extra room afforded by a hybrid frame. 

EDIT: per this discussion http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-713011.html the 7XX series Trek Multi-Tracks sound like the kind of thing I'm looking for.

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Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on November 5, 2012 at 4:47am

I've had an old frame+(I think I have one wheel for it and it is missing the seat post and left crank arm)  like you describe bumping around for a while, just looked at it to get the specifics. 

Univega Activa Action, Tange Chromolly, Canti/v-brake Studs, Horizontal DO, 700c wheels, fender mounts front and rear, rack mounts only in rear.

Unfortunately for you it measures about 17" c-c.

Looks like this, but more paint dings. 

Hit me up with any offers.

Also, your "two speed project" is that going to be a SA kick back 2 speed hub? My wife has one that is the rim brake version and does not like it very much, but I have heard the people like the coaster brake version better.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 5, 2012 at 4:58am

 "Your Google Alert on site:chicago.craigslist.com activa has been created."

Thanks! That frame would be perfect if it was larger! Good to know that there are some needles out there in haystacks! 

And yes, a 2 spd SA kick back hub. I was sort of assuming I'd go the coaster route as a guiding principle for this build is to minimize cables and moving parts in general. It is a tough trade-off though as a coaster makes fixing a rear flat a bit more troublesome. And as Sheldon notes, there are some other negatives to the coaster brake: your chain becomes a point of failure and three are really only two optimal crank positions for coaster braking. 

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 5, 2012 at 6:48am

Here is a  Trek 700 in my price range that looks like it might have horizontal dropouts:

http://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/3347705798.html

Perhaps the vertical dropouts were a new feature that was rolled out on the fancier made in USA versions?

Permalink Reply by Bikefreeek on November 5, 2012 at 8:24am

That's the one you're looking for if you can find it in your size. It's made of double butted cromo and has decent drop outs even though no derailleur hanger (all the better for your project).

Here's one that I built into a ss/fix conversion

I haven't been too impressed with the new 2 speed kickback Sturmey Archer hubs. Not enough of a gear ratio for my taste and the freewheel one is not predictable at all for gear changes.

Tony Adams said:

Here is a  Trek 700 in my price range that looks like it might have horizontal dropouts:

http://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/3347705798.html

Perhaps the vertical dropouts were a new feature that was rolled out on the fancier made in USA versions?

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 5, 2012 at 8:33am

Cool. Looks like lots of eyelets too! If I get one we'll all just have to agree to keep it a secret from Howard so he won't be disappointed. :)

Thanks for reporting your experience with the SA hub - for commuting in Chicago I'm *almost* happy with a single speed. I'd just like a little help getting up over the occasional bridge or when fighting a big headwind. I have a three speed now and pretty much never use the top gear. Ideally I'd like a two speed that has a low gear and a direct drive rather than a direct drive and a high gear. But I think I can get essentially the same result by using a smallish chainring.

Also I LOVE LOVE LOVE the "REK". I reserve the right to steal the idea if I end up with a Trek donor.


Bikefreeek said:

That's the one you're looking for if you can find it in your size. It's made of double butted cromo and has decent drop outs even though no derailleur hanger (all the better for your project).

Here's one that I built into a ss/fix conversion

I haven't been too impressed with the new 2 speed kickback Sturmey Archer hubs. Not enough of a gear ratio for my taste and the freewheel one is not predictable at all for gear changes.

Tony Adams said:

Here is a  Trek 700 in my price range that looks like it might have horizontal dropouts:

http://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/3347705798.html

Perhaps the vertical dropouts were a new feature that was rolled out on the fancier made in USA versions?

Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on November 5, 2012 at 10:12am

I find that people don't realize, or appreciate the sheer range of gears you can have with a single speed or IGH. 

With an approximate range of 38-56 Tooth Chainrings and 13-22 Tooth Sprockets you can achieve a ratio range from 4.3:1 down to 1.7:1 


Tony Adams said:

Cool. Looks like lots of eyelets too! If I get one we'll all just have to agree to keep it a secret from Howard so he won't be disappointed. :)

Thanks for reporting your experience with the SA hub - for commuting in Chicago I'm *almost* happy with a single speed. I'd just like a little help getting up over the occasional bridge or when fighting a big headwind. I have a three speed now and pretty much never use the top gear. Ideally I'd like a two speed that has a low gear and a direct drive rather than a direct drive and a high gear. But I think I can get essentially the same result by using a smallish chainring.

Also I LOVE LOVE LOVE the "REK". I reserve the right to steal the idea if I end up with a Trek donor.



Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on November 5, 2012 at 5:41pm

Too small for Tony, but there is a 970 available now with a bunch of parts included for $100 for someone looking for something similar

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/3389352707.html

This one has been up for a while.



h' said:

Sounds like you want a Trek 930, 950, or 970 frame  from about 1992 to 1996 :-)

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on November 7, 2012 at 6:14am

I could all those components for rebuilding my old 930 that I bought for college back in '94.  Anyone want to pay $25 for the frame and fork and I'll take the rest?

Otherwise I may just buy the whole thing and donate the frame to the Recyclery.


OLB said:

Too small for Tony, but there is a 970 available now with a bunch of parts included for $100 for someone looking for something similar

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/3389352707.html

This one has been up for a while.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 7, 2012 at 12:37pm

http://chicago.craigslist.org/search/bia?query=trek+%7C720+%7C700+%...

This is a re-usable craigslist query.  In the form it looks like this:

"trek | 720 | 700 | 750| 790| 950 | 970 | via | oro | activa -800 -820 -830"   with "title only" selected and a max price of 200. 

It yields a lot of bikes, but so far, no luck in my size.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 7, 2012 at 12:56pm

Done - added the 930 and the 730. Thanks 'h

http://chicago.craigslist.org/search/bia?query=trek+%7C720+%7C700+%...

I also negated a few more terms, women, kids, girl which weeded out about 15 or so hits.

And here is one that will spur craig's to do a "nearby" search based on Rockford and will include Wisconsin all the way to Madison (useful for me as I travel out that way from time to time):

http://rockford.craigslist.org/search/bia?query=trek+%7C720+%7C700+...

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on November 8, 2012 at 4:14am

I do that for volvo+240 looking at various cities where friends live from time to time.  I responded to the 970 ad but haven't heard back, yet.

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