I'm getting ready for winter...

This will become my latest project.

The eBayed frame is a Giant OCR touring frame. It will powder coated white..Still debating whether to remove the canti bosses...I probably will

I'm going to run disk brakes on all back 29er wheels

single speed

Black Brooks....maybe midge bars.....rear rack for sure....maybe a six pack rack up front

This is going to be one funky looking bike

I'd lop off the brake bosses and the hanger.

funky indeed... Giant makes an OCR touring frame, seriously??

to me, unused brake bosses- canti or disc- are hideous... I'd remove, but can you do that to alu without damaging (heat treated?), or will you just elbow grease it (cut and/or dremel and sand)?

and have you thought through the all technicalities of disc + ss? can be finky to get the pads & disc aligned right... disc ENO rear hub? pretty sure you're not a tensioner kind of guy

and have you thought through the all technicalities of disc + ss? can be finky to get the pads & disc aligned right... disc ENO rear hub? pretty sure you're not a tensioner kind of guy
Mountain bikers have addressed this a lot.

Mountain bikers have addressed this a lot.


I know

funky indeed... Giant makes an OCR touring frame, seriously??

to me, unused brake bosses- canti or disc- are hideous... I'd remove, but can you do that to alu without damaging (heat treated?), or will you just elbow grease it (cut and/or dremel and sand)?

and have you thought through the all technicalities of disc + ss? can be finky to get the pads & disc aligned right... disc ENO rear hub? pretty sure you're not a tensioner kind of guy

I'm going to remove the bosses...For the fork I'll use a torch... For the frame, I'll use my dremel and files to remove unnecessary braze ons

I'm going to try to keep this as close to a budget build as possible. I'm going to use disk 29er 9 speed wheels with one cog and spacers...I'm going to use a tensioner or half link unless I get lucky with chain tension.

I bought some 29er wheels from Jenson USA for $145. Shimano Deore hubs laced to Mavic A317 rims

How likely is it that you will be changing ratios after you get it dialed in?
otherwise sounds good but why white? all black wheels are crying out for candy yellow, IMHO.

otherwise sounds good but why white?

Gotta agree here. A winter bike should be something that pops against the snow and slush and warms you up just looking at it. I'd consider bright blue, too.

Gotta agree here. A winter bike should be something that pops against the snow and slush and warms you up just looking at it. I'd consider bright blue, too.

Good point guys. I'll think about the color choice..

I'm going to run 68 to 70 gear inches so I'm not too concerned about changing ratios...Texas is flat as a board and all my bikes have the same ratio...

If you use a torch to remove the braze-ons, do be careful. I do a lot of work with aluminum and know from personal experience (and many conversations with Alcoa metallurgists) that once you hit a certain metal temperature you're mechanical properties go right out the window (tensile drops FAST, elongation goes way up, etc). You might be better off using the dremel on everything.

If you use a torch to remove the braze-ons, do be careful. I do a lot of work with aluminum and know from personal experience (and many conversations with Alcoa metallurgists) that once you hit a certain metal temperature you're mechanical properties go right out the window (tensile drops FAST, elongation goes way up, etc). You might be better off using the dremel on everything.


I'd never use a torch on aluminum....The fork is steel. I'll use my torch on the fork only.

I'd never use a torch on aluminum....The fork is steel. I'll use my torch on the fork only.
Good to know. I figured you'd know what you were doing, but thought it would be good to mention it just in case. Steel shouldn't be a problem at all, you'll be well below any of the temperatures (and times) needed to really mess things up.

Gotta agree here. A winter bike should be something that pops against the snow and slush and warms you up just looking at it. I'd consider bright blue, too.


snow and slush in DFW???
color is prob the most personal of choices

Well, we don't get much snow... but the slush is kinda nasty when it shows up. Luckily it usually melts by lunchtime.

Good point guys. I'll think about the color choice..

I'm going to run 68 to 70 gear inches so I'm not too concerned about changing ratios...Texas is flat as a board and all my bikes have the same ratio...

lucky you!
I have been waiting to get the money for basically the same kind of bike with an EBB cause round here if I go north its flat for about 150 miles and if I go south its flat for about 10 miles then hills for the next 200.

cool project - paint it black to match the ice :)

I used to commute in Richardson and rode in one day after an ice storm. That was an *interesting* ride. Like riding on eggshells. Slippery eggshells.

What size tires? Fenders?

cool project - paint it black to match the ice :)

I used to commute in Richardson and rode in one day after an ice storm. That was an *interesting* ride. Like riding on eggshells. Slippery eggshells.

What size tires? Fenders?


I'm going to run 28's or 32's... Probably 32's...I'm not sure about fenders yet....