In the car world, a restomod has a pretty clean definition: a classic that has been restored, then upgraded with modern parts so it drives better without losing its old-school look.
Bikes are having their own version of that moment, just with less horsepower and more cable routing. At Gremlins Bicycle Emporium, shop manager Aaron Greenhow has watched the concept take hold as riders dig up older frames and build them into something that suits how they actually ride now, not how the catalog said they should ride in 1993.
“It’s kind of just taking an older bike and making it more suitable for your riding style and fit,” Greenhow said.
Making a 90s mountain bike make sense again
In practice, restomodding often starts with the bikes that are easiest to find and easiest to love: often rigid 90s mountain bikes. They are tough, simple and surprisingly capable if you stop pretending you need a 130-millimetre fork to buy groceries.
“A lot of people are taking 90s mountain bikes and kind of turning them into camping bikes or commuter bikes or backcountry touring bikes,” he said. “Putting on a more comfortable kind of handlebar. And a stem on there to get you in a bit better seating position.”
From there, the upgrades tend to be small but meaningful: indexed shifting, more gear range and tires that better match modern trails.
“A lot of tires back in the day were 1.95 or 2.0 and you know sometimes the frame can clear a 2.2 or a 2.5,” Greenhow said. “Yeah, maybe getting a bit bigger tire on there, making it just more comfortable.”
Other, more involved additions are also popular.
“A lot of people are putting a 1-by-12 drivetrains on with a clutch derailleur. Sometimes you do run into clearance issues, you might have to put like a little derailer hanger dropper on. There are companies like Wolftooth manufacturing this kind of thing. It’s a lot of trial and error. That’s, all part of the fun and charm about it though.
The disc brake question
Ask a room full of bike nerds what the ultimate restomod move is and someone will eventually say it: disc brakes. In theory, it is the perfect modern upgrade. In reality, it can turn into a welding project.
“People sometimes will weld on tabs,” Greenhow said.
He said the work has to be done carefully.
“It’s a little bit more of a process,” he said. “You obviously have to make sure everything’s lined up so your brakes aren’t rubbing and spacing’s all correct. You’ll oftentimes…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…