Bikewright Workshop Project || Diamondback Apex
In the ’80s mountain biking was new and it was all about adventure. Back then mountain bikes had relaxed geometries and longer chainstays. You will find that almost all of these bikes from that era had rack and fender mounts, some came with three water bottle mounts and many had mounting locations for low riding front pannier racks.
I was inspired a few months ago when I was on a couple of other blog-type sites and saw what others had done in rebuilding and re-purposing bicycles. I would call them purposed built and they looked better in their resurrected state than they did originally.
My interest peaked on this subject and I wanted to see what I could myself. Do I rebuild a road bike or a touring bike? After searching for many resources for a complete bike or frame to start with my project. I found nothing in size, price point or in the condition I was looking for.
Then I changed my focus. I started looking at older steel mountain bikes and frames. Call it what you will, but I started thinking about world touring, expedition or mountain touring. All of these types of bikes are based on the 26-inch wheel bike. Modern mountain bikes in the United States come in 3 different wheel sizes. That’s not the same case in the developing world. The 26-inch wheel size is the mainstay.
With that said, this is how the Bikewright Workshop Project got started. I have now found that project frame.
I am starting with a 1989/1990 Diamondback Apex. With Tange double-butted frameset and straight leg cro-mo fork. This bike met the requirements that I was looking for.
1) It's steel!
2) Rack a fender mounts
3) Two water bottle mounts
4) Mounting point on the front fork of low riding front pannier racks
Straight leg fork. Good view of the mounting point for the low riding front pannier rack.
The Apex has a 1-inch head tube. I believe that is a Dia-Comp Headset. It just needs some cleaning and new grease.
No rust in the bottom bracket but the chainstay has a rock dig. Didn't see that online...But I can get that fixed!
The paint scheme on the Diamondback Apex is called "Smoke". What is interesting about the paint scheme that you cannot see in the pictures is that there is a pearl in it. When the light hits it just right you see a light purple and blue color in the "Smoke". The paint on this frame has seen it's better days. Since I need to have the rock ding fixed and I would like to put one set of water bottle mounts on the down tube, it will have to be repainted.
First up on my to-do list will be to (1) clean and inspect the frame (2) remove the headset and shark fin and (3) fix the rock ding and add water bottle mounts.
Follow the rest of the project at Bikewright Workshop Project Diamondback Apex The First Signs of Life
I was inspired a few months ago when I was on a couple of other blog-type sites and saw what others had done in rebuilding and re-purposing bicycles. I would call them purposed built and they looked better in their resurrected state than they did originally.
My interest peaked on this subject and I wanted to see what I could myself. Do I rebuild a road bike or a touring bike? After searching for many resources for a complete bike or frame to start with my project. I found nothing in size, price point or in the condition I was looking for.
Then I changed my focus. I started looking at older steel mountain bikes and frames. Call it what you will, but I started thinking about world touring, expedition or mountain touring. All of these types of bikes are based on the 26-inch wheel bike. Modern mountain bikes in the United States come in 3 different wheel sizes. That’s not the same case in the developing world. The 26-inch wheel size is the mainstay.
With that said, this is how the Bikewright Workshop Project got started. I have now found that project frame.
I am starting with a 1989/1990 Diamondback Apex. With Tange double-butted frameset and straight leg cro-mo fork. This bike met the requirements that I was looking for.
1) It's steel!
2) Rack a fender mounts
3) Two water bottle mounts
4) Mounting point on the front fork of low riding front pannier racks
 |
| Overall frame view. |
Straight leg fork. Good view of the mounting point for the low riding front pannier rack.
 |
| View of straight Leg and mounting points for low-rider racks |
The Apex has a 1-inch head tube. I believe that is a Dia-Comp Headset. It just needs some cleaning and new grease.
 |
| 1-inch Dia-Comp Headset |
 |
| Reinforced seat tube |
No rust in the bottom bracket but the chainstay has a rock dig. Didn't see that online...But I can get that fixed!
 |
| Shark Fin chainstay protector |
The paint scheme on the Diamondback Apex is called "Smoke". What is interesting about the paint scheme that you cannot see in the pictures is that there is a pearl in it. When the light hits it just right you see a light purple and blue color in the "Smoke". The paint on this frame has seen it's better days. Since I need to have the rock ding fixed and I would like to put one set of water bottle mounts on the down tube, it will have to be repainted.
First up on my to-do list will be to (1) clean and inspect the frame (2) remove the headset and shark fin and (3) fix the rock ding and add water bottle mounts.
Follow the rest of the project at Bikewright Workshop Project Diamondback Apex The First Signs of Life
Comments
That sounds so cool!