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Cal,
The seller probably measured inside the triangle from the upper side of the downtube to the lower side of the toptube. Oh well. You did get a nice bike. I had a pair of those plastic levers on the Raleigh and swapped them with a higher end set with metal levers, otherwise exactly the same. I like the big 4 finger motorcycle type levers. For the grease guard stuff, it’s more convenient and clean to just do an overhaul instead of pushing grease through the holes. Very cool that you got a set of XC Pro hubs and nicely built wheels. I’m wondering what rims they are.
Considering it’s a 17 makes it sound nearly identical to my Breezer and just a couple years earlier. That frame is small for me but those tend to be better for technical climbing anyway. One of these days I need to take a bike back out to New Mexico, acclimate to the altitude and try to ride up Sandia Peak again. Compare my mid-40s seasoned legs with my 20 year old legs and boundless energy.
Looking forward to hearing more about the new Ibis. Hey, can you send or post a couple photos of your two Ibis Mt Trials bikes?

Phil
 
Phil,

I thought the rims were Mavic 231’s from the photo’s, but in fact they are Mavic 261’s.

Are they Ceramic rims?

I think if the bike was accurately described as a 17 inch frame the bike would of gotten bided up, but advertised as a 14 inch bike I was the only interest. Lucky for me, I figure.

The Motocycle levers are interesting I find. Also just having the licensed Pedersen SE Suntour rear brake only actually worked out as an asset. You were correct about the XC Pro.

As a triple there really is no real limitation to the gearing, and of course it is retro…

Thanks for the advice about repacking the Grease Guard. I was wondering about that. In the future I have a spare Chris King headset when needed, and I have that Chro-Mo IBIS saddle if I want to loose a half pound of dead weight and get rid of the gel saddle. Otherwise I’d keep this bike stock as is. The use of the Ti IBIS saddle would drop the weight down to 22 1/2 pounds.

The Rene Herse tires are pretty much a gravel tire made by Panaracer for Rene Herse. They happen to make these gravel tires in 26 inch sizes. You might find these interesting. Pretty much you can convert a mountain bike into a gravel bike. This is what I did to on the Newsboy, but that bike has a set of Rene Herse tires that are 1.8 inch wide for comfort.

Rene Herse tires are mucho light in weight and are specifically designed for flex sidewalls and running lower than typical pressures. They also have very low rolling resistance. You may find this is a good tire for touring…

I already love it. Now I need some 12-28 freewheels. It would be helpful to now the price range and also how available 12-28T freewheels are, and of course NOS Suntour.

Perhaps I will try and get an XS frame to really make “Maggie” a bike for her. I still have a spare of White Industry wheels that have Mavic 231 rims that are 11-speed compatible. Then the SS Avion would be my bike. Yummm…

In the past, smaller frames were utilized to be able to throw the bike around a lot, and for technical riding. Now I have one.

It is a very pretty bike, and it catches the eye.

Cal
 
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So it is confirmed I am the proud owner of an old/new IBIS SS Avion. The bike suits me well and I love it as is. The mistake in advertising was not evil, and worked in my favor. I accept the destiny of having an IBIS collection of bikes. For me it came as a surprise and I am pleased that it became my bike.

Meanwhile “Maggie” needs a bike. She has a way of cheaping out and cheating herself, and pretty much had the idea of just buying a $600.00 bike, but that story is how she ended up with a very heavy beach cruiser with bad gearing and too little gearing for any hills. Basically I don’t want to repeat history again.

In my book women with PhD’s can be know it alls, and basically they play the feminist card not to listening to men or any man. I am trying to get her to understand that at a certain price point we will get a bike that has enduring quality that means it does not have a short lifespan and become a throw away that is not worth fixing.

Then her lack of patience does not favor me building her a custom bike that is very cost feasible because I have mucho extra high end parts stockpiled. Know ther was a Merlin Ti extra small frame I could of done a BIN for $500.00. Oh-well. Now these frames cost double when they pop up.

The beach bike looks like it might get donated to her younger sister who actually has a beach house. Still a brand new bike that was never-ever used, and a $600 loss. Oh-well… I am trying to forestall another cheap bike mistake.

There is a reason why men have shorter lifespans, and in my book it is women. Nature is cruel.

BTW don’t tell Maggie.

Cal
 
Took the SS Avion on a test trial. The bike presents stability yet is UBER responsive. Very-very balance.I had some skipping, but it was a simple rear derailleur adjustment at the shifter.

Seems like the bike is good to go after oiling the new chain that never has been oiled, and repacking all the bearings because of dried old grease from sitting around too long.

This wrong size bike suits me very well. “Maggie” feels bad, but I don’t. LOL.

I already love the brakes, and the SE feature on the rear that was a concern is moot.

Happy-happy.

Cal
 
I kinda like how this purchase turned out to be a happy ending for me.

After “Maggie” tries the bloated gel saddle, I’ll replace the gel with the Chro-Mo IBIS which is kinda styled like the original streamlined Flite Saddle by Stelle. The bike should weigh 22 1/2 pounds.

I need to get thinner tubes also. The ones I’m using now came with the bike and they are for tires 1 1/2- 2 inches width. The Rene Herse tires are only 1.25 wide.

Riding this bike is kinda like cruising in a 55 or 57 Chevy. It makes a statement that no new bike can. Also I remember admiring an IBIS SS Avion back in the late 80’s early 90’s. If I had the money to order one I would have it built out like this one with the paint and upgrades.

I find how all this happened to be just another miracle that is kinda unexplainable. Again, “divine intervention.”

Cal
 
Tornado watch for Nassau, Suffolk, NYC, and Westchester till 3:00 PM. Spotty rain…

I think I’ll do weight training or TRX suspension training today.

“Maggie” says she is definitely loosing weight. Also she feels better.

The grandson spent his first overnight with us. This morning I moved the New/old IBIS to the front porch. I closed the door because the humidity is mighty evil and we have the mini-splits running as life support. He started to cry, but seconds later was so happy to see me.

The bonding that has happened over the past 9 months is mutual. He will be gone for about 2 weeks on vacation again.

Lots of bike shop visiting will be required to avoid buying anything online without riding or seeing in person. This will take time.

Just came from CVS. Bought $62.00 worth of stuff and got 25% off plus almost $9.00 in rewards. Out of pocket was only $41.76. I guess I’m saving up for the next bike for Maggie.

Cal
 
Right by my house is a one way in one way out to Renold’s Hills a gated vacation commune of sorts that started by some left wingers who were into hiking. About 80 summer cottages with only three of them year round.

The bad is that they have a HOA that support a pool, tennis courts, and other things I would not want to pay for. Because they are vacation homes taxes are low. You really can’t live there, but 9 months of the year. Many cottages are say 600 or maybe 1000 square feet.

Perhaps fine for a snowbird lifestyle.

Know that the town of Cortlandt does not really plow the road, so getting snowed in is a big possibility.

This hill that is a paved road is long and steep. Pretty good for intervals on a bike. I think I will do some.

Cal
 
Phil,

PM me your phone number if you own a smart phone.

I can then have “Maggie” send you some pictures of the IBIS Mountain Trials. Take note how the saddles are set as far as they can go to the rear. Maxed out. Also a short stem or raised bars are needed for weight distribution. I display one of each design.

The Ti IBIS is a 2x11 XTR 11-speed set up as a trail bike.

The Steel IBIS is kinda Blue Mountain Preserve specific for very rocky technical trails. This bike enjoys a 1x11 XTR with an UBER low 30T chainring and 11-42 cassette. Pretty much optimized as a slow speed bike with mucho torque via gearing. What kills me at Blue Mountain are all the wheel traps.

Also take note of the supersized tires on the steel IBIS. The Arrow Racing tire is no longer available, too bad, it just barely clears the chain stays and is perhaps almost a 2.3 in width. The front tire is a 2.35 width. I air down to 21 PSI on the rear, and only 20 on the front. Know that in riding your weight is over the rear wheel.

I’m not at my “fighting” weight of 150 pounds or so. Maybe I weigh 155 At this point.

The old Ti Bontrager saddle on the steel IBIS is very-very narrow. This is a bike where you actually can at times have your stomach over the seat to keep your weight back to keep weight off the front wheel.

Cal
 
MFM,

Like you I love sausage and peppers with mucho onions. The sausages were fat and extra long to suggest that they were home made. Of course grilled…

I will have to go back next year. A man I met in a Pizza joint by my house told me that Jackie Gleason frequented Verplanck and Buchanan for the Italian food. I was told he was a man who was generous and engaging. This man was just a kid back then.

In downtown Peekskill is an Italian restaurant called Gleason’s. Jackie Gleason lived in Croton and had a pool. The father worked on Gleason’s house and told the father to bring his son so he could swim in his pool.

Them sausages I would say were better than mine…

Cal
 
Cal,
What kind of freewheel is on the new Ibis? I mean, what specific model? Two prong or 4 prong? The reason I ask is that you might be able to "break even" if you're planning on building new wheels, by getting a Suntour XC Pro cassette hub and then using a Suntour cassette. The prices people are asking for Suntour freewheels are insane, but the word has been out for a while that they were always the best.
I used to have the Suntour New Winner and Winner Pro freewheel charts memorized. When I first go to Via Bicycle in 2014, I began just overhauling old early 20th century hubs (pre-WWI). After that, Curtis (the owner) needed some freewheels for stock and I was the only guy there that had any experience in rebuilding and configuring freewheels, so I overhauled and re-geared over 100 freewheels in a couple weeks.
I ask what kind of freewheel you have now because if it is a New Winner, you can lube it and ride it as is. You mentioned skipping, which is probably not a problem with the freewheel, but with Suntour Accushift. If you're riding the chain over some teeth, then that particular cog should be replaced. This is a beauty of the whole Suntour freewheel system, in that all the cogs are replaceable, and they made half a billion of them. If the freewheel itself is skipping or crunchy, an overhaul would fix it but you'd probably be more comfortable with a replacement.
If you have a New Winner, then you just need to find one cog, which I probably have. I squirreled away most of a service board worth of cogs and spacers years ago and I've been riding on the same freewheel since 2011 I think. If you have a 4-prong Winner, Alpha, or Winner Pro, it's not a bad freewheel, it's just not "as good". Most of the cogs from the whole system will still fit, but the latter three freewheel bodies used a splined series of cogs and slightly different spacers that cause more brain acrobatics for the crazy mechanic. The last of the Winner Pro were concurrent with the introduction of microdrive and so there were a few extra special cogs that are probably unobtanium these days (11 and 12 tooth). Suntour had the fun distinction of having the lightest road bike drivetrain for a while in that they put hard anodized aluminum cogs on a Winner Pro freewheel body and voila, the Microlite. I've seen a couple of these new, in box; held them in my hand. And that's all anyone ever wants to do with them. They are shockingly lightweight and literally good for one race, since torque and any tiny mis-adjustment of the Accushift system will cause deformation of the teeth. So sweet though. Back in 2015, a NOS Microlite freewheel was listing for over $300 and sitting on a shelf. Probably still sitting on a shelf today.
Anyway, identify your freewheel body and let me know.

Phil
 
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How insane is insane?
I have one in my 'junk' pile. Not sure why I took it off but I don't think it was used much.
Joe
 

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Joe,

Mighty insane. NOS depending on the cog spread are around $300.00. I didn’t see any 12-28T though.

Used ones also sell for too much money. Crazy money.

Meanwhile I can still buy 11-34T XT 9 speed cassettes for my 9-speed long cage XTR.

I did the obsessive math and calculated a 19.06 low (24 tooth chainring and 34T cog) with a 27 inch tire (Rene Herse Rat Trap Pass 26x2.35). With the 48T big ring and an 11T cog I get a 117.82 inch gear. Know that 2.35 wide tires are 27 inches in diameter.

How crazy to make a fat tire road bike/gravel bike. Lots of Cush.

If I step it down to say a 26 inch tire (Schwable Billy Bonkers 26x2.1, a pump track tire with a gravel tread that has mucho low rolling resistance) I get a 18.35 granny gear, a 20.8 gear inch low, and a 113.45 high gear.

I can see me wandering around a lot putting mucho time in the saddle. The Empire State Trail is 750 miles.

The XTR long cage kit I built out was because of Phil’s rankings. I’m glad I listened because for wide range gearing this triple system is boss-cool. Also the 11-34T cassettes are only $59.00 at Jenson USA. They now are in stock, and it is time to load up the truck.

It becomes a no-brainer that 9-speed XTR long cage with the chainrings I have makes sense.

Cal
 
I just figured out why had has gone unused all these years. It's an ultra 6. The only wheel set I had setup back in the 80's for a 5 speed freewheel was on a bike with a half step crank. What probably happened was that I realized that those ratios did not work with half step crank I had.
Joe
 
Spacing on Ultra 6 and 7 speed is exactly the same so it’s simple to just add one more cog.
I love the modularity of the Suntour freewheel system in that on the same body, you could have 4, 5, or 6 speed in standard spacing, or 6 and 7 speed in “Ultra” spacing for index shifters.
Phil
 
Phil,

It ‘tis a shame that at this point I am priced out of Suntour 7-speed freewheels because I really like the SS Avion as is.

The freewheel is not the problem. Upon assembly I had to adjust the barrel adjuster for the rear derailleur because it needed just a simple adjustment. The physical condition of the freewheel is newish looking because there is absolutely no wear. The chain is new also (KMC), and oddly it appears to have not been oiled ever. Hmmm might the freewheel be new like the chain? Who knows…

Anyway the hub has 4-prong whatever that means.

Also if you read above the most cost effective for me is to use the 9-speed XTR drivetrain that because of you I invested in before things got insane. I saved this kit and now it has a purpose.

Snarky Joe pointed me to Rene Herse tires. Pretty much they specialize in tires for gravel bikes with flexible sidewalls for very low rolling resistance. Tire are light in weight also and are a bit pricey, but oh-well.

Luckily they make these gravel tread tires in 26 inch sizes, and this opens up making/converting a full blown mountain bike into a gravel bike. In 26 inch size the widths available are: 2.3 inch; 1.8 inch; and 1.25 inch.

I run the 1.8 wide on the “Newsboy” and I’m using the 1.25 inch on the SS Avion because I had a pair as spares.

The 26x2.3 in ultra light casings weigh only 418 grams, but they offer heavier versions with heavier sidewalls, and another with a puncture resistant belt. Kevlar bead of course.

Part of the 9-speed kit is a set of wheels (Mavic 231, White Industries Hubs, butted spokes, alloy nipples, 32 hole). Pretty much going 9-speed is on the shelf. I think I will enjoy the bike as is for a while. I still have to oil the chain and repack the bearings, but otherwise the bike is good to go.

After “Maggie” tries the gel saddle, I’ll shed 1/2 a pound by installing the Chro-Mo IBIS seat. I have a pair of Nitto Mustache bars so who know if that will annoy people. Could look like a retro three speed from decades ago, but be a 3x9 XTR.

Cal
 
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