Biking Hiking with Kids

2001 Marin Palisades Trail

I took all the parts off the frame to get it ready to put together a mountain bike for my youngest son. He will be nine years old in a few months.

2001 Marin Palisades Trail Frame

I weigh the frame and it came in at under 3 pounds 5 ounces. That is not bad. The size of the frame probably kept the weight on the low side. The frame is 11.5” from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the top tube. That is the smallest frame Marin put out in 2001. I am going for a sub 30-pound bike. I may be able to get the weight to around 28 pounds, depending on the wheels and tires that will go on the frame.

Marin Frame on Scale

Now I am not a “weigh weenie.” I won’t spend extra money on a bike part upgrade to save a few ounces of weight, but I think a lighter bike definitely make riding more enjoyable. Personally, I can feel the handling difference between two bikes that has a two pounds difference – especially when most of the weight difference is in the wheels.

I have read augments in some cycling forums about bike weight. The augment is that if you loose five pounds, let’s say, off your body weight, it’s the same as taking five pounds off your bike. I have to disagree with that view. I don’t have the exact scientific explanation to back up my disagreement but maybe it’s the same effect as the difference between hiking wearing a one pound pair of hiking shoes and a pair that weights 3 pounds. I would rather carry the extra two pounds in a pack on my back. Does anyone have the accepted explanation? Let me hear from you.

I am not giving the frame a thorough cleaning at this point but I will spot clean as I put various parts on the bike, such as the headset, bottom bracket and brakes. The first part that I would install is the headset. I will get the headset ready and post the installation steps in the next post.