Specialized Hardrock

I bought this Specialized Hardrock to build up for Mrs Sacred that has been languishing in the shed.

Plan is to build it up a a comfy bike for weekend family rides on the canal, woods etc

We may be heading somewhere fairly hilly so I want nice easy gears. I've been inspired by some current builds on here to go 1x8.

So with all that in mind here are my current thoughts

Frame and forks: good as is
Headset: good as is
Wheels: got some 9 speed shimano
Gears: got some 9 speed shimano kit
Brakes: not sure yet probably a tektro v brake up front and some flat bar levers to match.
Stem and bars: I'm thinking bmx stem and bmx low rise bars or risers

I have v brake and levers, wheelset, high swept bars and stem, 7sp running kit, all off my trek mtb. you interested?

So advice needed. What cheap rear wheel option to run 8sp shimano sram?
What cranks?
What are my options with that rear brake setup?

Cheers

I was just working on a Hardrock too. What year is yours? I found my crankset was riveted so can't separate the chainrings to go 1x without a new set.

When I did a similar build I just let the whims of the market dictate most of the choices. Ended up with a mixture of parts but all good quality (e.g., a ritchey rear wheel with a good wide rim and space for 9 sp.) Matchy-matchy is nice but doesn't necessarily make the bike materially better

I quit like avid single digits if you want a good rear brake

I don't have a chainset on there.
No idea what year it is.

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I think i want some sort of bmx stem with some small bmx cruiser type bars. Any recommendations?

Looking at the colour way and rear brake position, looks like a 1988 model.

Do it, will look way better than the usual old skool fugly high rise MTB stem

Got some shimano 9 speed stuff to do a 1x9 on this. New Rear wheel is 135mm, guessing the frame is 130 oln haven't measured yet.

Anyone got a cheap bmx stem and cruiser bars for me?

Got some you can have for postage...

but I'm in the US.

Can send some pics if you want.

So many rad hardrock builds at the moment. Mines nearly done but will put a few pics in cp.
Looks like this’ll be a goodun.

Gah. Jeal.

There is an amazing fluro pink rockhopper sitting outside my office that taunts me...

I got a '92 rockhopper (https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/309940/#comment13834417) a couple of months ago. Mint condition and sweet as!

I am using it as my everyday so have changed it to a 1x10 sram set with a 46 narrow wide front chainring, drops etc.

Hope this isnt sacrilege, took it off road at the weekend and it was great fun!

I have kept all the original bits so i can convert back if i want but it is running sweet as just now.

They are great frames!

mudguards are as is due to the requirement for short armed brakes to work better with the apex levers.

Nice. Is a narrow wide chainring required to run 1x or will it work with the stock ring off my triple ?

The problem would be the chain angle, i am sure you could run it on a standard but for £50 i thought i would just go props on it, plus they look dope. i noticed a lot of off chains when i was running it with the 38t non narrow wide, even when just commuting.

Once thing i would upgrade on mine is to a clutched mech. had to make the chain tension quite high to reduce chain bounce.

In my experience it isn't required, I ran 1x10 with a normal road ring for a few months without issue but then started dropping the chain fairly often. No drops in a year of riding a Sram narrow wide.
TLDR Not required but a good idea

But just get a J&L from ebay/china. A year on my other half's bike and its still running sweet

I've been running 1x without n/w for over a year with little to no problems, but I'll most likely get a J&L one for my next project (thanks @PhilDAS for bringing them to my attention)

Holy shit dude, great work!

Cheers bro, much fun has been had on it!

Will a narrow/wide work with the standard chain?
Will a narrow wide on triple cranks be ok in terms of chainline?
Anyone got some more period mtb cranks (don't want to fuck with octalink or weird bcd)?

Well you have 2 positions to try out for the best chainline. But they hold the chain pretty well so even if not perfect, you may wear out a chain slightly quicker but it'll hold and run smooth.
N/W works with normal chain yeah

Cheers

Got a normal 9 speed chain on a Hardrock I've built up recently, running with a narrow wide Race Face chainring, no issues at all.