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1993 Univega Alpina Comp
June 2011
I picked this frame up on ebay with the intention of building it up as a more or less period correct bike for riding during the winter. I already had a full selection of components in the spares box so the build up was relatively straight forward.
Having established that it was from 1993 based on the Shimano production codes on the front mech and bottom bracket, the frame was cleaned up a bit and put to one side. However upon learning that this year's Mountain Mayhem was forecast to be a muddy wash-out I thought I'd build it up as a spare bike for grinding into the Malvern mud.
It turned out to be a good choice, and although the track did dry out during the event, it was very muddy at first. I ended up riding all of my four laps on my Univega and it proved to be a very reliable and well mannered bike.
Of note is the double chainring gearing, with 38 and 24 tooth rings matched to a seven speed 13-30 cassette. This gave a good range of gears and encouraged some fairly strenuous climbing at times until I dropped onto the steel granny ring.
I built the wheels a couple of days before the race using XT M730/732 hubs, ACI DB spokes and modern Mavic XM317 rims. They stayed perfectly true and tensioned throughout.
The pictures show the rest of the spec and details:
The Retrobike NWA: 'Unleash the Inner Chimp' team 2011.
(Modern Panaracer Fire XC Pro tyres fitted for the race)
The mud and grass after the recce lap on Friday evening.
June 2011
I picked this frame up on ebay with the intention of building it up as a more or less period correct bike for riding during the winter. I already had a full selection of components in the spares box so the build up was relatively straight forward.
Having established that it was from 1993 based on the Shimano production codes on the front mech and bottom bracket, the frame was cleaned up a bit and put to one side. However upon learning that this year's Mountain Mayhem was forecast to be a muddy wash-out I thought I'd build it up as a spare bike for grinding into the Malvern mud.
It turned out to be a good choice, and although the track did dry out during the event, it was very muddy at first. I ended up riding all of my four laps on my Univega and it proved to be a very reliable and well mannered bike.
Of note is the double chainring gearing, with 38 and 24 tooth rings matched to a seven speed 13-30 cassette. This gave a good range of gears and encouraged some fairly strenuous climbing at times until I dropped onto the steel granny ring.
I built the wheels a couple of days before the race using XT M730/732 hubs, ACI DB spokes and modern Mavic XM317 rims. They stayed perfectly true and tensioned throughout.
The pictures show the rest of the spec and details:
The Retrobike NWA: 'Unleash the Inner Chimp' team 2011.
(Modern Panaracer Fire XC Pro tyres fitted for the race)
The mud and grass after the recce lap on Friday evening.
