1994 Marin Pine Mountain Custom Blue & Yellow

[GeneralOsik]

Frame: 1994 Marin Pine Mountain 17.5" in blue powder coat with yellow decals
SN F34LA0292
Fork: Rock Shox Judy XC in yellow with Englud Total Air Cartridges, black Marin decals

Headset: Chris King 1 1/8" threadless in black with logos
Stem: ControlTech 1 1/8" threadless 120mm 5 degree rise in yellow with front plate hole
Handlebar: Titec PG titanium bar with black heart shims
Grips: ODI Attack Endless in black
Barends: ControlTech Stix Lite I in black with white decals

Brakes: Dia Compe 987 in black with titanium hardware
Brake Pads: Kool Stop Quik Klaws Stinger
Brake Cables: Shimano M-System yellow
Cantilever cable hangers: Onza Chill Pills in black with yellow decals
Brake Levers: Dia Compe SS5 MkII in black

Shifters: Shimano SL-M732 with 8sp index plate mod (usually run friction)
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT FD-M738
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT RD-M737 with black Avid Rollamajig, titanium pivot bolt, and blue Carmichael pulleys
Derailleur Cables: Shimano yellow
Cassette: Shimano Deore XT CS-M737 12-32t
Chain: Shimano CN-HG71
Crank Bolts: standard with blue Dia Compe caps
Cranks: Race Face Turbine LP 175mm in yellow
Chainrings: Rocket Ring 42t/32t/22t in black
Chainring bolts: Race Face
Bottom Bracket: Shimano Deore XT BB-UN71
Pedals: Shimano Deore XT PD-M735

Hub Skewers: ControlTech titanium in black
Rims: Sun Rims Big Fat Mammoth in black with custom yellow decals
Hubs: Shimano Deore XT M737 HB-M738 36h, FH-M737 36h
Nipples: black brass
Spokes: DT Swiss Competition double butted in black
Tyres: Panaracer Smoke Classic Compe Kevlar, Dart Classic Compe Kevlar
Tubes: ContiTubes schraeder

Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Alps Vanadium
Seatpost: ControlTech in black
Seatpost Binder: ControlTech titanium in black

Bottle Cages: Elite Cuisi in yellow
Chainstay Protector: Shimano DF-M730 Shark Fin

Weight: 28lbs






This bike was my first complete restoration, with all my favorite bits, and lots of custom touches. I finished it early in 2019, after owning the frame for 3 years. I'll go into more details about origin and inspiration in a follow up post, but for now, I'll say I wanted a Pine Mountain ever since riding a brand new one in 2011. Pretty soon after, I fell in love with vintage mountain bikes, and discovered that the Pine Mountain is a mainstay in Marin's line up. Those early years of my obsession of this hobby influenced my tastes in vintage bikes and parts, and this is the manifestation of that hyperfixation.

Since building it, I have done a few other minor changes, this one being my favorite! I finally get to show off how much heart I put into my bikes.

 

[GeneralOsik]

Inspiration:

A little more about my first ride on a 2011 Pine Mountain. This bike was the first 29er I ever rode. I never owned one, but my LBS let me ride one quite often. It was a similar shade of blue, with yellow decals and bits, especially yellow disc brakes. A few years later, I saw a TET Team Marin in a similar color scheme, and realized the link between those two bikes. Then I started looking for any Marin that had this color combo for inspiration. Here are some of those photos.

 

[GeneralOsik]

Here are some photos showing the early mock up with some place holder parts before powder coat, and after. I especially like the one showing the rear brake area:



The last few photos even show my old Explosif, and how I tend to like my bikes set up similarly. If you peak at my signature at my other builds, you'll find I have a tendency to use ControlTech seat posts, Flite saddles, and Avid Rollamajigs on almost all my builds.

I chose these parts mostly because they fit the aesthetic of the build. I decided everything had to have either a white, black, or yellow decal or lettering, and all the parts had to be either yellow for accent, or black and silver. I had custom rim decals printed by Gil, and had the wheels made to my specs. I wanted wheels that would last my lifetime, and these are pretty bombproof.

I do have two further phases I'd like to take this bike. Their rough parts lists are below, if any of you would like to help me take this to the next level! These are things I plan on looking for over the next many years, so I am in no hurry to change how this bike is set up.

Stage I: upgrade to all titanium bolts and bits, remove all blue ano, Flite Alps Titanium saddle or Flite Kevlar with yellow corners, lever grip covers & knurled XC Pro adjusters for the SS5 MkII, black ControlTech pulleys, PD-M737 clippless, 32t Rocket Ring to match the rest <Installed

Stage II: Magura HS22 or HS33 Judy yellow rim brakes, ODI Attack endless in yellow, Flite Titanium in yellow, Judy SL in yellow with the Englund kit swapped over, TiTec 118 bar with BERTS, maybe titanium BB or fresh Race Face chainrings, maybe ControlTech Team Issue bar ends in black, or Onza in yellow

 

[Magpiegifts]

 

[baj]

Nice! I love older Marins, have a few myself.. i like that you’ve used a decent frame to create your ideal, I’ve considered trying to recreate the old zolatone grey on one of the later triple butted frames.. looks great, bet it rides well too

 

[GeneralOsik]

My friend took this photo on July 4th, Independence Day, in St. Louis Missouri. This is the view from Eads Bridge, over the river Mississippi, showcasing the Gateway Arch. After sunset, a fireworks barge gave us a wonderful display, and I got peppered in cardboard from the fireworks shells

Fun fact, this bike has four American flags. Can anyone find all four?