designer485
Retro Newbie
I have been collecting parts over the past few years to build a bike to pay homage to my first real mtb.
Growing up, I was obsessed with GT bikes...I still am. I had to have flipped through the 1999 GT Bikes catalog 1000 times memorizing every bike on every page. I still want a 1999 Zaskar LE Team and a Lobo, but on to the build.
Back in high school I bought a Specialized Hardrock A1 Comp FS (Best bang for the buck at the time for me) and over the course of a few years changed every part on it to include a Marzocchi Z1 Bam and later a RockShox Psylo, White Industries hubs on Rhyno Lites, Shimano XT/XTR, Ritchey Post, Maxxis Tires Salsa Bash Guard, and a Tektro Brake Booster. Silly frame for those parts, but its what I had and what I could get my hands on cheap.
I picked up this Avalanche 14in frame from a friend who no longer wanted it about 10 years ago so I could build a frame for my now wife. It was a parts bin build and servered her well for a few years. It was later dissasembled and the frame hung in my garage for a few more years.
I had kept a few parts from my original Specialized build, namely the Z1 BAM and the XT crankset. I knew I wanted to recreate by build, but with a GT frame a few parts I lusted after in MTBR and BIKE. It rides great, but it way to small for me (I usually ride an 18/19in frame). Fun to kick around on while teaching my 2 year old how to use her balance bike.
Here is the build as it sits:
1999 GT Avalanche
1999 Marzocchi Z1 BAM 100MM (Needs decals and a new piston)
Shimano XT Crankset (FC-M751)
Salsa Bash Guard* (Don't have yet, looking for a 32t Salsa, MRP or Blackspire)
Shimano BB
Wellgo MG-1 Pedals
Shimano XT Shifters / Brake Levers (ST-M750)
Shimano XT Rear Der. (RD-M750 SGS)
Shimano Road Cassette (need to swap with an XT 12-34 or like)
KMC Chain
Azonic World Force Handlebars
Easton MG60 Stem
ODI Intense Grips
Easton EA50 Seatpost
WTB Silverado Saddle
Shimano XT V Brakes / Levers (BR-M750)
Tektro Booster (In the mail, just found one)
Shimano Deore Disk Hubs / Rhyno Lite Rims / Intense DH 2.35
Photos of the build:
Growing up, I was obsessed with GT bikes...I still am. I had to have flipped through the 1999 GT Bikes catalog 1000 times memorizing every bike on every page. I still want a 1999 Zaskar LE Team and a Lobo, but on to the build.
Back in high school I bought a Specialized Hardrock A1 Comp FS (Best bang for the buck at the time for me) and over the course of a few years changed every part on it to include a Marzocchi Z1 Bam and later a RockShox Psylo, White Industries hubs on Rhyno Lites, Shimano XT/XTR, Ritchey Post, Maxxis Tires Salsa Bash Guard, and a Tektro Brake Booster. Silly frame for those parts, but its what I had and what I could get my hands on cheap.
I picked up this Avalanche 14in frame from a friend who no longer wanted it about 10 years ago so I could build a frame for my now wife. It was a parts bin build and servered her well for a few years. It was later dissasembled and the frame hung in my garage for a few more years.
I had kept a few parts from my original Specialized build, namely the Z1 BAM and the XT crankset. I knew I wanted to recreate by build, but with a GT frame a few parts I lusted after in MTBR and BIKE. It rides great, but it way to small for me (I usually ride an 18/19in frame). Fun to kick around on while teaching my 2 year old how to use her balance bike.
Here is the build as it sits:
1999 GT Avalanche
1999 Marzocchi Z1 BAM 100MM (Needs decals and a new piston)
Shimano XT Crankset (FC-M751)
Salsa Bash Guard* (Don't have yet, looking for a 32t Salsa, MRP or Blackspire)
Shimano BB
Wellgo MG-1 Pedals
Shimano XT Shifters / Brake Levers (ST-M750)
Shimano XT Rear Der. (RD-M750 SGS)
Shimano Road Cassette (need to swap with an XT 12-34 or like)
KMC Chain
Azonic World Force Handlebars
Easton MG60 Stem
ODI Intense Grips
Easton EA50 Seatpost
WTB Silverado Saddle
Shimano XT V Brakes / Levers (BR-M750)
Tektro Booster (In the mail, just found one)
Shimano Deore Disk Hubs / Rhyno Lite Rims / Intense DH 2.35
Photos of the build:
