A Netflix build special… (JMC 1995 Specialized M2)
- Thread starter Joe*Pro
- Start date
Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
Year 4
The start of 2021, still in the middle of a pandemic that we were all by now getting quite use to, after a bit of a post Xmas break, the toddler toys keeping me occupied, save for another Quest2Calorie jersey (one to wear, one to frame was the new rule !) nothing much happened until April when I guess the sun started to come out and everyone started to put juicy things up for sale again.
And boy did it come out with a bang, things were going to get serious…
April saw firstly another set of Avid ultimates from the USA, a better looking prime red almost NOS set of levers, along with a few weeks later a set of silver Tri-aligns from Colorado.
on arrival the levers we’re amazing and made my previous faded set almost look pink. I think I’d bought almost every red set that popped up across the previous 3 or so years (4 sets in total, including 2 singles to make a pair) kept the best set/parts for myself and refurbished or sold off all the others.
I’d learnt a lot about these in that time, including ‘star nut v hex nut‘ variants and some with or without flip chips (canti & v brake options) JMC it appears had the hex nut version and lucky for me that was the best set I had found as well. The flip chips on many of them seem to not quite match in titanium colour, I assume production batch assembly processes or something, but I managed to match up the best parts from all for the final set I kept To be pristin. If you’re gonna stick a fat ruby in the crown you’de better make sure it’s perfect I figured, since anyone who looks will be starring right at it:
the faded red set with star nut pivot variant got sold off:
The start of 2021, still in the middle of a pandemic that we were all by now getting quite use to, after a bit of a post Xmas break, the toddler toys keeping me occupied, save for another Quest2Calorie jersey (one to wear, one to frame was the new rule !) nothing much happened until April when I guess the sun started to come out and everyone started to put juicy things up for sale again.
And boy did it come out with a bang, things were going to get serious…
April saw firstly another set of Avid ultimates from the USA, a better looking prime red almost NOS set of levers, along with a few weeks later a set of silver Tri-aligns from Colorado.
on arrival the levers we’re amazing and made my previous faded set almost look pink. I think I’d bought almost every red set that popped up across the previous 3 or so years (4 sets in total, including 2 singles to make a pair) kept the best set/parts for myself and refurbished or sold off all the others.
I’d learnt a lot about these in that time, including ‘star nut v hex nut‘ variants and some with or without flip chips (canti & v brake options) JMC it appears had the hex nut version and lucky for me that was the best set I had found as well. The flip chips on many of them seem to not quite match in titanium colour, I assume production batch assembly processes or something, but I managed to match up the best parts from all for the final set I kept To be pristin. If you’re gonna stick a fat ruby in the crown you’de better make sure it’s perfect I figured, since anyone who looks will be starring right at it:
the faded red set with star nut pivot variant got sold off:
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
The tri-align’s arrived, after shelling out triple figures along with NOS Dia-Comp straddle cables with the correct easy grab nipple and new reproduction tri-dangle hangers from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and off I went to the garage one eve for my allocated hour, only to find out they seemed a bit rattley on the brake bosses. Or rather, they didn’t seem to fit at all. Oh geez I thought, I hope this isn’t gonna be another long diy session like the old ultimates we’re with the missing bolt.
Long story short and thanks to some help from @pw_pw_la it transpires they didn’t come with the essential pivot sleeve that makes them fit onto the boss. Enquires back with the previous seller, who had no idea they were missing/left on the bike he took them off, resulted in him offering me his FSX fork at half price to make amends.
So an FSX for the bike and one for a display wall maybe - living the dream mate !
will leave this link here if anyone needs them as NOS:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28363240...rICypB2Riq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
and 981 of these reproductions sold to date always amazes me:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12072316...rICypB2Riq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Long story short and thanks to some help from @pw_pw_la it transpires they didn’t come with the essential pivot sleeve that makes them fit onto the boss. Enquires back with the previous seller, who had no idea they were missing/left on the bike he took them off, resulted in him offering me his FSX fork at half price to make amends.
So an FSX for the bike and one for a display wall maybe - living the dream mate !
will leave this link here if anyone needs them as NOS:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28363240...rICypB2Riq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
and 981 of these reproductions sold to date always amazes me:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12072316...rICypB2Riq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Attachments
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
Much communication and searching ensued via the ‘you can’t build without it’ RetroBike forum, with @kokies of SRP to the rescue, we swapped a bunch of messages and he like me agreed that these consumable parts designed to be glued onto the frame for the Tri-Align 1 versions I had, were often missing and worth reproducing if I was willing to help front the batch cost. I mean geez I’ve come this far, have my money already:
See thread link below for all about them, both @kokies and I still have a few sets left for sale if anyone needs them. For me it’s just recouping the original upfront investment to help make them happen in the first place.
Thread 'Avid Tri-Align 1 - cantilever brake pivot sleeves x4'
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/avid-tri-align-1-cantilever-brake-pivot-sleeves-x4.436925/
A true milestone I felt in any Retro bikers storey is when you had to commission someone to reproduce that rare part you just had to have.
But the big question, what did JMC have, Avid Tri-Align Series 1 or 2 ? …lucky for me series 1, as series 2 weren’t made until 1996/97 in response to the dawn of the v-brake era, upon which they thus then quickly met their demise altogether within a year or so.
See thread link below for all about them, both @kokies and I still have a few sets left for sale if anyone needs them. For me it’s just recouping the original upfront investment to help make them happen in the first place.
Thread 'Avid Tri-Align 1 - cantilever brake pivot sleeves x4'
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/avid-tri-align-1-cantilever-brake-pivot-sleeves-x4.436925/
A true milestone I felt in any Retro bikers storey is when you had to commission someone to reproduce that rare part you just had to have.
But the big question, what did JMC have, Avid Tri-Align Series 1 or 2 ? …lucky for me series 1, as series 2 weren’t made until 1996/97 in response to the dawn of the v-brake era, upon which they thus then quickly met their demise altogether within a year or so.
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
May 2021 was a pretty good month as well…
The pivot sleeves above arrived and fitted/worked like a dream, mounted with Finish line grease of course!
Some NOS Kool Stops - Eagle 2 break pads arrived, along with some ti-crank bolts for the M900. I also committed to an M900 cassette for £60 as I’d need that no matter which ever hubs I’d end up with. The DT Hugi were proving elusive still.
Finally though, the ‘piece de resistance’ was spotted hidden away on a random bike on the depths of eBay (A Ridgeback 705RS) it was wearing the holly grail of parts, ‘Mavic 121 ceramics’ with the original teal label indicating they were the 1995 versions. The only catch, I had to buy the whole bike to get them
(that’s the 2nd time I’ve had to buy the whole bike to get 1 part in this build )
The extra/spare FSX had arrived and was a closer match all original version than the one I had, he also kindly threw in a set of SRPs spring kit should I ever need it.
The pivot sleeves above arrived and fitted/worked like a dream, mounted with Finish line grease of course!
Some NOS Kool Stops - Eagle 2 break pads arrived, along with some ti-crank bolts for the M900. I also committed to an M900 cassette for £60 as I’d need that no matter which ever hubs I’d end up with. The DT Hugi were proving elusive still.
Finally though, the ‘piece de resistance’ was spotted hidden away on a random bike on the depths of eBay (A Ridgeback 705RS) it was wearing the holly grail of parts, ‘Mavic 121 ceramics’ with the original teal label indicating they were the 1995 versions. The only catch, I had to buy the whole bike to get them
(that’s the 2nd time I’ve had to buy the whole bike to get 1 part in this build )
The extra/spare FSX had arrived and was a closer match all original version than the one I had, he also kindly threw in a set of SRPs spring kit should I ever need it.
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
By the end of the summer, a good few other parts had arrived.
I’d decided in my close up studying of pics, what I feel is the correct Specialized Titanium skewers at a hefty price (no idea why skewers are so pricey generally) with a batch of fresh new rubber o rings to fit on them.
Some 36hole hubs were now needed for the 121 ceramics and some almost new M900 hubs popped up in the Netherlands. I figured if I was never to find the correct 1995 DT Hugi these would be the next best thing and I wanted a bike in the set with lots of XTR M900 anyway.
By September I had stripped, cleaned up the eyelets & Wheelsmith stickered the rims ready for LBS spoke measurements and then building.
Which of course you can’t do properly unless you are sipping tea from the matching trophy mug !
I’d decided in my close up studying of pics, what I feel is the correct Specialized Titanium skewers at a hefty price (no idea why skewers are so pricey generally) with a batch of fresh new rubber o rings to fit on them.
Some 36hole hubs were now needed for the 121 ceramics and some almost new M900 hubs popped up in the Netherlands. I figured if I was never to find the correct 1995 DT Hugi these would be the next best thing and I wanted a bike in the set with lots of XTR M900 anyway.
By September I had stripped, cleaned up the eyelets & Wheelsmith stickered the rims ready for LBS spoke measurements and then building.
Which of course you can’t do properly unless you are sipping tea from the matching trophy mug !
Attachments
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
A 3rd grey saddle appeared for less than I’d prised that one off old lady in Florida and in much much better condition.
Whilst still not the titanium rail version I was led to believe existed somewhere that was on JMCs bike. It was still a good upgrade.
I think by this point, I’d decided I wanted most of these parts or spares to last anther decade, since this bike was going no where if it was ever finished.
Whilst still not the titanium rail version I was led to believe existed somewhere that was on JMCs bike. It was still a good upgrade.
I think by this point, I’d decided I wanted most of these parts or spares to last anther decade, since this bike was going no where if it was ever finished.
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
Gil of RetroDecals kindly sent a number of batches of spare decals for everything should I need them. But I really started to like that everything was original and partly warn with a history and so on. These have thus nearly all remained in the decals box ready for the decade ahead should they ever be needed.
One puzzle this did through up though, was the teal colour of the 121 labels. So I emailed Mavic HQ archives department to enquire what meant what. They replied generally saying they made these rims for 3 years starting in 1995 with a different colour label each year. Teal was the 1995 year / blue was 1996 / red was 1997.
Inspired by a reply at all, I did the same to Azonic HQ archives as to if a 3inch riser was ever made. Whilst we all swear blind JMCs are def higher and circa 3inch, Azonic say they never made a 3inch back then, only a 2.5inch. So whilst it remains a mystery we at least all know we have the closest we can get.
They did say they made occasional 60mm custom stem lengths whilst most were 50mm or 75mm and they felt JMCs looked like a 60mm. Whilst the Malvern write up recons it’s a 90mm.
Judge for yourself (mine in pic below with tape measure!)
https://www.wideopenmountainbike.co...lized-s-works-m2-team-at-the-malverns-classic
I then did the same with Steve Behr, wondering if he had any original photos in his archive that never made it to publication that would help me confirm spec the day he rode it for the Dirt shoot. Since things like his top jube JMC logo sticker have changed since then, from the silver font to the black font. Along with a few other parts that I guess got broken or swapped out by the time of auction a decade later. (Saddle, grips, cranks, rear tyre)
He replied and was just the nicest guy, he had some high resolution pics pre edit/publication that helped confirm a few things.
For your eyes only, the original shot used on the cover, with hang on - a massive monkey puzzle tree that had been airbrushed out
If you want to download copies of these or buy them for poster use, please go to Steve’s stock file site :
https://www.stockfile.co.uk/gallery...y-2000sMTB-print-collection/G0000NeLvDHU4dw4/
One puzzle this did through up though, was the teal colour of the 121 labels. So I emailed Mavic HQ archives department to enquire what meant what. They replied generally saying they made these rims for 3 years starting in 1995 with a different colour label each year. Teal was the 1995 year / blue was 1996 / red was 1997.
Inspired by a reply at all, I did the same to Azonic HQ archives as to if a 3inch riser was ever made. Whilst we all swear blind JMCs are def higher and circa 3inch, Azonic say they never made a 3inch back then, only a 2.5inch. So whilst it remains a mystery we at least all know we have the closest we can get.
They did say they made occasional 60mm custom stem lengths whilst most were 50mm or 75mm and they felt JMCs looked like a 60mm. Whilst the Malvern write up recons it’s a 90mm.
Judge for yourself (mine in pic below with tape measure!)
https://www.wideopenmountainbike.co...lized-s-works-m2-team-at-the-malverns-classic
I then did the same with Steve Behr, wondering if he had any original photos in his archive that never made it to publication that would help me confirm spec the day he rode it for the Dirt shoot. Since things like his top jube JMC logo sticker have changed since then, from the silver font to the black font. Along with a few other parts that I guess got broken or swapped out by the time of auction a decade later. (Saddle, grips, cranks, rear tyre)
He replied and was just the nicest guy, he had some high resolution pics pre edit/publication that helped confirm a few things.
For your eyes only, the original shot used on the cover, with hang on - a massive monkey puzzle tree that had been airbrushed out
If you want to download copies of these or buy them for poster use, please go to Steve’s stock file site :
https://www.stockfile.co.uk/gallery...y-2000sMTB-print-collection/G0000NeLvDHU4dw4/
Attachments
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
I closed the year out with a black set of the TEAM Control & Master tyres in great condition. (And without having to pay those money laundering prices for the NOS ones in Spain !!)
Prior to Steve’s pics I couldn’t decide if they were grey rubber with black dirt on, or black ones with grey dust on!
A good toothbrush scrub later using @Peachy! preferred modus operandi and the canvas walls cleaned up a treat. Although like an idiot I did scrub the logos and they faded a bit
Prior to Steve’s pics I couldn’t decide if they were grey rubber with black dirt on, or black ones with grey dust on!
A good toothbrush scrub later using @Peachy! preferred modus operandi and the canvas walls cleaned up a treat. Although like an idiot I did scrub the logos and they faded a bit
Attachments
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Joe*Pro
Senior Retro Guru
By the end of 2021 this was starting to mean I had many of the stock catalogue spec items as well as the JMC spec versions. The titanium stem had come with the frame and I had acquired some M900 brifters a while back when I was failing to find the Avids, just needed some appropriate grey grips.
So I decided this was going to be 2 builds in 1, the JMC Dirt cover spec build and a more Catalogue spec build, like it might have been the day he took delivery of it, so we’re not finished yet:
The JMC shrine section of the garage was looking great, flanked by his framed jerseys all the hard work to date really seemed to be paying off and worth it:
So I decided this was going to be 2 builds in 1, the JMC Dirt cover spec build and a more Catalogue spec build, like it might have been the day he took delivery of it, so we’re not finished yet:
The JMC shrine section of the garage was looking great, flanked by his framed jerseys all the hard work to date really seemed to be paying off and worth it:
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