Authenticity? or Ride it and have fun?

[456_rich]

I am starting to rebuild a 1992 Cinder Cone. Now I will be using this bike as a commuter but mainly as a mountain bike so I don't really want to restore it back to its original components with cantis. Partly as I have a lovely set of 98 XT v brakes and partly because of the time and cost of sourcing the original parts.

I think my build will be sympathetic, I am not fitting a suspension fork or 9 speed. But not restoring it either. Do you guys prefer to restore to original glory or sympathetically bring a bike back to be ridden and enjoyed?

 

[silverclaws]

The latter, bring it back to be ridden and enjoyed, older period parts if possible, but not go stupid on the idea. So if linear cantilever brakes are desired, then why not, I seem to remember many ditching the cantis in favour of them bitd.

My rolling rebuild is as though the bike was kept from new and just evolved as better ideas came along, ( what I could'nt do bitd due to cost), although I stuck with old cantis once I discovered low profile cantis were the problem I had bitd. Now got medium profile on the front and self energising on the rear, superb braking, sorted.

 

[brocklanders023]

I prefer to go as period as possible but don't see a problem with fitting V's if you've got a set spare.

 

[djoptix]

Just ride it.

That said, a well set up pair of cantis will deliver excellent braking performance anyway.

 

[dubscratcher]

It's your bike, do whatever you want with it.

 

[godders]

Its nice to keep original parts if you can ... but your the one going to ride it so in the end its up to you !! did up a tip find 91 cindercone, used as many of the original parts as i could and just replaced the rest with new stuff ... including new v brakes rides like a dream ....... and i think it looks ok as well
G

 

[sylus]

Bitta both really

I have mine to use as a day in day out, exercise and touring bike so for those purposes it makes no sense to have a garage queen 100% anal and exact

That doesn't mean however that I wil not ever ever buy another just to be a garage queen.

 

[stewlewis]

It's been discussed before:
Catalogue correct
Period correct
Best looking bike
Best riding bike
Rarist bike.
Best components.
Matching components.

I can never make my mind up either.

But, as it's your commuter and mainly for riding I'd say, best bit you can afford that feel good and are reliable. Depends on how much showoffability you want of course.

 

[hydorah]

Do whetever feels right

Built and ride it with what ever feels right, can be afforded, does the job

Doesn't mean it can't be stunning

You can always do a rolling upgrade/project/resto...

Some of the build threads on here take ages cos the bits are all NOS gems or made by hand by mountain biking monks or something

You could take just as long, but using the thing in between bolting on gems!

A 'Practical Classics' typed approach

Personally I think a best of period project is the way to go!

 

[silverclaws]

I used to get the practical classics car mag, so I guess that might have rubbed off on me regarding my bike, for although it is mainly old, there is some more modern bits on it, not totally modern but well, pre owned but useable, say within ten years of the frame being made. A practical classic does me.