Diamond Back Ascent 1991 SS

[crazy88]

Here's my bike, many of you may well recognise it from Chrisv40, and I believe he bought it from someone else on here too, although I could be wrong.

I've just put slicks on it for my commute, and am still in the process of considering whether to convert it back to geared at the rear as my commute is 3 miles downhill to work, and 3 miles uphill coming home. I managed it...just...on the knobblies, so we shall see how it goes with slicks. My problem being that with the current gearing i'm spinning out far too easy going to work, and it's a tad boring.

Anyway, here are a few crappy pics. I plan on cleaning it soon and taking some pics of it in the wild, rather than my kitchen.

 

[lewis1641]

looks slick with the er, slicks on!

 

[crazy88]

Hopefully not too slick! I ran my road bike through most of the bad weather before christmas and never came off, so we shall see.

I love the look of it though, and love the clean look from no gears.

 

[TooHiBMI]

I remember BIND when I was allowed mountain bikes in the kitchen... But that was so long ago most of the bikes on this forum were brand new and clean enough to be in doors anyway !

 

[crazy88]

I have no choice not having a garage or shed...yet. Shed is to go up in the summer when i've built a fence. The mrs is very laid back though, so all good there!

 

[chrisv40]

Looks great on those slicks Paul, not usually a fan of mtb's on slicks but that is very nice.

 

[Neil]

Needs cantis.

Stock groupset would have been largely 400LX (front mech 300LX).

Here's the brochure picture:-

 

[Neil]

Meant to ask: what slicks are they?

Just one other note - it would have run biopace rings as stock!

 

[crazy88]

Continental sport contact slicks. 1.6" wide I believe. I love them, and hopefully will make the commute a lot easier so I can give it a harder gear so I don't spin out so easily when going downhill.

I did consider canti's as the v-brakes obviously aren't right for the frame, but I really don't want to spend a lot on it. It's my commute bike, so needs to be cheap and cheerful.

Was hoping to ride it today, but the wind is far too bad here. Think I might take it out for a blast in the morning.

Oh, and what are biospace rings??

 

[Neil]

Continental sport contact slicks. 1.6" wide I believe. I love them, and hopefully will make the commute a lot easier so I can give it a harder gear so I don't spin out so easily when going downhill.

I did consider canti's as the v-brakes obviously aren't right for the frame, but I really don't want to spend a lot on it. It's my commute bike, so needs to be cheap and cheerful.

Was hoping to ride it today, but the wind is far too bad here. Think I might take it out for a blast in the morning.

Oh, and what are biospace rings??

Biopace were Shimano's elliptical chainrings that were very divisive, both then, and now. Personally, I kinda like them.

I get what you mean about not spending, and the brakes thing. Just looks like there's a T-Bone stem with a hanger, and a hanger at the rear, all lonely and going to waste.

I guess it depends on what you're doing about gears - if you went for some period STIs / rapidfire units, they'd likely be canti brake levers. On the other hand, if you were just going with thumbies, wouldn't make any difference to your current brake levers.

edit: meant to add, I've got two Diamond Backs from 91 - an Apex and an Axis.