reanimation
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The first Switchback wasn't meant to be for me and although fun the 16" was a short reach so when a mate found an 18" NOS frame hanging on a wall of a shop, I couldn't stop thinking about it and eventually gave them a call. They are a really nice frame design just to look at and a fairly buttery ride. Some crumbled badly, legend has it that the later ones without ISCG mounts were makes stronger in the downtube, I'm hoping that's true and does feel fairly stiff....
Behold this near mythical beast!
Possibly one of the least tough DMR bikes intended for XC and trail. Lots of stories and reports out there of breakages, possibly just misused. I have a Kinesis Decade Virtue too and those were reported to crack around the seat tube top, mines OK, so two mythical beasts!
I'd just decided that my Trailstars and Omen are to small for me really and might be ending up sold, then I found this. It is also too small especially as an XC bike so It's going to get built for my long suffering lady - she doesn't know yet of course! Geometry is 71 and 72.5 degrees same as Trailstar but 11mm longer TT, playful 419 chainstays, taller BB.
2003/4/5 model? the later ones were Reynolds 525 and no ISCG mount, mine is a sort of bluey grey colour in Reynolds 520 weighs less than 5lb!!
First of all Powdercoat? Seems a shame but would look great all tidy and nice or enjoy the patina? :?: :idea:
Build wise, 2005 Reba U Turn 115mm, BB5 brakes, wheels either build some browny 36h x317 into Hope F/Deore R from stock. or XM719 rims? 8 or 9 speed - undecided. 170mm or 172.5 Cranks needed, and thats it should be light and fun, simple and cheap enough.
Let us know if you have any info or ideas or even an opinion on a recoat.
Cheers
The first Switchback wasn't meant to be for me and although fun the 16" was a short reach so when a mate found an 18" NOS frame hanging on a wall of a shop, I couldn't stop thinking about it and eventually gave them a call. They are a really nice frame design just to look at and a fairly buttery ride. Some crumbled badly, legend has it that the later ones without ISCG mounts were makes stronger in the downtube, I'm hoping that's true and does feel fairly stiff....
Behold this near mythical beast!
Possibly one of the least tough DMR bikes intended for XC and trail. Lots of stories and reports out there of breakages, possibly just misused. I have a Kinesis Decade Virtue too and those were reported to crack around the seat tube top, mines OK, so two mythical beasts!
I'd just decided that my Trailstars and Omen are to small for me really and might be ending up sold, then I found this. It is also too small especially as an XC bike so It's going to get built for my long suffering lady - she doesn't know yet of course! Geometry is 71 and 72.5 degrees same as Trailstar but 11mm longer TT, playful 419 chainstays, taller BB.
2003/4/5 model? the later ones were Reynolds 525 and no ISCG mount, mine is a sort of bluey grey colour in Reynolds 520 weighs less than 5lb!!
First of all Powdercoat? Seems a shame but would look great all tidy and nice or enjoy the patina? :?: :idea:
Build wise, 2005 Reba U Turn 115mm, BB5 brakes, wheels either build some browny 36h x317 into Hope F/Deore R from stock. or XM719 rims? 8 or 9 speed - undecided. 170mm or 172.5 Cranks needed, and thats it should be light and fun, simple and cheap enough.
Let us know if you have any info or ideas or even an opinion on a recoat.
Cheers
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