Early Saracen Lovers Anonymous......

[jimwise68]

Finished the Team Saracen Special Edition yesterday. New seat, original tyres and swapped the terrible crank out for a LX with annodised blue chainrings.

My understanding is that these frames were made by Merida, it seems very similar to the Carrera Vortice I bought new in 1997.
Nice cheap little pub cruiser, when they finally open.

 

[BsidetheCside]

Thought it’s high time I shared this for the early Saracen/FW Evans fans...

 

[BsidetheCside]

Oh forgot these NOS..

 

[Tsundere]

I had a Saracen in the mid 90's, it had a black oversized aluminium frame with pink decals and rigid front fork, does anyone know which model it was? My brother left outside a shop and it was stolen.

Got it now - it was Sahara Elite, I loved that bike.

 

[Edwoodwoodwood45]

Re: reproduction decals

hi i have a 88/89 saracen eiger team, does anyone know of anyone/anywhere that reproduces the decals or who could?

Hi there is the bike in the picture for sale

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Sat here thinking about what I should be doing today and realised that 2021 is the 30th anniversary of me getting my Kili Flier Comp.

It was my first year at university. They paid you to go back then! A bit different from now. Ask me how I know! The twins are in their first year now! I had a little grant money left and some Summer job savings. The Dawes Wildcat had taken me as far as it could. It had always been way too big for me and it was time to move on.

I liked the Spesh. I liked the Kona. I went down to Baretto Bikes in Plymouth to see what they had. Saracen? I was aware of the race team. They didn't seem to take things as seriously as the big names at the time.

This green bike had the same XT II full groupset as the others. I had a go on it. It felt stable and planted. A bit heavier perhaps but, it felt comfortable from the start. Despite the 150mm zero rise stem.

I think what swung it was the £50 off list. I think that took it down to £749? I bought a first generation Cateye cordless computer with the money I 'saved.'

Forward 30 years and I still have both the bike and the computer! I need to think of a suitable celebration.

I think putting back on as many original components as I still have and taking it around Cannock. Later in the year I can perhaps also return it to our roots and do a few South Devon rides as well. Trouble is, I haven't been mountain biking for years! Road bikes took over when off-road started hurting too much. The bike itself is set up currently as my do anything/tourer. I put Vee brakes on it when I realised how good they are. Not looking forwards to cantis again!

It does at least have the original rigid forks back on it though. I still have the Tange Shockblades that I fitted a year or two after getting it as well.

Remind me to do this as the year progresses!

 

[drystonepaul]

@Iwasgoodonce, is it this one you are referring to?


Remind me to get mine finished before the year is out too.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

@Iwasgoodonce, is it this one you are referring to?
View attachment 538988

Remind me to get mine finished before the year is out too.

That's the one! Mine is a good bit more worn in than yours! That paint is pretty tough stuff though. Mine survived all manner of use and abuse. Racing, touring and endless riding when I was younger.

I only found out much later that only the seat tube is Prestige tubing.

The groupset on mine had a black finish with Wolber AT18 rims.

 

[jhawkins]

Hello all,

Wanted to share this Saracen I spent the recent lockdown fixing up.

Can anyone identify the model? I know it used to have a decal saying Hi-Speed or Hi-Trail or something on the top tube but the previous owner scratched it off.

This belonged to a friend of mine who lent it to me for a touring trip across the Balkans back in 2017 (see last photo). I always regretted not making him an offer for it and so when he had a nasty crash, and quit cycling, I nabbed it off him and spent the next few months fixing it up.

Nothing original but the frame and forks but still rather neat I reckon, look forward to taking it touring again one day!

 

[drystonepaul]

Hello all,

Wanted to share this Saracen I spent the recent lockdown fixing up.

Can anyone identify the model? I know it used to have a decal saying Hi-Speed or Hi-Trail or something on the top tube but the previous owner scratched it off.

This belonged to a friend of mine who lent it to me for a touring trip across the Balkans back in 2017 (see last photo). I always regretted not making him an offer for it and so when he had a nasty crash, and quit cycling, I nabbed it off him and spent the next few months fixing it up.

Nothing original but the frame and forks but still rather neat I reckon, look forward to taking it touring again one day!

Looks like a 1996 Saracen BackTrax frame.
Catalogue here : https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/Manufacturer+Archive/Saracen/Catalogues/Saracen_1996.pdf.html

But maybe not.
Are those 700c wheels?

If so then it'll be later than that. I'll have a look at the 1999-2001 catalogues when I get a chance.