I would hazard a guess around 94 for aheadset, the standard size 1 1/8 thats the majority of parts are for perhaps slightly later?
Plenty of bike shop folks etc here will pick me up if im way out.
The suspension question is a debatable one, and you will probably need to try them .. personally, I never believed in them when younger, but my funds did not extend to suspension forks that were not heavy so for me it was weighing up a load of extra weight against any benefit.
I was pretty fit and rode relatively hard then, now ive got a couple bikes with suspension as its just for longer rides its gentler.
Another feature that the modern gravel bikes etc have and rave about is the ability for adding luggage, which is funny as pretty much any steel frame from the nineties thats decent but not designed as a race bike has the eyelets on the frame! Like many things cycling reinvents itself.
For regualar use, pop to the shops etc, you may want pannier racking and bags.. I have these on my old Marin and its much better than riding with a rucksack as I did for years.
The eyelets are threaded holes brazed on the frame by the rear derailleur, by the seat tube, and on front forks by the release for the front wheel..
Just something else I thought of from your description that may be useful to look out for.
I am biased , but I think modern bikes command silly amounts of money when a carefully considered retro purchase can do it all, and at a pricepoint that makes a mockery of many new bikes.
If you wanted a big fancy bike to throw yourself down real huge mountains etc.. or these bike parks, with massive jumps etc then maybe, and many on this forum have both.. for this reason.
But if you want a trail capable bike that will keep both wheels on the ground its whole service life with you, and maybe carry some groceries home.. nineties bikes of quality will do that for a fraction of the money.
I would hazard a guess around 94 for aheadset, the standard size 1 1/8 thats the majority of parts are for perhaps slightly later?
Plenty of bike shop folks etc here will pick me up if im way out.
The suspension question is a debatable one, and you will probably need to try them .. personally, I never believed in them when younger, but my funds did not extend to suspension forks that were not heavy so for me it was weighing up a load of extra weight against any benefit.
I was pretty fit and rode relatively hard then, now ive got a couple bikes with suspension as its just for longer rides its gentler.
Another feature that the modern gravel bikes etc have and rave about is the ability for adding luggage, which is funny as pretty much any steel frame from the nineties thats decent but not designed as a race bike has the eyelets on the frame! Like many things cycling reinvents itself.
For regualar use, pop to the shops etc, you may want pannier racking and bags.. I have these on my old Marin and its much better than riding with a rucksack as I did for years.
The eyelets are threaded holes brazed on the frame by the rear derailleur, by the seat tube, and on front forks by the release for the front wheel..
Just something else I thought of from your description that may be useful to look out for.
I am biased , but I think modern bikes command silly amounts of money when a carefully considered retro purchase can do it all, and at a pricepoint that makes a mockery of many new bikes.
If you wanted a big fancy bike to throw yourself down real huge mountains etc.. or these bike parks, with massive jumps etc then maybe, and many on this forum have both.. for this reason.
But if you want a trail capable bike that will keep both wheels on the ground its whole service life with you, and maybe carry some groceries home.. nineties bikes of quality will do that for a fraction of the money.