Specialized Rockhopper saga

[Lostcause]

Well this bike was built to be used and abused but bolting my fanciest bits on out of curiosity has thrown that idea out the window for now lol still summer riding won't hurt it and I can put winter bits on later in the year I suppose. If it didn't have that ridiculous hole in the seat stay bridge It would be near perfect. The brakes have had a service, fresh DOT 5.1 fluid and fresh pads which was dead easy with no special tools or skill needed, Ive been bedding the new brake pads in but done less than half a mile, initial impressions are wow, wow and wow. Hope C2's are very, very good indeed. I have experience of Hope mini and M4 brakes and expected the C2's to be lacking in comparison as they are newer and improved through all that development but they are impressive. The Frankenhopper rides really nicely and has that familiar Rockhopper feel which I have missed. Can't wait for the weekend, just need the rain to hold off over York for the cycle festival which will be its maiden voyage. I hope to see some of you there as there is a retro bike area apparently......

 

[Lostcause]

Ive never done a spec sheet before here goes in my not so serious way,

Frame; 1999 Ritchey Nitanium Rockhopper 17" (with mild vandalism by me and horrific violent vandalism by NOT ME!!!)

Fork; Pace ProClass 2, Recently serviced by pace who happily for me described them as being in outstanding nick (80 mm conversion)

Headset; MK1 Hope, (thinking a blue one would be nice if anyone wants to part with one)
Stem; Thomson 90mm 10 degree rise 31.8mm
Handlebar; USE carbon
Grips; Oury lock ons (ultra comfortable)
Bar ends; Erm......no

Brakes; Hope Closed 2 - C2
Brake pads; Total bleed solutions organic (impressed so far)
Brake Cables; In the bin where they belong.
Canti hangers; None required (or thankfully fitted as I would have chopped them off!!)
Brake levers; Hope C2 Pro

Shifters; M8000 XT 11 speed
Front mech; 1X for now
Mech cables; Jagwire polished fancy ones $15 for one inner!!!! that's why its 1X
Cassette; M8000 XT 11-40 11 speed
Chain; Shimano XT 11 speed
Cranks; Raceface deus XC 170mm (my knees seem fussy nowadays)
Crank bolts; Raceface
Chainring; Raceface narrow wide 32t
Bottom b; Raceface
Pedals; Burgtec plastic (perfect partner to 5Tens)

Hub skewers; Halo bolt through (really strong, stops wheel ramping out under heavy braking, sorry Hope yours don't)
Rims; Mavic X317 Disc 32 h ( in very pleasing grey )
Hubs; Hope ti glide Blue and titanium with lovely polished alloy spiders (phwoar, I need a minute in private now)
Nipples; Brass.......
Spokes; Sapim ( I believe) at least double butted, very nice (best Borat impression)
Tyres; Panaracer Smoke and Dart (thank you Panaracer for reissue of these, legends absolute legends)
Tubes; Yes

Saddle; Flite Titanium (Borat again, Very nice)
Seatost; Stock Specialized, not sure but could be Kalloy?
Binder; Stock Specialized

Weight; 12.2 Kg approx (crap scales)

 

[Lostcause]

I’ve shortened the rear hose to get a neater run which was a very straightforward job with no dramas at all. Put some horrible but practical opaque cable rub protection patches on and one on the chainstay but I’m not too fond of it so I’ll put a shark fin on for maximum period incorrectness but much more pleasing to the eye.
The elephant in the room of a seat stay bridge pentagonal hole I’ve made round with a file, squirted in some acf 50 and used half a rivnut and a countersunk m5 bolt and it now looks less awful result…

 

[Lostcause]

A 30 mile test ride today and no problems at all and no adjustments required so that’s a win. It’s reminded me how good these old steel Rockhoppers ride and how practical they can be. I’m planning a tour of the Scottish islands next year and I think the Hopper with pannier racks, bar ends and some rigid forks could be the perfect bike.
It’s currently in best clothes for summer mode, winter will bring some different wheels and maybe some Marzocchi Bombers for that no need to worry feeling but touring, I might need to do something about that….. Some spare Rockhopper forks I had laying around could be perfect. They are not as svelte as a Kona project two fork, I’ll have to weigh them but they’re burly enough to handle the disc forces I’m pretty sure but if not I’ll let you know, if I survive that is.
Hope no.3 caliper and some cardboard then…..

 

[Lostcause]

A little stand off or even just a couple of washers and a stay from a rack or mudguard will clear that caliper easily, they are quite a slim profile.

 

[Lostcause]

This size tab gets a gentle hose run, I could add some lightness by drilling or filing a slot in it or I could try and cut out the S……
Needle files and a dremel might work

 

[27motorhead]

CAD development coming on nicely!

 

[Lostcause]

Holy cow!, Mike Sinyard the owner creator of Specialized bicycles set his lawyers on a cafe called cafe Roubaix that is in Roubaix and is a cafe because they have a Specialized Roubaix model so what will he do to me if I carve an S in one of his dangerously modified forks?
Change of plan. Bracket mk2….

Phew that was close, I could have slopping out in Parkhurst if he’d seen that!!

 

[Lostcause]

Oops........Thats brake options halved then. I did think about trying to find another Hope hose guide kit in blue and modding the V-posts to match the rear but this is cheap and easy and should look a little cleaner. I can always look for another set of forks if I happen to find said Hope kit, if it bothers me. A bit more filing on the disc tab but its nearly there.

 

[27motorhead]

Where's the Specialized "S" you promised us?!*

Looking good!