The better half’s rebuild

Rebikecumbria

Retro Guru
Been rebuilding the girlfriends bike (she’s only been on it twice in the last year)

so we’ve had this frame for just over a year and started out as a contemporary build after finding the frame with a few parts still attached in the frame pile and I thought it was well worth salvaging and putting to good use

so the first rendition was something I thought she would be comfortable (size wise) and something I could “borrow” for the odd xc ride (as I had just a dh and an old skool rigid beater at the time) to play with - so to cut a long story short she’s been on it twice didn’t like the handlebar set up and hated riding on grass - but loved borrowing and riding the dh on flat and any single track that was faster than grass (we even made it to the marshes and sands in the estuary a good 10mile flat ride from Carlisle)

I ended up racing it in its first rendition last year and beat all 4 of 5 of the electric bikes in the same race/heat which pleased me greatly ; ) and came 5th overall time wise (even with a 2k random detour another story) see pics below

Anyway…. It being a bit of serious back ache on a long ride being to small for me (though very flickable and fun on jumps) and the lassy not really using it I stripped it for all its parts (nearly) and transferred them to a larger frame; bearing in mind I had mentioned I needed a larger frame for all dayers and she agreed I should get a proper frame/bike for said purpose

Well… she found out that I had stripped the pendle and was not a happy bunny “so what’s happening with my bike” she said

Sooo with a promise that she will try the blue at whinlatter I ve been at work rebuilding from the frame up … getting 20 yrs of grime out of yellow grips with a tooth brush has been a riot amongst other hard work (the frame had been rawed to the alu carefully going round the decal’s) and it’s nearly there

I’ve tried to make it her largest piece of jewellery and a nice smooth ride, haven’t gone completely period correct and any “build” bumf I ll add in comments for the train spotters and any q’s and constructive criticism very welcome (don’t watch the disc wheelset that’s prob the first thing to change out)

But it’s got some British things going for it Pendle with a bit of orange

Hopefully it won’t end up a total carpet queen and it will encourage her round some gravel, forest trails and some blues

you never know

What’s your other half riding comments and pics below
 

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Hopefully she’ll like the ram rods and all the hand positions they give, plus the old WTB bum shelf has comfort zone decals which might entice her and not forgetting some lovely purple anodised bolts … she’s not actually seen it yet in it’s current rendition
 
The smiley is a sticker but it certainly is a bona fide Iron Horse Yakuza Kumicho, it’s big brother the Sunday overshadowed the Kumicho’s but it’s a near on perfect freeride rig (for its time 07-15) if you like springs and single pivots

I think it was between the comfort of all the squish or the surprise looks from people as she rode it
 
Ooh looks fun. What size is that 17" is that a good fit for her? Below is ours. It's stripped and frame sold now. 16 inch old geo and I'm over 6ft but it was the perfect local bike! Light and fun and versatile, So I'm building a NOS 18 inch now! 😄 Only a wheel build and a bit of time holding it up.
It wasn't a good fit for her though, forks over 100mm made it all too tall. Said she liked her old gone Generalized Hard rock Sport so I'm building a 2004 model in 14 inch, same forks set at 100mm
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/dmr-switchback-2003-4-built-to-rebuild-bigger-and-nos.389371/
 
Ooh looks fun. What size is that 17" is that a good fit for her? Below is ours. It's stripped and frame sold now. 16 inch old geo and I'm over 6ft but it was the perfect local bike! Light and fun and versatile, So I'm building a NOS 18 inch now! 😄 Only a wheel build and a bit of time holding it up.
It wasn't a good fit for her though, forks over 100mm made it all too tall. Said she liked her old gone Generalized Hard rock Sport so I'm building a 2004 model in 14 inch, same forks set at 100mm
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/dmr-switchback-2003-4-built-to-rebuild-bigger-and-nos.389371/
Mmmmm love a DMR : )
 
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