The European resistance: 1996 Genius OR + Sachs Quarz

[Obi-Juan]

Postscript: Magura brakes have driven me crazy!!
I can't thank you, you have created a conflict in me: I can no longer live without them .
I was also seriously thinking about mounting blue HS 33s on a GT...but obviously it wouldn't be that version, the CE flag cannot appear on a GT. They with theirs and we with ours, Jjjjj

 

[Obi-Juan]

Thanks, I love obscure derailleurs. Fortunately probably not the one to look for for my build.

I think it's not what you're looking for, it's just an anecdote in the history of MTB.
But you defined it well, there was a certain darkness in the European manufacturers with the MTB. It's as if they didn't even take the MTB phenomenon seriously, as if they thought it would never be like the road phenomenon.
I have a Rossin catalog from the late '80s and their MTB bicycles, I don't know if they make you sad or laugh. A disaster Rossin!!! How could you make those monsters!!!

 

[Obi-Juan]

Life is sometimes capricious: Today one of the lever options I was considering appeared, a pair of X-lites. I don't like the color very much, but repainting it in black and leaving the levers in silver is little work and should look good.
But just at the same time a set of brake levers and some "V" ones that I had been looking for for a long time have appeared in Spain (curiously I was looking for the levers and the brakes, but not the set, that was impossible. But this person has the set What a coincidence!)
On Friday I bought some TNT cranks and a Slamma Jamma head set as well as some HERSHEY RACING and there are already too many expenses this month, so one thing or the other.
Hard decision, porca miseria!

 

[Obi-Juan]

Well, I am attaching images of the catalog of the original genius OR series that was included when purchasing the tubes, in case it may be interesting.
I also attach the one I have from '95 where they call it Genius MTB and the complete series weighs more.
It doesn't appear in the 2000 catalog, so I don't include it, but it does include a complete description of the Nemo series, which is interesting, I think it was Columbus' last great steel pipe. I had one, very light although the fork not so much

 

[Obi-Juan]

I have weighed it. He has gained some but is still below 9.4 kg.
I had to change the latex Vittoria inner tube because the fans would burst. It has happened to me on an ATX 800 and now on this one. It's a shame, I have several Vittoria inner tubes in latex but I can't use them anymore, just keep them as a souvenir. I also had 2 latex from Dt Swiss. They were spectacular in weight, but I will also keep them as a souvenir. I have put Michelin. Yeah! The inner tubes are also European.
With the handlebars however I have gained about 20 gr. Something is something, Jjjjj

 

[Obi-Juan]

indeed a great story and nice read, thanks for sharing this

Just browsed my archives, but only found a small article in the German Bike Magazine, July Issue 1994, introducing Cosme,
with a similar nice blue bike:

View attachment 856329

I've tried to translate it using, but Google translate wasn't doing a very good job
View attachment 856330

And, hey with regards to your build, any chance to replace the few non-European pieces?
I do see Ultimate levers from Avid, definitely nice, but what about Sachs, Campa or any other good local source?

The New Success brakes from 1994 are quite nice
View attachment 856338

Well, your proposal for me to strive to finish a 100% European bicycle was heard, I just needed the time necessary to find the right parts.
By the way, some beautiful New Success NOS brakes appeared in Spain for €60. It's a pity, I was overspending on several projects and I had to let them slip away.
But maybe in the future...

 

[Obi-Juan]

I got the brake levers before summer.
I was tired of searching and not finding anything I liked and decided to change my strategy:

I thought that whoever had some emblematic levers of the time did not need to sell them but they would still exchange them for other interesting ones.
So I offered some Machine Tech Zero Flex that I had and got an exchange with a lover and great master of classic bicycles: Some beautiful Spanish TTP
Yes, they are a Grafton replica
Soon I think I will be able to put some light grip foam on them more to my liking.
But for now they are here

 

[Obi-Juan]

The cassette had to be an 11/28
My rear derailleur has a short case and does not allow further development.
I found several Sachs PowerGlides in 11/32 but they were not suitable
So I thought about a Miche and even ordered one, but they didn't have that development at the time and they had to order it...and that was a plus!
I discussed the matter with another classic bike enthusiast and he had a unit in 11/28 PowerGlide!!!!!
A change for a mavic 517 and the matter resolved after a very long time
The solution was as simple as asking for help, what a shame about lost years.

 

[Obi-Juan]

Well, mission completed successfully.
Of course the brakes and gearbox had to be readjusted. The PowerGlide system is funny, it looks like someone ate a tooth off the cassette

It started decades ago, but that has kept this bike alive, we haven't stopped thinking about it
A few small decals on the down tube to commemorate this issue with the European stars and that's it for now.
For now...

 

[bikeworkshop]

The cassette had to be an 11/28
My rear derailleur has a short case and does not allow further development.
I found several Sachs PowerGlides in 11/32 but they were not suitable

The largest rear sprocket is affected by the derailleur parallelogram angle, which is usually the same, short, med or long cage.

The total capacity (i.e. big+big minus small+small) is what the cage length dictates.

Assuming the derailleur model accepts a 32 rear sprocket, slightly closer sprocket sizes on the front would reduce the required capacity.
I can't see which derailleur you are using, but a sachs quartz will do 32 max on all cage lengths.

I had to change the latex Vittoria inner tube because the fans would burst. It has happened to me on an ATX 800 and now on this one. It's a shame, I have several Vittoria inner tubes in latex but I can't use them anymore, just keep them as a souvenir. I also had 2 latex from Dt Swiss. They were spectacular in weight, but I will also keep them as a souvenir. I have put Michelin. Yeah! The inner tubes are also European.

You could use aerothan thermoplastic tubes from schwalbe, save over 100g on both wheels.
They are more reliable than latex, but seem more prone to puncture.