The 'Introduce Yourself Here' thread II
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Hi all! My name's John. I've been biking (both MTB and road) since 1982. My first road bike was a Sun Solo with 26x1 3/8 wheels. My first MTB was a Raleigh Maverick 5 speed. I've recently managed to get hold of a SR Sakae Litage Carbon frame and forks of the MTB variety. When I can I'll post a pic if anyone's interested.
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Welcome guys .
John , whereabout are you in kent ? the south east community is growing .
John , whereabout are you in kent ? the south east community is growing .
Hi all,
Been lurking on the site for a while, stumbled upon it while searching for info on Ti frames (of which more below).
I got my first MTB in 1990 (aged 12). All set for a Carrera Krakatoa (mainly for the paintjob), at the last minute I got a deal on a 1989 Specialized Rockhopper (in light grey) with innovations such as Biopace rings and 21 gears. I rode it more or less continuously until I went away to uni (familiar story) then worked overseas for a while, during which time it languished in my parents' shed.
When, in 2004, I moved back to Scotland and got a proper job, I gave the bike a makeover (a la "Changing Rooms"), starting with a respray (bad, but necessary) and surgical removal of the seatpost and bottom bracket. Continuing to be an 'early adoptor' of new technologies, I fitted suspension forks (Pace RC35s with approximately 99% preload - lush); a Tange aheadset, V brakes and rapidfire shifters. I'm now running 9 speed shifters with an 8 speed cassette (smooth combo...) and some similarly plush Halson Inversion forks, having donated the Paces to my wife's bang-up-to-date Trek 830 (circa 1994?) As of April 2008 I've just made the move to clipless pedals.
That said, the bike I always wanted was a Stumpjumper, or something in titanium. As I've now got both (an early 90s Litespeed and a modern Epic FSR, which IMO is more like how a full-suspension Stumpjumper should be than the current monstrosity that bears the name), I'm wondering if I still *need* the Rockhopper? I'm planning to build up the Litespeed as a modern weight weenie, which when complete will replace the 'Hopper as the all-weather bike for my arduous 1 mile daily commute.
I've kept most of the old bits: complete Mountain LX groupset, rigid forks, flat bars, headset, stem, etc., so have the basis for a retro (re)build. With a half-restored house, an unwritten PhD and (potentially) kids in the pipeline, I need a new project about as much as I need three bikes. Unusually, my wife (who works in promoting walking and cycling in schools) thinks I should keep it, mainly so she can tell the kids that her husband is still riding the bike on which he passed his cycling proficiency test.
What should I do chaps? Convert the Rockhopper to singlespeed? Sell the frame and parts on here? Build both the Litespeed and Rockhopper with retro parts?
cheers
Been lurking on the site for a while, stumbled upon it while searching for info on Ti frames (of which more below).
I got my first MTB in 1990 (aged 12). All set for a Carrera Krakatoa (mainly for the paintjob), at the last minute I got a deal on a 1989 Specialized Rockhopper (in light grey) with innovations such as Biopace rings and 21 gears. I rode it more or less continuously until I went away to uni (familiar story) then worked overseas for a while, during which time it languished in my parents' shed.
When, in 2004, I moved back to Scotland and got a proper job, I gave the bike a makeover (a la "Changing Rooms"), starting with a respray (bad, but necessary) and surgical removal of the seatpost and bottom bracket. Continuing to be an 'early adoptor' of new technologies, I fitted suspension forks (Pace RC35s with approximately 99% preload - lush); a Tange aheadset, V brakes and rapidfire shifters. I'm now running 9 speed shifters with an 8 speed cassette (smooth combo...) and some similarly plush Halson Inversion forks, having donated the Paces to my wife's bang-up-to-date Trek 830 (circa 1994?) As of April 2008 I've just made the move to clipless pedals.
That said, the bike I always wanted was a Stumpjumper, or something in titanium. As I've now got both (an early 90s Litespeed and a modern Epic FSR, which IMO is more like how a full-suspension Stumpjumper should be than the current monstrosity that bears the name), I'm wondering if I still *need* the Rockhopper? I'm planning to build up the Litespeed as a modern weight weenie, which when complete will replace the 'Hopper as the all-weather bike for my arduous 1 mile daily commute.
I've kept most of the old bits: complete Mountain LX groupset, rigid forks, flat bars, headset, stem, etc., so have the basis for a retro (re)build. With a half-restored house, an unwritten PhD and (potentially) kids in the pipeline, I need a new project about as much as I need three bikes. Unusually, my wife (who works in promoting walking and cycling in schools) thinks I should keep it, mainly so she can tell the kids that her husband is still riding the bike on which he passed his cycling proficiency test.
What should I do chaps? Convert the Rockhopper to singlespeed? Sell the frame and parts on here? Build both the Litespeed and Rockhopper with retro parts?
cheers
expat
Retro Newbie
Another newbie (from across the pond)
Hi all,
Just stumbled upon this rather fantastic site! My name is Mark and have been living in Canada now since last july, originally from Gloucester.
I am the very proud owner of a '96 LTS DH a '94 KHS montana comp and an '99 Azonic DS1 fitted with some '95 Rockshox Judy DH's, i am in the process of getting these guys back to serviceable condition with updated parts. i also have a pair of '96 Bomber Z1's which are currently in the shop for new bushes and fresh oil, hopefully gonna be out on the fantastic trails up in the Rockies this summer testing all the kit out!
off to dig a little deeper into the site now, cheers!
Mark
Hi all,
Just stumbled upon this rather fantastic site! My name is Mark and have been living in Canada now since last july, originally from Gloucester.
I am the very proud owner of a '96 LTS DH a '94 KHS montana comp and an '99 Azonic DS1 fitted with some '95 Rockshox Judy DH's, i am in the process of getting these guys back to serviceable condition with updated parts. i also have a pair of '96 Bomber Z1's which are currently in the shop for new bushes and fresh oil, hopefully gonna be out on the fantastic trails up in the Rockies this summer testing all the kit out!
off to dig a little deeper into the site now, cheers!
Mark
I'd recommend spending as much time as you possibly can writing up your thesis
[I am currently in the painful writing-up process, plus 1 kid which makes it all the more difficult...]
It is a good call keeping the original bits though. I am fixing up my M-Trax Ti3000 which has all original LX comps, but thought of swapping them for my XC Pro goodies, which i've had since race-days, but thought I might keep to the original and true state of how the bike was intended to be - even at the expense of not having such good components. Replace as is rather than upgrade is my advice - & build litespeed with XT & XTR.
[I am currently in the painful writing-up process, plus 1 kid which makes it all the more difficult...]
It is a good call keeping the original bits though. I am fixing up my M-Trax Ti3000 which has all original LX comps, but thought of swapping them for my XC Pro goodies, which i've had since race-days, but thought I might keep to the original and true state of how the bike was intended to be - even at the expense of not having such good components. Replace as is rather than upgrade is my advice - & build litespeed with XT & XTR.
Hi all. I've been looking through this site for sometime now, after stumbling across it a while back, so thought I'd better join up.
I got my first MTB way back in the early ninties, a rather large Trek 830. I can't remember to much about it other than it was large. Did I mention that it was large? A 20" frame for someone with a short inside leg is not a good idea for off-road riding.
That was followed by a Merlin (Lancashire) Team Prestige SE at the back end of the decade. When every bike seemed to have suspension forks, this had rigids, and probably explained why I could afford it. A nice Tange Prestige frame that had a mix of XT / LX. Just after I had decided to give the frame some new paint, some low life decided that they should have it rather than me.
So now I have a Voodoo Hoodoo AL, generally known as the ebay special. Fox forks, Race Face cranks and LX make it quite a nice ride, but I'm not happy, so things will change.
Hope the intro's not to dull.
Darren
I got my first MTB way back in the early ninties, a rather large Trek 830. I can't remember to much about it other than it was large. Did I mention that it was large? A 20" frame for someone with a short inside leg is not a good idea for off-road riding.
That was followed by a Merlin (Lancashire) Team Prestige SE at the back end of the decade. When every bike seemed to have suspension forks, this had rigids, and probably explained why I could afford it. A nice Tange Prestige frame that had a mix of XT / LX. Just after I had decided to give the frame some new paint, some low life decided that they should have it rather than me.
So now I have a Voodoo Hoodoo AL, generally known as the ebay special. Fox forks, Race Face cranks and LX make it quite a nice ride, but I'm not happy, so things will change.
Hope the intro's not to dull.
Darren
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