Hello,
I started MTB's in the late 80's.
Went through a few bikes, Started out with a Townsend (I think) that I upgraded with things like DX etc... that got nicked... So I bought a black Orange Prestige which I cannot remember the groupset but will have been XT or very first XTR or a mix (self build). Loverly bike, Orange alu forks, Ritchey WCS (gold ones) and all sort of loverly bits. Don't remember it that much as it got nicked before I got used to it
So I went via some importer and bought a Rocky Mountain Altitude frame (around 1992 I think) that was reportedly one of 7 only in the country at the time. Frame number RM1039. I think it was an demonstration frame the team used at some racing event in the UK once.
Got Mag 20's for it, broke them, got Mag21's for it....
Not much braking of components but some changing and putting the old stuff onto andohter bike, it still runs today, well ok I got it out the shed last week and presumably will still run.
There are a few things I know I need for it, lol.
I think I got it to around 23.5lb (yes a weight weenie and I did have a Ti-Flite with with no padding and lots of holes in it for a year or so, remarkably comfy as well... Bet my bottom would not say that now though)
Anyways, my friends all loved it and they had Alpinstars, Orange, Proflex, Raleigh Ti, 'dales, GT. I still love it.
Stopped real biking as I went to Uni (1996ish) and things like V brakes and new XTR groupsets started to appear.
It was very hard to buy a new bike at the time when you're so use to quality and nice bikes. Fast forward 12 years, getting older, using it to commute in between every now and again and I find myself at this website pulling the bike out the shed.....