Hi everyone.
I'm Karl, a bicycle fanatic from France aged 42.
I mostly ride offroad since ever, because I hate "sharing" paved roads with cars (danger, fumes) but also and mainly because bombing downhill a curvy singletrack among the trees is one of the most thrilling things I know.
I bought my first proper mountain bike in the late 80's and went down the usual path, hardtail, double boinger and ...that's it (no rigid singlespeed, no 29er for me, thanks). My other practice is self contained touring on short periods in France, Ireland, Spain, and UK, until now.
Some years ago I saw an add for a 1993 Marin Ti FRS that was incomplete and with dead elastomers. I was interested in retro mountainbikes but not in the process of buying an expensive one. Just because of the brand and the looks of the bike I went to see it and made an offer. The seller sold it for half what he wanted and I thought I had been an idiot who paid too much for an old bike. But then searching information on the net I discovered it was the super high end model. That's how I came across RBUK and all the people that share the passion of the early times of mountain biking. Great site and cool people !
I also own a "roadified" 1994 Marin Eldridge Grade, a restomod 1994 Kona Cinder Cone and, since joining here, a 100 % original 1990 flouro green Muddy Fox Courier Comp !.
