Only my second post (had to put my bit in on the campag debate)...Just a wee trip down memory lane...
I started biking in 1988/89 on a horrendous 23 inch (he'll grow into it) monstor c/w mudguards, rack etc. However that was enough to get me hooked and I got my first decent bike on 23 June 1990. My Rockhopper Sport was my pride and joy, with it's 500 LX groupset and rapidfire levers. I used to spend hours staring at the 1990 Specialized catalogue. The Stumpjumper Comp was the ultimate bike in my eyes. All gleeming and white (and a 800 pound price tag). The only upgrades I remember making to my Rockhopper were SPD's when they came out and a 2.5 Ground Control Extreme. I did also add a Cateye ATC 8000 computer, but that fell off and got run over by a car! I did cut my bars down to about 19 inches but that hardly counts as an upgrade as it made things somewhat twitchy, but it looked cool. The crank kept falling off so I used to cycle round with a 14mm socket wrench in my cycling jersey...
Through constant use and abuse I pretty much wrecked that bike (mainly be attempting too many of the tricks that Jez Avery and Hans Rey were displaying in MBUK at the time). In 1991 I got myself a Proflex 750. Fat aluminium frame with orange stays and matching flex stem. That was useless and heavy but I pretended that it was great. It had super lighweight Suntour gears and useless tiny little brakes. I think that they were Dia Compe, and remember on many occasions wishing that they worked a bit better... Early 1992 I bought a set of Pace RC35 forks with the elastomer bumbers and bolted them onto my Proflex. On route to my first ride the bike, forks and all flew off the back of the bike rack when we were doing about 60mph. The wheels doubled up and the frame went a bit wonky. The forks survive to this day (albeit in the hands of a mate of mine)...
I had to wait 4 months for the insurance money to come through but got my hands on a 1992 Diamond Back Axis Pro. Tange Prestige frame and XTR. It was light and fast and I loved it. Unfortunatly I'd sold the Pace forks by then. I had this bike for a few years and in 1995 I fitted some Rock Shox Judy forks. I remember them being super chunky and wonderful. Elastomer spring with oil damping if I remember correctly. Some scroatbag broke into my flat and stole that bike 4 days after fitting the forks... Another spring without a bike.
Summer 1995 I got an ex display 1994 Parkpre Pro Elite Titanium with Rockshox Mag 21 forks. They had a 6 position dial. They flexed a lot but the bike was good and I still have it, but with up to date components on it...
Life and work took over and I only dabbled for a number of years, in which time I gave the forks away, preferring a rigid ride (I used the forks that I had left over from the Diamond Back as it was stolen with the retro fit Judy's). Anyhoo, in 2001 I put on some Pace RC 38 Airforce II forks onto the Parkpre, and they are still there today... (see picture)
In 2008 I got myself a Stumpjumper Pro FSR, which is wonderful and yesterday, 23 Dec 2010, exactly 20 and-a-half years after getting my Rockhopper I took delivery of a gleeming white 2010 Stumpjumper Comp carbon.
OK, so I've not exactly stayed retro, however I have been there and I do have more than one of the t-shirts... Looking forward to getting out with some old school bikers some time soon...
All the best
Merry Christmas
Col
