What to build up next? With poll!

[raidan73]

Andes with drop bar

 

[brocklanders023]

Hmmmmm, tough one.....

The Andes was Halfords spec right, not a standard model? If so that would lose my interest, just like the Eigers.

I remember thinking the 92 Tufftrax looked ace bitd, really subtle compared to what had gone before and the way fashion was changing. My favourite 92 Orange was grey too so defo on trend! Seen a few of these in really good condition and they look smart with mint, silver LX but if this will be a ratty build I'd shove this to the back too.

That leaves the E-Stays. My preference would be the Trekker simply because of how few you see (same frame as the cracktastic Conquest or a bit more solid?) but do you think you could accurately reproduce the decals and colour? If so, that one, if not the Traverse.

 

[drystonepaul]

Hmmmmm, tough one.....

The Andes was Halfords spec right, not a standard model? If so that would lose my interest, just like the Eigers.

I remember thinking the 92 Tufftrax looked ace bitd, really subtle compared to what had gone before and the way fashion was changing. My favourite 92 Orange was grey too so defo on trend! Seen a few of these in really good condition and they look smart with mint, silver LX but if this will be a ratty build I'd shove this to the back too.

That leaves the E-Stays. My preference would be the Trekker simply because of how few you see (same frame as the cracktastic Conquest or a bit more solid?) but do you think you could accurately reproduce the decals and colour? If so, that one, if not the Traverse.

Andes was 100% Saracen with no Halfords tie in. It was one step above the TuffTrax Extreme in the 1991 Saracen line up. I now have six out of the nine mountain bikes shown in the 1991 catalogue. There's also the two 'hybrid' style bikes in the catalogue plus the various, Limited, Super, Special Editions out there.
The Eigers are just rebadged versions of the Saracen specced bikes with different colours and minor component variations.
As you say, it was a Halfords exclusive deal.
I don't dislike the Eigers but understand your point about them being less appealing.

The 1992 Tufftrax Elite frame does look nicer in real life. The grey powdercoat has a really nice metallic fleck which looks great in the sunshine.
Understated yes, and I think perfect for a utilitarian build which can be ridden without worrying about damaging it.

The 'Arctic White' Traverse Comp Hydro wouldn't be too much work either, especially since a set of MK1 Magura Hydrostops arrived in the post this morning.
Just needs some wheels building up and a suitable headset plus a few other bits.

The 'Guards Red' Trekker Comp Hydro does have the same specification of frame as the Conquest according to the catalogue. The fork and stem from the 91 Traverse Comp Hydro and full 91 Tufftrax Extreme both share the 'Guards Red' colour, so I have plenty of reference material for getting the colour right.
In theory matching up shouldn't be too difficult. There is a company downstairs from by business unit that specialises in colour matching, and there is a metal-finishers and powder-coater also in the same building.
Even if it's cracked, I'm lucky to have Dan Chambers living just down the road from me.
Reproducing the decals could be tricky. I used to teach both photography and Photoshop so I reckon I could do a pretty good job of sorting out the rather complicated artwork given a few hours of pixel pushing.

One thing that I haven't mentioned which may sway me towards going the extra mile on the Trekker Comp Hydro is that I already have a set of Marzocchi Star forks in my possession. I would need to find a 1.1/4 inch steerer for them or run a reducer headset.
The 1991 Saracen catalogue lists these forks as an option for this particular bike.

So you can see my quandary. I hope to get them all restored/built up/ridden at some point.
The scrap man will have to look elsewhere.

 

[brocklanders023]

Trekker first then.

 

[drystonepaul]

For all the Saracen haters out there I have got the local scrap man on speed-dial just for you.
I have been known to completely ignore other people's opinions, but as a moderator I do feel duty bound to comply with the wishes of forum users. Perhaps when at least 100 people have voted I'll call it...

Also to add that having rechecked, and for the purpose of anyone researching Saracen head tube dimensions twenty years from now as part of a university thesis, the headtube on the 1991 Saracen Trekker Competition Hydrotech is in fact designed for a 1.1/8th inch with a 122mm headtube on the 19 inch frame.

I got confused by the fact that the 1991 Saracen Trekker Hydrotech (non e-stay) does have a 1.1/4 inch headset/steerer/headtube.
That sometimes happens when you spend all day sniffing bike tyres and all night plugged in to the Retrobike matrix.