YETI C-26 TEAM HOMAGE (REPLICA)
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Smithjss70
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Peachy!":17977ph6 said:regan_ev":17977ph6 said:
Dude, get yourself some Evaporust and give the bolts a bath, easy peasy lemon squeezy
Evaporust is great! I accidentally selected the 5gal option on amazon a few years ago but I’m glad I did now.
Peachy!
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Smithjss70":vmcacwas said:Peachy!":vmcacwas said:regan_ev":vmcacwas said:
Dude, get yourself some Evaporust and give the bolts a bath, easy peasy lemon squeezy
Evaporust is great! I accidentally selected the 5gal option on amazon a few years ago but I’m glad I did now.
I accidently bought the US Quart (having absolutely no idea what this stone age measurement was) imagine my suprise when it arrived! :shock: Onto my third 5gal now…..then I do have a lot of 50's road steel...:facepalm:
Slight last-minute (days) panic, whereby I've misplaced/lost the rear derailleur for this build. a 1991 Deore XT RD-M735-SS with 3DV Bullseye pulleys fitted. There's a photo of it earlier in the thread. I put a wanted ad out after spending about eight hours over two days hunting for it then deciding I must have thrown it out in the trash. :facepalm: A few offers of long cage XT mechs were received, only on SS, which was too untidy; all the ones on ebay are way too scuffed, but along came Attila (aka hunspecialized) with a near perfect one! I paid him for 48h delivery from Hungary and it arrived here Thursday! It was clean and ready to fit. Köszönöm, Attila!
With the RD fitted there was only the new front wheel build and cabling, plus a few new/replacement decals. Unfortunately, due to illness and slower-than-usual postage service, or having to pay €145,00 for 48h from Norway, André was unable to get the NOS black Deore XT hub delivered to me in time. I've had to fit a temporary front wheel to complete the build and meet the deadline to enter into November 2019 BOTM (today). Luckily I have a bunch of old part lying around, and this silver M732 Deore XT hub built onto a silver Mavic M231 rim, is exactly the sort of build that would've found its way onto a Team Yeti 1991 bike. Its imperfectly perfect! NOS onZa Racing Porc's II black wall tire fitted, with huge thanks to Norman Kalt for trading this with me for my 1993 spec NOS onZa Racing Porc's II Kevlar blackwall. The steel bead from Norman was available to sponsored riders in mid 1991. 'Mr. onZa' aka Dan Sotelo, also designed the Panaracer Smoke for National Tire Co., who owned the Panaracer brand. Despite being sponsored by onZa, Team Yeti racers used the classic pairing of Smoke/Porc, and Juli Furtado won more races than anyone else on the 1991 NORBA circuit with this tire combo, even resulting in a joint advert (paid for by National, suggested by Sotelo) run in MBA mag! Ad photo from ridevintagemtb blog.
For gear cables I used some standard Shimano SIS outer cable that I had a few feet of, with standard LBS inners. No foil labels on outer casing, just molded SHIMANO lettering every couple of feet. I also bought a NOS SIS Sealed SP rear cable section for the final RD cable loop. I've seen some peopel used the sealed ones at the front, but they were designed just for the RD loop and are sold in pre-cut fully sealed lengths, to keep the muck out, which will be greater nearer the RD and wheel. Added proper Shimano ferrule caps to the other lengths I'd cut (witht the only Park Tool tool I own (!) and fitted it all into the frame stops with genuine YETI frame ferrules. The ultra-short FD cable loop from TT/ST junction is mega tight. Too tight if I'm honest. The cable stop on the back of the ST lug should've been much lower to avoid this crazy bend, but I suppose, for a project like this, as long as it works, it's fine. Reto modeled this stop off the CycleWorks ex-Kramer C-26 which has an identically-positioned cable stop. I would've preferred it lower like Juli's C-26, but, whatever, it's done now. Looks kinda funky though! The cables are all routed according to Yeti instructions and convention, including the reverse loop around cable pulley feeding the FD.
For a full Shimano Deore XT groupset build (excet seat QR SQ-M730) on a 'Shimano-sponsored team spec build' it would be a crime not to fit possibly the most commonly purchase Deore XT component of all time: the Shark Fin! DF-M732. Bought this ages ago from Ash Grant aka Vinevo. Attached with the fiddly double-sided sticky pads provided and the pair of provided cable ties for extra security!
With the RD fitted there was only the new front wheel build and cabling, plus a few new/replacement decals. Unfortunately, due to illness and slower-than-usual postage service, or having to pay €145,00 for 48h from Norway, André was unable to get the NOS black Deore XT hub delivered to me in time. I've had to fit a temporary front wheel to complete the build and meet the deadline to enter into November 2019 BOTM (today). Luckily I have a bunch of old part lying around, and this silver M732 Deore XT hub built onto a silver Mavic M231 rim, is exactly the sort of build that would've found its way onto a Team Yeti 1991 bike. Its imperfectly perfect! NOS onZa Racing Porc's II black wall tire fitted, with huge thanks to Norman Kalt for trading this with me for my 1993 spec NOS onZa Racing Porc's II Kevlar blackwall. The steel bead from Norman was available to sponsored riders in mid 1991. 'Mr. onZa' aka Dan Sotelo, also designed the Panaracer Smoke for National Tire Co., who owned the Panaracer brand. Despite being sponsored by onZa, Team Yeti racers used the classic pairing of Smoke/Porc, and Juli Furtado won more races than anyone else on the 1991 NORBA circuit with this tire combo, even resulting in a joint advert (paid for by National, suggested by Sotelo) run in MBA mag! Ad photo from ridevintagemtb blog.
For gear cables I used some standard Shimano SIS outer cable that I had a few feet of, with standard LBS inners. No foil labels on outer casing, just molded SHIMANO lettering every couple of feet. I also bought a NOS SIS Sealed SP rear cable section for the final RD cable loop. I've seen some peopel used the sealed ones at the front, but they were designed just for the RD loop and are sold in pre-cut fully sealed lengths, to keep the muck out, which will be greater nearer the RD and wheel. Added proper Shimano ferrule caps to the other lengths I'd cut (witht the only Park Tool tool I own (!) and fitted it all into the frame stops with genuine YETI frame ferrules. The ultra-short FD cable loop from TT/ST junction is mega tight. Too tight if I'm honest. The cable stop on the back of the ST lug should've been much lower to avoid this crazy bend, but I suppose, for a project like this, as long as it works, it's fine. Reto modeled this stop off the CycleWorks ex-Kramer C-26 which has an identically-positioned cable stop. I would've preferred it lower like Juli's C-26, but, whatever, it's done now. Looks kinda funky though! The cables are all routed according to Yeti instructions and convention, including the reverse loop around cable pulley feeding the FD.
For a full Shimano Deore XT groupset build (excet seat QR SQ-M730) on a 'Shimano-sponsored team spec build' it would be a crime not to fit possibly the most commonly purchase Deore XT component of all time: the Shark Fin! DF-M732. Bought this ages ago from Ash Grant aka Vinevo. Attached with the fiddly double-sided sticky pads provided and the pair of provided cable ties for extra security!
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The last main component to fit and finish the build is the saddle, which was only ever going to be a Selle Italia Turbo, which Yeti used across all bikes both team and models sold. Juli's C-26 had a white (Lady) L.Turbo. I've seen a few other C-26s with the white so I hunted everywhere for an original Turbo. Would've been too easy to buy a repop, but I found this April 1990 edition in the US. Perfect. And coupled to the NOS Deore XT SP-M730 seatpost, it just looks the biz.
One of the final finishing touches for this build which I never thought possible, due to their sheer rarity, is a pair of NOS turquoise Yeti water bottles, original issues made by Triumph USA, who are no longer in business. These came all the way from Japan, of all places. They look like they've been sat on a shelf for 30 years, due to a lot of ingrained dirt, but opening the cap they smell like they're just out of the factory! That distinctive 80s/90s plastic bottle smell in still intact. I think they look amazing and tie together the desert turquoise front and rear frame ends perfectly! Attaching them to the Yeti FRO trademark dual downtube bottle bosses, is a pair of silver no-name cages which are super light (lighter than Ringlé H2O) and quite similar in style to both King Cages and Blackburn cages, which Juli and Tomac both used, respectively, on their C-26s in 1990. They also came on the ProFRO when I bought it, so it's great to be able to retain them here.
The final touches were to replace the YETI-C26 and EASTON decals I'd aligned incorrectly when I first started the build. I can make my own die-cut vinyl decals so it wasn't much hassle. The white YETI & C-26 came from Stefan as well as the MBA sticker and PowerBar stickers, for the top tube, as well as (in a totally narcissistic and vain manner) adding my username to the top tube in Team Yeti font style. The other top tube sticker is a special one. 'Team Shrew' was started by Matt Sweeney, the movie special effects maestro from Hollywood who John Parker used to work with/for. Matt used these stickers on his rally car, and gave some to John who stuck them to his own Yeti bike, as well as a few special others. I made some up myself, then showed John, who showed Matt, who loved that I'd recreated them, and told me I could use them however I wanted to. This was a few months ago this year. So naturally I had to stick one onto this special bike! I'm totally honored and extremely proud of this achievement and recognition. I've arranged to send some to John and Matt.
One of the final finishing touches for this build which I never thought possible, due to their sheer rarity, is a pair of NOS turquoise Yeti water bottles, original issues made by Triumph USA, who are no longer in business. These came all the way from Japan, of all places. They look like they've been sat on a shelf for 30 years, due to a lot of ingrained dirt, but opening the cap they smell like they're just out of the factory! That distinctive 80s/90s plastic bottle smell in still intact. I think they look amazing and tie together the desert turquoise front and rear frame ends perfectly! Attaching them to the Yeti FRO trademark dual downtube bottle bosses, is a pair of silver no-name cages which are super light (lighter than Ringlé H2O) and quite similar in style to both King Cages and Blackburn cages, which Juli and Tomac both used, respectively, on their C-26s in 1990. They also came on the ProFRO when I bought it, so it's great to be able to retain them here.
The final touches were to replace the YETI-C26 and EASTON decals I'd aligned incorrectly when I first started the build. I can make my own die-cut vinyl decals so it wasn't much hassle. The white YETI & C-26 came from Stefan as well as the MBA sticker and PowerBar stickers, for the top tube, as well as (in a totally narcissistic and vain manner) adding my username to the top tube in Team Yeti font style. The other top tube sticker is a special one. 'Team Shrew' was started by Matt Sweeney, the movie special effects maestro from Hollywood who John Parker used to work with/for. Matt used these stickers on his rally car, and gave some to John who stuck them to his own Yeti bike, as well as a few special others. I made some up myself, then showed John, who showed Matt, who loved that I'd recreated them, and told me I could use them however I wanted to. This was a few months ago this year. So naturally I had to stick one onto this special bike! I'm totally honored and extremely proud of this achievement and recognition. I've arranged to send some to John and Matt.
Attachments
So, here's the finale of this awesome build (still awiting black wheel build). It's taken me on an amazing journey. Lastly, but in no way less important than anything else I've written about this build, I have to give huuuuuge thanks to my brother from another mother, former Team Yeti trials bike competitor, Aaron Faust. I don't remember how I came to connect with Aaron on Facebook, other than the obvious shared passion for vintage/retro bikes and Yeti Cycles. I went to California a couple of months ago and stayed with Aaron, where we got to hang out a couple of days, I saw his unbelievably awesome collection of bikes including some awesome one-offs and ultra cool Yetis he owns, and where I finally collected this banner, which Aaron kindly took delivery of after my purchase on eBay earlier this year. Aaron's been friends with and a former sponsored rider of John Parker, since the late 80s. They often meet up for various events, usually flat-track motorcycle races, and earlier in the summer at the Sacramento Mile, Aaron took this original Yeti banner with him and got John to sign it for me. At that point there were no plans for me to visit, but I'm so glad I got that chance, where I also met up with John. Aaron's efforts were above and beyond my expectations. This banner will accompany the bike and form a literal shrine to Yeti in my man cave.
With it, I am going to display this identical copy of the very ice axe that John Parker used in the original YETI CYCLES logo. It's a Chouinard Névé Piolet ice axe, made by Yvon Chouinard in the early 1980s. JP had a passion for rock/ice climbing, and had the axe immortalized in the YETI logo, drawn by his ex-wife's cousin, the late artist, Craig Stormon (who also drew the Yeti man and YETI stencil logos) Yvon Chouinard is the founder of Patagonia clothing, which was a sponsor of Team Yeti for a short time in the late 80s. Talk about going around in circles! These old Chouinard ice axes are quite sought after as 'retro' climbing equipment just like Yeti bikes, in climbing groups, but few people know of the connection to Parker/Yeti. I showed this to JP in a Facebook group for vintage Yeti bikes; he was quick to tell me his has a yellow triangle sticker so he could easily identify which was his I love it.
Thank you John Parker for all your support, advice, encouragement and love shown to me during this build. My hero!
With it, I am going to display this identical copy of the very ice axe that John Parker used in the original YETI CYCLES logo. It's a Chouinard Névé Piolet ice axe, made by Yvon Chouinard in the early 1980s. JP had a passion for rock/ice climbing, and had the axe immortalized in the YETI logo, drawn by his ex-wife's cousin, the late artist, Craig Stormon (who also drew the Yeti man and YETI stencil logos) Yvon Chouinard is the founder of Patagonia clothing, which was a sponsor of Team Yeti for a short time in the late 80s. Talk about going around in circles! These old Chouinard ice axes are quite sought after as 'retro' climbing equipment just like Yeti bikes, in climbing groups, but few people know of the connection to Parker/Yeti. I showed this to JP in a Facebook group for vintage Yeti bikes; he was quick to tell me his has a yellow triangle sticker so he could easily identify which was his I love it.
Thank you John Parker for all your support, advice, encouragement and love shown to me during this build. My hero!
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Re: Re:
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Yep! I'm taking the plunge. I hope to get support for it. :xmas-cool:sinnerman":2n1m0g3i said:
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Best thread for a long time!
Its the little touches, like the added stickers, that make it for me. And that banner is just the cherry on the cake, Awesome mate
...can i just ask though, is there any reason why your name is in different places on the top tube? and you will have to sort those pictures that seem to have fallen over :shock:
Its the little touches, like the added stickers, that make it for me. And that banner is just the cherry on the cake, Awesome mate
...can i just ask though, is there any reason why your name is in different places on the top tube? and you will have to sort those pictures that seem to have fallen over :shock:
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