|   Memory lane poll: Do you remember when... | Red Ascent
Jan 16, 2002 2:23 PM | | Suntour's MicroDrive was the best thing since sliced bread?
Marzocchi's XC500 and XC250 suspension forks were known only for the prodigious amount of seals they blew?
Purple anodized chainrings were in?
Critics of Shimano's 8-speed XTR claimed that "no one but racers will ever need more than 7 speeds"?
Suspension forks with MCU stacks and 48mm of travel were state of the art?
Downhill forks had 80mm of travel and weighed 4 lbs?
"SuperCross" bikes, with 700c wheels, yielded to the industry standard of 26"?
Shimano's RapidFire shifting system had two under bar thumb buttons, one right on top of the other, thus ensuring you'd misshift all day long?
Specialize registered the domain, "www.gtsucks.com", and linked it to their site?
Avid's only real products were the MicroDapter and Tri-Dangle?
The standard in mountain bike rims was 36 holes and Schraeder drilling?
Flourescent pink Descente jerseys and shorts were worn by the likes of Johhny T himself?
Hite-Rites were touted as making QR seatpost clamps obsolete?
Cannondale actually copyrighted the word "Freeride"?
Bob Roll rode a Softride on the national circuit and had his own grips, the "Prayer Stix", with his ugly mug molded into them?
Specialized claimed that thier innovative full supension design, the FSR, was far to expensive and complex to ever manufacture in quantity?
Campagnolo made a high end mountain bike gruppo (the Centaur)?
Just some random thoughts on my way into work.....Enjoy!
Phil |
| wait a sec, you mean to tell me that | dante
Jan 16, 2002 2:30 PM | | Purple anodized chainrings are out now? Damn...
dante
(actually missed most of those, only got (back) into mtn biking in 1999...) |
| ...Cinelli made mountain bikes... | DanO
Jan 16, 2002 2:39 PM | | |
| About the same time Bianchi did.... | Red Ascent
Jan 16, 2002 2:51 PM | | Almost bought one of their "Project-7" 700c (now known as 29") mountain bikes back in '95. Scary huh? Nice rig you got though. Campy components too?
Phil |
| Umma Gumma! | DanO
Jan 16, 2002 2:57 PM | | Cinelli is roomie's. Surly is mine. Ah yes, remember when surly made blue cross-checks and black 1X1s? |
| Ahhh yes.... | Red Ascent
Jan 16, 2002 3:14 PM | | Or when GT had to distinguish their mountain bike line with "all-terra", so folks wouldn't confuse it with thier BMX/freestyle bikes? |
| I've got an OLD Cinelli BMX frame and fork looking for a home | cburke
Jan 16, 2002 3:42 PM | | ...probably too far out of date to build up, but interesting enough. |
| How about TuffWheels??? or Z-Rims???? | HUGE-GENE
Jan 16, 2002 2:40 PM | | cool.
Oh yeah, Hi red ASScent!!!! |
| How about Motomags? | allroads
Jan 16, 2002 4:31 PM | | and Webco frames and Redline forks? |
| Remember a LBS with a Redline mtb frame hanging on the wall... | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 4:48 PM | | Someone bought it, built it up, rode it once or twice then decided it was to stiff. That was back in the early '90s.
I'm using Redline pedals on my Bullit now. (Wellgo cartridge bearing) |
| Dang, I remember all of that... | Ciclistagonzo
Jan 16, 2002 2:50 PM | | And I'm only 26! Thanks for making me feel old!!!
Aaron G. |
| Derailleurs with antlers on them. (nm) | Ichabod
Jan 16, 2002 2:54 PM | | About the oldest thing I can remember. |
| all too well...(nm) | Schlubbe
Jan 16, 2002 2:59 PM | | n.m. - as in "not much"... reference to what I actually remember anymore.
I remember popping the big bucks for this new kind of suntour thumb shifter with what they called "indexing"... ever heard of it?
Der Elder Schlubbenheimer |
| Or when shimano's best brake levers.... | martini
Jan 16, 2002 3:04 PM | | were like 6" long? Deigned so you could 'grab' a whipping handful of brake in those wicked situations when lots of power was needed.
Or Pullstar hubs! Nothing like trying to build up a wheel and have your spokes spin on you as you build the wheel.
I'd still love to find one of those 'supercross' Biachi Project 7's. Those were damned cool.
Or how's this: MTB magazine? I liked that one too. Came out about the same time that BIKE did. Didn't last very long though...
marty |
| that article in Bicycling.... | Spacemoose
Jan 16, 2002 3:07 PM | | titled "The Clunkers of Marin County".
And thinking "hey, that looks cool....." |
| I'm actually using Campy mtb parts right now! | Zaphod
Jan 16, 2002 3:23 PM | | Yeah, I came across some reallly swank steel chainrings at a bike shop in portland. Really cool guys at that shop, like 2 blocks from the water downtown.
So they've been in my parts bin for a few years and have recently been gracing my race face cranks. bomber steel rings. Really clean looking too... as much as rings can be.
-Zaphod |
| A LBS near my GF's parents has 2 Fat Chances..... | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 5:12 PM | | built up with the Campy groupos. Not many miles on them either. They are just sitting in his atic/store room collecting dust. I've often thought about asking him if he wants to sell them, but I need another bike (or pair) of old mtn bikes like I need another left foot. |
| Six-speed freehub? Amp Linkage forks? BioPace? U-Brakes? | Fast Eddy
Jan 16, 2002 3:40 PM | | Biopace chainrings:
Amp Linkage fork, circa 1992:
Big handfulla brakes (and thumbies):
6-speeds, 36 spokes, little bitty xt hubs, Arraya rims:
'88 Diamondback Arrival. Aluminum frame, but weighs over 30 lbs. I was in hog heaven upgrading from a 40lb steel DB Ascent. $750 and it was top-of-the-line that year. I rode it for 10 years before seeing the "light" of a 23lb s-works hardtail with a Manitou SX-Ti and V-Brakes.
Hanging in my garage, unridden since this picture was taken (note u-brake on chainstays): |
| BioPace - how to pedal squares on purpose! | Red Ascent
Jan 16, 2002 3:52 PM | | Wow...a DB older than mine, and heavier than my old rigid Ascent too! My '94 Ascent weighed in at a 28 lbs with a rigid fork...and I can actually remember
i wanting
an Amp linkage fork. Geez..did I actually admit to that?
Thanks for the pics...brings back lots of memories.
Phil |
| LOL! I just threw away a handfull of biopace rings... | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 4:09 PM | | and my commuter/touring mtb has a U-brake and thumbshifters.
Old steel GT Avalanche, circa ~1990. |
| too bad, they make good picture frames (nm) | little b
Jan 16, 2002 4:23 PM | | nm |
| and clocks too! (Never throw away bike parts) - nm | radair
Jan 16, 2002 4:48 PM | | |
| They are still in the scrap metal bin here at work if you want.. | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 4:50 PM | | me to grab them. Let me know.
They aren't new though. I got them when I bought an old set of Shimano cranks from the early '90s. They guy threw them in the box when he shipped. |
| yeah, grab a few of them, i'll take them. | little b
Jan 16, 2002 4:51 PM | | when i eventually come to ride up there (soon, i hope) i'll take them off your hands.
-beth |
| I'll go wander out there now so I don't forget. NM | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 4:52 PM | | nm |
| thanks! (nm) | little b
Jan 16, 2002 4:56 PM | | nm |
| 3 big, 2 middles, 2 grannies & cogs off a 7 spd suntour free. NM | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 5:01 PM | | nm |
| Wind chimes.... | TNJED®
Jan 17, 2002 8:04 AM | | I have one made out of three chain rings, 2 cranks, one pedal, and an XT rear dee-rail-er (I can never spell that) |
| How's about when there were no suspension forks... | Lucky
Jan 16, 2002 4:13 PM | | or downhill bikes?
Friction shifting?
5-speed freewheels you could take apart and customize from the LBS's cog board?
Binda Extra toe straps were da' bomb?
non-aero cable routing?
The first Cateye bike computer (I had one)?
Benotto Cello tape?
2-tone handlebar wrap jobs done in Benotto Cello tape?
Leather-soled road shoes?
Wooden-soled road shoes (I aways wanted a pair)?
Kathy (making myself feel old...) ;-) |
| I had a 7 speed freewheel... | Twilight Error®
Jan 16, 2002 4:44 PM | | But I don't remember the wood and leather soled road shoes!
I wonder what'll be considered *quaint* in 20 years..... |
| I'm still using a 7spd Sachs freewheel on one of my bikes. NM | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 4:52 PM | | nm |
| Mine is still mostly good... | Twilight Error®
Jan 16, 2002 4:59 PM | | I wore two cogs and couldn't find replacements anywhere, so I had to get cassette hubs. |
| I have 3 Sachs & 1 Shimano freewheels... | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 5:08 PM | | In varying states of repair. It seemed like I could get new cogs & freewheels from roadbike places but the Sachs stuff is expensive. Lots of low end Shimano freewheels around.
The Hi-E hub (remember them?) I'm using them on is starting to have bearing problems again, which means taking apart the wheel to get to them (hub is held together by spoke tension). The rim is thin so I'll probably give up on the whole combination when either the rim or the hub bearings pack it in.
It is on my commuter so it sees it share of abrasive road grime.
That set of wheels was built by Dave's Wheels (Speed Dreams). I ordered them after reading about him in probably MTB Action when they built up a very light titanium GT back in the early 90s. |
| Speed Dreams and HiE hubs... I thought they'd all dissapeared! | Twilight Error®
Jan 17, 2002 4:45 AM | | I recall when I first started riding I wanted a set of Speed Dreams wheels! Back then I was obsessed about getting my bike as light as I could, so its probably a good thing I didn't have much money to spend on it.
I settled for a set of wheels built around NukeProof hubs (remeber them?), they were nothing but trouble - I went through two front hubs and three rear before they went out of business.
I'm actually pressing that freewheel back into service, it'll be ressurected as a singlespeed wheel on my old Cannondale M600. I've got a SACHS New Success derailluer to use as a chain tensioner too.
Good or bad, those were the days... |
| Our tandem still has a 7 spd Sachs freewheel on it... | Lucky
Jan 17, 2002 5:13 AM | | threaded on to a Phil Wood tandem hub. No way I want to spend the bucks converting that baby to cassette. I have a spare Sachs freewheel in stock for when the current one dies.
Kathy :) |
| All that and more--- | Bigwheel
Jan 16, 2002 5:11 PM | | A Schwinn Excelsior with fresh air in the tires and a well packed New Departure hub was the hot setup?
All Terrain Bikes was in the running for the title?
Gary Fisher wasn't considered to be the "Godfather" of Mtn. Biking.
Tinker rode with riser bars and no one else did?
The year is was almost impossible to find a bike with rear canti's?
E-stays?
RM-20 rims?
Farmer Johns?
Factory Pilots?
Mafac brakes with Thomaselli levers?
The Campy support vehicle?
The Campy Euclid Gruppo with Bullet Shifters and 8spd blow up hub?
The Campy Euclid 7spd. Gruppo with Elephantine levers? (see pic)
Shimano Cantis came with braze-ons? (see pic) (braze ons in box!)
The Mtn. Bike Hall of Fame actually was.
Mtn. Bike Polo?
The Huffy Toss?
BTW any attempt at an offroad 700c bike prior to 1999 was not a 29"r but a 28"r. There is a difference. |
| LOL! See my post under Zaphod's Campy post above... | CraigH
Jan 16, 2002 5:15 PM | | The Fat Chance I'm talking about has those huge brake levers. |
| bullmoose handlebars | moschika
Jan 16, 2002 5:15 PM | | and shoulder straps were the things to get if it didn't already come with them. |
| and EVERY bike was a single speed | kendog
Jan 16, 2002 5:50 PM | | The angry old man says, "When I was a boy we didn't have bikes!
It was before the big bang! We were all sub-atomic particles floating in the ether -and we LIKED it!" |
| How bout | LakeRaven
Jan 16, 2002 6:10 PM | | the Browning automatic transmission? My 86 rockhopper came with non sis thumbies and a riser bar and I upgraded to deore 5 speed sis and a flat bar. Remember the first brave soul to use toe clips or barends on their ride? We all told them that they would crash and burn like sky-lab. |
| how about Deore thumb shifters? | Harovore
Jan 16, 2002 7:28 PM | | Rarely missed a shift with them suckers! Bring 'em back! |
| I have a pair | berrywise
Jan 16, 2002 8:22 PM | | brand new in box, with cables, ferulles etc. Already have someone interested though.
bw |
| I've got two pair... | Twilight Error®
Jan 17, 2002 4:50 AM | | One is actually a set of Suntour XCPro shifters.
You can't have either pair - I need 'em for my bikes.
If you REALLY want a set, I do know someone that has a small stock of Suntour XCPros. |
| Deore XT tumbies... | Doc
Jan 17, 2002 5:53 AM | | 7 spd, SIS or friction shifting.
About three years ago I was commuting when I noticed that the piece of clear protective plastic was still on the tops of them, I peeled it off and it was like having new shifters all over again! |
| Forget the parts! What about? | Steve-O
Jan 17, 2002 6:19 AM | | When Bridgestone MB-1's were the hottest bikes out there?
When you drooled over custom steel frames like Mountain Goats?
When American came out with a Beryllium Alloy frame? (did these actually make it to production?)
When it was Fisher - Not Gary Fisher?
When Klien was still made in Washington? What about those massive rigid forks?
When Niskiki Alien frames looked cool?
When a Trek Y Frame seemed revolutionary?
When Specialized Metal Matrix hit the market?
When you first saw a Trimble frame?
What about AlpineStars? (I think D8 is still riding one)
What about Yokota?
ParkPre? |
| Finally someone mentioned the worlds best (past) | TNJED®
Jan 17, 2002 8:01 AM | | mt bike company. Bridgestone!!! I used to ride my MB-3 once a week down to the LBS to drool over and test ride the MB-1. What a bike. I forget what it cost back then but I remember thinking that it was ridiculously high for a bicycle (probably $1000 or something). Oh how times do change since I'm still recovering from my last $2200 purchase. I actually bumped into an older woman (50ish) in Leominster this winter with a stock (except for the fork) MB-1. The bike was glowing and beautiful. Thumb shifter and all. Almost brought a tear to my eye. |
| There's a guy on the train... | Fast Eddy
Jan 17, 2002 3:04 PM | | ...who rides an mb-3 converted into a singlespeed. Nice. |
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