|   Chasing that childhood dream (the history of MTB)(long) | BH
Aug 9, 2002 1:03 PM | | When I was growing up in the 70s, my first bike was the Sears version of an Orange Crate with 5 speeds. It was later replaced with a road bike. I never had a BMX bike or a cruiser. I guess I missed out as far as bicycles are concerned and its probably why I have no understanding why anyone would want a single speed bike now. My first experience of dirt was riding with my dad on the back of a Honda 90 trail bike. When I was 14, I even got my own Trail 90.
Being in the city, there weren't very many places I could ride it especially since I was supposed to have a motorcycle license. It mostly collected dust until we took our yearly family vacation to Mexico. My dad and I tore up the hills on our Hondas. It was great fun and I have such great memories especially the time that we crashed into the cactus.
I first became aware of mountain bikes while in High School around 83. A friend who worked at a bike shop that could handle major frame repairs actually converted a Schwinn Varsity into an MTB with 26" knobbies and all. I jumped on the bandwagon as well and put some cyclocross tires on my 10 speed. I soon discovered that dirt riding was a heck of a lot more difficult than road riding.
Around 87, I bought my first MTB. It worked much better than my 10 speed. Even fatter tires and lower gears. Wide bars that improved stability but still, dirt riding was difficult.
Around 90, I bought a new MTB. It was beefier looking but about 3 pounds lighter. The new Shimano Deore LX drivetrain was much better than anything I had used before including the Sun Tour Cyclone rear derailleur with 13-18 freewheel on my road bike. This bike used 71/73 frame angles, short chainstays and the long top tube and could climb and descend even better than the 87. This bike worked well but still, dirt riding was difficult. Anything more than a smooth road and the bars felt like I was holding a jackhammer. I even had this bike up to Mammoth and road the Kamikazee (SP?). It was a handfull. I crashed so many times.
In 99, I decided to get a new bike. This time I went with a hardtail with a suspension fork. What an improvement. No more jackhammer. Bumps that normally torqued the steering were absorbed like butter. The V brakes were powerful and smooth and so easy to adjust and set up. Shifting in the front was aided by pins and ramps that identified each shift with a loud, short "crunchelunk". This bike steered like my old road bike: very quick, lean into turns, steer with the hips, etc. Still though, my off road prowess was limited. The stiff rear end would bounce and slide around. The ride was bone jarring. I rode better every place that I rode the rigid forked bikes but didn't really allow me to go much further.
In 00, I took my bike to Big Bear. While in Big Bear I discovered an entire new breed of bikes. These bikes looked like engineless motorcycles. With their 8" of travel, dual crown forks and hydraulic disk brakes, they made my old Honda 90 seem like a moped with its knee action suspension and cable drum brakes. I watched riders rolling over obstacles that I never imagined possible to ride over. I saw one guy ride UP a series of stairs.
Last year, I took the plunge. I bought my first F/S mountain bike. It has 4 ½" to 6" of adjustable travel, hydraulic disks, Horst link suspension, Z1, XT and XTR. All the trimmings.
Last night while riding it, I looked down at the other tracks on the trail. It was obvious where the other riders ahead of me dismounted to walk obstacles that I was riding over. Before F/S that would had been me as well. No other bicycle that I have ever owned could do what this thing does.
Finally, after nearly 20 years, I have the bicycle that I always wanted. A bike that allows a rider of my limited ability to safely ride over just about anything that I care to ride over. Every time I ride it I remember that old Honda 90. This is the only bicycle that I've owned that could touch the trailability of that junior motorcycle. Its truly amazing how a good bicycle design can allow a rider of limited skill and ability to ride over rocks, roots, gravel, ruts, small bushes, logs on trails that once could only be hiked over or ridden by only the most expert of mountain bikers.
It is truly a great time to be a mountain biker. |
| Great read... similar experience (more) | PmbH
Aug 9, 2002 1:19 PM | | Zonic Man "Evolution of MTB suspension preference" 6/6/02 2:43pm
It seems I've been through a similar-yet-different realization of how bikes have changed. The funny thing is that I've since come full-circle, and took my hardtail for it's first ride last night. It took about 3 miles, but my old riding style came back to me. It's SO different on the hardtail... But it gives me another pleasure out of riding: It makes the formerly-easy trails much more challenging.
Kinda makes me wonder what mountain bikes will be like 10 years from now... |
| SL90? | Old Parts Manager
Aug 9, 2002 2:12 PM | | Nice read. So, what do you think I should do with the 1977 Fuji S-10s hanging in the basement? Upgrade or try to fix up as close to stock as possible? Looks good, feels good - though a bit clunky. I'm not even close to being a full time rhoady, but that ol' Gal & I go too far back to call it quits.
Some parts of the past refuse to let go... especially the good parts. |
| Can crashing into a cactus really be a good memory??;-) NM | mudferret
Aug 9, 2002 2:50 PM | | . |
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