What was your first mountain bike?
Discussion
On holiday in the Lake District last week I had a blast from the past.
In the window of an outdoor shop I saw a forlorn looking Muddy Fox Pathfinder of early 90's vintage, similar to my first mountain bike.
It was very much of its' time, steel frame, massive size, road bike geometry,purple paint with yellow specks and yellow cables, and a stem which looked about a foot long.I put a flex stem on it as I couldn't afford suspension forks.
I wish I hadn't sold it, as I got peanuts for it which I put towards an aluminium framed Trek with suspension in '96.
Does anyone else have fond memories of their first moutain bike?
In the window of an outdoor shop I saw a forlorn looking Muddy Fox Pathfinder of early 90's vintage, similar to my first mountain bike.
It was very much of its' time, steel frame, massive size, road bike geometry,purple paint with yellow specks and yellow cables, and a stem which looked about a foot long.I put a flex stem on it as I couldn't afford suspension forks.
I wish I hadn't sold it, as I got peanuts for it which I put towards an aluminium framed Trek with suspension in '96.
Does anyone else have fond memories of their first moutain bike?
Bought a Schwinn (new) in 1990.
Sold it 18 months later for £100 more than I paid.
I was not too bothered about selling this as it enabled me to buy a Cannondale Delta V900 in 1992, which I kept until 3 months ago.
I was very sorry to see this go. However without selling it, I'd never have my Specialized XC now.
Sold it 18 months later for £100 more than I paid.
I was not too bothered about selling this as it enabled me to buy a Cannondale Delta V900 in 1992, which I kept until 3 months ago.
I was very sorry to see this go. However without selling it, I'd never have my Specialized XC now.
My first proper MB was a Raleigh M-Trax Titanium. I stripped it down after buying it second hand; repainted it (spraybake) and treated it to a pair of shocks on the front. Changed the rims for Mavic and added a few more upgrades... then did the London to Brighton on it.
My mates with their Marins, Claude Butlers etc all had problems along the way... except for the custom M-Trax.
My mates with their Marins, Claude Butlers etc all had problems along the way... except for the custom M-Trax.
Trooper2 said:
A late 1980s Haro Impulse
Saw one of those on the road last week!Mine was a borrowed Saracen something-or-other (iirc). Weighed just slightly more than the Eiffel Tower. After riding a friend's new GT I realised what the problem was and bought myself a new '97 Marin Palisades Trail. That was promptly nicked & I replaced it with a '98 Marin Rocky Ridge (which is still going strong as a commuter hack)
A Raleigh Kalahari
With a Shimano Exige groupset upgrade and Girvin Flexstem.
Interesting story behind this too:
I was 15, and had been saving my pennies up for some time to buy this bike, and had put a deposit down a few months previous.
The day of collection finally arrived, and I paid, and went to take my bike away from Halfords when I adjusted the seatpost and tightened the seatclamp: Snap! The seatclamp (part of the frame) snapped off and I had a useless bike.
So the Halfords guys offered a similar one, but I refused as this bike for some reason had the better groupset on it for the same money. So they agreed to rebuild the bike overnight for me.
Off I went, narked but still excited and I went home. I then went out to 'play' with my mate on our racing bikes.
I then proceeded to go round a corner, and hit a parked car side-on.
Result = Hospital for concussion and a seriously snapped collarbone
Arse.
I couldn't ride the thing for 6 weeks at least if I was good and let the bone heal.
But no, I thought I'd try and ride the bike whilst in a sling a few weeks later.
Aaaaand you can imagine what happened. Off I came and snapped my shoulder again.
Took three months to repair my collarbone
Still it made riding the bike all the more satisfying once better, and I had some great times on it :wistfulsmiley:
With a Shimano Exige groupset upgrade and Girvin Flexstem.
Interesting story behind this too:
I was 15, and had been saving my pennies up for some time to buy this bike, and had put a deposit down a few months previous.
The day of collection finally arrived, and I paid, and went to take my bike away from Halfords when I adjusted the seatpost and tightened the seatclamp: Snap! The seatclamp (part of the frame) snapped off and I had a useless bike.
So the Halfords guys offered a similar one, but I refused as this bike for some reason had the better groupset on it for the same money. So they agreed to rebuild the bike overnight for me.
Off I went, narked but still excited and I went home. I then went out to 'play' with my mate on our racing bikes.
I then proceeded to go round a corner, and hit a parked car side-on.
Result = Hospital for concussion and a seriously snapped collarbone
Arse.
I couldn't ride the thing for 6 weeks at least if I was good and let the bone heal.
But no, I thought I'd try and ride the bike whilst in a sling a few weeks later.
Aaaaand you can imagine what happened. Off I came and snapped my shoulder again.
Took three months to repair my collarbone
Still it made riding the bike all the more satisfying once better, and I had some great times on it :wistfulsmiley:
Edited by neil_bolton on Wednesday 5th September 09:27
Raleigh Montage, swiftly upgraded with the snot green Suntour shifters (remember them??)
21" frame recommended for a 15 year old was a bit of a special moment when I come to think of it.
I still remember the guy in the bike shop saying to my dad that it would be fine unless I grew to be 6'2" (strangely prophetic...)at my present height (16 years later) I now have a 19.5" FS.
Thankfully I no longer feel the need to wear a cricket box whilst on my bike!
21" frame recommended for a 15 year old was a bit of a special moment when I come to think of it.
I still remember the guy in the bike shop saying to my dad that it would be fine unless I grew to be 6'2" (strangely prophetic...)at my present height (16 years later) I now have a 19.5" FS.
Thankfully I no longer feel the need to wear a cricket box whilst on my bike!
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