Mountain Biking - 10 Years Later

In the Mid 90's I was really into mountain biking, I was a mechanic at a LBS and I pretty much lived for riding. I have recently gotten back into it after a 10 year hiatus. Its funny how things have changed.

10 years ago:

1. The hot new bike was the Gary Fisher Level Betty. All my buddies wanted one.
2. I had an AMP research, a Klien (pre trek) and a Griffen.
3. When building a bike, you had to chose what color for your anodised aluminum parts.
4. There were no freeride, or dirt jump bikes. Only XC and downhill.
5. Mountain Cycle San Andreas, & Foes Fab were the DH bikes to have.
6. Elastomers were the BEST.
7. ZZYXX forks!
8. Trek "Y" bikes
9. 8 speed was too expensive for many. 6 speed was acceptable.
10. The value of a bike was determined by how light it was.

Wow, it's great thinking back to that. Granted I was in my "hiatus" during the period you are talking about but I can still completely understand where you are coming from. I still remember when I was buying (with my parent's money) my Diamond Back Ascent EX. My dad did everything he could to convince me that having shifters under the bars with two levers was stupid! Granted, some people still feel this way.

I also remember how you could always spot a Cannondale because it had that "huge" down tube.

Pffft...

I still remember my 3 speed Supercycle Racer with the 3-spd shifter on the top of the bar

had to turn the drop bar up so that I could ride in the parks and river trails where we used to live

6 speeds was not acceptable in 1996.

Elastomers were never the best.

6 speeds was not acceptable in 1996.

Elastomers were never the best.

Now that you mention it I had 7 speed back in 91 I believe.

6 speeds was not acceptable in 1996.

Elastomers were never the best.

People sure seemed to think so in the shop I worked. Of course everyone wanted a Hanebrink too...

No, but a RS Judy SL was DA BOMB!!!! Who cares if it blew apart every 6 months.

I had a GT Ricochet with a Quadra 5 and I loved it!!!!

Before that I had the GT Karakorum that had the Tequilla Sunrise (Yellow to Orange w/black splashes)paint job and the U-Brake mounted at the chainstays. Remember those?

My current bike has a Quarda 5. 1995 Stumpjumper FSR.

My current fork cost more than my Ricochet!

heres my 91 beast of the east (photo taken in 1996 actually). Yes those are purple grafton cranks.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/mcoine/scan-1.jpg

See what I mean about anodised parts!!! I bet all your friends were jealous when you got purple cranks! I still remember when I got blue Top Line cranks.

best part is, I traded a case of beer for the graftons, because my friend who owned them thought they were cracked. I still use those cranks today.. minus the purple.