Ha, I like sharing pictures. Be careful what you ask for. About the HiteRite, Correct I can honestly say I have never actually used it during a ride. It does fit right in with the 1987 build on this bike. I ride this bike more often than any of my other vintage rides. Basicaly a white label (1987/88) 6 speed Shimano XT groupset with a WTB dirt drop cockpit.
A bit of a Ritchey fetish, I contacted D about getting this bike from him several years ago. After some easy negotiating we came to an agreement that would leave everyone happy. I was really drawn to this particular bike because along with being my size, someone had ordered it with roller cam mounts for the front that just look so cool. something TR only did by special order.
Say stop:
A vision:
Probably started it's life out at PT. Reyes. A place you could go find a Cunningham, Ritchey, Ibis or several other sweet Mtb's to buy or just rent and ride for the day:
I already had built a different dirt drop Ritchey before this and rode it into the ground. That one was a mix of modern and old, this time I was determined to keep things within the spirit of the era. Took a few years to gather all the correct parts. The LD stem and the WTB shift Pods being the hardest to come by. I think the only thing on the bike not correct to 87 would be those 737's. I rode in the clips for years but now I feel naked if I am not clipped in:
Pictures from a few outings:
Not much of the bike but one of my favorites:
Initial ride, Catching up with my wife who was out picking blackberries along one of my local trails:
Well suited for the open trails of California. Road trip 2011:
Closer to home with my riding partner:
Falling down drunk:
Local ride:
Although I have ridden the bike in places like the big loop at Tiger, the Church propert out in Black Diamond, it really excell's on the more open terrain found in places like E. Wa. or the logging roads closer to home. I ride it quite often off of 410 when free of snow. Looping Sun Top with Skookum being my favorite. There is a time and a place for the supermondo deluxe full suspension rides and I still have a Turner for that, but more often than not, I now enjoy the simple ride a fully rigid bike offers.