Nice to know I'm not the only one.

1989 MB-1 with 1994 Shimano XT gets me were I want to go (when in the woods).

That Ritchey looks familiar

Does my Cannondale qualify as a vintage mountain bike. I’ve owned it since new. It is a solid, comfortable ride. 👍

Before the ‘Dale I owned a Parkpree. Pretty amazing bike, especially considering its low entry price.

PARKPRE MOUNTAIN BIKES - HISTORY

What tires are those, please? They look great, as does the whole build.

I like old Trek Singletracks without suspension, up to 2002 or so. I own a 2002 800 Sport Singletrack sans suspension. Love the bike, but sometimes wish it was friction shift friendly. I love the geometry, ride comfort, gearing, and I plan on installing a rack, and enjoying it as a trail/city/tourer. I think I'd like an older Trek singletrack, Bridgestone MTB, StumpJumper, or something like them.

Those are Compass/René Herse Rat Trap Pass.

They make pretty good commuter - all purpose bikes. This one was covered in grease and grime at a flea market but my wife saw enough of the paint to dig it out.

My favorite is the only MTB I've ever had. My 1985 Cannondale SM600 with the 24"/26" wheels. I built it in '85 when I worked in a Bike Shop in NY. What I'd like to find is a Slingshot in my size and price-range (which are both small).

Well, when it comes to Merz it's a no brainer for me as can be argued, they are custom so each is one of a kind.

I like the utility of my 1988 Cimarron LE. I like the overall "look" of my 1983 Univega Alpina Ultima.

I've rebuilt the Cimarron several times. I recently picked up a 1990 Shogun Prairie Breaker, so I did a fairly complete transplant of its XT parts onto my Cimarron, although I used alternate brake calipers.



88 Cimarron 2019 Version by wrk101, on Flickr



1983 Univega Alpina Ultima by wrk101, on Flickr

Got to love the Superbe Tech RD on the Univega:


1983 Univega Alpina Ultima by wrk101, on Flickr

Greetings! Can you elaborate as to what you enjoy about your Cdale 600?

[QUOTE=wrk101;21032461]I like the utility of my 1988 Cimarron LE.

Hi Bill, I've got the Elkhorn model which is one step down from yours. What does your bike "do" for you. I noticed my Elk likes to steer; it really wants to turn in the direction the handlebars are turned. I'm used to riding around my usual POS BRC hauler which has much more reluctance to turn, even though they are similar mountain bikes.

I like the history of the early ones
82 Ritchey


86 Ritchey


85 Stumpjumper Team


82 Stumpjumper


85 Ritchey

Besides sentimental value, I like the comfortable ride I get despite the oversize tubes. I love the Suntour components; especially the reverse-action front. The Rollercams never gave me problem . I did switch to Pedersen Self-energizing brakes on the front when I replaced the steel fork with an SR Litage. It's also an example of a bike from an era when MTBs were trying new things (24/26 wheels as an example).

I dunno if this is considered vintage or not, maybe, as far as mtn bikes go, it is. Regardless: "run whatcha brung". Here's my 95 Trek 850, now with drop bars and friction/indexed Deore thumbies. Fine bike which does everything I want it to. I agree with others that all that suspension is just dead weight for me. Solid frame and fork work well. I know how to ride light in the saddle. Standing on the pedals on occasion is good for my back too.

Cheers

[QUOTE=prairiepedaler;21032484]Last I knew Elkhorn was a Raleigh. With Schwinn, one step down was the High Sierra. Two steps down was the Sierra. The Cimarron was the one made in USA. High Sierra was made in Taiwan by Giant.

The geometry of the Cimarron just fits me.

M1000

1990 Panasonic MC6500. But that‘s the only mountain bike i have ever ridden and owned

I went thru a phase with seeking old MTBs out. Partially for the quirky early geo, bullmoose and bi-plane. But also because the early had BMX and/or motorcycle parts, and that's just cool.

They are great all around bikes most anyone can or will ride. Modern MTB are like Modern BMX. Very business and specific. They will both swing back the other way or offer more options to make then more rounded, in time ..

[QUOTE=wrk101;21033906]Hi Bill, your memory is working just fine. It is Raleighs' Crested Butte which was TOTL in that series, not a Cimarron (which is a Schwinn product). I knew it started with a "C". I don't know where the Elkhorn was made.

Ok B84, thanks for the feedback. The one I have came with Deore all around, save for the rollercams. One could tell it had barely bin ridden. I need to switch handlebars, seatpost, stem and pedals in order to make it rideable. Everything has been cleaned, repacked and adjusted. I even took the time to re-enforce those plastic cable guides atop the top tube with E6000 before they break off on their own, then painted over the glue with black enamel for UV protection. Looks not bad. I think I'd even go one step further and put some kind of minor padded roll bar over the TT for extra protection.

Sounds nice! Any pictures? I think yours might be a little newer than my '85 (?); mine has the metal cable guides. Also, unless you already did, check the rear dropouts for "initials". Mine has "TC" in a circle stamped on the outside of the non-drive side dropout. These are supposedly the initials of the person who built the frame. I understand that many, but not all Cannondales from this general era have this. Enjoy the bike!

I haven't owned a lot of MTBs and in fact my first one was a way too big Specialized StreetStomper. I would mind having a Fisher HKII, it was just a good bike. The only issue I had was the HS and I think it was a design flaw in that that big 1 1/4" headset just needed more threads on the locknut to get ti set tighter.

However an old MTB I would love to have because I thought the color was very cool. It was the 1990 Univega Alpina Sport LX, I am not sure it was even in the catalog. It wasn't the most expensive bike in the line but nicely appointed with a DB ChroMo frame and Shimano Mountain LX (which the following year became Deore LX) and a fabulous paint job. The paint was a great lavender color with big speckles, almost like flecks, of colored paints. Aside from the one my friend had I've only ever seen one listed for sale but couldn't swing it.

The HK II (interweb pic)

Yeah, its funny, Jim posted it on his FB page and of course a couple of poster's complained about the price, well guess what, the price went waaay up after I bought it, morons.