simpleton.

Thanks for the suggestion Blilrat. I didn't realize origin8 made one too. I found the one that problem solvers make but it looks much chunkier.

pcdmiele

thanks for the info, It is an Answer Manitou bulge FS titanium spring. I was able to find the factory owners manual with included rebuilding/adjusting info. it looks like it is in excellent shape too.

Royal

frantik

1988 Diamondback Ascent EX.. my fun around town bike.. it needs better tires but otherwise I like it. it may get a drop bar but i'm 50/50 right now since i'm kind of having fun with the riser bar. i feel like jumping everything

Italuminium

Wow, Frantik, just wow. That's one of the baddest around town bikes. enjoy the ride!

frantik

cog_nate 

Those purple ano bits are sweet.

Here's my latest project, an early 90s (not sure if vintage enough, but a lot of the components are) Merlin. Titanium frame, Moots stem/bar combo and White Industries bottom bracket; mostly Deore XT components (shifters, brake levers, brakes, rear derailleur crankset, hubs); Easton Flatboy pedals; no-nonsense Jandd panniers and rack bag; Turbo saddle; Planet Bike Cascadia fenders; bell.

neo_pop_71

Good call billrat! I'm not a big fan of Origin8 but these bolt on cable stops (single or double) are really useful and provide a clean look. I agree with you simpleton, the Problem Solvers are none too pretty. He's right about them coming in black, I ran a pair of them on my Smorgasbord single speed, it was an aesthetic call because I didn't want to run housing all the way back with the clips. Go with a small bit of rubber film (like the leftovers from cyclometer) under the clamp and that'll save marking up your paint, I almost learned the hard way on my clear coat.

neo_pop_71

That's a great fork Royal, I ran that same fork on my '93 Yeti A.R.C., it was one of the best forks available at that time. The SX with the titanium spring performed much better than the steel spring model plus it weighed less. Old school race ready fork that should give you great performance with no troubles. Those M2 Metal Matrix Stumpjumpers were super bikes, you should have plenty of fun on that bike, enjoy! Also, you're right about the Marzocchi Bomber fork being are good one, especially the Z1 (and later the Bomber Fly) fork. I have a Z1 Bomber on my Psycle Werks Wild Hare, that fork has performed like champ! Marzocchi is the Italian equivalent of Fox, they've been doing suspension since the late 40's. Plus, they always have a lovely booth at Interbike each year...



...see how everyone admires her penmanship.

neo_pop_71

Another nice build on your D.B. Ascent EX Frantik, really sharp my man! Are those NOS cages on your pedals? Do you have a stash of bike treasures? Everyone I knew back in the day would have killed for a set of those pedals in that color!!! I really dig it... not used to seeing one of your builds without a drop bar but it does look like a fun bike!

Peace,

-D-

frantik

hey neo pop.. nah they aren't NOS.. all the purple ano is new stuff off ebay except the bottle cage. the fixie guys brought ano back...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VP-Bear-Trap...-/290825488040

and yeah i can't decide if i should put on a drop bar on it or not.. i feel like with a drop bar it would be a more capable bike, but the with brake levers set up for the drops would mean it's not as good for cruising around town...

Chrome Molly

That's really nice. A Ti commuter/do all bike, lucky you.

simpleton.

Man, I love this bike! Nice work!!

pcdmiele

NP, thanks for the info on the Manitou and marzzochi shocks. I just wasn't into mountain bikes during those years(I couldn't afford it) so missed out on knowing "what was what" but this thread and the drop bar thread have been very educational and inspirational. thanks for all the great post to all you guys and keep 'em coming.

royal

Chrome Molly

Recently finished building this Kona Cinder Cone back up from a bare frame. It's a 1990 Joe Murray designed Japan built model and really handles the dirt and rougher stuff well considering there's no suspension on it. It won't win any races to the trail, but once there it's quite solid.

EKW in DC

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10757602@N08/9549954418

Finally getting around to posting my vintage MTB drop bar build, at least as it stands now. The complete progression, complete with photos, is available using the link above.

A set of trekking bars saw duty while I saved up for drop bars and the other related component upgrades (bar end shifters, etc.), but the conversion is now complete. Drive train is 3x8 (all Deore except for the cransket which is Alivio b/c I wanted square taper). Could never get the cantis set up the way I wanted, so I bit the bullet and bought some Avid SD7 v-brakes and Tekro RL520 levers. Love the setup.

After some difficulties with a rear wheel from Handspun (not build quality issues - tire compatibility issues), I ended up building my own rear wheel, too. Best rear wheel I've ever had, and it's the first one I've built myself. Over 1,000 miles on it now, and it's still as true as the day I built it! I just put Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour 26 x 2.0" tires on last week after getting fed up with sidewall failures on the cheaper Michelin City tires I was trying to use.

Anyway, bike's coming along. Still on my upgrade list are:

Brooks saddle
SPD pedals
Front rack(s)
Dynamo hub front wheel build and lighting

gomango

Lovin' this build for sure!

I'd take it to Cuyana any day.

Congrats.

simpleton.

Well, here she is...Spent a total of $67 on this build. My cheapest build yet. I eneded up going with the 1 1/8 threadless fork for two reasons. 1 I have more stems and bar options and 2 it has fender mounts whereas the original Big Fork did not. I need to do a little tweaking but so for I really like how this bike handles.

oddjob2

I have been looking for a large frame vintage Stumpjumper for over a month. This 1985 Stumpy in pumpkin orange showed up on Long Island's idyllic north shore, the backdrop for the novel The Great Gatsby (where else are they building new Aston Martin / McLaren dealers other than Manhasset). I went for it knowing that it would be a long and costly journey, but $28 in tolls? Now I know where the term Highway Robbery originated; $13 for the George Washington Bridge, $7.50 for the Throgs Neck Bridge, and the RFK bridge (aka Triboro) $7.50.

The bike was advertised as a "Schwinn Stump Jumper" as the fat a$$ saddle is a Schwinn, and the frame has no Specialized decals. The bike's paint is a little rough, but manageable. The rear wheel is not original, but the 5 speed freewheel appears to be.

pcdmiele

Very Nice. My favorite Stumpy Frame and color too. I'm jealouse

due ruote 

Nice Stumpjumper. Someday all those tolls will be forgotten; a nice grab.

I picked up this Grizzly today. A little rough; replacement fork and mis-matched wheels. It's going to get the Midge treatment.
[edit] btw there is no tubing sticker on this bike. I'm assuming it's an Asian-made Bianchi, maybe Tange? Anyone know for sure?

Shp4man

I don't know if this is C+V (1994), plus it has a suspension fork , but here's the latest incarnation of the Diamondback, which has been getting a lot of off road miles lately:

frantik

few teasers for now

frantik

that is probably one of my biggest pet peeves when picking up a bike.. nice score tho

Glennfordx4

While I haven't scored a decent MTB in a while, I did pick up these cleaning out the office at work,


Also stashed away at work I have a pair of Tange Switchblade forks and a bunch of Tange Chrome Cromoly U-Brake/Roller Cam only forks

frantik

nice bars there