Is mountain biking on the decline this decade?
08-12-09, 07:43 PM
#51
........
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On a side note. I lived in Detroit for a number of years, and you need a MTB to ride in that urban waist land. The roads are so jacked that a road bike would fold on the inner city streets.
08-13-09, 06:53 AM
#53
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
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Now, now, you know what he meant. 
I suspect there are more cracked and broken Grafton cranks left around than there are whole ones. Beauties, but not the best QC.
Nice cranks though, especially with the purple. Had myself a pair of ano purple Topline cranks that lasted for years, and years. Finally sold them on ebay for near half the exorbitant sum I'd originally paid. That same sum now will get you into an oh so sweet and sexy set of Deore or on sale STX setup. Granted, now you also get rings, botls, and BB with... Sweet! The way I'm riding now vs. when I had those, I'd not want them on anything other than my townie.
Wifey has a nice pair of my old Cook Bros. E-cranks on her commuter. Gorgeous parts, with the most damn annoying creaky arm/spider interface evaaaaaaaar. Grease, anti-seize, threadlocker, dry, nothing works. Always ends up coming loose and creaking. Thus the relegation to commuter duty.
I suspect there are more cracked and broken Grafton cranks left around than there are whole ones. Beauties, but not the best QC. Nice cranks though, especially with the purple. Had myself a pair of ano purple Topline cranks that lasted for years, and years. Finally sold them on ebay for near half the exorbitant sum I'd originally paid. That same sum now will get you into an oh so sweet and sexy set of Deore or on sale STX setup. Granted, now you also get rings, botls, and BB with... Sweet! The way I'm riding now vs. when I had those, I'd not want them on anything other than my townie.
Wifey has a nice pair of my old Cook Bros. E-cranks on her commuter. Gorgeous parts, with the most damn annoying creaky arm/spider interface evaaaaaaaar. Grease, anti-seize, threadlocker, dry, nothing works. Always ends up coming loose and creaking. Thus the relegation to commuter duty.
Last edited by scrublover; 08-13-09 at 06:58 AM.
08-13-09, 09:09 AM
#54
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I know.. I couldn't help it. Those were purple.. I traded a nice case of beer for them back in '94 or so because my friend thought they were toast due to some creaking in that area.. turned out to be his frame. I used them up till 2 years ago.. but I average about 150lbs and I'm easy on parts.
08-13-09, 02:20 PM
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Because the service manual has a wealth of information above and beyond disassembly instructions. More info to follow in your other noob thread.
08-13-09, 02:31 PM
#56
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Bonus points for the 3D violet chainring hardware.
As long as we're showing off vintage cranks.....
According to the date code, these were manufactured in October of 1993. I bought them new in 1994 and they keep coming back for more after all these years.
Last edited by Svr; 08-13-09 at 05:45 PM.
08-13-09, 02:37 PM
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Why the heck are y'all using the word "Hipster"...
Y'all aint that old are ya?
or... I need to... GTFO of here before I start using words like rad and hipster....
Y'all aint that old are ya?
or... I need to... GTFO of here before I start using words like rad and hipster....
08-13-09, 04:18 PM
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I don't think MTB is in a decline. Seems to me like it plateaued several years ago and I figure it will stay steady as we go forward. Maybe the plateau seemed like a decline compared to road bikes becoming popular again due to the Lance effect. Kinda like in the early 90s when you couldn't give away a road bike, but MTBs flew out the door. When I saw a road bike in Target a couple years ago, I just about spit Starbucks all over the place.
As for subforum views, most SS/fixed riders type WAY more than they ride, it's a fact.
And that road bike you saw at target was merely a mountain bike with **** drop bars.
08-13-09, 04:27 PM
#59
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you know Ihave read this thread since the beginning... and I agree...
I like to mountain bike on the decline in this decade!
I like to mountain bike on the decline in this decade!
08-13-09, 05:19 PM
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Buying an old Stumpy instead of a new or newer Hardrock was probably a good move. The comment about an M2 being better than anything new under 4 figures is just plain incorrect. As an example, the new Rockhopper is an M4 and under four figures. (Duh!)
Obtaining info on BF to restore an old bike is no problem. The problem is, your bike is not old enough. The C&V forum will help anyone restoring an old bike, but an M2 is just not considered old. Maybe a steel Stumpy might make it.
Obtaining info on BF to restore an old bike is no problem. The problem is, your bike is not old enough. The C&V forum will help anyone restoring an old bike, but an M2 is just not considered old. Maybe a steel Stumpy might make it.
The old stumpy which he purchased is indeed far better then the newer rock hopper because it is much much lighter. For some reason hard-tails have become incredibly heavy over the last decade. Most that I have seen weigh in over 30lbs.
08-13-09, 05:29 PM
#61
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Damn... I just realized my mountain bike is now 8 years old and I should upgrade it.
08-13-09, 05:34 PM
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08-13-09, 05:41 PM
#63
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Old bikes can be great, if they are not beat up. I love my 1998 Fisher HKEK. Does everything I ask of it on any trail I care to ride
08-13-09, 05:48 PM
#64
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I ride an '01 Rocky Mountain Blizzard with an XC setup and am not quite ready to trade down to anything else.
Perhaps that explains any perceived decline in that some companies have had the design right for a long time and folks see no need to buy a new and better bike because they have yet to make one.
Perhaps that explains any perceived decline in that some companies have had the design right for a long time and folks see no need to buy a new and better bike because they have yet to make one.
Last edited by Sixty Fiver; 08-13-09 at 07:49 PM. Reason: added pic
08-13-09, 07:20 PM
#65
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I feel like i have to correct you. If you don't know-- Specialized are gurus of marketing bs.
The old stumpy which he purchased is indeed far better then the newer rock hopper because it is much much lighter. For some reason hard-tails have become incredibly heavy over the last decade. Most that I have seen weigh in over 30lbs.
The old stumpy which he purchased is indeed far better then the newer rock hopper because it is much much lighter. For some reason hard-tails have become incredibly heavy over the last decade. Most that I have seen weigh in over 30lbs.
08-13-09, 07:35 PM
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I asked this like on my first post, but nobody answered me. What's so special about M2 and what is it? A model number? Someone said to me a long time ago that they were made only for a few years and were rare.
08-13-09, 07:47 PM
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Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
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not rare, and nothing really special other than specialized's name for their blend of alu tubing. nice bikes for upper-mid level hardtails but nothing fancy. made for a few years because then specialized moved on to other blends, calling it other stuff. i think they are on to m4 now. just different blends of alloys for their tubesets. gotta keep coming up with something new to sell people ya know.
08-13-09, 07:48 PM
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IIRC, M2 stood for Metal Matrix, some fancy aluminium that was supposed to be better than the rest, of course.
My friend's is full rigid. I got two words to describe that ride - "harsh realm"
My friend's is full rigid. I got two words to describe that ride - "harsh realm"
08-13-09, 07:50 PM
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I think M2, M3, M4 are just as much BS as CAAD2, CAAD3, CAAD4...what's wrong with 6061 and 7005?
It's funny when these people decide to take complete ownership of the metal matrix they're using...that is until someone like Gary Fisher comes out with ZR9000 and touted it like madd...then he got all those broken frames back for warranty. Sure, I know...it had nothing to do with Gary himself. It was all Trek.
It's funny when these people decide to take complete ownership of the metal matrix they're using...that is until someone like Gary Fisher comes out with ZR9000 and touted it like madd...then he got all those broken frames back for warranty. Sure, I know...it had nothing to do with Gary himself. It was all Trek.
08-13-09, 08:00 PM
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THat's what I'm sayin about the M2, Lot's of complaints about cracks. NOt treks fault hell everyone can mix an alloy a little brittle. Pardone the pun.
08-13-09, 08:13 PM
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I think M2, M3, M4 are just as much BS as CAAD2, CAAD3, CAAD4...what's wrong with 6061 and 7005?
It's funny when these people decide to take complete ownership of the metal matrix they're using...that is until someone like Gary Fisher comes out with ZR9000 and touted it like madd...then he got all those broken frames back for warranty. Sure, I know...it had nothing to do with Gary himself. It was all Trek.
It's funny when these people decide to take complete ownership of the metal matrix they're using...that is until someone like Gary Fisher comes out with ZR9000 and touted it like madd...then he got all those broken frames back for warranty. Sure, I know...it had nothing to do with Gary himself. It was all Trek.
NUH UH!!?? Which frames?? please don't say my Cake, please don't say my Cake....
08-13-09, 08:47 PM
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I ride an '01 Rocky Mountain Blizzard with an XC setup and am not quite ready to trade down to anything else.
Perhaps that explains any perceived decline in that some companies have had the design right for a long time and folks see no need to buy a new and better bike because they have yet to make one.
Perhaps that explains any perceived decline in that some companies have had the design right for a long time and folks see no need to buy a new and better bike because they have yet to make one.
...but I'll probably just build up a rigid steel 29er instead. Regardless, Blizzards rock.
08-13-09, 08:54 PM
#75
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Riding a Blizzard is a magical experience... the acceleration, handling, and climbing ability is incredible.
They got it right quite a long time ago and have not messed with the design save for using different steel alloys as those have emerged and improved the quality of the frames.
Mine is 725 Reynolds.
A rigid 29'r would be sweet... although the Jamis Dragon has caught my eye.
They got it right quite a long time ago and have not messed with the design save for using different steel alloys as those have emerged and improved the quality of the frames.
Mine is 725 Reynolds.
A rigid 29'r would be sweet... although the Jamis Dragon has caught my eye.