Your first Mountain bike
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Shelby County, OH
Posts: 19
Bikes: Fuji Crosstown 1.1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Your first Mountain bike
I don't know the exact year that mountain bikes became popular, but the first mountain bike I ever saw (and owned) was a Western Flyer Grizzly. It was the epitome of generic, but back then I didn't know what generic was. Evidently Western Flyer bought up other bikes and put their name on them- at least that's what one expert told me. I can't even find a picture of it online to confirm its existence, but you can believe me that it existed. After ramping so many times, the handle bars caved in (That was probably the last time I ramped anything). It was then that I bought a Trek. But The black and green Western Flyer had served its purpose. It got me into biking and survived the Katy Trail in Missouri.
What was your first mountain bike?
What was your first mountain bike?
#2
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
I still have my first mountain bike, a 1988 Nishiki Ariel. I bought it used in 2005 at a garage sale for $20. My intention was to ride it in the neighborhood, but after a few rides, we went to the local rails to trails, the gravel section of the American Tobacco Trail. After a couple rides on that trail, it was off to the local single track trail. The roots, logs and rocks did a job on my double fusion neck. I needed to trade the rigid fork for a sus fork which I did. Unfortunetly the mod changed the handling dramatically so I moved to an almost new Rockhopper. I still ride the old Nishiki on rails to trails where steering is not as critical. The steel frame makes for a nice ride.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#3
Pint-Sized Gnar Shredder
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Somewhere between heaven and hell
Posts: 3,549
Bikes: '09 Jamis Komodo, '09 Mirraco Blend One, '08 Cervelo P2C, '08 Specialized Ruby Elite, '07 Yeti AS-R SL, '07 DMR Drone
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Huffy Ironman Walmart-special. Despite it's Ironman name (and the M-Dot on the downtube), it was a mountain bike (or mountain bike wannabe...). Its frame also said it was made of "titanium boron steel"...aka hi-ten.
If that doesn't count as a "mountain bike," then a Giant Rincon that I picked up in college.
If that doesn't count as a "mountain bike," then a Giant Rincon that I picked up in college.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 192
Bikes: 1998 Nishiki Blazer, 2004 Trek 4500, 2014 Salsa Fargo 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Still have my first MTB but it's gone commuter, now. Like Rocco^, it too is a Nishiki. Mine was a birthday present in my teenage years though. I've had it for quite a while, now.
Nowadays it looks like this...still mostly original, too!
Nowadays it looks like this...still mostly original, too!
#5
Moar cowbell
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481
Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
This was my first 'mountain bike' - - took me up a few mountains in the day.
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Shelby County, OH
Posts: 19
Bikes: Fuji Crosstown 1.1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Anyone remember the Huffy White Heat? There were a lot of commercials about it on TV during cartoons. I wanted that bike. The problem was, it was still a Huffy. It looked cool though.
Likes For The Outlier:
#7
Yup
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: where the sunbeams end and the starlight begins
Posts: 3,083
Bikes: Kona Unit, planet X cx bike, khs fixed gear
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Wicked Fat Chance. I wish i still owned it.
__________________
When sadness fills my days
It's time to turn away
And then tomorrow's dreams
Become reality to me
When sadness fills my days
It's time to turn away
And then tomorrow's dreams
Become reality to me
#8
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,783
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12736 Post(s)
Liked 7,645 Times
in
4,054 Posts
Cheepo Takara with steel rims, 3x5 setup
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 08-11-14 at 11:26 AM.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: adelaide, australia
Posts: 2,798
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 227 Post(s)
Liked 388 Times
in
149 Posts
My first bike was a Honda MR50, first mtb was a mid 80's Raleigh that I still have still ridable all original low end gear just missing the grips and original tires.
#11
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
Huffy Ironman Walmart-special. Despite it's Ironman name (and the M-Dot on the downtube), it was a mountain bike (or mountain bike wannabe...). Its frame also said it was made of "titanium boron steel"...aka hi-ten.
If that doesn't count as a "mountain bike," then a Giant Rincon that I picked up in college.
If that doesn't count as a "mountain bike," then a Giant Rincon that I picked up in college.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: San Diego
Posts: 201
Bikes: 2007 GT Avalanche 2.0, 2011 Felt Z85
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had a 1986 Mongoose, black. Not sure the model. It was a radical departure at the time. All it really was? A road frame with a little additional support at the welds. Triple up forward, 6 in the rear. They put some wider 26" wheels on it and sold it as an off road cycle. I had it all the way up to 2009 when my daughter left it unlocked in a bad part of town. She called to ask for a ride home and I made her walk...I was a little peeved.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
I am old enough that I was a mature adult before BMX and mountain bikes had been created or popularized. I found that 92 Fuji last year at a yard sale (for $20). I had thought a mountain bike might serve me well for a winter bike.
#14
Pedals, Paddles and Poles
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Vegas Valley, NV
Posts: 5,495
Bikes: Santa Cruz Tallboy, Ridley Noah, Scott Spark 20
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1233 Post(s)
Liked 69 Times
in
58 Posts
Norco Big Foot @1990. It was a blast.
__________________
I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Simcoe County, Ontario
Posts: 189
Bikes: Steve Bauer Sirocco "Steve", Kawasaki Sumo 4.0 Fatbike "Black Betty", Retrospec Amok-16 "Rocinante/Veronica"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
a red & white 12-speed supercycle from the local, small-town hardware store in 1989 or 1990. The tires were smooth & fully rigid frame because I'd never seen or heard of knobby tires & suspension at that point. It was fun though!
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Porter, TX
Posts: 160
Bikes: 2015 Giant Defy 2, 2004 Gary Fisher Marlin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had a 1991 Trek 820 I bought in college. I rode that thing until 2004. That was a solid bike. I think it is still out in my Dad's barn since I gave it to him after I bought my Gary Fisher.
#17
Junior Member
Don't laugh:
I bought this at Sears in 2000 and within 2 years had replaced the wheels, BB, derailleurs and brakes/shifters with Deore LX. The only reason it has survived under my bulk all these years is because the frame is so heavy and tough. It's some kind of alloy. The fork is some kind of cheap, non-adjustable knock-off that has somehow held together all these years. I have kept it tuned up and ridden trails with it just about every year since 2000.
It is wearing cruiser tires in this pic because I put 700 miles on it this summer training for a bike tour before I saved enough money for a road bike. I would like to put knobbies back on it this fall and have a little bit more fun on the trails before I (hopefully) get a decent MTB next spring.
I bought this at Sears in 2000 and within 2 years had replaced the wheels, BB, derailleurs and brakes/shifters with Deore LX. The only reason it has survived under my bulk all these years is because the frame is so heavy and tough. It's some kind of alloy. The fork is some kind of cheap, non-adjustable knock-off that has somehow held together all these years. I have kept it tuned up and ridden trails with it just about every year since 2000.
It is wearing cruiser tires in this pic because I put 700 miles on it this summer training for a bike tour before I saved enough money for a road bike. I would like to put knobbies back on it this fall and have a little bit more fun on the trails before I (hopefully) get a decent MTB next spring.
#18
Retro on steroids
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Marin County, California
Posts: 536
Bikes: Breezer Repack 650-B, 2011 Gary Fisher Rumblefish II, Gary Fisher HiFi 29er, 1983 Ritchey Annapurna, 1994 Ritchey P-21, 1978 Breezer #2, 1975 Colnago, Ritchey P-29er
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 154 Post(s)
Liked 624 Times
in
131 Posts
I built this one myself in 1977.
#19
Senior Member
My first mountain bike was a Huffy Stone Mountain, I don't know what happened to it.
I actually came really close to buying another one for $15 last week. I had visions of equipping it with some old Shimano Deore components and Araya wheels, fortunately the impulse passed before I pulled the trigger on that one.
The following is not mine but mine was just like it:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7377/8...e62bc978_z.jpg
I actually came really close to buying another one for $15 last week. I had visions of equipping it with some old Shimano Deore components and Araya wheels, fortunately the impulse passed before I pulled the trigger on that one.
The following is not mine but mine was just like it:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7377/8...e62bc978_z.jpg
#20
Senior Member
Pretty cool! Those must have been fun times. One of my favorite parts of the Klunkerz movie was when you were talking about the house you guys had with bike parts all over the place. My wife heard that part and said "Girls still don't understand". We live in a small apartment and I usually have some kind of bike restoration/modification project going on in the kitchen and it drives her a bit nuts having the bike parts, tools, and grease all over the place. She gets extra concerned when my 18 month old son gets involved. He likes to work on the bikes too, he helps by sticking his fingers in the grease can or grabbing the dirty chain and spreading the mess all over. Fortunately she is reasonably understanding about it.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 404
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
90 or 91 Cannondale SM1000 - still have it and raced it a couple years back in a local event. Converted it to a 1x8 using Suntour XC Pro thumbies. I also striped the paint off and called it the Silver Bullet.
#22
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 31
Bikes: 1990 Diamond Back Ascent
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Alright, as bad as this sounds, my first one was bought off some dude that lived in a trailer down in tampa, he rebuilt bikes and sold them on the side of the road in his front yard, paid $25.00 many moons ago. Road the piss out of it, Take my word for it, I got my money out of it, but that's a story for another time and place. The first one I can count as a real MTB was a Schwinn High Plains that my uncle loaned to me(someone with a master key ie: bolt cutters decided they liked it more that I did) I do miss that bike. Actually got a speeding ticket on Indian Rocks Beach Florida with that bike(don't ask). Now I got a vintage DB Ascent and loving it. Can't wait to get more active in the sport, got to rebuild the machine slowly(meaning Me
) before I get to excited. Pushing 50 sucks. Love it here.
) before I get to excited. Pushing 50 sucks. Love it here.
#23
Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Technically my second... a 1991 Trek 6000 that I picked up for $50 at a bike swap complete with the Onza bar ends. It now has a pair of Shimano M520 clipless pedals. But my first was also a 1991 Specialized Rockhopper in blue. Then I lost it in a house fire. Oddly enough I also found its twin, same year, same color 'Hopper at the same bike swap! Pretty cool, huh?
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Kearneysville, WV
Posts: 739
Bikes: 2012 Cannondale Flash Alloy 2 (mountain bike), 2010 Schwinn Paramount Series 7 (road bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My first mountain bike was a 2010 GT Avalanche 1.0. It was a great bike, and I miss it a lot. It met an untimely demise when my car was hit from the rear. My wife and I both lost our bikes. I had an Avalanche 1.0 and she had an Avalanche 3.0 (disc brakes).
I now have a Cannondale Flash Alloy 2, which is the better bike, but my GT never missed a beat. There are a lot of things I liked about that GT that I like(d) that the Cannondale doesn't provide. I'd have loved to have an opportunity to ride both, my C-dale and my old GT back to back, just to see which one I'd take home.
Here's what's left of the GTs.
Here's what it used to look like...
I now have a Cannondale Flash Alloy 2, which is the better bike, but my GT never missed a beat. There are a lot of things I liked about that GT that I like(d) that the Cannondale doesn't provide. I'd have loved to have an opportunity to ride both, my C-dale and my old GT back to back, just to see which one I'd take home.
Here's what's left of the GTs.
Here's what it used to look like...
#25
Fat Man on a Bike
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Terlingua, Texas
Posts: 18
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock 29er for me. Trek 3500 for my 13 yo son, and a 24" Schwinn Ranger for my 10 yo son..
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My first was a 830 Trek hybrid back in the 90's. I had two sets of wheels and rims. Knobbies for trails and slicks for pavement. I rode the crap out of that bike for a few years, then got distracted, can't recall by what, and stopped riding. I still have it, but sadly I let it sit out in the desert for the last ten years. I thought about restoring when I decided to get back to biking about a month ago. The frame is nearly perfect and all the components still function. The tires, seat, and grips are shot to hell. The LBS quoted me about $250 to restore it. Maybe someday. It deserves it, even if doing so makes no financial sense.
My second mountain bike is the Specialized Hardrock that I bought just a couple of weeks ago. Getting back in the saddle after all these years, and with SEVERAL extra pounds has been challenging, but rewarding.
My second mountain bike is the Specialized Hardrock that I bought just a couple of weeks ago. Getting back in the saddle after all these years, and with SEVERAL extra pounds has been challenging, but rewarding.