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The July 2013 'Muddy Fox vs Orange vs Saracen Special' Bike of The Month contest was taken by nevadasmith's 1989 Orange Formula. The full result is as follows 1. nevadasmith's 1989 Orange Formula 2. Rodrigues' 1989 Saracen Kili Flyer Comp 3= Gravy Monster's 1989 Saracen Trekker Competition UU 3= The History Man's 1997 Muddy Fox Rock N Roll TEAM Click here for more details and full results The July 2013 'Muddy Fox vs Orange vs Saracen Special' Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. nevadasmith's 1989 Orange Formula 2. Rodrigues' 1989 Saracen Kili Flyer Comp 3= Gravy Monster's 1989 Saracen Trekker Competition UU 3= The History Man's 1997 Muddy Fox Rock N Roll TEAM

To celebrate 25 years of the magazine MBUK are running a contest to win original mint sauce artwork! Calling all Mint Sauce fans! This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of original Mint Sauce artwork, hand-drawn and painted by Mint creator Jo Burt. He created this extra special double-page edition of Mint Sauce to celebrate MBUK's 25th Anniversary issue, and you can see how he did that in our Making of Mint Sauce video here. Click here to enter. Don't forget to check out the retrobike mint sauce archive.

While Privateer was in California in April and May, exploring the state that gave us mountain biking and continues to lead the conversation, we spent a day at the NorCal High School MTB race at Boggs Mountain. Who should we find there working as the team wrench for the Drakes Pirates team? None other than Joe Breeze of Breezer Bikes and the MTB Hall of Fame. Here's his take on why getting kids into mountain biking at a young age is so important. Joe Breeze: “I’ve been wrenching for the team since my son was a freshman, five years ago – he’s off to college this year. My wife and I have sponsored the team from the start with Breezer. For four years they were state champions. “My dad was a machinist and a mechanic, so it was like...

The May 2013 road Bike of The Month contest was taken by slotcar55's 1963 Galmozzi original. Second equal was taken by Flandria's 1976 Flandria and Wallonie11's 92 Merckx Corsa Extra. The full result is as follows 1. slotcar55's 1963 Galmozzi original 2. Flandria's 1976 Flandria 3. Wallonie11's 92 Merckx Corsa Extra

The June 2013 road Bike of The Month contest was taken by Double Dee's 1980's Vitus 979. Second was taken by Montello's - 1984 Pinarello Montello with Campagnolo 50th Group and third claimed by Scooter's 1949 Rotrax La Premier Model. The full result is as follows 1. Double Dee's 1980's Vitus 979 2. Montello's 1984 Pinarello Montello with Campagnolo 50th Group 3. Scooter's 1949 Rotrax La Premier Model

huelse's 1988 Ibis Custom is Bike of The Month June 2013 The June 2013 Bike of The Month contest was taken by huelse's 1988 Ibis Custom, from some very strong competition. The full result is as follows 1. huelse's 1988 Ibis Custom 2. Nader's 1993 Yo Eddy Aquafade 3= SYN-CROSSIS' 1993 Mountaingoat Whiskeytown Racer 3= Spwal's 1994 Yeti ARC AS Click here for more details and full results The June 2013 Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. huelse's 1988 Ibis Custom 2. Nader's 1993 Yo Eddy Aquafade 3= SYN-CROSSIS' 1993 Mountaingoat Whiskeytown Racer 3= Spwal's 1994 Yeti ARC AS

Last weekend saw the annual retrobike raid on Mountain Mayhem, the UKs largest 24 hour race. For 2013 Mountain Mayhem moved from the iconic Eastnor venue to pastures new at Gatcombe Park. Once again retrobike took what must surely have been the biggest group with at least 40 riders and numerous 'supporters', near enough all on retro machinery. Full retrobike mountain mayhem aftermath thread can be found here. Thanks to ace snapper Gus Farmer for the image, check his thoughts and more images over on his wiggle blog.

What started out as one or two of us meeting up with our Dolomites, seems to have sparked enough interest to open the net wider to other Klein owners / riders. This is the plan: WHO Anyone who owns or has access to a Klein WHAT A ride of about 10-15 miles taking in Richmond Park, maybe Wimbledon Common and the Thames River path. Will include a few refreshment - NOS Polish stop offs, and a post ride beer or two. WHY Excuse to meet up and ride these bikes many are obsessed with. Seems to be plenty of us out there... WHERE Richmond Park. Sheen Gate Car Park, SW14 off Sheen Lane which leads into the park. If the carpark is full, Fife Road just outside the gate. If you are coming via train Richmond for Tubes and Mainline trains or...

Cycling giants Campagnolo have recently celebrated their 80th anniversary with typical Italian flair and style. As part of the anniversary celebrations Campagnolo have setup the Campagnolo Virtual Museum. The virtual museum is well worth a look with numerous iconic images of riders, components and events from the past 80 years. One of the most important parts of the virtual museum is the people section, which handily is where we come in. Campagnolo have asked we on retrobike get involved with their 80th Anniversary by sharing our Campagnolo experiences, stories and photos on the site where hopefully it will remain for digital posterity. To get involved go to the Campagnolo Virtual Museum here and start contributing.

Sheffield born Steve Peat is without a doubt the UK's most successful downhill racer. In the course of a career almost unmatched in length Peaty has taken numerous World Cup wins and British National Championships, along with the 2009 World Champs in Australia which is surely the highlight. At the start of Steve Peat's career back in the early 90s he raced both Cross Country and Downhill when rider's did that sort of thing for local shop Langsett Cycles. His success led to a ride with Kona and the 1993 UK Downhill Series aboard this rigid Kona Hei Hei which most 'trail riders' wouldn't dare take round the red run at their local man made trail centre. The Kona features a front hope disc brake, Marzocchi forks, Ringle skewers, M900...

The May 2013 'Kona vs GT vs Specialized Special' Bike of The Month contest was taken by Ridevintagemtb's (formerly ameybrook) 1994 Kona Lava Dome. Proof if needed that personality goes a long way, as might have been expected Kona topped this BoTM month poll. The full result is as follows 1. Ridevintagemtb's 1994 Kona Lava Dome 2. 24pouces' 1993 Kona HeiHei 3. Rob Atkin's 1994 Kona Kilauea Click here for more details and full results The May 2013 'Kona vs GT vs Specialized Special' Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. Ridevintagemtb's 1994 Kona Lava Dome 2. 24pouces' 1993 Kona HeiHei Click here for 24pouces' 1993 Kona HeiHei build thread. 3. Rob Atkin's 1994 Kona Kilauea Click here for Rob Atkin's 1994 Kona...

The early 90s were a halcyon time for road bike development. The steel era was (sadly) drawing to a close and the use of many materials now considered common place was being pioneered. This innovation was also unhindered by over zealous governing bodies. One bike which still stands out from this era is the Pinarello Espada, four of which were custom made from carbon fibre for one Mr Miguel Indurain, former Hour Record holder and five times Tour de France winner. The bikes were designed in association with F1 Engineer Ing Giacchi. This particular example was photographed at the recent Campagnolo 80th Anniversary event with it's former rider. Fausto Pinarello can complete the story "There were only four of these bicycles made: two for...

Want to be able to build a frame like Paul Brodie? Follow this handout Paul has devised for his framebuilding 101 course and it'll give you a start. Better still of course attend one of his courses :D The PROCESS: 1. design frame 2. full scale drawing 3. select tubing 4. mark DT for butting 5. mitre DT for BB 6. NS / Tig DT to BB 7. align DT to BB 8. setup main triangle jig 9. option: ovalize top of DT 10. mitre DT for HT, deburr 11. check DT / HT fit on jig 12. mitre seat tube; notch for DT 13. drill water bottle holes on DT and ST 14. mark TT for butting 15. mitre for HT, check fit on jig 16. mark mitre for the ST, ovalize TT if needed.. 17. mitre TT for ST 18. assemble tubes on jig; check all mitre fits and adjust if necessary...

The words rare and unique are used all too freely in the world of retro - few bikes deserve to be described as such and this is truly one of them. This Bontrager Experimental was built around 1995 at Bontrager's Santa Cruz frame shop and currently resides with a well regarded collector here in the UK. This particular Bontrager Experimental and the other six or seven completed around the same time were built out of a debate as to which frame material was best. Keith Bontrager's take was that no material could be said to be best and each should be used in a frame to optimize it's properties. This frame consists of *Large diameter Aluminium main triangle = Lightest and Stiffest. *Steel chainstays and dropouts = small diameter tubing so the...

The February 2013 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by hollister's 'Recoil'. Click here to see hollister's shot in all it's glory 1. hollister's 'Recoil'

The January 2013 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by yo-Nate-y's 'New Beginnings'. Click here to see yo-Nate-y's shot in all it's glory 1. yo-Nate-y 'New Beginnings'

Mustang. Maverick. Cobra. All names from history of the UK MTB scene which stir the hearts of the true connoisseur. Yes, they were built from hi-tensile steel. Yes, they were better suited to the paper round than genuine off road. But still these early Raleigh's and their ilk hold fond memories for many retrobikers of a certain age. The Retrobike West Midlands crew decided to celebrate these 35lbs plus behemoths with their Scrapyard challenge ride. Several brave riders toughed out the rain in the Forest of Dean with their side pull calipers and five speed friction shift gears to take on the first scrapyard challenge, check the full aftermath here. Two Mavericks