Recent content by dirttorpedo

I bought a Hammer Race for a winter commuter build in the mid 2000's to replace a cracked frame. I found it underwhelming compared to earlier rocky mountains. It looked like the OP's version, but without the flames. Maybe an aftermarket customizeation?

The horse is truely out of the barn on that one and I don't know that post Armstrong you could have fielded a team without some known / admitted dopers both riding or managing the set up. Today we may be in a different position, but it would still be a challenging transition politically.

Maybe we need a chopper forum?

And he's not the only former doper involved in team management since the Armstrong era.

I'm responding to the thread title as I found the actual post too difficult to follow. Personally I think it depends on the owners goals and the value of the bicycle / frame historically. I typically own a bunch of mediocre crap bikes so a sympathetic historic restoration does not make any...

Wow, I've never seen one in anything other than metallic white or black. That cleaned up nice.

I heard great things about the Nashbar 853 frames BITD

I bought some Schwalbe Fat Franks for my Surly Troll and really like them. I've heard great things about Surly Extra Terrestrials if your bike can take 2.5" tires. Schwalbe also makes the Apple and the Marathon in 26 inch sizes. Serfas makes the Drifter and Kenda has some inexpensive / heavy...

Did you check Velo Orange or Soma Fabrications for an ISO tapered bb?

Agreed that the brakes don't look like they need a brand/model specific pad and the Tourney rear mech - while fugly - will work adequately. If you don't like the aesthetic of it, buy a vintage replacement of decent quality and condition and swap it out.

I agree that by the late 90's aluminum, full suspension and disc brakes were on the top end bikes. I bought my last new steel mountain bike in 97 or 98 and it was a Norco Sasquatch with STX RC groupset and a Marzocchi Z5. A nice bike, but completely outclassed by the local riding as freeriding...

I tried a B17 on a vintage bike for a year or so and it never felt like it was breaking in (I had tried a friends bike with a well broken in one before I purchased, and loved it). I traded it for a c-15 carved and liked that so much I bought another used. Its not perfect, but its pretty good and...

You know - I can't remember where I bought it now. I test rode the KHS at the Bike Cellar and I feel that I may have bought the StumpJumper there as well. I recall Mountain and Beach carrying specialized as well at that time. I lived in Dunbar so Dunbar Cycles was my main LBS, but they were a...

I'm in BC too and the local mud has a significant portion of sand in it - I still remember the sound of the sandy mud grinding on my rims when I hit the brakes. Interestinly I never had to replace the front rim.

My rear rim was like cheese. I still remember the sound of the rim sidewall failing at the end of a bike tour. I had the wheel rebuilt with a Mavic rim and that wheel was solid til the day I sold the bike.