1999 Specialized Hardrock A1 Comp Hobby

[johncs1982]

New to this page, since the summer I've been carefully overhauling my Specialized Hardrock A1 Comp to a fully working hybrid bike suitable for my charity Liverpool>Leeds Canal Towpath ride in 6 months time. I've looked through the Specialized catalogues on this site and I've not seen any in this colour combination so it's quite rare - Silver grey/black with red detailing.

I've been out for training rides throughout the winter and I must say, for an 18 year old MTB it rides very smoothly. I will list some of the stuff it has on it and post some pictures soon as I can.

Shimano Deore LX Drivetrain
Shimano Deore LX V Brakes with new cables and new Clarks brake shoes
26" Mavic 507 rims on Shimano Deore hubs
New Specialized Milano Gel Saddle
DMR pedals
Marzocchi Bomber Z4 Flylight Air Forks
Continental Country Plus 26"X1.75 tyres
New Sunrace Gear Shifters

Would be keen to talk to anyone who has a similar bike of a similar age who may also have done any charity rides.

 

[Joe_Rides]

Re:

No real input from me other than welcome, and I too am planning on a Liverpool/Leeds canal ride at some point, so keen to see & hear about your progress.

Used to run a 2000ish Hardrock myself, the specification wasn't as good as yours but it was nice and light with a set of pace forks I had.

 

[johncs1982]

Re:

Hi Joe, thanks for your reply!

No progress as of yet on the ride. Done about 6-7 training rides around the Liverpool and Parbold areas, very muddy in parts at this time of year which, without knobblies, is touch going on the legs! In the summer it should be more of a hard pack hopefully!

I've done quite a bit of research in to people who have done it and one chap managed it on a vintage Peugeot road bike with a steel frame so whilst still a challenge, it's not quite London -Paris!

Still hoping to get some pics up of the bike so stay tuned. What are you running nowadays? Not sure what I'd opt for if I bought a new bike nowadays.. so much choice!

 

[Joe_Rides]

Re:

I rode down the bridgewater canal from Worsley a few weeks back and then onto the Liv/Leeds at Wigan - can attest that it was muddy & rather slippy in areas! Was running slicks though. I would recommend mudguards.

My mtb nowadays is an Orange P7 (1999 frame, various bits from the shed attached), but I also have a '94 cannondale M400 as my commuter and go-to bike (......oh and an old steel Peugeot now that you mention it........and a trek 520 touring bike which I need to finish building!!)

Are you going for the full stretch in one day or are you going to stop at a mid-point etc?

 

[johncs1982]

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Decent collection of retro kit!

I aim to do it over two to three days, I think in summer this will be easier. On the road I could manage 50-60 miles in a day, on the mixed terrain of the canal it's a different story; mud, gravel, grass, tarmac, concrete and cobbles all test stamina which I'm still working on. My training rides I'm getting in 25 miles per ride in purely just to fit it in to schedule so I feel slightly underprepared at the moment. Still time though.

The hardest part I've found is progress hampered by other towpath users, bridges and also the concentration required to keep within the narrow towpath parts which there are a few around Parbold & Burscough. Factor in the muddy terrain and 15 miles feels like 20!

 

[johncs1982]

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Finally took some pictures of my old Specialized, been a while since I was out on the bike but did a 20 mile run on Friday morning.

 

[johncs1982]

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One more..