Changes to the Runner

As I mentioned in the last post I took the Ridgerunner out last weekend on a long trial ride. This week I sorted out some of the problems. So it just got some new stuff like: Jitensha studio bars, nitto riser stem, problem solvers cable guide mounted to the stem, thread tape on the bb shell that keeps trying to come out, a newer front der., a VO saddle, and a cheapie Carridice knock off seat bag.


I built it up and took it out for a little sunset test run and got to see this gnar-gnar fog scene:

A pic of the old Suntour Superbe TECH front der. I like how the design looks like an old Campi nouvo record. I had to take it off because the spring is losing its juice and I couldn't get it to consistently drop into the little chain ring.
I also bought this heap for 20 bucks hoping to find a diamond in the rough. I ended up finding a cubic zirconia in the rough. I almost didn't get it when I saw that the rear canti stud had been broken off, but when I noticed that it had an old Atom tandem rear wheel with a drum brake and a 5 speed cluster I decided to go for it. Also has cool stem bars and suntour power ratchet shifters. Maybe some day I'll actually get a brazing kit and fool with this thing. I believe it's an 1985 Norco

Infinity tubes

MT TAM

I saw this Schwinn High Sierra this weekend while I was out on trip to the summit of Mt. Tam. Part of the trip was a test for my Ridgerunner, to see if it could handle the ride and if it would be comfy for a 70+ mile ride. Unfortunately, it kinda failed, I mean, it made it, but it's gonna need several changes to make it sweet for longer rides. But for now, pics:

Roller cams, and tiny fork crown lug

Cable stop/rack mountRad stem

I also went to see some art shows in SF this weekend, and scored this jewel at Adobe books:

And yes, it's as rad as the cover makes it seem like it would be.

Tilden ride, stumpy score

Here are a couple of pics from a recent ride with some old timey mtbs and a couple of new ones too. We came home exhausted and then I scored this 1986 Stumpy that we're hoping will become Bob's new old ride.

Tamar's dreamy Montare

Tamar just started this rad project frankenstiening a 1985 Specailized Rockhopper with a 1985 Fischer Montare Mountain Bike.(maybe guessing a bit on the years, but close) Basically she wanted a bunch of parts off the Rockhopper to replace the stuff on her Montare. The montare had biopace, bad wheels, and a scuffed up deer head rear der., so we swapped out the cranks, bb, and wheels and recabled and put new brake pads on. And, since we were at it we cleaned the whole thing and parts. Tamar added the sweet old Brooks from another bike. The pics show it not quite done yet, but soon she'll have a set of Panaracer Uff Das and some new grips and she'll be ready to shred. Pretty killer bike.





The rockhopper before


The Montare before
Sweet specialized cranks
Two deer head variations
"finished" bike needs new tires and grips

Canti-venom

I spent a minute (2 hours) the other day looking around on the net to figure out what the hell these strange cantis that I have are, but I had no luck. I did however, really enjoy looking at all these far-out cantis that were made back in the day. I found two sites in particular that were really awesome, http://www.blackbirdsf.org/brake_obscura/mtb.html and http://tandem-fahren.de/Mitglieder/Christoph_Timm/DropBrakes.htm
Neither site has my brakes :Also, spied a sweet stumpy locked up the other day. I think the rear cantis make this an 1985 or '86. Sweet looking specialized riser stem...

Proud dad

For the past few years, myself and a group of friends have been getting interested in fooling around with nice production mountain bikes. For me it started when I was taking a leak in the woods at the Henry miller library and found a 1984 Stumpjumper under a pile of brush and bought it off it's owner for 50 bucks. It was pretty crusty and proved impossible for me to save with a really frozen seat post but the interest was reignited recently when a buddy built up an 85 Stumpmuper.
Since I guess the idea of this blog is eye candy and info, and since I'm the proud dad of this '84 Diamondback Ridgerunner, I figured I'd start with this. The idea here is mixing a bit of the new with the old a la Rivendell, so we get well made, good working, good looking bikes. Specs: polished(kinda) LX 9 speed rear der, vintage Ideale saddle, some random rear brakes, Dia Compe front brakes, Kool Stop salmon pads, nitto front rack, original rear wheel w/ Suzue cartridge hub relaced with stainless spokes and wide Araya rim, original suntour thumb shifters, shimano LX brake levers, original diamondback shape bull moose bars (a little rusty), Sugino AT crank, Suntour Superbe Pro road pedals, Suntour Superbe Tech front der, original cartridge bb, Origin8 alloy headset, and Panaracer Uff Da 2.3" tires. Just took it on an incredible ride this weekend, and it handled great both on and off the road. It was fun to build and even more run to ride!