Discussion
Sway said:
Spydaman said:
My first job was a Saturday boy at my local shop. I sold dozens of these... Good memories.
Spydaman said:
Sway said:
Glad to inspire good memories. This one came from Warminster Cycle Centre. Don't tell me that's where you worked.Richmond Cycles, initially Hammersmith and then mixed but mainly Richmond.
Happy, carefree times. Working to pay for bike bits with some great blokes I learnt a lot from.
Does anyone have experience of repairing a 1992 or 1993 Raleigh mtrax frame? The top of the seat stay on mine has broken at the weld. Unfortunately the top tube and seat tube are titanium and are bonded into the lug. I think if I reweld the seat stay I'll ruin the bonding so am stuck before I start putting the old bike back together.
I've pretty much finished my world's cheapest scrap salvage build. As mentioned in the thread earlier it's an old Townsend Shaniko. I set myself the brief I couldn't buy anything over a tenner for it and wherever possible I had to recycle original parts of the bike or use stuff I already had stashed. Apologies for blurry pic, phone's a bit knackered...
Rear freewheel (not even cassette!) stripped out for single speed use...
Cheapy Townsend crankset repurposed by chiselling off outer and inner pressed rings, revealing one flat steel ring perfect for lining up/ratio...
It's still surprisingly heavy but rides really comfy, weirdly a little bit like an old beach cruiser feel. I bloody love it.
Rear freewheel (not even cassette!) stripped out for single speed use...
Cheapy Townsend crankset repurposed by chiselling off outer and inner pressed rings, revealing one flat steel ring perfect for lining up/ratio...
It's still surprisingly heavy but rides really comfy, weirdly a little bit like an old beach cruiser feel. I bloody love it.
Another retro MTB to add to the stable. This time a 1990 Alpinestars Al-mega e-stay. They all crack around the head-stock but this one has been reinforced so hopefully should be ok. It was previously raced in dual slalom when it had Marzocchi Bomber Junior T forks and a later XT rear mech and chainset. Its now got period Marzocchi XC500 with a massive 50mm travel. Best £30 I've spent for while.
Edited by Spydaman on Monday 24th August 17:55
seiben said:
Spydaman said:
It was previously raced in dual slalom when it had Marzocchi Bomber Junior T forks and a later XT rear mech and chainset.
A trifle over-forked, surely? 
Looks lovely now btw!
Edited by Spydaman on Tuesday 25th August 19:03
My latest acquisition is a Gary Fisher Aquila. Actually, it's not for me, it's for my other half. I don't know much about the bike. It was bought from a local bike recycling centre. I knew the brand and believe that Gary Fisher is the man is credited with being the founder of modern day Mountain Biking (correct me if I'm wrong).
I'm guessing it's a child bike because the frame size is approx 13" but my other half is small in stature so it should be perfect for her. Also, she told me the last time she rode a bike was when she was about 11 years old and it turns out that was a 3 wheel tricycle. You can imagine the fun and games I'm going to have trying to teach her how to ride
Anyway. I'd appreciate it if anyone can throw any more light on this particular model. It looks very original to me and appears to be in reasonably good condition. It's obviously been looked after by previous owners. It has the following spec:
- Mavic 517 rims. OH loves this because my Pace RC200 F6 has Mavic 517 ceramic rim on the rear (217 ceramic on the front).
- Shimano STX front and rear mechs.
- Sugino Impel Crankset (I've never heard of this brand but I think it's original to the bike).
- Aheadset (of unknown origin but feels in good working order).
- I think the stem is original but I don't know what make it is.
- Shimano V Brakes.
- I think the saddle is a Gary Fisher because it has their logo on it.
- And it's got a side stand and a bell which instantly makes it better than my Pace according to my OH
Can anyone help with more details? I remember Gary Fisher's being quite rare and desirable (but not especially valuable) back in the day. It certainly looks quite well made and it's surprisingly light. I haven't weighed it but I'll guess at around 9kg.
Plans are nothing too serious. It could do with a good strip down, clean and service. It needs to have new cables, brake pads and some decent tyres (the Continental's fitted are holding air but are split). I've got some Velociraptor's that I've just taken off my Pace. They're in pretty good condition and will be an improvement for sure. I'm hoping the BB and Headset will just need a good clean and re-grease. They feel good. I'll probably put some new handlebar grips on for her because those fitted are past their best.
It will be a Winter project I think because I need to teach her to ride first
I'm guessing it's a child bike because the frame size is approx 13" but my other half is small in stature so it should be perfect for her. Also, she told me the last time she rode a bike was when she was about 11 years old and it turns out that was a 3 wheel tricycle. You can imagine the fun and games I'm going to have trying to teach her how to ride
Anyway. I'd appreciate it if anyone can throw any more light on this particular model. It looks very original to me and appears to be in reasonably good condition. It's obviously been looked after by previous owners. It has the following spec:
- Mavic 517 rims. OH loves this because my Pace RC200 F6 has Mavic 517 ceramic rim on the rear (217 ceramic on the front).
- Shimano STX front and rear mechs.
- Sugino Impel Crankset (I've never heard of this brand but I think it's original to the bike).
- Aheadset (of unknown origin but feels in good working order).
- I think the stem is original but I don't know what make it is.
- Shimano V Brakes.
- I think the saddle is a Gary Fisher because it has their logo on it.
- And it's got a side stand and a bell which instantly makes it better than my Pace according to my OH
Can anyone help with more details? I remember Gary Fisher's being quite rare and desirable (but not especially valuable) back in the day. It certainly looks quite well made and it's surprisingly light. I haven't weighed it but I'll guess at around 9kg.
Plans are nothing too serious. It could do with a good strip down, clean and service. It needs to have new cables, brake pads and some decent tyres (the Continental's fitted are holding air but are split). I've got some Velociraptor's that I've just taken off my Pace. They're in pretty good condition and will be an improvement for sure. I'm hoping the BB and Headset will just need a good clean and re-grease. They feel good. I'll probably put some new handlebar grips on for her because those fitted are past their best.
It will be a Winter project I think because I need to teach her to ride first
Edited by CharlieAlphaMike on Friday 28th August 15:47
Charlie - I sold dozens of Aquilas like that back in the day.
I want to say that one is from 98.Could be a year either side.
At that time (and still I believe) Gary Fisher was a brand owned by Trek. Their 'cool' brand in terms of colours /logos/styling.
It's an adult bike, just the smallest frame size they did it in.
Iirc (I'm relying on twenty year old memory) it was the top spec bike without suspension. Somewhere around £400 new. Popular with people who wanted a rugged mountain bike but didn't want the weight /general uselessness of cheap suspension as it was back then. Seems pretty original.
I want to say that one is from 98.Could be a year either side.
At that time (and still I believe) Gary Fisher was a brand owned by Trek. Their 'cool' brand in terms of colours /logos/styling.
It's an adult bike, just the smallest frame size they did it in.
Iirc (I'm relying on twenty year old memory) it was the top spec bike without suspension. Somewhere around £400 new. Popular with people who wanted a rugged mountain bike but didn't want the weight /general uselessness of cheap suspension as it was back then. Seems pretty original.
Sway said:
Charlie - I sold dozens of Aquilas like that back in the day.
I want to say that one is from 98.Could be a year either side.
At that time (and still I believe) Gary Fisher was a brand owned by Trek. Their 'cool' brand in terms of colours /logos/styling.
It's an adult bike, just the smallest frame size they did it in.
Iirc (I'm relying on twenty year old memory) it was the top spec bike without suspension. Somewhere around £400 new. Popular with people who wanted a rugged mountain bike but didn't want the weight /general uselessness of cheap suspension as it was back then. Seems pretty original.
Thanks Sway. I thought the top tube was rather too long to be a childs bike but am I right when I say the frame size is 13"? Either way, it's perfect for my other half. Thanks for confirming its originality.I want to say that one is from 98.Could be a year either side.
At that time (and still I believe) Gary Fisher was a brand owned by Trek. Their 'cool' brand in terms of colours /logos/styling.
It's an adult bike, just the smallest frame size they did it in.
Iirc (I'm relying on twenty year old memory) it was the top spec bike without suspension. Somewhere around £400 new. Popular with people who wanted a rugged mountain bike but didn't want the weight /general uselessness of cheap suspension as it was back then. Seems pretty original.
I guessed the price when new might have been close to £500 because I'm comparing it to a Marin Bear Valley SE I had back in the day (before I got my Pace). I'm sure I paid around £600 for the Marin but it did come with slightly better Shimano components (although it had centre pull rather than V brakes).
Can you remember much about the spec of the Aquila? I'd appreciate any other information you might have
Just resurrected this old Marin Hawk Hill, a 1998 I think. I did all the cables and gears, seat pos, tyres & tubes and front wheel last year, finished off by LBS with a new Acera derailleur, a shifting alignment and a set rear brake pads. Used the EST £50 Fix Your Bike voucher, so the derailleur and the visit to the LBS only cost me £9.80.
Rode it this afternoon and it felt great, my partners hopefully going to use it, or may have to put it into hibernation as I’m riding a Trek Powerfly EMTB now!
Rode it this afternoon and it felt great, my partners hopefully going to use it, or may have to put it into hibernation as I’m riding a Trek Powerfly EMTB now!
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