Retro mountain bikes

I'm not sure how Marin progressed after bikes with rigid forks were no longer wanted but I believe the later Team Marin came with Manitou Sx Ti. I believe by the same time steel bikes almost disappeared.

Almost finished my single speed conversion on this one. Just need to add a Noah's Arc Bar from Soma. Lost some weight and first impressions are pretty good for a city ride.

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Those mid nineties Techniums have such a fantastic colours. Nice bike!

indeed love the painting. Almost tempted to remove some stickers.
I think this one is from 1990 or 91

No, don't remove anything. Keep it original. Original decals are half of the value of a frame. 😉

1x 9 or 10 with ratchet shifters and narrow-tall chainring works so well. You can fit either of them on a 130 oln wheel, as long as it’s got an 8/9/10 speed freehub on it. The cassette will be too wide for a 7 speed freehub.

I think you can get 3x8 with ratchet shifters but it’s Shimano’s current ultra budget bottom of the range group. I’ve used it on a hire bike and to be honest it was really good, shifted flawlessly all day, but it doesn’t look as cool as retro 9-speed.

Thanks, definitely leaning towards 1x. Problem I’m having is finding a 130 oln 26” wheel that takes a 8/9/10 speed freehub. It seems like the standard of that era was 7 speed. Might need to be a custom built job using a modern road hub which will be 130 oln.

Either that or I cold set the frame spacing to 135mm which gives more wheel options... but in truth something I’m reluctant to do

good point :)

@ChasnotRobert
Take a look on retrobike at the 90s Marin Catalogues. Loads of info and expertise on that site.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/Manufacturer+Archive/Marin/Catalogues/

Also the "Marin Bikes: The Early Years 1986-1996" group on Facebook.

Your Eldridge Grade is from 1995, that year there was the Team Titanium and Team Marin and Pine Mountain above it in the (titanium/steel) range. I have a Team Marin. In 1995 they offered both Manitou and Rock Shox forks - Catalogue show Rock Shox on the Eldridge but you might have been able to have either. Marin offered suspension forks in 1992 and the full sus dual-Manitou FRS bikes in 1993.

I have / had a few 90s Marins - 1995 Team Marin, Eldridge Grade & Muirwoods, 1994 Bear Valley SE & Eldridge Grade, 1990 Palisades Trail (x2 different colours).

excellent - thanks

Last call for some Rhyno Lites from the US ... about to buy my 48h pair. They're about £32 each, shipping and duty tbc. The more the merrier. Think I'll buy some 36h for a rainy day.

Ah, are you looking for a retro wheel then? I've just got a budget 8/9/10-speed mtb wheelset on mine and I'm pretty sure it's 130 OLN at the back.

Than it's a road hub, no?

My bad, it’s 135mm

However, it’s got a 5mm spacer on the nds. Wouldn’t be too difficult to take that out and re-centre the wheel.

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Ah thanks for checking! Retro wheels ruled out then as all retro 130mm mtb hubs (that I can find) have 6/7 spd freehubs.

Will keep an eye out for 135 oln hubs with 5mm spacers. Will need a new axle too

Picked up this beauty today for a project. It's pristine. Don't think it has over 200 km in it...

Great find!

jeeez, looks brand new! good catch

Mint! You mean 'add a front rack and then go cycling'...? Or some more elaborate plan?

This Pine Mountain, complete with the original WI crankset, just went for £104.

I nearly bid on it but really don't have time to drive down to Devon right now, so resisted. Thought it would go for more.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114253036216

WimVDD, paulcoquelin, si_mon628
Thanks lads. Paint is a bit scruffy up close, but it's definitely from poor storage, components are minty.
Plan is wacky, 80 cm wide motocross handlebars+BMX stem, rear rack, beefy slick tyres and riding it a lot. I'll add XT thumbies and a V-brake up front.
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/310509/?offset=400

Holy shit this is super bling! Yours?

yep ;)