Members' bikes

[Wobbly John]

That's an early 90's (probably a 1992) Raleigh Peak.    Retrobike has some scans of the catalogue.

I've got one that I bought from a charity shop for £15 - and it has a XT groupset (with XT thumbies), which I think dates it to 1993 or 4. 



I bought new, the LX equiped, purple painted 'Ridge' from this range back in 1995, but it got nicked from my garage.

[Bledlow]

My son lives in Tooting and needs something to lock outside to a lamp-post (for his Tooting-Clapham commute).

Therefore nice shiny bikes are out. 

I got this rust-bucket off Ebay locally for £7

Rear mech is gone and wheels are shot but I can transplant any parts from my son's old Halfords MTB (he's had it since he was 13 so it's too small but parts are all OK).

Suggestions?  Single speed?  (use old mech as a tensioner).  It's a pan-flat area he lives in so MTB gearing is redundant.

Frame is Reynolds K2 (fairly basic stuff I think but it's pretty light).  I'm thinking it would be extremely light if I stripped it back to a Single-speed and gave it a coat of Hammerite.  Shame it's got vertical dropouts.

It has Deore thumb-shifters which seem really nice

K2 is apparently Cro-Mo with an octagonal internal profile. Nothing really fancy, but well above floor level.  Not a bad frame, IMO. Should be lighter & springier than a lot of the gas pipe fixies out there, & pretty robust. Perfect for an urban commuter bike. I see mudguard eyes.

Vertical dropouts aren't exactly single-speed friendly, but since you have an old mech you could use as a tensioner, you can overcome that problem without spending money. If I was doing that, I'd prefer to swap the triple crankset for a single. Leaving it on seems a waste, somehow, & adds a little weight.

[eck]

Recently fettled retro-tastic Marin Bear Valley ca 1996,



Tyres kindly donated by Crinkly Lion   . Much sportier than the 2.5" baloons they replaced.
Mudguards bodged from bits lying about, and a lot of zip ties. 

Chain on big ring? Cranks in line with frame? Labels on tyres in line with valves?  Everybody happy?

If you look even more closely (and I know who you are), you'll see the results of a cheap 'n' nasty powder coat job about three years ago. 

EDIT: And before anyone says anything, just let me nip out to the garage and adjust the curvature of the front mudguard.

[interzen]

Can't beat an old-school Marin ... I still miss my '92 Point Reyes, which eventually died of a broken frame (had been rewelded once, but the weld failed again after 8 years so it was time to say goodbye)

[jogler]

My daughter still has a Marin Bobcat,purchased for her 14th birthday,1994.The bike still provides sterling service & is also occassionaly used by her 13 y.o. daughter.

[clarion]

Frame looks great.  Good choice of colour.

[fuzzy]

Allow me to introduce you to Raffa-



My new Wilier Izoard XP Ultegra which I picked up today.



An Italian bike named for SWMBO's favourite Italian, Raffaele De Vita, who plays on the left wing for our beloved Swindon Town.

Not ridden yet. I'm leaving the spacer above the stem for the time being until I'm happy with the set up. The seat height will probably come down a bit too.

I think i'm in lurve

[Andrij]

Sexy!

[marcusjb]

Exterior Marmite inclusion. Nice work.

Looks lovely that. Got red brakes and everything!

[Cudzoziemiec]

No way would I admit to that set up, Fuzzy.






Marmite should only be in a jar, what were you thinking?

 

[Mike J]

Allow me to introduce you to Raffa-



My new Wilier Izoard XP Ultegra which I picked up today.



An Italian bike named for SWMBO's favourite Italian, Raffaele De Vita, who plays on the left wing for our beloved Swindon Town.

Not ridden yet. I'm leaving the spacer above the stem for the time being until I'm happy with the set up. The seat height will probably come down a bit too.

I think i'm in lurve

Lovely 

[Jurek]

Allow me to introduce you to Raffa-



My new Wilier Izoard XP Ultegra which I picked up today.



An Italian bike named for SWMBO's favourite Italian, Raffaele De Vita, who plays on the left wing for our beloved Swindon Town.

Not ridden yet. I'm leaving the spacer above the stem for the time being until I'm happy with the set up. The seat height will probably come down a bit too.

I think i'm in lurve

Wow!

That looks like it's moving,  even when it's standing still!

Ver' nice.

[delthebike]

Looks lovely that. Got red brakes and everything!

Red brakes stop you faster! 

[CrinklyLion]

Recently fettled retro-tastic Marin Bear Valley ca 1996,

Excellent stuff!  Glad to have been of assistance

[Fixedwheelnut]

Beautiful, I have the complete opposite to that bike called 'Ruffa'

Allow me to introduce you to Raffa-



My new Wilier Izoard XP Ultegra which I picked up today.



An Italian bike named for SWMBO's favourite Italian, Raffaele De Vita, who plays on the left wing for our beloved Swindon Town.

Not ridden yet. I'm leaving the spacer above the stem for the time being until I'm happy with the set up. The seat height will probably come down a bit too.

I think i'm in lurve

[Moose57]

Allow me to introduce you to Raffa-



My new Wilier Izoard XP Ultegra which I picked up today.



An Italian bike named for SWMBO's favourite Italian, Raffaele De Vita, who plays on the left wing for our beloved Swindon Town.



Not ridden yet. I'm leaving the spacer above the stem for the time being until I'm happy with the set up. The seat height will probably come down a bit too.

I think i'm in lurve

Very, very nice 

[Moose57]

Winter bike, Ribble Sportive frame with parts from my old Trek Pilot added. Very pleased with it.

[fuzzy]

Winter bike, Ribble Sportive frame with parts from my old Trek Pilot added. Very pleased with it.

That is a nice looking bike

[clarion]

Do the red bits go faster?  And is it a problem if the black bits can't keep up?

[LEE]

When I can get the scales to read "12 stone 6lbs" I think I'll treat myself to something that resembles the Wilier or Ribble.  Something with less leather and Cotton Duck attached than my current fleet.

I imagine they must do about 10mph before you even start pedalling.

I've been using the Ribble Sportive Bianco as motivation for weight loss.

[Kim]

When I can get the scales to read "12 stone 6lbs" I think I'll treat myself to something that resembles the Wilier or Ribble.  Something with less leather and Cotton Duck attached than my current fleet.

I imagine they must do about 10mph before you even start pedalling.

Yes, but sideways, and only if its windy

[Moose57]

Black bits seem more than capable of keeping up with red bits.

My scales can read 12st 6lbs, but not with me on them! More like 16st but never let that affect my buying decisions. I thought about the Bianco, looks like a very good deal. My frame is Aluminium and very light, ride is very comfortable.

I also have my Italian bling bike;

[marcusjb]

Must be REALLY fast - red cranks, hubs, brakes, spoke!

Hmmmm, I do want a carbon bling bike very much. Am currently banned from n+1 - we are on a one in, one out policy now. Grrrrrr.

[fuzzy]

Hmmmm, I do want a carbon bling bike very much. Am currently banned from n+1 - we are on a one in, one out policy now. Grrrrrr.

Keep your eyes on local skips until you spy a dead BSO.

Sneak it closer to home on a daily basis until it lives in the shed/ garage for a week or so at the back of the stable of bikes.

Tell Significant Other that you want N+1 and are willing to sacrifice a current steed.

Surrender dead BSO.

Jobs a goodun

[PaulF]

Hmmmm, I do want a carbon bling bike very much. Am currently banned from n+1 - we are on a one in, one out policy now. Grrrrrr.

Keep your eyes on local skips until you spy a dead BSO.

Sneak it closer to home on a daily basis until it lives in the shed/ garage for a week or so at the back of the stable of bikes.

Tell Significant Other that you want N+1 and are willing to sacrifice a current steed.

Surrender dead BSO.

Jobs a goodun

Most of the time we can do without it but this is another of those times when this place needs a like button!