Show me your 26er!

[Peter P.]

26ers is all I've ever ridden. I'm too poor, cheap, and wise to chase the constantly changing "must haves".

I've also never had suspension. I don't want the weight or maintenance, especially since I ride my bike from home to the trails.

I started with an '84 Specialized Rockhopper. Steel, Bullmoose handlebars, 71/68 angles, and veeeerrry long chainstays, it sucked at uphill traction but it got me started in mountain biking.

Then came a 1990 Bridgestone MB-3. Everything I wanted in a bike at a bargain price. It got that uphill traction and fit just like a performance road bike.

When the chainstay cracked, a buddy TIG welded the crack shut and it held until the frame cracked at the top tube right behind the front cable stop. I put a hose clamp around the crack to hold it together until I bought a replacement frame! Held together for eight weeks without a second thought as to the safety of my temporary repair.

When my Salsa Ala Carte replacement frame arrived, I threw all the parts on it. The fork is an Independent Fabrications steel fork. The frame lasted ten years until it cracked in three places and Salsa wouldn't warranty it. Time for another frame. In the photo it's equipped with my D2R2 tires.

The next frame I will not mention the name of the builder (all identifying marks have been removed from the photo) because I don't want to give them any advertising or cause thread drift. You can PM me if you want the details. The first version of this custom frame had so many errors I sent it back and told the builder they can either repair it, replace it, or refund my money. They sent another frame which was pulling to one side. I brought it to Peter Weigle at my expense to have the alignment checked before I complained. He found it so far out of alignment that he said quote, "a hobby builder using a door for a surface plate could have built something straighter." The builder claimed it must have been bent in shipping, but the box saw no signs of damage. I sent it back and got a refund. A year or two later I saw someone riding that frame at D2R2! You'll note in the photo one platform pedal. I had a sprained ankle when the frame arrived which made it painful to clip in/out of SPDs.

I wisened up and ordered a Rock Lobster (circa late 2009) which I love and still have to this day. Its geometry pretty much matches the Salsa and the Bridgestone-fits like a road bike except it has fat tires. Now, if I can only continue to find quality 26" tires...