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...

[purpurite]

Doesn't see much singletrack time anymore, but this is my almost perfect 2001 Cannondale F700 with fully functional HeadShok. I had visions of making this a contemporary 1x setup, but I have lost interest in trying to make a 22 year old bike work like a new bike. It's good enough as-is.

[fourflys]

2009 Ibis Mojo SL in Eddy Orange.. picked this bike up a couple years ago as it was grail bike since I test rode a carbon Mojo when Ibis first made their comeback.. the DW link makes that such a great riding bike, along with the Fox shocks and dropper.. I'm sure I'm giving up something compared to a modern geometry, bigger-wheeled bike, but I'm not sure what it is..

[ickymon]

Picked this up on the cheap...cuz that's what I am. Updated to the drops and 10spd. It's a do-all bike for when I'm in Lost Angeles, tho I wish it was an XL cuz my back is telling me.

[pdonk]

Here are mine.

The dekerf has since gone back to a flat bar.



Full thread here https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=10250


The brodie is the trailer puller


Full thread here https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...ghlight=brodie

[pinkshogun]

trek 6000. doesnt get much use these but for $25 it does the trick nicely

[eastcoastcrushr]

[QUOTE=sevencyclist;3296826]2022-01-15 11.32.23 by sevencyclist, on Flickr

dannng what are these bars?

[Hilltopwalters]

[QUOTE=eastcoastcrushr;3297675]

Originally Posted by sevencyclist

2022-01-15 11.32.23 by sevencyclist, on Flickr

dannng what are these bars?

They look like Steve Potts Siskiyou Bars

[cbraden]

Two things:

I don't know how to show love for posts (I'm pretty new here), but this thread has made me want to tell people "wow, very very nice bike" more than any other thread I can remember.

Several bikes in this thread that appear to have 400mm seatposts at or close to full extension, and I feel them.

Need to take pics of my Intense 5.5, but I'd almost be embarrassed to post it beside some of these bikes...

[kingpin75s]

[QUOTE=Hilltopwalters;3297686]

Originally Posted by eastcoastcrushr

They look like Steve Potts Siskiyou Bars

Close. Pretty sure those are Groovy Luv Handles.

[jadmt]

my two 26ers

[sevencyclist]

[QUOTE=eastcoastcrushr;3297675]

Originally Posted by sevencyclist

2022-01-15 11.32.23 by sevencyclist, on Flickr

dannng what are these bars?

Groovy Luv Handles. Rody can custom make in your needed length. Center clamp diameter is 25.4, but can use a shim for modern 31.8 stem sizes. My Titanium bar weighed 214 grams in 660mm width.

[NateM]

Merlin XLM converted to Disc gravel duty

[JLQ]

Old XT never gets old to me...

[Hindmost]

Longridge?

Originally Posted by sevencyclist

No more production of high end non tapered steerer suspension forks will make this great bike obsolete at some point.

But until that happens, I am continuing to add carbon!
[