Since the beginning, bicycle design has evolved in more ways than possibly any other mode of transportation. From the boneshaker to the high wheeler to the safety bicycle all the way up to today's electric-assist pedal bikes. Depending on who you ask, the 'mountain bike' production design began in the late '70s early '80s. It has had almost as many iterations as the bicycle world itself.
I began riding mountain bikes in 1987, and after only 2 weeks of riding, found myself lined up at the start line of my first MTB race. Those were primitive, all 'rigid' bikes (no suspension except your knees and elbows) and yet we were flying around the woods and up and down ski slopes like there was no tomorrow! Now, 36 years later, it is the sport I have done the longest in my life. I gave up the race day craziness after 14 great years of competition, but I still enjoy a trail ride much more than a paved surface!
Two years ago, after crashing my full suspension bike on a desert mountain ride in Arizona (and cracking 3 ribs in the process) I thought it best to maybe lay off the dirt for awhile and I sold my all-mountain conqueror and purchased a new gravel / road bike. It made me feel healthier, and safer, for a while. But when you work at a bike shop, and are around the 'eye candy' of the newest and latest designs and technology; it's hard to 'stay on the diet' (if you catch my 'drift'...
)
In my latter years my motto changed from 'Ride like there's no tomorrow' to 'Ride like there's always tomorrow'. At 67 I don't recover like I used to at 32, or even 52 for that matter! So, I don't plan on tackling the toughest terrain anymore, just go out and enjoy the outdoors on a bike that I can say I had fun building up myself.
....in typical OddJob style, this is getting really long....
I've never been a small guy. Even in top fitness form, I raced at my college football playing weight of around 195-205 lbs. I'm now around 225, and father time is taking his toll on lack of metabolic rate and regular daily activity. So, my 'midriff' has increased in size, while my agility has decreased. Hence, one aspect of my build name: Midriff-ter. The other part is the style of bike I will be building; what we commonly call a 'mid-fat' mountain bike these days. The tires will be mounted on wide rims, and be somewhere in the 2.6 - 2.8 range in width, or girth, as the case may be.
Anyway.....it will be based around an aught-teens Rocky Mountain Fusion frame, Rockshox fork, my 27.5 " 35 mm wide wheels from my Klunker Kat build, a bunch of parts laying around the BACK40, and some fun with a rat-ina faux rust paint job.
A few photos to get you an idea of what's in the plan....
And always, I look to the automotive world for inspiration, on design, and in this case, rat-ina.
RaT oN~!
I began riding mountain bikes in 1987, and after only 2 weeks of riding, found myself lined up at the start line of my first MTB race. Those were primitive, all 'rigid' bikes (no suspension except your knees and elbows) and yet we were flying around the woods and up and down ski slopes like there was no tomorrow! Now, 36 years later, it is the sport I have done the longest in my life. I gave up the race day craziness after 14 great years of competition, but I still enjoy a trail ride much more than a paved surface!
Two years ago, after crashing my full suspension bike on a desert mountain ride in Arizona (and cracking 3 ribs in the process) I thought it best to maybe lay off the dirt for awhile and I sold my all-mountain conqueror and purchased a new gravel / road bike. It made me feel healthier, and safer, for a while. But when you work at a bike shop, and are around the 'eye candy' of the newest and latest designs and technology; it's hard to 'stay on the diet' (if you catch my 'drift'...
)In my latter years my motto changed from 'Ride like there's no tomorrow' to 'Ride like there's always tomorrow'. At 67 I don't recover like I used to at 32, or even 52 for that matter! So, I don't plan on tackling the toughest terrain anymore, just go out and enjoy the outdoors on a bike that I can say I had fun building up myself.
....in typical OddJob style, this is getting really long....
I've never been a small guy. Even in top fitness form, I raced at my college football playing weight of around 195-205 lbs. I'm now around 225, and father time is taking his toll on lack of metabolic rate and regular daily activity. So, my 'midriff' has increased in size, while my agility has decreased. Hence, one aspect of my build name: Midriff-ter. The other part is the style of bike I will be building; what we commonly call a 'mid-fat' mountain bike these days. The tires will be mounted on wide rims, and be somewhere in the 2.6 - 2.8 range in width, or girth, as the case may be.
Anyway.....it will be based around an aught-teens Rocky Mountain Fusion frame, Rockshox fork, my 27.5 " 35 mm wide wheels from my Klunker Kat build, a bunch of parts laying around the BACK40, and some fun with a rat-ina faux rust paint job.
A few photos to get you an idea of what's in the plan....
And always, I look to the automotive world for inspiration, on design, and in this case, rat-ina.
RaT oN~!
