Gallery

1991 Specialized Rockhopper

Original frame, fork, headset, wheelset and bottom bracket refurbished/restored. Threadless stem adapter. All other components upgraded. This build really suited the character of this classic Specialized frame, very fun to ride. Semi-horizontal dropouts on these make the singlespeed a no-brainer. This bike was eventually stripped for parts and the frame and fork went off to a new home, which in hindsight was a mistake. I have been looking for a suitable replacement ever since. 

1993 Raleigh MT 500

Frame-up build with 1990s and 2000s era componentry. "Fool Suspension" conversion using Manitou Magnum fork with custom steel springs and a vintage Tamer Pivot Plus seatpost. Just goofing around with this one since I had a leftover front thumbshifter. Stuck it into a length of cut down handlebar and mounted it to the seat tube water bottle bosses with matchmaker clamps. The frame itself is a very weird aluminum front triangle bonded to a steel rear. Gives it interesting ride characteristics.

199? Land Shark Road Shark

Upgraded componentry throughout on this beautiful custom steel frame, including new lightweight wheelset and Shimano Hollowtech crankset. Several spots where the paint was chipped so I did some mild rust abatement and sealed these areas to prevent future corrosion. Rebuilt the Ultegra 9 speed derailleur, brakes and brifters. Original cassette as well, which was in good enough condition to keep. Built for a good friend as a daily driver on a tight budget. Original matching threaded fork saved and included in case he ever wants to fully restore it.

1995 American Eagle Mammoth

Frame-up build, single 140mm rear disc brake using Chaser Components adapter. Just a fun example of a complete parts bin project, with a 29" wheel up front and a 26" out back. I did have to go out and buy the seatpost, but everything else was on hand. Not something you want to ride for hours on end, but great for zipping around the neighborhood and hopping curbs.

1992 Cannondale Delta V 900

Full restomod rebuild of this classic Cannondale. Beautiful purple-black fade paint was gently polished and restored as much as possible (original decals are all applied above the clearcoat so extra caution is required). 1st gen Headshok retained and refurbished, which is great for city riding. I'd like to keep it for as long as I can so I baby this most of the time and it mostly sees the bike path. Custom 9-speed drivetrain using 10-speed Zee rear derailleur and 9-speed SRAM shifter. Sram XO crankset. Rare Reverse Components shorty stem for the oddball 1.56" steerer Cannondale used for several years. Some older Mavic CrossMax wheels. Vintage Onza downtube sticker carefully preserved.

2004 Gary Fisher Marlin

Original frame and fork, all other parts replaced. Front disc, rear v-brake setup, but I did eventually find one of the rear disc conversion tabs that they made for some Gary Fisher and Trek bikes of this particular era. Big fat 2.35" Arrow Racing Launch tires to help provide a smooth ride. A very small 13" or 14" frame, built up for my middle daughter when she was about 10. This was great for her to learn how to use a gearshifter and was right at home on gravel paths and grassy areas where a kid can start to feel comfortable on a "real" bike. Very short 35mm stem and cut-down handlebars. I really love the way these tiny frames look, but it's a lot heavier than it could be. 

1998 Iron Horse ARS

Built up as a rugged commuter, the move to 27.5" wheels from the original 26" turned this old mountain bike into a cushy street cruiser. Just a 1.95" tire in the back here, but later iterations had as big as a 2.4" out back thanks to massive frame clearance. Custom neon green & purple metal flake paintjob fading to polished aluminum. Stem, fork and seatpost also custom painted. BB7 disc brakes at both ends thanks to disc conversion kit.

1997 Voodoo Bantu

Another bike I built up for my kids to ride. Like the Gary Fisher above, the frame and fork were original and everything else was replaced. A simple 1x9 setup is easy for new riders to manage. Original Rock Shox Judy fork was pretty beat up so the paint was stripped from the lowers and is now just raw aluminum. Otherwise a pretty straightforward build. Even though the Bantu was a midrange aluminum bike in the Voodoo range at the time, it is still very nice with a lot of interesting touches and at least some Joe Murray DNA. If this was bigger I'd probably have kept it for myself.