Want to be able to build a frame like Paul Brodie? Follow this handout Paul has devised for his framebuilding 101 course and it’ll give you a start. Better still of course attend one of his courses

The PROCESS:

1. design frame
2. full scale drawing
3. select tubing
4. mark DT for butting (more…)

The words rare and unique are used all too freely in the world of retro – few bikes deserve to be described as such and this is truly one of them. This Bontrager Experimental was built around 1995 at Bontrager’s Santa Cruz frame shop and currently resides with a well regarded collector here in the UK.
This particular Bontrager Experimental and the other six or seven completed around the same time were built out of a debate as to which frame material was best. Keith Bontrager’s take was that no material could be said to be best and each should be used in a frame to optimize it’s properties. This frame consists of
*Large diameter Aluminium main triangle = Lightest and Stiffest.
*Steel chainstays and dropouts = small diameter tubing so the tyre chainstays and chainrings have good clearance and the most durable dropouts.
*Carbon Seatstays = The lightest and stiffest for brake mount stability (flexi stays make the rear brake feel Mushy)
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The February 2013 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by hollister’s ‘Recoil’.

Click here to see hollister’s shot in all it’s glory (more…)

The January 2013 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by yo-Nate-y’s ‘New Beginnings’.

Click here to see yo-Nate-y’s shot in all it’s glory (more…)

Mustang. Maverick. Cobra. All names from history of the UK MTB scene which stir the hearts of the true connoisseur. Yes, they were built from hi-tensile steel. Yes, they were better suited to the paper round than genuine off road. But still these early Raleigh’s and their ilk hold fond memories for many retrobikers of a certain age. The Retrobike West Midlands crew decided to celebrate these 35lbs plus behemoths with their Scrapyard challenge ride. Several brave riders toughed out the rain in the Forest of Dean with their side pull calipers and five speed friction shift gears to take on the first scrapyard challenge, check the full aftermath here.
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Back in 1995 the iconic UK MTB video Dirt was filmed in and around the grounds of Pete Tomkins’ house in Yorkshire. Tragically one of the stars would never see the finished cut – UK MTB legend Jason McRoy’s life was cut short in August 1995.

The McRoy family have owned the bike Jason rode since then but have now decided to place it up for sale, click here to see JMC’s Specialized S-Works from Dirt auction on ebay and click here to discuss in the forum.

The bike has been cherished ever since and is specced as it was for the video – with the exception of the pedals and saddle. The small S-Works frame features carbon specialized suspension forks up front, partial XT groupset, Avid brakeset, DT hugi hubs, Azonic risers and of course a red Dave’s Chain Device aka the DCD. This S-Works was also raced by JMC on the dual slalom circuit that year. This is a unique chance to own a genuine piece of UK MTB history. Read on for more images of the bike..
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The April 2013 road Bike of The Month contest was taken by Penfold6290′s 1990 Raleigh Dynatech. Second was taken by Piperdave’s c1963 Claud Butler “Cordon Bleu” and third was taken by hatarmar’s Alan Special Cyclocross.

The full result is as follows

1. Penfold6290′s 1990 Raleigh Dynatech
2. Piperdave’s c1963 Claud Butler “Cordon Bleu”
3. hatarmar’s Alan Special Cyclocross

Click here for more details and full results (more…)

The April 2013 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by yo-Nate-y’s ‘Continuity’.

Now taking nominations for the May 2013 contest entitled ‘The Great Escape’.

Click here to see yo-Nate-y’s shot in all it’s glory (more…)

The April 2013 98+ Bike of The Month contest was shared between IbocProSX’s Soulcraft 29er & kaiser’s Surly Pugsley.

The full result is as follows
1 = IbocProSX’s Soulcraft 29er
1 = kaiser’s Surly Pugsley
3. theredchili’s Jeff Jones Diamond

Switchback Magazine have an article on retrobike in their upcoming eleventh issue, check the video preview here. The magazine also features articles on Hope and Orange penned and photographed by our very own Augustus.

The magazine is available from the switchback website, those in the UK can find it at bigger WH Smiths.

Click here to discuss in the forum.

The April 2013 Bike of The Month contest was taken by rumpfy’s Yeti C-26 from some very strong competition.

The full result is as follows
1. rumpfy’s Yeti C-26
2. Biglev’s Breezer mk1 replica
3. racer x’s 1996 Dagger FS

Now taking nominations for the May 2013 Kona vs GT vs Specialized Special BoTM here.

Click here for more details and full results (more…)

What is the most iconic retro mountain bike component of all time? We here at retrobike plan to try and find out or at least gain some sort of consensus from the forum. Simply make your nomination on the iconic retro mtb component thread here and see if the retrobike massive agree with your reasoning.

Will it be the XT thumbshifter? Cooks cranks? Grafton cantis? XT v-brake? 200lx plastic coated cranks?

We’ll leave it with you….

Sunday 28th April saw the belated kick off of the Retrobike National Event Series 2013 at Shropshire’s Long Mynd.

Twenty four riders turned out on a fine selection of (mostly) retro machinery to tackle the excellent trails of the Long Mynd and equally excellent ale and food at the lunchtime pub stop.

Highlights include

*The cracking Long Mynd trails (naturally)

*The tank (soon to be seen on a street near Coventry)

*The pub stop (did we mention that)

*The descent off the Mynd opposite Minton Batch

To check the full Retrobike Long Mynd Aftermath thread please click here.

Next ride is Aviemore in May, see you there (more…)

LeGrandFromage aka Mark aka many other things story ‘Says The Bike’ took our second Story of the Season contest. He wins a virtual badge which I’m sure is better than any monetary prizes. Read on for his short story about ‘The Bike’, the complete set can be found here.

Tink tink tink tink went the bike.

‘Yes?’ says the Bike
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The poll for the April 2013 Bike of The Month contest is now online. Registered users have until the end of April to chose which of the 9 entrants will take the coveted crown of ‘Bike of The Month’. April has proven to be a somewhat intruiging month for BoTM with some big hitting entries helping to keep the field compact, we can only assume many have chosen to keep their powder dry for future contests. The highlights of are biglev’s mk1 Breezer Replica, Tigern’s 1993 Klein Adroit Mardi Gras and rumpfy’s Yeti C-26. (more…)