1990 Ridgeback 704XT

Dossa

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I never thought this day would arrive, but thanks to my new-best-friend-forever cooie (cheers, Ian!) I can now get stuck into one of my all time favourite bikes, the very one one I used to drool over in the Freewheel catalogue.... :oops: :D

It's 1990 Ridgeback 704XT in all its 19" Rubine Red, Tange Prestige, Deore XT loveliness - my first bike was a '90 601LX so have always hankered after another (see thread --> viewtopic.php?t=212095&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 )

After seeing Ian post up his frame in the 'what's its worth' thread, several PM's later led to me buying the original frame, forks, wheels, seat post, front mech, cantis and QRs so I haven't got too much to do really. The forks were in a bit of a bad way and they are currently at C&G Finishes in Liverpool to get bead blasted, resprayed etc so they should look like new when I get them back in a couple of weeks or so (...I hope!)

The frame had spent the last several years in a shed so I got my polishing rags out and have spent the last few days T-cut'ting and waxing till my arms ache :D Here's some pics (well, a few actually....)

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Decals are in quite good condition so I've decided to keep them (also as Gil doesn't have them on file) and the paintwork has a lot of patina but I bought a jar of rubine red paint to touch up the scratches. I did need Gil for a Tange Prestige decal and Mavic M231 CD rim stickers as well:

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:D
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

The image that started it all:

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And my first one:

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Here are the forks, Tange Switchblades, before I took them to C&G - had a little polish of the crown -

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A review of the forks from an old MBUK of mine:

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A couple of pictures of the frame/forks courtesy of Ian:

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I must have had a premonition as I only picked up a raaaather snazzy Ridgeback team kit last month....

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:D
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

Here are the wheels: 32h Deore XT M730 hubs on Mavic M231 CD rims. They were in very good condition but the front wheel had rustless spokes on so I took them to 'The Wheelbase' in Wirral to get the wheels re-laced, serviced and trued - like new now!

Put on some IRC Mythos tyres (albeit both are front specific) along with Velox rim tape and Continental inner tubes:

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Just need to put on the rim deals for the front wheel mainly as the decal as come loose there.

Couple of other parts:

Madison seatpost, a skinny 26.0mm - from a previous years model as the original carbon one has long gone, says Ian! I love the Madison logo so this'll be staying (I think..!)

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....And Deore XT M735 front mech:

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Original seat QR and rear wheel QR (the missing front QR is winging its way to me as we speak):

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Plans for the build? Won't be a catalogue replica as I'll be using thumbies for a start but it'll have an identical silhouette I hope and be unmistakably a 704XT :D

Cheers, Matty
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

More Ridgeback erotica... :oops: :LOL:

Some other images from the 1990 catalogue:

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:cool:
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

You're a one-man Ridgeback fan club :LOL:

My 89 Claud Butler was originally a very similar pink, sorry I mean "cerise" red colour.

Something about top models from unloved brands that I like... Putting my kettle on ready for the completed bike pics :cool:
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

Did you weigh the bare frame by any chance?

Lovely bike, I remember the catalogue!
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

Nice find. :cool:

Don't see many Ridgebacks these days, though someone did a teaser on one of these not long ago I think.

Looking forward to seeing it built up. ;)
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

was8v":2yunhrfc said:
Did you weigh the bare frame by any chance?

Lovely bike, I remember the catalogue!

Nah, haven't weighed the frame but its fairly lightweight being Tange Prestige, complete bike should be around 26/27lb mark I'd think.

:D
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

Awesome,looks great,reminds me of my last few months at school,riding everywhere,and loving it.Can't wait to see it finished. :D :D
 
Re: New Build: 1990 Ridgeback 704XT

firedfromthecircus":r8aam9zy said:
Nice find. :cool:

Don't see many Ridgebacks these days, though someone did a teaser on one of these not long ago I think.

Looking forward to seeing it built up. ;)

Yes, that was nevadasmith's hammerite-d 704XT : the only other one on here, possibly? The search function doesn't bring up any others...

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