You know how it is when you see something a bit colourful and bike shaped on eBay and you put in a low bid and then promptly forget about it?
Well I'd completely forgotten about this one until I was contacted with a second chance offer stating that the original winner had pulled out of the sale. I only bid on the bike based on the fact it was pick up only and pretty much in my home town.

So this morning, inspired by Eddie Izzard and with the knowledge that I'd been putting off training for my marathons later this year I put on my running shoes to run the 4 miles or so to pick the bike up and ride it back home again.
On the way there I was rather pleased when my legs didn't explode as anticipated and that the bike was just about rideable. Okay so the rear mech cable had snapped, the chain was slacker than a yokel's jaw and the brakes only sort of worked if you gave them advance notice in writing.
But I got back home alive and in one piece.

So this little runter, the bottom of the 1991 Saracen range, has been saved from a certain date with a skip based destiny and is now in my possession. It's more or less all original and, although well used and neglected, had been stored in a garage for the last 19 years. The frame is a reasonably lightweight Tange double butted affair, with the original stem and bars in pretty good condition too.
I have already removed the legendary 200GS chainset. It fell to the floor with a dull thud and I haven't been able to lift it since.
Also gone are the 200GS STI's which are probably as bad as catching STI's.



Anyway, now some pictures.






So what to do with it...? Saracen Sahara Single Speed springs to mind...

Best write up of the year to date!

Well its about ruddy time you started training for these marathons lad ! You are the Saracen saviour ! Hope to see the little "runter" out on the trails soon.

Ah glad it went to a good home! Pretty similar to my first mountain bike but that was a slightly older model with a U brake.

Nice work, looking forward to seeing it built up!

I like it.

was the frame the same as others higher up in the range or exclusive to the sahara?

this was the model up with 400LX mix

we might get the whole set!

According to the small section of 1991 Saracen brochure currently available, the Sahara had 'Tange Cromoly Double Butted Main Frame Tubing'.
Next up in the range the Tuftrax Extreme had 'Tange Cromoly Oversize Double Butted Tubing'.
Then the Andes had 'Tange Elliptical Profile Cromoly Double Butted Oversize Tubing'.
The Traverse Hydrotech is listed with 'Tange Elliptical Profile Cromoly Lite Double Butted Oversize Tubing'.

It reads almost as though the marketing people were playing a game which involved adding a new word each time.
So some subtle differences across the range it seems, probably based on whatever tubing and parts they had lying around at the time.

My '91 Traverse Hydrotech sounds exotic compared to the rest but trust me it's probably the heaviest out of all the lot

Nice find Paul, I like the colours on that. So what's the plan for this? How many '91 Saracens have we between us now?
Your Sahara,
is that Tufftrax still on RB?
Gravy Monster's Trekker Hydrotech
My Traverse Hydrotech

We'll have to get together for a group shot, possibly on the upcoming Saracen meet

Was this the one that started at 99p and sold for about 16 or 17 quid?

Sure was. Asked twice but wasn't willing to post.

Yep. I got it for £16.16p. 16 has turned into a bit of a lucky number on eBay recently and everything I seem to buy ends costing 16 quid. I've thought about commissioning the Bank of England to print me some £16 notes to make my life a bit easier.



Your Traverse Competition Hydrotech has the best catalogue listing of them all.
Check this out; 'Elevated Chainstay Frame in Tange Elliptical Profile Cromoly Lite Double Butted Tubing'

I think you're right that between us we may have the complete 1991 line up soon.

SS looks to be the way forward Paul. £16 again, its your lucky bid for sure!

Brilliant Story

My mate had one identical bitd and was a great bike after he had XT'd it all

The 200 GS was a truley awful groupset that was heavy as lead elephants. The frame and forks were defo its strong point and always pleasing to the eye in the bright yellow, Yours also seems to be boasting the FJ nephew tyres that were the original spect too !

Look forward to seeing it emerge

Yep well spotted GM, a rather tired looking set of FJN's on it.
I'm definitely thinking of singlespeed and I'm on the lookout for some cheap 110bcd cranks to replace the 200GS trip hazards.
Something like Exage would be good to match the hubs, which are very smooth incidentally. I'll most likely rebuild the wheels, replacing rims and the spokes with 72 double butted ones.
I doubt I'll go as far as hanging any XT on it yet.

I am seriously considering some flared drop bars and matching bar tape though...

Could be fun.

And this is how it's looking now. Quick test ride before a proper outing in Wales tomorrow.



Gearing is 34:18 with which I can just about manage most of the hills near me. As you can see the slotted drop-outs and a bit of magic ratio, err... magic, means that no tensioner or half-links are necessary.