Serotta MTB Identification - Real or Fake? 1995? 1998?

[Proto2000]

I do not. Bike is in Switzerland now. Had exactly that feature with a cable cover, not a housing, over it. Best pic I have of that feature.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

That picture is helpful for sure. I thought maybe there was a holder missing at the nub on the seatpost clamp, but now I see from the brake lever there is cable housing to the cable stop on the top tube nearest the headset THEN a long cable sleeve along the top tube and over/around the seatpost clamp nub to the rear canti boss.

 

[Prodigal Son]

I honestly have a vague idea of what I am dealing with here. The cable stop/guide for the rear brake cable is not a hollow tube cable housing stop. It's a notched nub brazed onto the seat clamp mechanism and is all one piece design. Also, if you look closely, and draw a horizontal line with your eye along the axis of the seat clamp bolt, imagine this... the little nub is slightly canted vertically toward the the horizontal or vertical center line of the frame, if you will. For the rear brake, there is a cable stop brazed near the steerer tube, then there is nothing along the top tube for cable management until this nub brazed onto the seat post clamp. I've never seen a design like this, so I am a bit puzzled.

Other than the rear drop outs stamped with "Ritchey" I don't know what else I can measure. Maybe the bike was resprayed at one point, as indicated by the water bottle holder bolts, one set is yellow the other red. Where the paint colors meet, there are no ridges. Where there are chips, I see very light grey primer then metal.

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On which side is the top tube cable stop near the headtube? I suppose the nub works as a pivot for the cable.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

At the non-drive side.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Cable pivots around the nub. Very elegant and precise.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Small update since I guess this is a build thread.

There was clear corrosion between the water bottle cage bolts as well as the bosses for the rear canti brakes when I stripped down the frame. While I wait on my mind to make up it’s mind… I chased the threads with taps to clean them up. I was surprised in the amount of old, dried grease and rust that stuck to the channels between the cutting surface of the taps! I highly recommend you all do the same! Especially since the interface between different metals encourages electrolysis.

Regarding the build, I have a donor bike with a near complete XTR m900 groupset but the old Mavic parts look pretty neat that came with the bike when I bought it. I am not sure if I set myself up for that headache trying to find the remaining parts as the bike needs everything except the headset and the bottom bracket. Speaking of which, look at this BB housing- chamfered to accept the Mavic BB.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Mavic is my favourite looking headset.. you never see it on wannabe mass produced mtbs and the BB is excellent. Bikes like this Serotta were always built w/ a combination of the best parts around. No need to full grouppo here.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Honestly, this old chamfered Mavic is my first experience with their bottom brackets. This one is extremely well made and turns as smooth as butter.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Cleaned up the front fork this afternoon. Lots of old dirt. Really cleaned out the lower race surface to get a good seat when the fork goes back on eventually.

Some of the bolts are a bit rusted and chewed up so I’ll replace those soon.

 

[Prodigal Son]

I attempted to read the serial number but that part of the bottom bracket housing has some chain rub in the paint. Perhaps these additional pictures can narrow down the year?


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The cable guide in mid chainstay tells the meaning of "high end steel frame". I could live w/ one of those Serottas.