Unknown late 1980s Ridgeback

baldtired · Nov 19, 2014

Hello, just wondering if anyone can shine a light on my Ridgeback? I started riding it about 1990 but I know the previous owner had been using it for at least a year. It's not in great shape but I'd like to know whether it's worth restoring or not? Any opinions would be much appreciated. Cheers.

Triangular stem / handlebar (bullmoose?) & Chromoly frame.
Brakes: Red S centre pull cantilevers.
Gears: 5x3 Shimano with Climber shifters.
Tracer cranks.
SUMO wheels.

firedfromthecircus · Nov 19, 2014

Looks older than an '89 for sure.

firedfromthecircus · Nov 19, 2014

Looks like the same font as the '83

but the first ones had bi-plane forks and the later ones had lugged forks, so the unicrown on this is throwing me a bit.

firedfromthecircus · Nov 19, 2014

By '87 they were looking like this.

So somewhere between '83 and '87.

Of course, if you want an old bike it is worth a clean, lube and polish. If you don't then advertise it on here as an early Ridgeback and you might get a taker.

itscervo · Nov 19, 2014

To me it looks to be a late 84/early 85, thats going off the uni crown forks & shimano AL11 mechs, check the date codes on the back of them.

baldtired · Nov 24, 2014

Re:

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'll look at getting it fixed up and see if I can get any more info on it in the meantime. I have emailed Ridgeback a couple of times but didn't get a response.

Cheers.

Snoot · Jan 19, 2015

Hi, I had exactly the same bike! It is a Ridgeback 'S' model from around 1986/87. I got mine from the Freewheel mail-order catalogue early on in 1987. I recall there being 2 models of Ridgeback in that particular catalogue, a more expensive model with Reynolds 501 tubing & the 'S' model above. Most of the components were Madison own brand stuff like Red S brakes & the Tracer chainset which you still have. It certainly weighed a fair bit, especially with the steel one piece handlebar/stem, but I had many happy years on that bike. Finally sold it in the mid 90's to buy a road bike. Big mistake, as I've been trying to get hold of one for about ten years now! Never seen another until I chanced upon this forum.

Unknown late 1980s Ridgeback

baldtired

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