From Joy to Despair - 853 Rock Lobster

[bobby-gg]

It continues

Got my favourite tool out to clean and face the bottom bracket





Once that was done I dug out my spare mavic ceramics - I can go unmatched pair of 121 with different stickers and the rear built up with alternating blue/red nipples, or replace the front with a X517 rim, but built up with a lovely red Ringle hub, I'm thinking blue/red nipples and Ringle hub

 

[bobby-gg]

I know it starts with a B, then the rest is numbers.

I'll check when I'm back at my unit

Frame no is
B00070076.

Anyone know how to decode it?

Don't think it's a 2007, certainly not a '97 so???

 

[idrisrugby]

By jove @Frankenorange , you're right, I honestly would have argued that no frame builder would do that!
But, trawling Google for images of 853 Lobsters led me to 2 right here on retrobike, plus a random one out there in Google world, quite clearly showing the same hole!
Only the disc only frames don't have the holes!
View attachment 985230

View attachment 985231
View attachment 985232

Panic over!

Being the proud owner of the 853 in these photos, I can confirm indeed that the hole in the wishbone is factory.

I'm literally just going out on it now for a quick blast.

I'll be watching this thread as love a good 853 feed.

Enjoy the rebuild

 

[bobby-gg]

Being the proud owner of the 853 in these photos, I can confirm indeed that the hole in the wishbone is factory.

I'm literally just going out on it now for a quick blast.

I'll be watching this thread as love a good 853 feed.

Enjoy the rebuild

@idrisrugby, yes, I looked at yours when I picked this one up - one thing I have noticed is that yours is a 27.00mm seatpost, and this is a 27.2mm post, had a couple of different posts in to confirm

 

[idrisrugby]

@idrisrugby, yes, I looked at yours when I picked this one up - one thing I have noticed is that yours is a 27.00mm seatpost, and this is a 27.2mm post, had a couple of different posts in to confirm

Yeah mine is definitely a 27.0mm seat post, i had 2 x 27.2mm and for love more money, neither would fit.

Mine has the cantilever and disc brake mounts and pretty sure its 2002.