What mountain bikes did you own BITD?

At the end of the day, what really matters is if it’s fit for what you (you as in triple underscore indelible what you want to achieve) bought a bicycle for (and there is scope for even a basic buy). If the frame is sound and bits that you depend work adequately and you enjoying using, that counts a great deal.

And if you’re into modding to build budget racers, hybrid use bikes or outright extreme projects, a good solid bike is the foundation - you may delve into frame swaps down the line, but if you can’t basically test the water with a basic solid bike as a donor - something is very wrong in paradise.

Guinessisgoodforyou said:

I've never seen an eight leading shoe single sided drum brake, I've seen a double sided four leading shoe drum brake on the front. I would love to see a picture of the 8LS rear. @27motorhead @Tootyred

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Sounds like @TheRadioGuyUK did some serious tinkering. Would love to see pics if you have any...

My first bike was a Wheeler 313 in neon yellow. It had a Shimano gs200 groupset at first. But most parts like the deraileurs and hubs I had to swap quite soon for LX and XT - whatever was available used at that time. Don't know where that bike went. I think my parents gave that bike away a few years after I moved out. Out of nostalgia I "recently" bought the same frame and built it up the way I would have liked it back then. If I had the means. Shameless plug: That bike is up for voting for Bike of the month right now Klick to get to the vote!

My build thread has all the story about the bike. https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/tribute-to-my-very-first-mountainbike-a-wheeler-313.428732/


My second bike was a Hercules Titanal. I still have it and use it occasionally. I bought the frame used from a classmate. Built it with brand new parts that were sold at that hip new store in the town where I also went to school. My parents didn't know how much money I spent on that bike.
It had a Magura HS11 and XT drivetrain. A very nice set of wheels with Mavic ceramic rims and Ringle front / APC rear hub. Later (much later) I swapped everything to M900. This is what it looks like today: