1990 Marin Bear Valley

[f1fan111]

Hello,

I have had this bike built long enough now and so its time to post up some pics and abit of a spec list

The frame, bars, stem came from development_cycle on here along with the purple cantis from guybe and the levers came from dyna-ti.

Its a mix of old stuff with new parts aswell like the wheels which front is just a spare i had and the rear is a new wheel with LX hub converted from quick release. Has Marin Purple bar ends from ebay

I still have the canti levers with built in shifters and the cantis if i ever decide to make it into a gear machine.

I decided to built this as a single speed to replace the one

The seat sliped while i was out but adjusted it before i next rode it

which when i moved to Isle of Man i couldn't take with me so i gave it and 2 other bikes to a project in leicester which would rebuild them and give them to less well off families.

Things left to do it it are.

Get more purple bits for it if they come up like pedals, cranks and stem.

 

[WD Pro]

Nice one dude - don't see many 90 BV's around

Careful with those forks, I spent ages looking for an exact replacement for mine

WD

 

[beavis]

Zolatone 2000 rules!

Looks like you could do with a bit of chain tension though..?

 

[Mark65]

no tensioner? does it run ok like that, and yes zolatone was great.

Mark

 

[f1fan111]

It seems to run fine without tensioner, but i am sure the chain has strenched since i built it. May replace the chain soon if starts jumping off or just get a tensioner .

 

[marc two tone]

bear valley ss

nice one, always good to see a marin.
a no-fuss build with a couple of spokey- dokeys!
im thinking back now to when you got them free with boxes of cereal

cheers.

 

[f1fan111]

I wish i had the Keloggs reflectors that i had when i was younger. I got about 100 spokey dokeys found them in tesco lol

 

[GT-Steve]

Still probably my favourite of the Zolatone Marins from the 1990 range, the Bear Valley - probably a bit sentimental cos it was the first proper MTB I had a test ride on, BITD.

Funny thing is I saw one yesterday morning in the village I live in, and it looked factory fresh too...

 

[skunk73]

I like this. Quite cool and distinctive.

I found this pic on a google search a few weeks ago and it has inspired me to gradually do up mine (also a 1990). I'd been using it for commuting for a year.

I have Scott wrap-around lo-pro bars which are pretty distinctive, fitted in 1991, and most of the original LX 400 gear -- even one of the shifters. Chainset seems to be Kona CPI. Some bike mechanic fitted that for me at some point in the 90s when i was no longer using it seriously and it looks a bit cheap.

It's got a lot more frame rust than yours (BB area and chain stays).

I'm going to strip the original pedals and put them back on, and maybe go for a Scram or Deore chainset, then finally some 1.75 tyres to replace the current 1.95 budget Raleighs. It's my only bike and I recently pondered getting a new one but I've decided to resurrect it properly instead of just using it to potter along to work, stuck on the middle ring. Hoping to take it up to the hills and woods this weekend.