Alright?

[Pete-zz]

Hello all just joined up and not sure if I'm in the right place for introductions, so here I am. I'm Pete and I've just got back into the world of 90s retro bikes after a 25 year plus gap. Found a great starter project on ebay, a rather lovely Raleigh Ascender that I've just finished. I got so much joy out of the buid process I got back on ebay and bought a frame and fork set for the next project. Apologies if this is in the wrong place. Feel free to take the piss I'm no soft arse

 

[FZRIP]

What’s the new project?

 

[yakboy]

Welcome....pictures...or it didn't happen

 

[Pete-zz]

It's an Al carter black panther. After doing some homework it seems that they were high end bikes made by......cough..townsend. but it was the right price and I like the fact I'd never heard of it.

 

[Pete-zz]

Welcome....pictures...or it didn't happen

I will post them tomorrow mate as I realised the photos I have are not up to date.

 

[Markybeau]

I'm going to poke the bear here but...you can do better than Al Carter. Al Carter told me that!
Hey, if it floats your boat great.

Welcome to retrobike. All shapes and sizes are appreciated here. Some more than others.

The photos don't need to be up to date. They all tell a story. We like that here.

 

[Gtpulse]

Reunite the Al Carter with its DX kit and you’ll be creating a rare beast! Nothing wrong with them at all but many were bought and stripped as it was/is an efficient way to get a full DX groupset.

 

[Frankenorange]

Welcome to RB .

 

[Pete-zz]

Reunite the Al Carter with its DX kit and you’ll be creating a rare beast! Nothing wrong with them at all but many were bought and stripped as it was/is an efficient way to get a full DX groupset.

Yeah seems that there is not alot of info on them but that seems to be the recurring memory of folk who worked in bike shops that sold them. Sad really but shit sticks. I remember as a kid that having a townsend bike was the same as owning hi-tec trainers

 

[Pete-zz]

I'm going to poke the bear here but...you can do better than Al Carter. Al Carter told me that!
Hey, if it floats your boat great.

Welcome to retrobike. All shapes and sizes are appreciated here. Some more than others.

The photos don't need to be up to date. They all tell a story. We like that here.

So here is the original bike. The budget was small as it was my birthday money being used to fund it and when you get to 40 years you don't get alot. I won the ascender on ebay for £2.20 + £20 p&p.
The brief was it had to do everything, commute, haul shit about, and tow my 4 year old about in his trailer. Amazingly 15 minutes out of the box I was riding around on it! No major issues apart from age related cracked tyres. As you will see I don't like normal and love bright colours and patterns. Feel free to roast but I've had so much fun sourcing parts and restoring other bits and bobs. It's not been a waste of time and it's got me back into a long forgotten hobby.