WHERE ARE THEY NOW......?

[Nothin-fancy]

Yep. This one’s been ongoing since the late 80s when I couldn’t find one so bought a 1988 model (which I still have).

1987 Stumpjumper Team. Yes, it’s a Specialized, yes it was there in a thousand catalogue pics - but the 87 Teams were built by Dave Tesch. He and Specialized reportedly had an agreement/order that he couldn’t fulfill. And so they are hyper rare. Two I’ve found evidence for: 1. The catalogue bike. 2. A fuzzy pic of one that was apparently stolen from a guy in the US.

(There must be at least another out there - it’s the only bike left that I hanker after - have a look, cash waiting - over there behind the Studebaker project, next to the broken chainsaw, under that old tarp - no the yellow one ……)

View attachment 1020551

I've seen an 87 in person at the now defunct Pacific Coast Bikes in California USA. So they're out there. I'd call around to some of the older bike shops in the San Diego and Escondido areas and see if anyone has anything kicking around. I'm not sure if Bryan Baylis is still around but I'd try him too. They might put you on a lead.
I grew up a handful of miles from where Tesch and Moulton had their shops and got to ride more than a few of their builds when I was younger. I've also held and ridden a Confente bike more than a few times too.

My "one" is pretty pedestrian... A Nishiki Alien. All of the one's I've found in person were either beat to a pulp and put away wet or they want Alpine Star's Al Mega XT cash for them and I refuse to pay that for a production bike and I don't do the whole instant gratification eBay/Internet thing. So I'm left trolling thrift stores and the bike co-op.

 

[uno-speedo]

Pacific Coast Bikes in California USA

Chuck's shop in Carlsbad and then Oceanside?

 

[doctor-bond]

I've seen an 87 in person

Excellent. Keeping the hope alive. After all these years it will either be get lucky on Craig’s list/eBay or do some serious sleuthing with leads like that.

 

[brocklanders023]

Yeah mate.

Was that Sian and Dafydd Roberts on the Marins?

 

[Nothin-fancy]

Chuck's shop in Carlsbad and then Oceanside?

That's correct, Chuck and Gretchen. He always had something interesting coming through there. He was always wrenching on some interesting things or just looking around at the rafters. And Gretchen always had yummy lemonade in the summer. I got to meet Eddie Merckx there a long long time ago too. I haven't lived there in decades though. I moved somewhere with way better cycling and cheaper rent.

Chuck was one of the lug filing people when Masi first set up shop in Carlsbad. That shop is how I got turned on to being a cork sniffing cyclist and knowing what a good bicycle is and how they're built, ride and painted. that doesn't necessarily mean being a brand whore but being conscientious of weld's, filing and such.

 

[JCS]

Mine is a bit more modest but I'd love to get my hands on one of these 89 Pine Mountains and to also know the history. They were run by the UK team and the article was in an 89 MBUK that was the very first one I bought. Why not the UK colour, why not use Team Marin frames and why then spec them as the Team? It's mentioned that they were soon to be replaced by a couple of Team Titaniums.View attachment 1022796View attachment 1022797View attachment 1022798

I remember that article and MBUK issue very clearly!
I also wonder what the deal was with the yellow paint scheme. Was that the US or mainland Europe colour scheme? Or a special order colour?

 

[brocklanders023]

I remember that article and MBUK issue very clearly!
I also wonder what the deal was with the yellow paint scheme. Was that the US or mainland Europe colour scheme? Or a special order colour?

Assume it's the US colour option? Wonder if it was classed as Team colours for the racers since they kept it for the Muirwoods and Bolinas when the rest of the range went Zolotone?

 

[uno-speedo]

That's correct, Chuck and Gretchen. He always had something interesting coming through there. He was always wrenching on some interesting things or just looking around at the rafters. And Gretchen always had yummy lemonade in the summer. I got to meet Eddie Merckx there a long long time ago too. I haven't lived there in decades though. I moved somewhere with way better cycling and cheaper rent.

Chuck was one of the lug filing people when Masi first set up shop in Carlsbad. That shop is how I got turned on to being a cork sniffing cyclist and knowing what a good bicycle is and how they're built, ride and painted. that doesn't necessarily mean being a brand whore but being conscientious of weld's, filing and such.

Chuck and Gretchen are lovely people. I used to chat with Chuck and take in as much knowledge as I could, and I especially enjoyed his interactions with customers. I was sad to see him retire, but it was certainly justified.

 

[biker23]

Chuck and Gretchen are lovely people. I used to chat with Chuck and take in as much knowledge as I could, and I especially enjoyed his interactions with customers. I was sad to see him retire, but it was certainly justified.

@uno-speedo:
Very true.
It's kind of sad that such "old-school shops with a soul" and with awesome, genuine owners-
who actually really care(d) about their customers and who possessed deep knowledge, displayed real passion are becoming increasingly rare.

Nowadays with most bike shops it's basically just about selling mass produced products to mostly clueless buyers with the least amount of
interactions between bike producers, bike shop owners & the end consumers....
Similarly like a certain famous Burger Chain is doing it - an approach, where it's only about numbers, time efficiency and passion is missing.