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back in 1994, no one built the bike I wanted to race downhill, so I started a company and built it ourselves 😉
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My 1991 Kona Lava Dome.
Loved this bike, it was fantastic..
It was my second mountain bike, after a Dawes Tracker, and they where poles apart.
Spent many happy hours on the North York Moors on it.
Sadly it was stolen out of the garage after I joined up..
Not mine, but it was this.
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My 2007 S-Works Epic, I was quick then and I won things on it. Never missed a beat!
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No story behind it. I just love riding it and the fact it can come anywhere with me. Just off out on it now...
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I've got a lava dome like that in the loft!
If I can have two, then more recently it's this..
My Salsa Vaya.
The first bike I've ever ridden and thought, yeah, this just 'works'.
On road, or Gravelgrinding™ as the cool kids call it, it's just, well, ace.
Yup.
This ones a keeper.
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I'm loving the number of bikes in here that are deemed dead by the MTB industry.
Lots of wrong wheelsizes, steerers, gearing, brakes, forks and just about everything else too.
It proves that not having the newest standard doesn't effect how enjoyable riding can be. They're all much of a muchness 😆 !
Yes and no. I'd not want my 2007 Epic back I don't think, it was just my favourite bike in terms of memories and what not.
I think my current bike is 'better', but not my favourite.
teadrinker - its at the top of macc forest loop in the peak district. Lovely little single speed loop with a joyous wake up climb up past the leather smithy pub to dimples farm.
It's strange, I don't really have a best ever bike feeling. I have had some good bikes and some bad bikes I suppose my BFe is the most fun and versatile bike I have ever had.
My current FS bike is the most capable all round bike that I have owned and is pretty fast. I have even reached the point where I feel I don't need to upgrade it any further as I don't think it will ride any better.
Yes and no. I'd not want my 2007 Epic back I don't think, it was just my favourite bike in terms of memories and what not.I think my current bike is 'better', but not my favourite.
That's the essence of it for me as well. I know if I tried to ride my Switchback the way I ride my Aeris, I'd have lots of accidents. That's not the point tho - riding that bike was when I realised how amazing MTBing is. And as such will always be my favourite. I think I said it before, it should be called DMR 'gateway drug' 🙂
tazzymtb - Member
teadrinker - its at the top of macc forest loop in the peak district. Lovely little single speed loop with a joyous wake up climb up past the leather smithy pub to dimples farm.
Thanks Tazzy - one of those pictures that makes me just want to ride 🙂
I've thought about this quite a lot and come to the conclusion that my favourite bike is usually the one I'm riding at that moment!
1st Gen Dialled Prince Albert
Pictured here at a Rifugio somewhere high above Lake Garda.
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It was a bit heavy, it was a bit small for me in retrospect and it was a bit steep by current standards. Subsequent bikes have probably been a bit "better" but I don't care.
I bloody loved that bike. It took me on some big adventures. Crossing Wales in 2 days, Canada including a Chilcotin Float Plane drop and any number of really big rides round the pointy and steep bits of Europe during a year off from "normal life" pre-kids.
It was my go to bike for just riding round the local singletrack in the woods.
17.5in Frame, 130mm Marzocchi Z1 FR SL forks, Short (for the time) 60mm stem, Saint/XT brakes and Maxxis Minion tyres. The rest of the spec was from the shelf marked "Sturdy but not light".
It rode like a old Kona Hardtail on steroids.
I still have the (cracked - :sob:) frame hanging in my garage.
I dropped the frame that replaced it off at the tip this weekend (also cracked) and didn't think twice. No way would I ever do that to the PA.
Probably my original, first generation Marin Rocky Ridge with the funny tribal tattoo graphics. One of the first big brand longish travel hardtails - the Stiffee pre-dated it I guess - rode it everywhere including the Alpujaras. Liked it so much that after cracking the frame I got it copied in ti by Setavento. That frame's still going as a rigid 69er singlespeed with an outboard eccentric bottom bracket, but its real replacement is a Ragley Ti.
I've liked all my bikes though, bar the Klen Palamino which was a mistake on several levels. If I had to keep just one, the Ragley Ti would be it, but the Rocky Ridge was the start of the line that led to it. I'll try and dig a pic out later.
Mine is my 2003 Rocky Mountain Element.
>>Also one of my favourite bikes I've ever owned.
I had a 1999 Instinct. Similar bike, but for the components. Fab thing.
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Can't beat my just retired 2006 Yeti 575 though. 9 years down the line and never yearned for another bike until the main pivot wore out.
Bought on eBay from a US seller - back when you could see who won stuff, I contacted 3 or 4 international customers of the seller and made sure they were all happy with the service before I bought it.
Took ages to arrive and he sent the wheels separate - they got "lost" in customs and turned up 2 weeks after the rest of the bike. Caused a big hit on custom charges too.
It's been worth every penny. Been raced XC and Enduro (both badly, of course!), crossed the Alps from Switzerland to Germany, little local rides, far away big rides - perfect bike for all of it.
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