Finally got round to building up another 456, having tracked a That Blue one down a few months ago.
It’s not the right wheel size
It’s not got rear suspension
It’s not made from carbon.
It’s not got a tapered headtube.
It’s not got a dropper post.
It’s not got 11 gears.
But I bloody love it. If I’m honest, my time spent mountain biking was waning – loving the Tripster so much, really enjoying riding the lanes and exploring on that and sadly, not particularly ‘getting’ the mountain bike thing for the first time in over 20 years.
Went for a spin on the full suss a few weeks back and enjoyed it so much, I stripped it down (it made sense to me at the time), built the 456 up – and the buzz has returned. I’ve had about half a dozen Inbreds and 456s over the years, always regretted selling the 456s and this has really got me going again. The nods to current fads are tubeless tyres, 2×10 and nice wide carbon bars – and I might just stick a dropper on it, but that aside, it’s hardly cutting edge.
So what’s yours? The one bike that tickles your pink, gets you going and floats your boat – but that’s a lot more Throwback Thursday than Fresh Goods Friday…
To be honest, it’s probably the only thing I’ll swap out on the 456 from how it is at the moment. Is the Ragley a 27.2? Looking like I’ll need to find an old Gravity Dropper or get an RSP / Zoom or just chuck a few quid at a Tmars.
It’s not the right wheel size 26″
It’s not got rear suspension Nope
It’s not made from carbon. Steel
It’s not got a tapered head tube. 1.1-8″
It’s not got a dropper post. Quick release!
It’s not got 11 gears. 9
Think I tick all the boxes there. Will have a complete opposite joining it soon. Hopefully. Fingers crossed. Please let me have my new bike.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/7upaGb]Dymock Woods Snow Ride![/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr
Original Pikes. ‘No Flare’ Straight head tube. 2×9, 26.8 Post, big dent where someone ran over it at chicksands 😉 Doesn’t get ridden as much as it used to but would never sell. Far too many good memories.
And here it is on the ‘log drop’ at Chicky. That pic fails to show the terror of that particular obstacle. Can’t believe I used to ride it on a HT!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/pU2HC]IMG_0353[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr
Finally put it together yesterday morning (yes I need to cut the brake hoses) after being sat in the garage for 4 months, built up with left over over parts from previous bikes….
It’s an Orange 5 (so I can stop now really!)
26 inch wheels
9 speed triple, single pivot
narrow bars and long stem (compared to nowadays anyway) 1 1/8 headtube all the way,
clipless pedals, no dropper, not tubeless, aluminium, no chainguide or bash ring.
Cheers monkeychild! I’ve had a blue/creme one, one that got resprayed a very nice pearl antique white, a Stirling Moss green Inbred SS and a white Inbred – oh and a Mk1 Ti456 too (plus a black ano Scandal) – but always wanted a That Blue 456. It’s a good as I’d hoped 🙂
Some cracking bikes on here – glad to see there’s plenty of life in the old (new) dogs yet.
Just done 50miles on this at 10 under and it was grand. Granny ring is shot though. And I forgot to unlock the fork for the first enormous descent. Riding a rigid bike when you think you have suspension is sore.
Nine speed, triple, normal post, normal headset, normal bb. Does have a silly 31.8 bar though.