[Closed] Your first ever mountain bike.

This, a Marin Team Titanium. I was doing masses of Road Racing pre taking up MTB'ing and had a few quid to spend so I bought this off a shop in North Wales and got my G/F to drop me off at Lake Bala on the way home and I rode it back from there to Ironbridge. I then entered a couple of the early XC races at Cannock and the first time I turned up to race it got nicked from behind me, didn't even get to do my first race on it.. Gutted doesn't quite fit the feeling. It was then replaced with a Klein Attitude in pink/green fade (which I have to say was much nicer and became one of my all time favorite bikes)

[img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8435232124_1cfe1cb845.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8435232124_1cfe1cb845.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65239715@N05/8435232124/ ]image[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/65239715@N05/ ]artaylor910[/url], on Flickr[/img]

1989 Saracen Tufftrax for me. Got another one now for retro trips.

Second was a 1990 Orange Clockwork. Got it second hand around 1993 as I couldn't afford a new one. Ace bike that, still ride Orange because of it 8)

Alpinestars Al-Mega DX 😀

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First MTB-style bike was a Diamond Back Sorrento in 1992 (?)

First what I'd call 'proper' MTB was a 1996 GT Backwoods

one of these:

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Then one of these:

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Specialized Sportrock - stolen from the shed after two happy years 🙁

I had the same one as simmy, the Raleigh 'Mountain Bike Team', a heavy old gate done up to look vaguely like the proper team bike, sort of, maybe if you squinted from thirty feet off on a foggy day. Had some grand days out on that and covered a fair few miles for a 12 year old. Scrimped and saved for two years to get myself a proper bike, a Breezer, then sold the old Raleigh to pay for some shoes or something like that.

1986 Rockhopper.

my first tmb be was, i'm ashamed to say a Raleigh Shaftivator....it was a horrible piece of s**t...
[url= http://media.dogsandpuppies.co.uk/files/instance-02/main_photo/2010/03/26/07/54/0d1736123b4aadf2d6b5cdb0c3d2d3df-IMG_0040-480x300.jp g" target="_blank">http://media.dogsandpuppies.co.uk/files/instance-02/main_photo/2010/03/26/07/54/0d1736123b4aadf2d6b5cdb0c3d2d3df-IMG_0040-480x300.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

got rid of it as soon as possible and replaced it with a Marin Eldridge Grade....
[url= http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/gradeafailure/DSCF4481Medium.jp g" target="_blank">http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/gradeafailure/DSCF4481Medium.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
oh how i miss that bike...

[img] &f=Photos[/img]

Wish i still had it but it was 15.5 inch and i sold it once i grew out of it and decided it wasnt a very good as a trials/ DJ bike 🙂

the bars and stem are still being used on my mates bike, having had a stint as a banger based mortar system 🙂

A Marin Bear Valley SE- i literally perstered my parents to but it for me!
Thanks mum and Dad 😀

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Marin Eldridge Grade....

oh how i miss that bike...

Oh how i wanted one of those....

I too started on a Raleigh Activator (like gonzos above).

Kays catalogue must have shifted 1000s of those things!

Mine is still in the family and is regularly ridden by my father-in-law!

Grifter

more properly a black Kona - 1990 Lava Dome I think 😀

1988 Kona Explosif that I bought in 1989. I still have it, it still gets ridden from time to time.
There'll be photos of it on here somewhere.

Here it is....
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I grew up right by a bit of woodland and some old railways tracks and army ranges, so all my bikes went offroad. My first was a Raleigh Chippy - a singlespeed fixy! Then a coupla Raleigh Boxers, also singlespeed and with big mudguards that made them look like a motocross bike. Then a Raleigh Superburner BMX. Then, when I'd been mountain biking for about 10 years something amazing happened - mountain bikes arrived in Surrey! I got an Apollo Atomic. It had GEARS!

Anyway the first, my chippy, looked like this:
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This is the closest pic I can find to mine.
1988 Saracen tufftrax (2nd year of them I think):

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Many of the amazing period details shown in this one image:
[img] http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=164748&sid=535638fd9f4bb27296a9c98ab682bb81 [/img]

rossi146 - i originally was going to get a Bear Valley SE then realised i'd actually saved up enough money for the eldridge!! result!! 😀
i had it for 4 years before some sticky fingered scrote thieved it!! i know who took it but without actual proof i could never do anything about it... 😕
muffin-man - i feel your shame pal!! 😆

Second hand Marin Muirwoods in a lovely luminous yellow. Similar to this.

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'87 Muddy Fox Courier brought second hand with my paper round money.

Still have the front wheel in the garage which was all that was left after it was nicked 😐

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Had an MBK bike something like 90 or 91. 200gs shifters, 300lx rear mech, biopace etc.

Bought a Hardrock in 91 that had a flex-stem, not the Girvin one though.

After that was a GT Tequesta with Rock Shox Indy S. Yay elastomers. That got nicked so I bought a Marin Bear Valley SE. Rigid though.

Big gap then a GT Zaskar.

I miss my old bikes.

Marin Palisades in blue, roughly 1987, with Biopace. Stolen 5 or so years later at uni. I got my girlfriend into cycling as well, and we'd head out to the pub and clubs and wobble home off our heads.

The odd thing is, despite it being called a mountain bike, I had no conception that off road trail riding existed until almost 10 years later when my girlfriend bought a mtb mag because she wanted a suspension fork like the one I'd got on my new Marin Bear Valley. Initially it was all about the fluoro yellow courier bikes popularised by Muddy Fox, but then I grew in Central London with no car, so my idea of off road was within the tree and shrub sections of Hyde and Battersea Parks!

Giant Coldrock. 1992ish, It was my Mam's really but I permanently borrowed it. Was nicked from my backyard when I nipped upstairs to get my puncture repair kit. Fast buggers. Replaced with an Orange P7, which I had until 6 months ago.

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First bike that resembled an MTB was a Townsend Topeka. First actual proper MTB was a Kona Fire Mountain, 1996 model, stil regret selling it to this day 🙁

1991 Alpinstars Cro-Mega DX

[img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8087481536_3b33a0a49a.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8087481536_3b33a0a49a.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8087481536/ ]holmo bike chop[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6885106983_799216efbc.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6885106983_799216efbc.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/6885106983/ ]old skool[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img]

1986 Ridgeback S... and whenever these threads come up I set off on a search to try and find a pic of one, but never with any luck.

Closest I've found is the next page or so on in the Freewheel catalogue with the top of the range model from that year (you get the idea.. mine was like that but with much cheaper bits!)

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3062/5800666065_c71a214686_n.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3062/5800666065_c71a214686_n.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/55187789@N05/5800666065/ ]ridgeback mountain bike retro mtb british[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/55187789@N05/ ]vincycles[/url], on Flickr

Rigid KHS about 300 quid 20 years ago. It got nicked at the station.

Considering that a bike is still pretty much 2 wheels, plus a frame and seat/bars, i can't quite believe just how old fashioned these MTB's are looking! If the same thing occurs over the next 20 years we are going to be riding hover bikes soon 😉

I had one of these
14th birthday present, from Pa who thinks bikes are important. lucky me. Loved it, took me places, eventually got nicked from Victoria Park while on long term loan to a mate.

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This one isn't mine, I just found the pic on Google image search. Had a really strong reaction when I opened it full size: the smell of warm pine needles, summer afternoons in the Bourne woods, not much to do but get lost and follow our noses. wow.

Diamond back ascent. The one i rented in Kathmandu was ace, the one i bought in Blighty was utter bollocks, creeky, rattling piece of junk.

Diamond back Ascent EX 😀

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Rock Shox Judy SLs the forks added latter

Raleigh Avanti identical to the one previouslt posted - bought used, and I only ever used it as a commuting bike. Never rode off road!

Then a Kona Unit 29er bought specifically to ride off-road, 15 years later.

That's it, my mountain bike career in full.

That Raleigh may have had a good frame but it was a dreadfully dull ride.

Some lovely bikes in here... I found a pic of mtb number 2.

[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6117/6224852810_f3a3c4495a_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6117/6224852810_f3a3c4495a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53860438@N06/6224852810/ ]Old school[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53860438@N06/ ]Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

That's me up the back. Purple, check. Flexstem, check. Ridiculous bars, check. 90s! My brothers showing off our fleet of terrible Sarcinz. We've still got all these bikes, mine is strapped to the turbo now.

Maroon Raleigh Maverick, short stem wide bars, about 25yrs ago.

Dumb kids in school used to be real hostile about it, lots of comments like "What you going to do, ride up a mountain on it...."

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edit: oops, possibly a year later
[img] http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=122653&sid=eaeb783c4bd158421a625b8364213f89 [/img]

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8434705841_ee3c66586b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8434705841_ee3c66586b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/46432102@N02/8434705841/ ]2007_0808Afan20070035[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/46432102@N02/ ]cmaddski[/url], on Flickr

Ain`t she a beaut

Ain`t she a beaut

Sure is!
What's with all the gaffer taped bits? Must have a mega thirst for that jerry can 😆

Wide bars , comfy seat and nail your shoes to the pedals , what`s not to like

The embarrassing thing is, I am still riding my one and only MTB after more than a decade. Trek make 'em to last!!!

Raleigh Montage - in that green
Went searching around the south of England for a 23 inch one !
I learnt a lot about the advantages of stand over height

Second one was a 1988 Cindercone with the puked pizza paint job - and 19 inch!

Bright yellow 1990 Marin Muirwoods, complete with Shimano 200 GS & plastic thumbshifters.

Wish I'd never sold it - cos it frickin' well changed my life!

Apollo halfords cheapy circa 1988 followed by a Raleigh moon run in 1990. First bike that parents didn't have a hand in buying, Klein Pulse Comp from bicycle doctor in 1997 deposit from my first full time pay packet. Still got the Klein.

Some classic bikes on here.
First proper MTB was an 89 Rockhopper in blue and white. If I remember rightly it had a 28/38/48 chainset and a 14-28 7 speed rear cassette - it's a good job we didn't have any real hills where we lived at the time. Lovely bike that I eventually sold when I bought one of the original Orange P7s.

This was mine.....a Raleigh Maverick 15 speed with Araya alloy rims and Weinmann canti brakes bought in October 1985 (I was 14). I was already riding in the woods on my Grifter, Bomber and even my racing bikes but the Maverick was a complete game changer for me.

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First proper mtb...

93 (I think) GT Timberline. Was dark met green. The Quadra forks are now seized solid. The rattle can paint job was to hoodwink folk in to thinking it was a ball burnished Zaskar with Judy's. 🙂
The GT decals are made from insulating tape.
Had to get planning permission for that stem.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7152504567_a761da13f8_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7152504567_a761da13f8_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/7152504567/ ]IMAG0510[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

Brother still has it.
Keep saying I''ll have it back but god knows why.

Apology for ressurecting an old thread. 🙂
Mine was a Peugeot alpine express like the one in the pic,bought in 87.
It wasn't easy finding a shop selling MTB in Wales those days 🙄 ,eventually found this one in Holyhead.
I remember taking it the local pub and they all laughed when i said it was going to be the next craze. 👿
Great taxi home! 😀
Second bike was a Trek 7000 i bought in Aberdeen 1990,great bike used to ride the original Redbull track in CYB,talk about numb hands or what. 😯
The ex still has the 7000 somewhere,maybe i should ask for it back one day. 😀
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Another pic of mtb #2 and first proper bike, with deluxe hammerite finish and cutting-edge V brakes to replace the cantis... Last rode this about an hour and a half ago 🙂 Man they built those exage hubs to last.

[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6044/5891485937_d0b37035db_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6044/5891485937_d0b37035db_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53860438@N06/5891485937/ ]IMAG0006[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53860438@N06/ ]Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

Rockhopper from 1987 I think. Yellow. U brakes. Mate still has it!
Waited ages for a Muddy Fox Courier but LBS sold me the Rockhopper, was hooked..

1989/90 Giant Escaper

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/11275948714_a2eeb3d180.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/11275948714_a2eeb3d180.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

this picture is not mine

It was a 21" frame. I'm 5'6". I absolutely loved it. Finally killed it snapped at the head tube when I cased a set of doubles we built in coed y brenin

Some Townsend bike, then a Giant very similar to the one a couple of posts up.

First proper MTB was an Orange Clockwork. About 12 years ago I let a friend borrow it and I've not seen it since. He lost it.

1st mtb was a 1990 £200 British Eagle - but my 1st 'proper' bike was a Specialized Rockhopper FS.
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I could post the real first mtb

like this but smaller
[img] http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=47231 [/img]

but i'd rather post my second
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looked just like this
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I had one of these

Stumpjumper 1982, bought in Bristol from Bike Tech on Park Street and then I don't think I saw another Mtb for two years! Still have the 87 (or 88.) Stumpy I replaced it with, now a front and rear rack full touring bike.
[URL= http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt217/SU6889/Forks/CB19D1B8-EC96-47C3-8986-53B6FA93D280.jp g" target="_blank">http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt217/SU6889/Forks/CB19D1B8-EC96-47C3-8986-53B6FA93D280.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Marin Eldridge - Sadly lost a long time ago when it was given to my brother on a long lend. Never came back. Maybe my memory is clouded by the mists of time, but it was such a fantastically comfortable and sensible bike.

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A Diamond Back Topanga - just like Mr Nice's above 🙂

Diamonback Topanga also but Green.
Saw a mint one the other day.

Another Topanga here in purple.

Nearly bought a Giant but got a good deal on the Diamondback for an extra £20 more than I was originally going to spend.

1991 Scott Montana.. Still got it looking like new with its Rock Shox Mag 21 SL Ti's

I started off on a Emelle Classic 300, same gold crackle craziness as the pic on the first page. That then got stolen from college and was replaced with an early 90's Rockhopper. That was then also stolen 🙁

I did however a few years ago find another of the same original rockhopper for sale so I bought it, it's my commuter and my favorite bike. Built very nearly exactly how it was when stolen.

[URL= http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r615/Bugs_Liddiard/FD934407-6EAC-4EBA-9A15-AF8B1EDEEF19_zpsvzcnnls0.jp g" target="_blank">http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r615/Bugs_Liddiard/FD934407-6EAC-4EBA-9A15-AF8B1EDEEF19_zpsvzcnnls0.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

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Christmas present when I was 15. Mine had gold bar ends and a gold bottle cage.

My first 26" wheeled MTB was a Raleigh Activator. I remember a kid from around the corner then got the Activator II which had underbar shifters and the most random rear 'suspension' design ever.

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Only in red and technically not mine, but my mum didn't use it any more.

Saracen Tuff Trax with proper dual shifters (lx I think). Can't remember if it was 89 or 90 but it was the blue one with Tange main tubes.

Only mods I can remember were taking all of the stickers off and adding an alloy flexstem.

Can't remember what happened to it. Sold I guess.

Late seventies - a steel frame found in a skip. It was far too big for me but I pelted about regardless of the small-for-chuckability school of thought. Cow horn bars with a rise as high as a hippy on the Moroccan Trail, complete with solid tyres for the first year of its life.

It was jumped and pancaked so many times the head angle was slackened by the time it ended up in the skip again.

[url=[url= http://s25.postimg.org/4ipq87ayn/820_1.jp g" target="_blank">http://s25.postimg.org/4ipq87ayn/820_1.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=french ]photo libre[/url]]null
The bone shaker , with canti brakes lovely.

Giant Coldrock, c.1992. I pestered my parents for one, after reading a glowing review in MBUK. It was about £300 I think.

This is not it, but mine was identical, apart from the mudguards. I was too cool for mudguards.

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first proper mountainbike, 1989 SM600 (not mine unfortunately):
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Apollo something then i also had a raleigh activator 2 which i thought was mint at the time.The rear suspension from what i can remember was just 2 rubber rings that were meant to squeeze together when on rough ground.Probably had about 5mm of rear travel tops.Loved it anyway,good times. 😀

The pic of the Raleigh Mustang earlier brought back memories - that was my first MTB. Heavy old beast but took me everywhere and lots of adventures. Happy days 🙂