Even though in today’s mountain bike world the bikes are better, the clothing more appropriate, and there are more trails to ride, there’s no denying the early 90s were the Golden Age of Mountain Biking. Just look at these fellas, and tell me I’m wrong.
Tomac knew what was up. You don’t get such a badass Rainbow Jersey by accident, and his year in the bands (’92) was probably the last time the jersey looked that good. Plain black shorts, white socks, back flat as a pancake. And who else would you expect to be the first to rock a Troy Lee paint job on their helmet?
Tinker, well he’s a man unto himself. Probably the crowd favourite on the strength of recognition, being the only dreadlocked Hispanic riding a fluoro green or purple bike at the time making him easy to spot. That and his cadence, crunching the big ring where others, even Tomac and Ned, feared to tread. Legend has it that Tinker would fill a backpack with the biggest rocks he could find then set off into the mountains for a six hour training ride. Even if it’s an urban myth, the fact that it’s an urban myth about Tinker makes it more than a bit plausible.
Gumwall tyres, polished silver rims, colour matched forks, Campa… Campa? Multicoloured Sidis, Tinker made it all work. Even the Etto helmet looked good on him. Tomac was arguably the most Rule Compliant mountain biker ever. Even with limited resources to work with, these guys set the bar. Not many have reached it since.
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@scaler911
That's what I've heard - I had a friend who used to ride with him. So you from Chehalis area? Ride Capitol Forest at all?
Let's not forget the guy who made Tomac go faster. ;)
The early days, when MTB racing was carefree:
http://www.bikereader.com/contributors/Phelan/mammary.html
@ChrissyOne
...as in bar ends, perhaps?
@frank if by some miracle I managed to get my grubby claws on one of these, I don't think I'd be riding it much, it would join the Time, signed, numbered, Tom Boonen world champs frame, and the 1984 Pinarello track bike hanging on the wall, the bike was way, way cooler than anything, anything else at the time, that integrated stem and bar, the size of the tubing, fuck even the paint job, it's a work of art, only re-inforced by the oddness of the man himself !
So, now that I'm back to mtb'ing again, too, am I a fucking dork for having bar ends, too?
Christ it never ends.
What a life.
I still ride this,occasionally
@freddy
Bar ends? But of course...
I had purple bar ends on my Trek 930.
@PeakInTwoYears
@ChrissyOne
No offense meant (and todd is godd).
I'm only confused during waking hours now.
I was only a little kid with dreams of buying a nice bike during this time. But man, those bar ends are the best. I have a friend that still rides with one of those anodized purple big bar ends!