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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@ChrissyOne
I'm a resident of Vantucky (not born n raised, just lived here too long). Have not ridden Capitol Forest, but all over the Gifford out by Rainer, Adams, St Helens etc.
@scaler911
Haven't ridden Capitol Forest yet, but looked at it on the map recently and noticed that it's pretty big. Some friends up here go back and forth between Squirm and Olympia and have ridden it a lot and like it.
I haven't been down there in over a decade, but there are some fantastically fun rides, and yes, the area is immense, and you can get lost for a whole day and end up on completely the wrong side if you're not careful. I'm not sure how it is these days, but they used to limit ORV use to certain seasons, which was nice because the quads can be rather jackasses down there.
Yeah, what my buddy said about getting turned around. Herself and I will get down there at some point. The problem with living in the PNW? Too many damned choices.
@piwakawaka
Two helmets, one cycling cap. Glad the dude on the top step got it right!
(take it easy, I know all three are probably legends, I just wasn't riding mtn. bikes in the early 90s, and as all this shows, my loss)
Did someone say purple anodized? Behold the early 90s!
Rule violations aside, I still ride it and I have a second set of wheels with slicks for cruising around town and pulling a Trail-a-Bike.
The original wheels were destroyed long ago and the cassette, chain, cables and 46t have been replaced but the frame, fork, bars, Flite saddle, seatpost, pedals, and group-san are from the early 1990s.
@ChrissyOne
Is this Bar End corner! Brand spakin new on it's maiden ride, a MTB race in Bright.
Bought the Balance the same week that the girlfriend at the time wanted to break up. So my weekends were free, so nothing like riding out in the bush with a bunch of mates! Good times!
Awesome, awesome, awesome post! To me, Tomac was the man! For me he's still the guy promoting Tioga Farmer John and Farmer John's Cousin tires. He should be in JT Skull'n Bones kit wearing two Swatch watches. Overend was alway the respected elder statesman and Tinker, was the machine. Not cool to me, but somehow cool in his own way. Yet Tomac, going to 7 Eleven and using a Tioga MTB stem on his bike was the coolest! Then, when he wanted to do the occasional MTB race he elected to represent John Parker and ride a Yeti FRO with drops! Wow! How cool was that. I still have a signed poster of him on the wall in the garage above the bicycle work shop. I still only ride a hardtail and fully subscribe to mountain biking of the Golden Age. One day, I'll get to ride with JT. Great post brett. Great post from Velominati too.
@JCM and the Scott AT3's! Nice!
@frank I'm beginning to think your as big of a Tomac fan as I. The black and white of JT doing a table top is a classic pick. Love it!