Clutter
Compiled by Barry McCallum
READ THIS…
SURF THIS…
Here at TREAD, we get to test the newest bikes. So it’s common for us to get queries and advice from friends and readers about the latest models on the market. But, as some of us are getting a bit long in the tooth (not saying who of us are…), we are also approached about older bikes. There is a growing market for retro mountain bikes In December, many of you will be making your way to Rietvlei in Joburg’s southern suburbs for the Bicycling 24-Hour race. It’s pure madness, even if you’re just riding it with a social team. Who devised the madness of riding a course from noon till noon? That
market here in SA, with riders dusting off old Timberlines, Topangas and Super Vs, and wanting to restore them to concourse condition and specification. The Museum of Mountain Bike Art – or MOMBAT for short – is a handy resource and marketplace for vintage rigs. It may be a stretch for some to see the Richard Cunningham-designed Nishiki Alien (pictured here) as a thing of beauty, but the curator of the site believes that “as you look through the pictures of
honour goes to Laird Knight, who told us by
the bikes, I believe you will begin to see the art, whether it is as obvious as a paint scheme or as
e-mail that he “wrote the rules for the first
subtle as the radius of a fillet, it is there”. MOMBAT, situated at http://mombat.org/MOMBAT/,
24-hour team relay race in 1991 and produced
contains loads of pics and spec lists of older bikes and components, as well as links to histories
the first race in Davis, West Virginia on June
and brands. The museum is also linked to http://www.firstflightbikes.com/ShopNew/Vintage/
6th & 7th, 1992”. He participated in that race
Literature.htm, which deals in old literature like mags, manuals and catalogues.
– “I wasn’t about to miss this much fun” – and continued organising events for 11 years “more or less for fun”, before quitting his job and becoming a full-time, professional promoter.
WATCH THIS…
“It’s been a great ride, ever since,” said Laird,
Names like Hans Rey, Cam McCaul, Mark Weir and Steve Peat have featured in Fox’s ‘When It
“but like most rides, not without a few ups
Counts’ ad campaign. When recently approached to put together a video for the extreme sports
and downs and a couple good crashes.”
company, Clay Porter turned to his favourite subjects, former DH world champions Gee and Rachel
For Laird, it is “exciting… that 24-
Atherton. The acclaimed director’s three-minute-plus insert features edited race footage from
hour racing has become a world-wide
the 2010 season filmed in California, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia and Scotland. View it at
phenomenon”, but he’s “not really not
http://clayporter.com/news/, while you can watch other clips – from a variety of extreme sports
surprised… I designed the 24-hour team relay
- from the campaign at http://www.foxracingshox.com/when-it-counts/poisonoakproductions.
format, based on my experience as a racer
com/, which also has on offer Singletrack MINDS, which is a documentary looking at the early
and race promoter, to play off of the hallmarks
days of the sport in Marin County.
of the sport: sportsmanship, comradery and fun, that I have found to be such a consistent part of the spirit of mountain bike racing”. A results archive may seem boring reading if
THINGS…
you didn’t race, but go to http://grannygear. com/Races/history_results.shtml and click on the Anecdotes links. There are some funny – and clearly sleep-deprived – observations like: “So as your out on the trail and you come across an extremely pungent smell,
…worth double-checking before you ride:
know that such a smell is coming from one of the members of Flamunda Cheese. So besides
1. Your tyres – pressure and condition
carrying a tube, patch kit and tools make sure
2. The tightness of the Allen bolts on your stem/handlebar
3. Your chain – a lubed chain is a happier chain
you include a gas mask in your arsenal. Now get out there and have some fun!”
Got a website, book, CD or DVD you think we should check out, drop us a mail at info@treadmag.co.za and write ‘Media’ in the subject field.
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TREAD NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
…that mostly end up breaking some skin:
1. Securing three dual suspension bikes on a three-bike tow-bar mounted rack 2. Removing a right-hand-side pedal with an Allen key 3. washing your bike in a hurry