Newbie, first MTB in nigh on 20 years....more pics.
niallmo
Posts: 103
Hello!
Got back on a road bike in July with a Carrera Vanquish I got for my 40th birthday, racked up over 700 miles since, loving the road but as winter is here thought I'd try an MTB again rather than wobbling all over the place on 23mm tyres in tough conditions... Picked up an old MBK Adventure for £20 from eBay and have a Charge Cooker 1 2015 arriving tomorrow on Cycle to Work scheme. It's about 15 miles into work along country roads with no real hills but I'm also looking to get out to Sherwood Pines occasionally.
I'm gonna get a set of semi-slicks and mudguards for the MBK and use it as a rain bike and use the Charge as it is on the better days or on the trails.
Hoping to have a bit more fun on the trails and build up a bit of stamina with the weightier bikes, can do 40/50 miles on roads without problem. The MBK will be ridden for the first time on Tuesday and the Charge when I can invent a suitable excuse for my wife to see it!
Got back on a road bike in July with a Carrera Vanquish I got for my 40th birthday, racked up over 700 miles since, loving the road but as winter is here thought I'd try an MTB again rather than wobbling all over the place on 23mm tyres in tough conditions... Picked up an old MBK Adventure for £20 from eBay and have a Charge Cooker 1 2015 arriving tomorrow on Cycle to Work scheme. It's about 15 miles into work along country roads with no real hills but I'm also looking to get out to Sherwood Pines occasionally.
I'm gonna get a set of semi-slicks and mudguards for the MBK and use it as a rain bike and use the Charge as it is on the better days or on the trails.
Hoping to have a bit more fun on the trails and build up a bit of stamina with the weightier bikes, can do 40/50 miles on roads without problem. The MBK will be ridden for the first time on Tuesday and the Charge when I can invent a suitable excuse for my wife to see it!
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Comments
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Welcome. Looks quite nice and original. Not bad for £20, although the youngsters on here won't understand.I don't do smileys.
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Parktools0 -
Welcome. Looks quite nice and original. Not bad for £20, although the youngsters on here won't understand.
Thank you. I think it's all original apart from the tyres. I got it off the original owner who bought it about ten years ago as an NOS old stock, from an LBS that is above where I now work! He lives about 40 miles away. Small world and funnily enough that LBS still has three or four different MBK models, clearly NOS, all at about £200 each. I like retro stuff, it's still very useful and you don't have to worry about bouncing them off stuff if they are unrestored. I'll be very protective of the Charge.0 -
Well the Charge has arrived. My My, mountain bikes have come a long way since the nineties! Did a quick ten minutes on the way back to the car from work and it's beuatfully smooth and very quick. Pics tomorrow.0
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They have moved on a lot, my full sus frame and forks (with shock as well) weigh over half a kilo less than my 1997 True-temper steel frame and forks, that's before you even start on all the other parts, also modern parts 'ride light' just seeming to have less inerta/resistance.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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I got out for a few miles on both today. Local track with a short hill and descent and some road. The Charge is ace, very smooth, very quick, secure and amazing on the brakes. Puts a lot of confidence into the ride. I really enjoyed it. Fit very well, the medium frame is bang on for my height. Between the two it feels like a mile covering all rounder that'll take most things in its stride.
The MBK felt a bit like a BMX after the 29'er, kicked up more dirt perhaps due to the more aggressively knobled tyres and obviously wasn't as composed on the descent but felt quite secure apart from the brakes and of course heavier. Still rolled fine on the road. I think it comes across as a fun short journey bike that you can hammer over a couple of miles just for fun. I bought some mudguards for it today after the ride so I can get a bit of speed on the wet track without getting caked all over in mud and not have to spend so much time sorting out clothes when I get home from a three miles track ride!
Looking forward to putting some miles into the Charge and hooning on the MBK!0 -
I use a similar (and rougher looking) bike as my town hack, works just fine for the purpose!
Also have a retro built 1997 MTB I use for summer rides and leave the modern FS at home!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
Heres the Charge 29er. Big tyres, full off road Maxxis Ikon tyres so I've ordered 2 Schwalbe Land Cruisers in 47c/1.75 width. I was going to put my Marathons on but they'll look like racer tyres at 35c so they can go on the Road bike.
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Nice!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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That cooker thing looks LOVELY,
Similar story for me, slowly easing back into riding after a 15 yr absence. Had a Marin Palisades back in the 90s and loved it. A mate of mine still owns it and I cry a little when I see him on it!0 -
Nice looking bike!0
