Restoring Vintage Mountain Bikes - An Introduction

Restoring and collecting old bicycles have long been afor a complete retro mountain bike to sell for a
popular hobby. Some collectors like to collect theirhigher price if the bike is split up in separate parts
dream bike that they previously could never affordmostly because everyone have their own dream
or a replica of a famous racers bike. In some cases aspec in mind.
collector has been able to restore an actual completeRestoring a mountain bike also leave a moral issue, a
bicycle raced and won by a famous racer to itsmountain bike is meant to be enjoyed off road in
original condition as it was when raced.gnarly terrain. But if you spent a lot of cash on the
Mountain bikes became very popular during the 80'iesperfect bike or have built up a collection of vintage
and exploded in popularity during the early to middlemountain bikes you may not be so keen on getting
90'ies. The current mountain bike is currentlyyour collection dirty and scratched. Garage queens
constantly evolving with new technologicalare a phenomenon in the collecting circles of bicycles,
breakthrough every year it seems. But there is justa garage queen is the perfect bike permanently
something classic, timeless and beautiful about a rigidparked in your man cave, garage or living room. They
late 80'ies or early 90'ies MTB.may occasionally see a yearly ride on the sunniest
Most collectors of vintage mountain bikes seeks outday on fine asphalt and gravel roads, but other than
the bikes they could never afford when they wherethat day they are supposed to capture a piece of
young, starting out with a bare frame and adding bitstime and hold it forever as a time capsule.
after bits from their own fantasy dream specification.The most fun aspect of collecting and restoring
But there are also collectors who focus on a singlevintage mountain bikes is finding the right parts for
company only collecting their brand of frames oryour build. It is not uncommon that parts for a special
complete bikes. As with most collectors, there arebike have come from all over the world and many
those who are fine with a single retro mountain bike,have no rush in finding a special part in the right color
at the other end there are those who are notand size.
satisfied with twenty vintage mountain bikesFinding the right mountain bike part in the right color,
restored to perfection.size and model year can take years but in the end
Just as with classic road bikes and early centurymost serious vintage mountain bike fans approve it is
bicycles a proper restoration of a classic well knownworth it in the long run when their favourite vintage
brand of a mountain bike down to the right detailsmountain bike is "just right".
can be worth a lot of money. But it is not unknown