In no order, here are five bikes I've always wanted to own, starting with the Curtlo Mountaineer.
Doug Curtiss built bikes as far back as 1977, but became official with Curtlo in 1988. Fans of the greatest Canadian cyclist ever - and who isn't?? - Alyson Sydor, might remember the name as the Kahlua team rode Curtlos in '91/92. These bikes by the way, don't seem to exist anymore. You can't find any pics, nobody is rebuilding them like they do for Juli Furtado's GTs and Yetis, and it's just like this didn't happen. I really find this strange as Furtado was awesome, but come on - Sydor was just better.
The Mountaineer pictured here has the cool curved seatstays and big True Temper tubes the Doug favoured, and is built pretty much exactly as I would build a Curtlo.
Photo credit - https://ouyang.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Curtlo-Advanced-Mountaineer/
The Mountaineer pictured here has the cool curved seatstays and big True Temper tubes the Doug favoured, and is built pretty much exactly as I would build a Curtlo.
Photo credit - https://ouyang.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Curtlo-Advanced-Mountaineer/
2001 Norco Torrent. This comes from the golden age of Norco, when they were just getting started with the seriously heavy stuff. It's pretty standard early 00's hardcore hardtail - Easton RAD tubeset, Hayes brakes, Marzocchi Drop-Off fork, and SUN Singletrack rims.
I rate my chances of finding one that hasn't been totally thrashed as near zero.
I rate my chances of finding one that hasn't been totally thrashed as near zero.
1998 Rocky Mountain Pipeline. The OG Froride bike. Just look at it! It's bad ass.
Who cares if the URT suspension design was a mess? It's just straight cool.
Every Rocky ever made is on my want list, but this one is special for sure.
Who cares if the URT suspension design was a mess? It's just straight cool.
Every Rocky ever made is on my want list, but this one is special for sure.
It's ok, you don't need to call an ambulance - I actually do like this Specialized. It's a 1999 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC. The beginning of the destruction of the Stumpjumper name. Which again is a topic for another post.
This bike was actually a response to bikes like the Pipeline. The apparent realization that full suspension bikes could be used for cross country riding, going up hills, and even - hold on your butts - racing. As if the AMP hadn't already existed for years at this point.
Has to be this first year XC in Cricket green though. Any other colour just doesn't cut it.
This bike was actually a response to bikes like the Pipeline. The apparent realization that full suspension bikes could be used for cross country riding, going up hills, and even - hold on your butts - racing. As if the AMP hadn't already existed for years at this point.
Has to be this first year XC in Cricket green though. Any other colour just doesn't cut it.
And finally, it's not even a mountain bike, but it's still a beauty - it's a Marinoni Fango CX. I worked at a Marinoni dealer in the early 2000's and the three or four Fangos that went through the shop were all highly desirable.
I'd want one in orange with white panels, the old-style decals like above, and then I'd get weird on it with a moustache bar and bar-con shifters. I wonder if you could put Paul brakes on it?
I'd want one in orange with white panels, the old-style decals like above, and then I'd get weird on it with a moustache bar and bar-con shifters. I wonder if you could put Paul brakes on it?