You are looking at a Spot Brand mountain bike, made from steel; and those are the only two things that I can say about this bike with absolute certainty.
Spot Brand started out in Vancouver in the mid 90's as strictly a single speed brand. However, in 2005 it was sold to the Lumpkin family - creators of the Avid brand - and moved to Colorado. At some point between those two events, this bike was made. It was a show bike (to demonstrate a pivot to geared bikes maybe?) made by Chris Dekerf. I bought it from a local shop, who was selling it along with two other Spots and a Dekerf that belonged to the original owners of Spot Brand, who now live down the road.
I haven't been able to verify that, but if it's true, this is a one-of-one frame made by the Canadian Legend Chris Dekerf, and the opportunity to own it I simply couldn't pass up.
And what about that frame? The sticker says it's made from 'Spot Brand proprietary tubing.' I don't know what that is, but the downtube sure looks like Columbus. The dropouts are beautiful Breezer units, and it can only run disc brakes. A little unusual for a bike made in '00 or '01 as I was told by the seller. Unless it was custom, of course.
As for the build; quirky is an understatement. We have SRAM 9.0 hubs that can be 'converted' from disc brake to not disc brake, by removing the six-bolt disc mount bracket from the hub. Which seems silly since a disc hub can used on a non-disc wheel as long as it has rim braking surfaces on the rim - which we have here on the Ritchey Rock Pro rims.
Up front we have an Avid SAAGO (Stiff As All Get Out - and I swear to you that's what it means) stem and Rocky Mountain branded bar in a 22.2mm size, requiring a shim. I have never seen a Rocky bar like this before. Composite SRAM levers that I've always been a fan of, and SRAM X-7 shifters, though not of the same vintage. Capping it all off is that boat anchor of a steel fork, seemingly meant for dirt jumping based on the monster gusset under the crown.
I haven't been able to verify that, but if it's true, this is a one-of-one frame made by the Canadian Legend Chris Dekerf, and the opportunity to own it I simply couldn't pass up.
And what about that frame? The sticker says it's made from 'Spot Brand proprietary tubing.' I don't know what that is, but the downtube sure looks like Columbus. The dropouts are beautiful Breezer units, and it can only run disc brakes. A little unusual for a bike made in '00 or '01 as I was told by the seller. Unless it was custom, of course.
As for the build; quirky is an understatement. We have SRAM 9.0 hubs that can be 'converted' from disc brake to not disc brake, by removing the six-bolt disc mount bracket from the hub. Which seems silly since a disc hub can used on a non-disc wheel as long as it has rim braking surfaces on the rim - which we have here on the Ritchey Rock Pro rims.
Up front we have an Avid SAAGO (Stiff As All Get Out - and I swear to you that's what it means) stem and Rocky Mountain branded bar in a 22.2mm size, requiring a shim. I have never seen a Rocky bar like this before. Composite SRAM levers that I've always been a fan of, and SRAM X-7 shifters, though not of the same vintage. Capping it all off is that boat anchor of a steel fork, seemingly meant for dirt jumping based on the monster gusset under the crown.
I just had to make it a more cohesive mountain bike. Swapped the fork for a lightweight Rock Shox Duke Race. Tires are the classic Panaracer Fire XCs. We have RaceFace riser bars and stem, and the shifters are SRAM X.9 with an X.0 rear derailleur.
Also, a Chromag seatpost in the necessary 400mm size. This frame is small for me, measuring at 17.5" to the top of the seat tube. But on the other hand, it's just right for me, measuring 22.75" for the effective top tube.
I am super happy with the way it looks. It feels pretty good to pedal around on the street. It feels small and yet not too small. Once it warms up a bit, we'll get it on the trail and see what it's like.
Also, a Chromag seatpost in the necessary 400mm size. This frame is small for me, measuring at 17.5" to the top of the seat tube. But on the other hand, it's just right for me, measuring 22.75" for the effective top tube.
I am super happy with the way it looks. It feels pretty good to pedal around on the street. It feels small and yet not too small. Once it warms up a bit, we'll get it on the trail and see what it's like.