As everybody knows by now, this blog is merely an avocation; my vocation is of course my ongoing mission as the Classic Cycle Old Crap Test Pilot, and the latest bicycle I am test-piloting is the 1999 GT XCR 1000:
However, I was having two problems with the bicycle, which turned out to be related. The first was that the movement of the rear suspension was creating tension on the front derailleur cable, which in turn was causing front shifting* problems:
*[For those of you born in the 21st century, bicycles–yes, even mountain bikes–used to have multiple chainrings, sometimes as many as three (!), as well as a second shifter and a frontally-mounted derailleur to move the chain from one ring to another.]
The second problem was that the rear shock was leaking air, causing it to bottom out excessively, exacerbating the problem above.
So I returned the shock to Classic Cycle:
And have now received not only the overhauled unit, but another one just in case the first one still doesn’t work:
Plus, Paul was even kind enough to include a shifter cable and some housing so I could address that front shifting problem, which I have now done.
So I am ready to resume testing.
Generally speaking, I prefer not to drive places in order to ride, and while I do feel smug when I arrive at a mountain bike trail and am the only person who actually rode to to it, this is not my primary motivation for doing so. Rather, it’s mostly because I want to maximize my riding time, and every minute spent in a car is one that could be better spent on a bicycle. Plus I live close enough to the trails that riding to them is actually enjoyable.
However, the calculus changes if I need to run a car-based errand that happens to bring me close to a mountain bike trail, in which case tossing a bike on the car and squeezing in a quick ride becomes a much more attractive proposition. So yesterday that’s just what I did, and I’ll admit it feels pretty good to zip up to the trail in just a handful of minutes, even you do have to deal with the GODDAMN SENIOR DRIVERS:
Obviously I honked constantly while screaming “JESUS CHRIST, JUST MOVE TO FLORIDA ALREADY.”
Speaking of driving, I don’t talk too much about automotive cycling accessories (or cycling automotive accessories) like racks and stuff, since I don’t do that much driving-to-ride anymore. (I did a lifetime’s worth when I used to “race” cyclocross, plus all the driving-to-go-mountain biking I used to do when I lived in Brooklyn. When you live in Brooklyn you’re like 20 miles in any direction from decent riding, and it’s sort of like being trapped in New York City’s crotch.) However, one nice thing about old-fashioned mountain bikes with quick release axles is that I can use them with my old fork-mount roof rack trays–though I guess there’s such a thing as thru-axle adapters, but I’m not sure I’d feel great about putting the hefty Jones up on the roof, if the rear wheel strap could even fit around the tire, which I’m not sure it would:
I believe the rack I’m using is this one, and the handy thing about it is you can put it on or take it off in a matter of minutes without any tools, which is useful when you’re a schnorrer like me who stores his car for free in the public right of way. Roof racks are also more convenient in urban areas since you need every millimeter of fore-aft space you can possibly get in order to parallel park. This means if I’m too lazy to remove the rack it doesn’t take up extra lateral room. Oh, here’s a shot from the other side where you can see the longer front shifter cable housing to account for the movement of the rear suspension:
And here’s a weird accidental selfie I took of myself in the reflection of my pollen-smeared window:
Anyway, in no time I was out on the trail:
Front shifting is working well now, and after some initial fussing I think maybe the shock is too.
Obviously, whether you’re a fan of modern Industry Standard Fully-Suspendered Mountain Bikes…
Or of unsuspenderated ones like I am…
…both are going to be more capable than this old GT. (Though the brakes, hubs, and most of the drivetrain components on it are absolutely fantastic.)
However, riding the “best” bike is not what being the Old Crap Test Pilot is all about. And what is it about? Why, it’s about enjoying the bicycles in the context of the era in which they were designed! Or something. And riding an old aggressive mountain bike like this is fun–even if it wants to throw you off of itself, which it ultimately succeeded in doing:
[The bike and I were both fine.]
Jan Heine says larger wheels don’t “roll over stuff better,” but once you’re talking about actual rocks and not gravel I respectfully disagree:
Though in this instance we must also take into account the rider’s profound lack of skill.
And yes, a full-suspension bicycle like this is everything I’m against, but please bear in mind that the statute of limitation on my prejudices is 25 years, after which most bikes simply become charming. This is because I am, above all, a contrarian, and once a bike reaches full obsolescence I automatically take a great deal of delight in riding it. And with rim brakes, “bad” geometry, 26-inch wheels, and a triple crank, this bike is a contrarian’s dream.
Old full suspension mountain bikes are the new singlespeed.