1993 Bridgestone RB-1
My main road bike is a steel Bridgestone RB-1 with a mostly
period Shimano 600 seven-speed drivetrain, bar-end shifters,
Shimano 600 hubs and Ritchey Vantage Comp rims. The front end
has been modernized with a Ritchey carbon fork, Chris King
threadless headset and 38 cm handlebars. It is light,
quick-handling, weighs 20 pounds and remains my reference point
for how a road bike should fit.
Lugged Steel All-Road Build
This unbranded lugged steel frame became a flat-bar all-road
bike for pavement, gravel, rail trails and occasional XC
riding. It uses a Surly Steamroller fork, Shimano CUES 1×9
drivetrain, 40-tooth FSA crank, Shimano long-reach rim brakes
and 36-spoke Ultegra and Velocity wheels with 32 mm tires. It
weighs 26 pounds and combines a planted, smooth ride with a
surprisingly playful and capable front end.
1993 Cannondale M700
The Cannondale M700 is a lightweight, rigid aluminum mountain
bike from the early 1990s. It retains its seven-speed Shimano
Deore LX drivetrain and hubs, friction-capable thumb shifters,
Cannondale CODA cantilever brakes and Ritchey Vantage Comp
26-inch rims. It is a useful example of the fast, simple and
lightweight XC bikes that defined the period.
Temporary reference image shown. A photograph of my actual
Cannondale is coming soon.