1983 Mountain Goat Escape Goat

The early Mountain Goats used oval tubing and beautifully finished fillet brazed joints. All of the tubing manipulation and finish work drove the cost of the frames up. The Escape Goat was an effort to bring theses costs down. The frames featured standard round tubing and unfiled fillets. Parts were often less expensive as well with items such as the fork being an off-the-shelf part as opposed to the custom Mountain Goat forks found on the top models. For more pictures, see 1983 Escape Goat page.

Dirt Rag vintage forum now up

Dirt Rag has now started a vintage forum. Stop in and check it out, or better yet post something up!

1988 Ritchey, mostly NOS parts

This was originally a Commando but the previous owner didn't like the camo paint and stripped it down. It was pretty ratty rattle can red when we got it so we decided to sent it out for a make-over. We were taking a new Mountain Goat frame to the local powder coater to get a shiny coat of dark green metallic so we just got this one done in the same color. Parts are mostly New Old Stock Shimano Deore XT M 730 parts including 6 speed index shifting, rear U brake, Bio Pace rings and first generation cassette hub. Bars are a set of Ritchey MountainBikes bullmoose bars.

More details @ 1988 Ritchey

Pinarello Antelao in Dirt Rag

The Pinarello Antelao from the MOMBAT collection is featured in Dirt Rag #152. This bike was built using a New Old Stock frame and all NOS or lightly used Campagnolo components. Very pretty bike but it is obvious the Italians didn't have a firm grasp on the American Mountain Bike market! Check out the scan below, or better yet, go to your local shop or book seller and pick up a copy. This issue also features the literature contest winner which always makes for a good read.

Ibis Cycles #46: Circa 1983

We recently acquired this from the original owner and finally got it cleaned up. This is another one of those bikes that shows a lot of use which gives it a nice looking patina. Highlights include modified Hi-E hubs, stub mounted stem and Cunningham/Ibis Speedmaster brakes. Interesting "by master" decal on the top tube. I asked Scot about the decal and he told me what it meant. The answer is @ the 1983 Ibis page along with extra pictures and specs.

1992 Mountain Goat Deluxe

This was one we picked up recently on the Asheville Craigslist. Relatively lightly used with a nice parts package. Ringle hubs, XC Pro drive train, Syncros cockpit components, Cook Bros. Racing cranks.....Not sure about the paint. It has Nouveau Flames on it over some type of brushed green base.


More pictures and details @ 1992 Deluxe page (Twitter and Facebook "share" links)

MOMBAT in Bicycle Times # 7

Coming up with a vintage mountain bike to write about for Dirt Rag is pretty easy since we have several hundred to choose from but bikes for Bicycle Times can be a little trickier. I try to come up with something interesting but not necessarily a mountain bike. They concentrate on more commuter style bikes. This month I decided to do our Alien bike which uses a front mounted crank to power the front wheel. Kinda interesting bike but it sure is scary to ride!