Thought I'd throw in a few before pics thanks to the Ebay seller I bought my Ibis from.

Note the extensive damage from rust...amazing what a good sandblasting and powdercoating will do.















Mmmm...steel acne!

Things are coming along rather nicely with the Ibis project. I have almost the whole bike built using original NOS or near-NOS 88 parts with the exception of the seatpost, stem, handlebar and tires. It's not easy finding decent quality 24" tires that aren't for DH bikes (and therefore won't fit in the stays of an 88 bike) so I went with an IRC Pirhana 2.1 on the back and a Panaracer Cinder 2.25 on the front. I think they'll ride awesome, and they really match the character and purpose of the bike. I have the approximate date for this beauty pre-dating an 88 on the First Flight website, as there is an Ibis with the serial # 448 as an '88. The number of mine is 423...

Somehow, I lucked into some NOS XT paralellogram platforms and a near-NOS Specialized crank...




This doesn't leave a whole lot for a final reveal...because I'm sure you're all just ACHING to look at the final version...(Isn't it a shame how sarcasm doesn't translate over the Internet?!?!)

I have subbed in a Titec handlebar for the Azonic because, although the matte finish doesn't match like I hoped, the bend in this rise allows for the levers to ride further inboard, which makes the bike actually ridable (which I fully intend to do!)

Mmmm...Bontrager-built Titec stem w/ ti hardware! If you look close, you can see the gusset by the quill.



This is the only Mt. Trials I know of with Shimano horizontal road dropouts. One thing I need to do is put a shorter rear axle in the hub, as the rear spacing on this frame is 126mm...a Scot Nicol touch to help the chainline with such short chainstays...15 to 15.75" in 1988...holy crap!!!



What are the odds of finding matching 88 Rm-20's in a 24 and 26 inch?!?! The best part is, I found three 24-inchers which I am hoarding all to myself!


This is my first full restoration...not bad for a $60 powdercoat job...I've had these parts waiting for a while. Now, I just need to hook up the cables and Grab-On grips and it's good to go! Oh, and I need to adjust the BB...it's cup and cone, you know...like real BB's should be!

Other than the frame itself, and its design, I'd have to say my favorite parts are the fillet brazed seat tube/seatstay junction and the bronze head tube badge...Damn, am I a big ol' geek!

Ok...so I'm back for a second time in one day. NUTS!

Here are a couple of "before' shots of the Ibis...all I had...not very good planning. You can see the rust issues around the head tube, and where it was on the down tube. The rust was actually snaking under the paint...I was worried, but it ended up just being surface issues... PHEW!





Now. some more details on the ongoing project...

First, the new head tube shot...mmmmmmmm







OK...so some MB-Zip brake levers with Mavic Wishbone shifters for some glam...


And a short cage Mavic road der


Other parts to come are Specialized cranks, XTII front der, NOS XT platforms, NOS Araya RM-20 24-inch rear wheel on XT 6-speed hub...lots more goodies...Now if Quality would just show up with my spokes!

And, the most powerful brake of '88...

Scott Pedersen U-brake!



More to come.

Ok...so I haven't updated in a while. There are a bunch of projects on the go as I write this, but the most important update lately is the near-completion of my Ibis Mountain Trials. I will be posting the really sad "before" pics I took a long time ago, not thinking of them as "before" pics, but for now, here is the frame and some details until my spokjes come in to build the back wheel.

Enjoy.








Oh, and I got a new road bike a while ago, too!





And, while this one has since been sold, Ithought you'd all wan to see it...



More to come!