In the early 1990s cross-country racing was approaching its heyday in the United States, with the likes of John Tomac, Ned Overend, and Tinker Juarez battling it out at NORBA National races across the country. Mountain bike technology was rapidly advancing, but hardtails and cantilever brakes still reigned supreme, although suspension forks were becoming more and more common, and the advent of V-brakes was just around the corner.
The 1993 Klein Adroit featured in this edition of
Now THAT Was a Bike was assembled by Martin Kozaczek of Second Spin Cycles, built up to mirror the bike that Tinker Juarez raced to his first World Cup victory at Mount St. Anne. Although the frame isn't the actual one that Tinker raced on, according to Martin it was likely one of the team's backups, and its rarity is further increased thanks to the original custom paint job. After the 1993 season Tinker went on to firmly cement his legend status by garnering multiple national titles for cross-country and 24-hour races, and even now, after over 40 years of racing, the dreadlocked hardman is still a force to be reckoned with on two wheels.
Constructed from oversized aluminum tubing, the Adroit has all the features that Gary Klein's frames were known for – an integrated head set, press-fit bottom bracket, and internal cable routing. Internal cable routing is currently back in fashion, but Klein was on of the earliest manufacturers to include this feature, one that caused plenty of hair pulling and cursing by mechanics trying to coax a stubborn cable out of the narrow exit port. It did give the bike a very clean look, and combined with the Team Storm paint job and abundance of anodized parts the Adroit Team is the epitome of a high end race bike from this era.
Speaking of anodizing, 3-D Violet was still the hot color for components in 1993 thanks to a collaboration between Ringlé and Grafton Performance. Beginning in 1991 the two American companies began to release anodized violet components - cranks, stems, pedals, hubs, skewers, and even bottle cages, and soon the color was inescapable.
Visit the gallery for high resolution and additional images
Thanks to
The Pro's Closet and
Second Spin Cycles for facilitating another trip down memory lane. On a side note, Second Spin Cycles is still interested in tracking down Tinker's original 1993 Klein Adroit race bike - drop them a line if you know where it may be.
I remember quickly riding a buddies Klein Attitude during a pre-race warm up and having the cr*p beaten out of me by the bike. Was very glad to get back on my KHS Team with its True Temper OX Ultra II cromoly tubing.
m.fotos.mtb-news.de/p/1531738
That big ass stem is going to hurt My Dong,
Take your protein pills and put your helmets on,
Ground Control to Major Tom (Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six)
Commencing countdown, engines on (Five, Four, Three)
Check ignition and may God's love be with you (Two, One, Liftoff)
..... Over the bars
Matching jacket & jersey.
Unfortunately, both are size extra small.
Plus a matching bike, jersey, pants and shoes...
i43.photobucket.com/albums/e389/kailinds/Bike/klein_storm_outfit.jpg
My helmet is 1 of 5 originally painted at Klein. Two went to Tinker, two to Sara Ellis and mine is that extra one.
And the bike has Tinker's original wheelset on, they even have the inspection numbers from the '93 Worlds.
This may be the dumbest comment ever.
Last time I checked, when I was road racing, I never encounter rock gardens, log overs, or drops...
Regardless, descending wise, even the most talented riders of the day on old shit horses like the one above would get destroyed by a half decent rider on a modern bike.
Some of us on this site are not kids. I have been in the sport since Tomac was the new kid on a Mongoose (his BMX sponsor). Yes, there were riders killing it on rigid bikes with useless brakes and shit tires...but no one was going nearly as fast as WC downhillers are now and no one even dreamed of doing something like Rampage.
Road riders, specifically racers, are concerned with being aero ( narrow, flat back)...not the biggest priority for mountain biking.
Get a clue.
And why in the world do you have a PLUS next to your name?
Never in a million years would consider myself a peer to Tomac...perhaps the best all round rider ever (only got to see him road race in person).
At the time no one knew any better and made the most of what was available and what they knew. That is why mountain racers did it, they would still be doing it today if it offered any advantage. At the top end of the sport, XC or DH, or any sport, winning trumps everything.
Sorry you are so miserable. Sorry you have resorted to name calling and actually took the time to look at my profile. So sad. If I poled PBers you would be voted #1 as the person on here who thinks they know everything.
Good day to you, sir. I am done here.
Still preferred the green to white to pink fade over the purpler though.
www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/trail-tech-are-wider-bars-better-bars-36350
Also, is that not a repainted mag 21 SL? Mag 20 had crome plated stanchions and these seem to have a goldish hue of 21 SL had...
Bikes are just getting easier and easier to ride so you can go faster and do more. (like snowboarding, again)
Only real progress was adding disc brake to the bike
Little did I know, we'd be dropping twice that much on bikes in the future.. who knew!?
southpark.cc.com/full-episodes/s19e08-sponsored-content
its just a bike....
GET.THE.HELL.OUT.