Hi Jim,

I realize it's borderline for the CCG, but this unique bike found its way to me and has been getting a lot of my mileage ever since. If it doesn't fit, enjoy the photos and no hard feelings. Oh, and thanks again for those campaign signs! (Note - I sent Joe a bunch of "harvested" coroplast signs following a recent election - There are numerous ways to repurpose these ridiculously non-biodegradable "temporary" signs. - ed.)

The bike is a '89 Specialized RockCombo (57cm C-T). It seems to be Specialized's early attempt at a hybrid, and it really makes me wish this vision had won out over the 700c, flat-barred path bikes we got instead. The bike is basically a Rockhopper frame (triple-butted steel) with a steeper head angle (72 degrees), more BB drop (45), and the funky BB-1 flared drop bars. Components are mostly original, mid-range MTB stuff: SunTour (XCD-6000) hubs, brake levers, and shifters (7-speed); Dia-Compe brakes; nice Specialized double-wall rims; Sugino crank. The tires are Avocet Cross II 26x1.9 (original were Specialized RockCombo 26x1.5), and the saddle is a Brooks B-17 (original unknown).

I took the bike for a shakedown ride on a local 35-mile loop that's about 2/3rds paved and 1/3rd dirt, mud, and bumps. The bike was definitely in its element on the forest road segment (Leif Erickson for Portlanders). I was noticeably quicker up the road than usual (on my road bike). What surprised me most was the on-pavement performance. The bike handled the twisty paved descent down Germantown Road as well as the road bike. Even with the fat tires, I didn't notice any slowdown on the long, flat road stretches. I don't understand why these things didn't sell (apparently the model was killed after 500 frames).

Best,

Joe

joebroach(AT)yahoo.com
http://cyclerslife.blogspot.com/