I have owned this 1990 Fisher Sphinx since I bought it new in 1991 and it had been my main ride until I bought a Rivendell Sam Hillborne at the end of 2009. I wanted an all-rounder because I knew I wanted/could afford only one decent bike, for commuting, mountain biking, touring, and even roadie club rides.

I think of the Sphinx as the original monster cross, released 16+ years before the category was even invented. After 19 years of hard use, very few of the parts are stock: just bottom bracket, Deore LX crankset and front derailer. Other parts:

Nitto noodle 46cm DuraAce barend shifters (friction mode)
Tektro brake levers and Soma (Tektro) interruptors
Campagnolo "Touring" (or Euclid) wide profile cantilevers (front), Deore DX (rear)
Nitto threaded to threadless 1 1/4 to 11/8 stem adaptor and Dimensions silver stem
Shimano 600 hubs with OpenPro front/Synergy OC rear rims
XTR rapid rise rear derailer (am converting all my bikes to rapid rise)
9 speed custom Shimano cassette (12-32)
Brooks Team Pro
VO seatpost with shim
Minoura rack cheap flat pedals
tires: Vittoria Cross XN Pro 32mm with SKS/Bontrager fenders, or IRC Mythos XC Slick 42mm

I am surprised more people don't know about the Sphinx. In 1990, it was the only bike of its kind, as far as I know. There was a similar Novara with an even more hideous purple/teal fade paint job, but I don't think it had the high bottom bracket, or as much clearance for fat tires. Bianchi came out with a whole line of nice cyclocross bikes in 1991 I think, but they were lighter and had less clearance. I'd say the Sphinx was as revolutionary as the Bridgestone XO-1 of 1992/3, but never got the cult following it deserved.

If you know of an earlier production monster cross, I'd like to hear about it!

Gernot Huber

earlgrey at gmail dot com