So this is my Scott Unitrack from the early 1990s. I purchased it back in 2017 with the help from a friend who is a private bike enthusiast and professional bike mechanic. Back then, I was looking for a bike that would a) fit the needs of light urban commuting, and b) look cool. Nearly everybody was riding cheap, badly fitting singlespeed bikes at that time, so when I asked my friend what kind of bicycle to choose, I was expecting him (who is also a passionate fixed gear rider) to recommend me something like a road or singlespeed bike. But he surprised me by saying that a vintage MTB would be the best choice because of its versatility, sturdiness, and comfort. I must say that I was a tiny bit disappointed because I had already pictured myself cruising around with one of those cool bikes with thin tires and bullhorn bars. But I listened to him, and I can assure you, it was the best decision I could have made, although it took me a few years to fully appreciate the value of this bike.
We first just made minor adjustments, exchanged the stem, installed new tires (Schwalbe Kojak—man, were those quick). And it was a hell of a ride. I really, really liked the way it felt on the road. And it looked so fine. It was the first bike that showed me how amazing cycling can be. But it wasn’t the last.
In the years following, I bought three (and sold two) road bikes, and one gravel bike, completely infected by the cyclemania of both the pre and post Covid years. Because I found those bikes a lot “cooler” than my old steel colossus, the Scott had to dwell in the cellar for many a years.
But over time I recognized that I don’t need any of these very sporty and fast bikes at all. What I need is a bike that … wait … a) fits the needs of light urban commuting, and b) looks cool. So I salvaged the Scott from the cellar and stripped it nearly entirely down. The idea of ”realizing“ a build like this had been in my head for quite a time, but somehow I lacked the opportunity, and/or motivation. But another friend that I recently made was riding a (now sold) purple Raleigh MTB with 1x setup, riser bars and front basket. What a beauty, was what I thought.
Now I went down from 3×7 to 1×7, the front chainring being this beautiful purple Stridsland 40t, and the cassette staying the original 11-28t. This gives me enough range for normal city riding but also slightly hilly terrain. The original STX rear derailleur is still working perfectly. The bars are some wide Ritchey risers that I get a lot of handling control from. I kept the STX V brakes, but replaced all cables and gave them an optical overhaul with celeste and pink housings which—in my eyes—match the frame/chainring color combo very well. I’m definitely going to get different tires for different kinds of terrain, because I feel like the DTH’s are not ideal for the kind of terrain I shot the picture in. Any recommendations for some light forest cruising?
Building this over the last few days was a lot of fun, I learned so much, but also had a lot of frustrating moments with how very specific bike parts (and tools …) can be designed to only fit other very specific counterparts (or tools …). But I made it, and I’m very proud. Cycling (even more building bikes) is not a matter of course for me because my family never taught me how to do ride a bicycle (which I was bullied for in school), so I learned it by myself at the age of 22 (now I’m almost 32).
And sitting on this one for the first time a few days ago was just—wow! This might be the most fun I’ve ever had riding a bike. I’m so happy about it.
No matter how hard I try enjoying road cycling these days, it always gives me a good portion of anxiety. The same is true for gravel cycling, although it’s not as bad as with the former. High speed, public roads, aggressive car drivers, dangerous descents, that’s actually not my world at all, but (online) cycling culture somehow tricked me into thinking it would be cool. But the truth is that every ride on my road bike is in some way a stressful experience, and not the positive kind of stress. That’s not due to the bike itself, but due to my own feeling (maybe due to my rather late learning of riding a bike at all). A feeling I don’t get riding my Scott. This bike doesn’t pressure me to go fast, to go high, to track my activity or to perform in a specific way. It does whatever I want—instead of me trying to do an expensive road bike justice that I get to ride maybe twice a month. You could of course argue that a road bike doesn’t actively pressure one to do these things either … but does it really not?
This is not a verdict against any kind of cycling, don’t get me wrong. Ride whatever you love. It’s just my expression of joy that I’ve finally built a bike that has a positive, instead of negative, impact on my individual cycling self-esteem.
I have so many plans with this one.
(And sorry for my probably weird phrasing, I’m not a native speaker.)
12pounddictionary on
Looks cool. Glad to hear you found your bike and place to ride. (But if you are like most people, you will soon try to improve and perfect another bike. It’s a blessing and a curse)
Enjoy each and every ride.
2 Comments
So this is my Scott Unitrack from the early 1990s. I purchased it back in 2017 with the help from a friend who is a private bike enthusiast and professional bike mechanic. Back then, I was looking for a bike that would a) fit the needs of light urban commuting, and b) look cool. Nearly everybody was riding cheap, badly fitting singlespeed bikes at that time, so when I asked my friend what kind of bicycle to choose, I was expecting him (who is also a passionate fixed gear rider) to recommend me something like a road or singlespeed bike. But he surprised me by saying that a vintage MTB would be the best choice because of its versatility, sturdiness, and comfort. I must say that I was a tiny bit disappointed because I had already pictured myself cruising around with one of those cool bikes with thin tires and bullhorn bars. But I listened to him, and I can assure you, it was the best decision I could have made, although it took me a few years to fully appreciate the value of this bike.
We first just made minor adjustments, exchanged the stem, installed new tires (Schwalbe Kojak—man, were those quick). And it was a hell of a ride. I really, really liked the way it felt on the road. And it looked so fine. It was the first bike that showed me how amazing cycling can be. But it wasn’t the last.
In the years following, I bought three (and sold two) road bikes, and one gravel bike, completely infected by the cyclemania of both the pre and post Covid years. Because I found those bikes a lot “cooler” than my old steel colossus, the Scott had to dwell in the cellar for many a years.
But over time I recognized that I don’t need any of these very sporty and fast bikes at all. What I need is a bike that … wait … a) fits the needs of light urban commuting, and b) looks cool. So I salvaged the Scott from the cellar and stripped it nearly entirely down. The idea of ”realizing“ a build like this had been in my head for quite a time, but somehow I lacked the opportunity, and/or motivation. But another friend that I recently made was riding a (now sold) purple Raleigh MTB with 1x setup, riser bars and front basket. What a beauty, was what I thought.
Now I went down from 3×7 to 1×7, the front chainring being this beautiful purple Stridsland 40t, and the cassette staying the original 11-28t. This gives me enough range for normal city riding but also slightly hilly terrain. The original STX rear derailleur is still working perfectly. The bars are some wide Ritchey risers that I get a lot of handling control from. I kept the STX V brakes, but replaced all cables and gave them an optical overhaul with celeste and pink housings which—in my eyes—match the frame/chainring color combo very well. I’m definitely going to get different tires for different kinds of terrain, because I feel like the DTH’s are not ideal for the kind of terrain I shot the picture in. Any recommendations for some light forest cruising?
Building this over the last few days was a lot of fun, I learned so much, but also had a lot of frustrating moments with how very specific bike parts (and tools …) can be designed to only fit other very specific counterparts (or tools …). But I made it, and I’m very proud. Cycling (even more building bikes) is not a matter of course for me because my family never taught me how to do ride a bicycle (which I was bullied for in school), so I learned it by myself at the age of 22 (now I’m almost 32).
And sitting on this one for the first time a few days ago was just—wow! This might be the most fun I’ve ever had riding a bike. I’m so happy about it.
No matter how hard I try enjoying road cycling these days, it always gives me a good portion of anxiety. The same is true for gravel cycling, although it’s not as bad as with the former. High speed, public roads, aggressive car drivers, dangerous descents, that’s actually not my world at all, but (online) cycling culture somehow tricked me into thinking it would be cool. But the truth is that every ride on my road bike is in some way a stressful experience, and not the positive kind of stress. That’s not due to the bike itself, but due to my own feeling (maybe due to my rather late learning of riding a bike at all). A feeling I don’t get riding my Scott. This bike doesn’t pressure me to go fast, to go high, to track my activity or to perform in a specific way. It does whatever I want—instead of me trying to do an expensive road bike justice that I get to ride maybe twice a month. You could of course argue that a road bike doesn’t actively pressure one to do these things either … but does it really not?
This is not a verdict against any kind of cycling, don’t get me wrong. Ride whatever you love. It’s just my expression of joy that I’ve finally built a bike that has a positive, instead of negative, impact on my individual cycling self-esteem.
I have so many plans with this one.
(And sorry for my probably weird phrasing, I’m not a native speaker.)
Looks cool. Glad to hear you found your bike and place to ride. (But if you are like most people, you will soon try to improve and perfect another bike. It’s a blessing and a curse)
Enjoy each and every ride.