Mid? This this is almost Old School!

[SaMAlex]

Here is a bike a got a few weeks ago. It is pretty much a total survivor. It’s a Mk1 Holmes frame with early “S&M forks” (pre-pitch with the extended legs), and early shape slams. The guy who sold (in the USA) it said he got it in 1990 and raced it for 2 years. I knew that I wanted to race it in a few OS races, what with the side pull brake and all, but there were a few things I wanted / needed to change. First, I had to sell the 401s, to help pay for it. I changed the XXXXXL DK stem to a redneck (cos they really are the best shafted stems, and the forks need the help of a wedgie Jackson) and I’m not bothered that the redneck stem came out 4 years after this frame. I was also going to put gen1 Prince Alberts on it, but I want to race it and Im not sure Id trust those cranks so I just used profiles. Finally I changed the tyres cos they were some strange mid 90s redline front/Haro rear ones. Ive used black wall comp 3s but maybe something amber wall would be nicer. Finally I put a new chain and cable on it.

Im pretty pleased with it and cant wait to try it out at MK tomorrow.

Frame: 1990 mk1 Holmes, Chrome (with newer stickers)
Forks: S&M forks (pre Pitch) (with pitchforks stickers)
Bars: Old Slams
Stem: Black redneck
Cranks: Profiles
Chainring: Flight ring, 41t
Rims: Sun
Hubs: DK
Tyres: Comp 3s, black wall
Pedals: Shimano DX
Seat: Turbo
Seatpost: Boss
Seatclamp: Peregrine
Grips: ODI Roughnecks
Brake: DC Nippon, tech 77 with tioga lever condom
Extras: S&M Padset, UGP stickers



When I got it, fresh out the box




Today, after the minor changes I made to it, and ready for MK tomorrow

[harris]

dang that is an early bird     the early bird catches the berm     

[the_cyclops]

How tall must the original owner be......look at the length of that stem!!!

Its looking good Alex......I must admit to never having owned an S&M frame ever, although I did nearly buy an early Mad dog!

[MartyC]

That looks real good, see what you mean about that DK stem, very long 

[darkersomeday]

looks so much better, way tougher

give em hell bro

[ron burgundy]

That looks a bit scary

[EL CID]

what size seat and chain stays? the decals have to be wrong if its a mk 1/ dont get me wrong I will ride the shiite out of it!!!!!

[SaMAlex]

what size seat and chain stays? the decals have to be wrong if its a mk 1/ dont get me wrong I will ride the shiite out of it!!!!!

Its the thinner seat stay Holmes (mk1). It has def had a sticker change, as have the forks cos they aint pitchforks.

I rode this bike today at the Stephen Murray race at Milton Keynes. I totally loved it and had a great time. It felt very light and nimble, and I wasnt at all worried about the strength of any of it (even the forks!). I cant wait to get out on it again.

[Dingobmxer]

what size seat and chain stays? the decals have to be wrong if its a mk 1/ dont get me wrong I will ride the shiite out of it!!!!!

Its the thinner seat stay Holmes (mk1). It has def had a sticker change, as have the forks cos they aint pitchforks.

I rode this bike today at the Stephen Murray race at Milton Keynes. I totally loved it and had a great time. It felt very light and nimble, and I wasnt at all worried about the strength of any of it (even the forks!). I cant wait to get out on it again.

how did you get on Alex?

  DINGO

[Humps00]

The b****y thing works too!!  After Alex stacked exiting the second berm at MK I thought he was done for but the bugger got back on and nearly took me over the fourth berm as he charged after the pack.  Watch him at MK in August as he's going to blitz you!!  Humps

[SaMAlex]

yeah, sorry about that. After sliding out the first time, I didnt really wanna turn the bars any more than I had to, resulting in riding the burm high ... straight into you. You can tell Im not a REAL BMX racer cos I would have felt terible if I had pushed you over.

[Humps00]

You can tell Im not a REAL BMX racer cos I would have felt terible if I had pushed you over.

If you'd been an OSSS07 rider you'd have come at me with elbows out and either barged me off or t-boned me!!    Humps

[Lazarou]

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavleeeee!

[dialledbikes]

Awesome ride and totally OS legal.

The geometry will be heaps better than other OS bikes too.

[SaMAlex]

The geometry will be heaps better than other OS bikes too.

Too right. Things really started to change with bike geomerty in the early 90s and this frame was a fine example of the turn for the better. Its amazing what a difference a rider owned company who make the bikes the riders want can make ... right Mike? 

[dialledbikes]

The geometry will be heaps better than other OS bikes too.

Too right. Things really started to change with bike geomerty in the early 90s and this frame was a fine example of the turn for the better. Its amazing what a difference a rider owned company who make the bikes the riders want can make ... right Mike? 

It's difficult to draw the line between old school and mid school.  I'd say that S&M right there is on the cusp of OS and NS as it still uses old school technology (shafted stem, caliper brakes, US BB) but new school thinking (thicker dropouts, better geometry, stronger tubing).

People like Moeller, Bob Morales, Moliterno, Hoffman, James Shepherd, Ruben Castillo (and many more) were pioneers of the rider owned company and paved the way for people like me to follow a dream.