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Mid School BMX (>87) 1989 to 2003 (<05) => Mid School ( Keep the faith ) => Topic started by: SaMAlex on June 17, 2007, 12:55 AM
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In 1994 I went to America for a few weeks and stayed at S&M. A friend from home (Paul) asked me to get him a bike while I was there. He didn’t have a BMX at all and wanted to get into it a little. At S&M I got him pretty much everything they did at that time and brought it home for him. Once at home I built up the bike using parts I had lying about, mostly 80s parts, just to get him going. He rode it a little but soon after that he moved away to London and we never rode together again (although I still saw him now and again).
A couple of years ago I asked Paul about the bike. He said it was at the back of is Dads shed and he would bring it round for me. It was just like I had built it for him and hadn’t seen much use. Ever since then I have been wanting to take off the 80s parts and build it up using mid 90s parts. During that trip S&M got the first batch of Prince Albert cranks and they started doing the redneck stem soon after. Last week I got a green redneck stem so I knew it was time to get the bike sorted.
I got real lucky and apart from the cranks and stem, I was able to use parts I had kicking about. The wheels came on a bike I got a while ago, the Mongoose front tyre and GT rear go well cos they are both all black and the pedals I got not long ago. The seat is the only thing that is brand new. It’s a Bicycle Union seat that I got a few weeks ago. My friend Paul knows the Union guys, and likes the Misfits … and it’s the right colour. Oh, and thanks to J.T.Racing for the chainring. You still haven’t told me what you want for it!
I’m pretty pleased with this bike. Now I just gotta send some pics of it to Paul, so he knows its being well looked after.
Frame: 1994 mk3 Holmes, Green
Forks: 1994 mk1 Ditchforks
Bars: 1994 Slams, uncut (dancing man)
Stem: Green redneck
Cranks: gen2 Prince Alberts
Chainring: Profile
Rims: Sun
Hubs: DK
Tyres: Front Mongoose, Rear GT
Pedals: S&M DX
Seat: Bicycle Union
Seatclamp: GT
Headset: 80s ally, anodised blue (couldnt be arsed to change it)
Grips: 1994 Clear ODI Longnecks
Brake: DC 994, DC lever
Extras: S&M Padset, front peg (cos the rear axle is too short for the rear)
The bike like it was when I built it for Paul
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes1.jpg)
And finally finished like it should have been in the mid 90s.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes02.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes04.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes05.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes06.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes08.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes09.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes11.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes13.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes15.jpg)
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yo, thats a rider alex :daumenhoch:
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yo, thats a rider alex
Is there anything else? Well, not in my shed anyway!
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tis a beaut!
wow, what an improvement!
Does that peg not come off anymore? - lol
Why hide that loveley green redneck under that pad?
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how many padsets have you got now alex ! :)
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how many padsets have you got now alex ! :)
Well this set aint really mine so I cant count them.
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love it :smitten:
geuine rider :daumenhoch: the cranks and pedals make it a more serious bike than the 1-pc in the first pics,
proper mid tyre set-up too, knobbly front smoother rear,
the pads are sweet, they give it that little nudge back to the early 90's,
clear odi longnecks!!! :smitten:
i kicked myself for letting that s&m seat go on the next gen db, itd have fitted right in with the survivor look,
another great bike from mr s&m :4_17_5:
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the cranks and pedals make it a more serious bike than the 1-pc in the first pics,
tbh, id rather ride one piece cranks than p.a.'s.
great bike again alex, right down to the 994 brake, which you had to buy because they just started doing the lower-profile ad lugs in 93.
i think i had one of those mongoose tyres around that period too.
random fact- did you know that headtube sticker is a fotoshop of rick moliterno?
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the cranks and pedals make it a more serious bike than the 1-pc in the first pics,
proper mid tyre set-up too, knobbly front smoother rear,
clear odi longnecks!!!
Ah, you say that but in the first pic they are propper Shimano DX's. They are now back on my shelf with the several well used sets Ive got (those are probably the best set).
The rear tyre is one of those GT freestyle ones. Its kinda knobby but it looks much smoother in the pic.
The clear longnecks are rad, they have even got some Holmes stickers on the bars, under them so they show through. Its a shame cos they have got corroded and split but I dont wanna change them.
tbh, id rather ride one piece cranks than p.a.'s.
right down to the 994 brake.
Yep, sure, PAs were bad but I rode gen 2 PA cranks for years and they were fine, Ive still got them. Having said that, the PA hype has made me nervous about riding them again!
I used a 994 brake cos it was what S&M had in stock. Its quite a nice idea, you just lock down the spring and a curved washer holds the tenstion, then you just use a cone spanner to get it as tight as you want it. The problem was that the curved washer didnt hold the spring down enough so it sometimes span loose when you pulled the lever. No wonder that design didnt last.
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I want it !!
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like it. good home a holmes :daumenhoch: .
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leave the clear necks on :daumenhoch:
btw, can i pinch a copy of the pedal shot to send to sbdan? i'm trying to work out the exact colour code for the "army green"
is that really moliterno on th ht sticker :LolLolLolLol:
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leave the clear necks on :daumenhoch:
btw, can i pinch a copy of the pedal shot to send to sbdan? i'm trying to work out the exact colour code for the "army green"
is that really moliterno on th ht sticker :LolLolLolLol:
You can pinch a pic for sure, or better still I can send you a set of them! I think I have got another set that are broken.
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thanks for the offer mate :daumenhoch:
i might take you up on it if i get lucky next week!
just doing my "work-ups" for it ;)
would you say that the green on the pedals sums up the s&m late mid colourways?
p.a's,
they were pretty sought after and rare, i could never get my hands on a pair at the time as i was always skint when they dropped,
i heard loads of stories of them snapping but always put it down to it being a new product for s&m and being a twat to make,all cranks seem to suffer problems in the early stages off production,
a bit like the wombolt/fly thing going on on bg at the moment!
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alex, get a pic of the headtube sticker and post it up for all to see.
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alex, get a pic of the headtube sticker and post it up for all to see.
Will do. I didnt know that.
I will also get some of the older ones that were and very old looking John Holmes. The funny thing was, that sticker looked just like my Dad!
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Lovin that bike Alex looks just ripe for a thrash
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Nice Holmes!
My first new school bike was a 96 Holmes from Custom Riders. I think that was the first year S&M started using Aheadsets and clamp on RedNecks. I rode it for a year (bent the Pitch Forks at Cuckfield trails unfortunately) before getting a rather lovely Standard Bicycle MotoCross and transferring all the bits across to that. Only thing I have left is the S&M padset.
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Only thing I have left is the S&M padset.
Let battle commence :LolLolLolLol:
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Only thing I have left is the S&M padset.
Let battle commence :LolLolLolLol:
Ha ha. dare I ask how much you want for the padset. (d-i-b-s? gotta be worth a go. Ha ha)
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Is the padset quite rare nowadays then?
I just bought an early Holmes frame in America which I was thinking of restoring and racing, so the pads were being saved for that. But if I get the Assassin off Bananaman, then yeah, I'd be happy to sell to an S&M collector for a mutually fair price.
I've no idea what they're worth!
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Ohhh, what type of Holmes? Got any pics of it?
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(http://i9.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/9e/d8/cd7c_1.JPG)
This one. Doesn't look up to much I know, but I would be using it as an OS race bike (once I bring it back from America next time I'm there), so would get it powdercoated (yellow probably) or rechromed.
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Nice, looks like a Mk 3, with 1" pitchforks(?). Very nice. You cant go wrong with a Yellow S&M, I was just thinking about getting a Holmes frame of mine powder coated Yellow.
Good find, Hope its gets fixed up soon,
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Any idea of the year Alex?
I assume it's old school race legal with the threaded headset and caliper/u-brake?
And where can I get hold of the Holmes downtube stickers? I've got plenty of the head tube shields and the Slam Bar shields (also the Slam ones which have a US Eagle on them) as Chris Moeller send me some ages ago.
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Its not really OS legal. It is 1" but its got a U brake with brake mounts. You could always run a side pull or pitbull on it and just not use the brake mounts (I think that is OK).
It is 1" so its pre 94/95. Its also a mk3 with a U brake so its gotta be one of the later 1". Its probably about a 93 or 94 frame. Id be able to get a better idea if you have the frame number?
Word is that S&M are going to be re-doing some of their old stickers but nothing is confirmed yet. Fingers crossed, ay?
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Seeing as its got threaded forks i dont see why it wouldnt be OS legal, i mean we wouldnt have any probs with that turning up at Hersden :4_17_5: The brakes is only a minor issue ;)
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Here's what is says on the MK thread:
"Old school bikes need to be 1" headset & caliper brake (pitbull allowed) .
RWYB is Mid and New School ie 1 1/8 headsets and/or canti or V brakes ."
It doesnt really say what to do if you are in the middle ground of 1" headset but with brake mounts.
I would take OS to mean "forks that bend, brakes that dont work" :LolLolLolLol:
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Seeing as its got threaded forks i dont see why it wouldnt be OS legal, i mean we wouldnt have any probs with that turning up at Hersden :4_17_5: The brakes is only a minor issue ;)
That's the assumption I bought it on Muttley, as a U-brake is still a caliper brake (not a cantilever/v-brake brake), and just as ineffective as an MX1000 or Pitbull on wet chrome rims ;)
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Hmmm, Thats a good point. I took "Caliper brakes" to mean side pull mx1000 / nipon.
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I'll get Mattdub over to clarify this chaps...
He's the MK race man.
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I'll get Mattdub over to clarify this chaps...
He's the MK race man.
Clarification would be good.
My understanding is that brakes where the arms are bolted together (i.e. MX1000, Pitbull and 990s) are caliper brakes. Brakes where the arms are bolted to the frame separately and operate using a straddle wire/cantilever action are classed as cantilever brakes (v-brakes are a from of cantilever brake with longer arms).
I can understand if cantis aren't OS legal as they only really started being used on BMX frames after 1996. But if Pitbulls are OS legal, 990s/U-brakes should be too as they work in the same way as a caliper brake (but full from the centre rather than the side).
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Id argue that 990s and pitbulls dont have the arms that are bolted together, and that 990s do operate using a straddle wire.
Also, what if you got a 990 or canti, bolt on backing plate, and used one of them?
Annnnnd, didnt people use those crappy bolt on center pull brakes (that work the same as a 990) on race BMXs bitd sometimes?
I think that frame mounted brake luggs arent OS, and that needs to somehow include bolt on brake luggs. (Im not sure where Pitbulls fit in tho)
...this is getting cool now.
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I thought this OS racing lark was just supposed to be old men pretending to be teenagers again, not PHD Brake Physics ;)
I can't imagine a 990 brake being deemed illegal as long as the bike has a threaded fork, shafted stem and flat pedals.
Though I might clip-in for the OS races next season seeing as there's no rules on pedals ;) :LolLolLolLol:
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As i said this kinda thing gets overlooked at Hersden (within reason of course). As long as you are running an old/mid school and keep it in the spirit of things we dont care.
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I'm sure Matt will be on soon to clarify, so hold tight.
I'm quite sure that for most of us, a non-caliper brake would not give us the advantage to win!
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Yeah man. I’m with you there; it’s just a bit of fun riding some classic bikes.
The only thing I know is that someone on the site entered an OS race, his first time of racing (I don’t wanna say who it was, it wasn’t me). He was riding a lovely bike with 1" threaded forks and a pitbull. Well, he got loads of hassle from one of the other racers cos his bike, according to this other guy, was "mid". It should be easy to ignore this kind of thing but it really spoiled the day and I get the feeling it put the guy of going to another race.
As long as I get to turn the pedals more than I usually do in a year, and maybe jump a few sets of doubles then I dont care what kind of brake is going to do a bad job of stopping me at the end!
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The only thing I know is that someone on the site entered an OS race, his first time of racing (I don’t wanna say who it was, it wasn’t me). He was riding a lovely bike with 1" threaded forks and a pitbull. Well, he got loads of hassle from one of the other racers cos his bike, according to this other guy, was "mid". It should be easy to ignore this kind of thing but it really spoiled the day and I get the feeling it put the guy of going to another race.
That sounds so petty.
If OS racing is gonna get bigger, then I guess come clearer guidelines might need to be drawn up around what parts are and aren't acceptable. It will be a shame if bureaucracy and pettiness like that becomes common though, as it should, as Alex says, be just about a bunch of middle aged men reliving their youth on some classic bikes that might otherwise have been left to rot.
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thats a mk bike alex , race it and represent :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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Heres what I race/am racing, 1" threaded and Pitbull, used it at last years MK and hope to use it at this one
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y79/dingobmxer/aaa026.jpg)
I even have some new school bits on there as I feel its safer that way :police:
:) DINGO :)
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Heres what I race/am racing, 1" threaded and Pitbull, used it at last years MK and hope to use it at this one
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y79/dingobmxer/aaa026.jpg)
I even have some new school bits on there as I feel its safer that way :police:
:) DINGO :)
Another nice ride there Mark. I agree about the new school bits. We all weigh about twice as much as we did in the 80's and are probably twice as clumsy.
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Thanks Mike,
dropouts need fixing though ???
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y79/dingobmxer/aaa029.jpg)
:) DINGO :)
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Crikey, what happened there? Somebody try to convert it to 14mm?
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They have been butchered out to 17mm ??? >:( >:(
Off to Fuzzynod for a repair after MK though :daumenhoch:
:) DINGO :)
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Cool looking S&M
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Bikes/PaulsHolmes15.jpg)
Check out the original Bench sticker on the toptube (From a time when Bench wasn't Chav wear!)
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Alex yougonna do a yellow holmes?I am thinking heavy on doing my mk2 yellow and the mk 1 ups brown like Chris almost talked me into buying in the early years.Cover the crome up for now.Keep me up on the dvd's
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Yeah man, Yellow for sure! Yellow Holmes frames was what it was all about! I have got a mk2 that is chrome and stickerless so that is looking most lightly to go Yellow. I wasnt even going to build it up but that picture of Will Smyth is so nice, and I have got most of those parts anyway. It would be a shame not to build it up.
As for the DVDs, I have got as far as getting hold of a DVD writer .... and not even got it out of the box yet. I will keep you posted, it should happen soon.
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come on matt. lets hear the verdict.
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come on matt. lets hear the verdict.
Single mount ( bolt through ) brakes are OS , no lugs/bosses or bolt on lugs . ;)
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Single mount ( bolt through ) brakes are OS , no lugs/bosses or bolt on lugs . ;)
"Single mount". I like that. A propper answer!
I dont think 990s are OS and def not cantis.