What can you tell me about this Specialized Hardrock Ultra?
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What can you tell me about this Specialized Hardrock Ultra?
I picked up this very friendly looking Specialized frame this weekend. It's in excellent condition and I'm already smitten. What does the community know about these? The previous owner told me it was an early 90s frame.
Two questions: A) What do you know about this model? and B) how should I build it up?
Two questions: A) What do you know about this model? and B) how should I build it up?
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Looks like it first shows up in the Specialized catalogs in 1993:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2...ec_Bikes93.pdf
Lots more catalogs to look through here: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2...ve/Catalogues/
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2...ec_Bikes93.pdf
Lots more catalogs to look through here: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2...ve/Catalogues/
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Great frame...good luck with the BB. Mine was a horrific battle.
yours is in infinitely better shape than mine.
yours is in infinitely better shape than mine.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
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The serial number may reveal the identity of the manufacturer and the exact date of manufacture.
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Also, they have quirky drop outs with a limiting curve of metal. It centers the wheel nicely but doesn’t allow a bit more movement back in the drop.
PO filed mine down before sending it on.
PO filed mine down before sending it on.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
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I was just looking at that last night wand wondering what in the world that was! So it's designed so that it can be filed down and used as horizontal dropouts? So strange.
Also, I'm curious about your struggle with the bottom bracket. What was the issue?
Also, I'm curious about your struggle with the bottom bracket. What was the issue?
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The dropouts are just strange...I don't think they are meant to be filed. Mine were filed though on one side. I didn't do the other so I could still adjust the centering a bit easier.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
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Actually, I believe it is the other way around. The dropout manufacturer took existing tooling for a horizontal dropout and modified it with the addition of a web, to create a dropout with a fixed axle position. For indexed shifting systems to perform optimally, the critical dimension is the chain gap, which is the distance along the chain from the cog point of contact to the point of jockey pulley contact. Changing the axle position in a horizontal dropout can have a detrimental effect on indexed shifting. This was a common problem in the early days of indexing. Consumers would return bicycles, complaining of poor shifting, not realizing that they had created the problem by altering the factory axle position. Consequently, manufacturers eliminated the issue by using vertical or similar dropouts with a fixed axle position, ensuring optimum chain gap and indexed shifting performance.
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i had an early 90's giant perigee pass through my hands with rear dropouts like that. it had exage 300ex equipment. however, i gave it away since it was a crit frame and waaaaay too big for me. i did wonder about those drop outs, though
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Old school MTBs are the bomb. They’re no longer great as mountain bikes as the state of the art has moved on but they make great all around bikes. You can use them for touring, as gravel bikes, commuters, etc. They’re fine on non technical single track.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mtb-fleet.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mtb-fleet.html
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oh that's fascinating, thanks for the background info! so, were rear vertical dropouts a design solution specifically for indexed shifting, or were they already in use and just happened to be a good option?
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The Hardrock was the step-down from the Rockhopper. On the Hardrock, only the three main tubes are chromoly but the rear triangle is hi-ten, and also the level of components was lower on a Hardrock. If you're building it up from scratch it could be a very nice bike. The frame is indestructible and if it fits you it will be a very comfortable ride.
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The Hardrock was the step-down from the Rockhopper. On the Hardrock, only the three main tubes are chromoly but the rear triangle is hi-ten, and also the level of components was lower on a Hardrock. If you're building it up from scratch it could be a very nice bike. The frame is indestructible and if it fits you it will be a very comfortable ride.
Last edited by jdawginsc; 09-22-21 at 05:26 PM.
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Vertical dropouts pre-date indexing. They were popular on grand touring bicycles to prevent wheel shifting under high load and high torque situations. Conversely, they were also popular on some ultra short chainstay bicycles. The manufacturers simply realized that vertical dropouts were a ready made solution for indexing chain gap woes.
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I have the same bike in the same colorway. Love that fade.
Waiting for outside temps to cool before I start the caustic soda approach on the stuck seatpost and possibly the headset. It was $20 so if I screw up it’s no big loss.
Waiting for outside temps to cool before I start the caustic soda approach on the stuck seatpost and possibly the headset. It was $20 so if I screw up it’s no big loss.
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Old school MTBs are the bomb. They’re no longer great as mountain bikes as the state of the art has moved on but they make great all around bikes. You can use them for touring, as gravel bikes, commuters, etc. They’re fine on non technical single track.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mtb-fleet.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mtb-fleet.html
And they're still wonderful on the trails if you're a non-serious mountain biker, or primarily a roadie who goes out once in a while. Had a Gary Fisher that looked a lot like that for years, selling it was one of my stupider moves I've made in the bicycle hobby. Especially after I discovered I hated the more modern Fuji that I built to replace it.
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“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
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