I’ve often wanted a carbon-framed mountain bike. They were odd and cool, but always way (way, way!) out of my tax bracket; and would carbon be a sustainable, long-term material for a mountain bike, or was it going to melt in the hot sun?

And (by 1998) I already had the AMP Research B4, which I bought off a good friend (who absolutely hated it, more on that in a second) for a ridiculously low price (again, because he absolutely hated it): said it couldn’t climb as well (it couldn’t), was really sketchy on fast descents (it was), felt like a wet noodle (it did!) … so I got it for less than half what he paid for it. (I still have that bike, it’s lovely – or I’m in love – either way, I’m happy after >20 years.)

[How I ‘fixed’ the AMP Research B4 (for me): I changed out the stock rear shock for a Risse racing shock, which stiffened – laterally – the rear triangle and transformed the bike on descents. I got fatter tyres and sat down more when riding it. It gripped better, and would climb much better than my comparable (at the time) hardtail. I put better brakes (V-brakes were just coming out) which gave better control all around. It’s a glorious machine, a true retro/vintage classic bicycle.]

Now it’s the 2020 (the “Year of the Turd”) Christmas holidays break. Scrolling through the local online “buy and sell”-type website, in anticipation of another lockdown, I see in the “bikes” section an interesting ad, 8 months old: 1998 TREK Y11 Carbon, repainted in Estoril blue metallic, a few new parts, needs a rear suspension bushing (no surprise), but all-in-all a complete bike with decent running gear. The price ain’t bad either, especially considering decent secondhand bikes are getting quite rare these days, everything for a ‘project’ are overpriced or complete garbage… but this looks nice enough.

[TANGENT: I did not know at the time, this bike was previously owned by a friend of mine in Dublin! He owned it about 18 years ago; the current owner is still a good friend of his. Small world!]

I ask if it’s still available, and it is. We agree a price. We agree to meet the next day. Money and bike change hands, and everyone’s happy!

Saved from continuing a static existence under a blanket in a shed (or some similar storage), this 1998 Trek Y11 dual-suspension “retrobike” will now see some action in the streets of north Dublin! Sure, the rear suspension bushing needs replaced, and I’ll find one of those and do that. But the frame and rear triangle are perfect, the cables and housing all like-new, the headset is good, the bottom bracket is good, the cassette and chain (after a clean) are like-new – this bike was a bargain! And since I’m not pushing the boundaries of any performance limits – I’m not even going to take this off-road – let’s do some maintenance and “personal touches” and get it on the road.

A different saddle. Different pedals. Different wheels. All of which I had in the shed. Fix the chain. Clean everything. Get some better tyres ordered, get some new brake pads.

The first testride was a 100% success: rides like a dream. Smooth. Comfortable. No creaks, no squeaks, it just goes, soaking up the ruts, bumps, potholes, and sewer covers of the shitty city streets. I really like this bike!

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