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MelvinsArmy

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MelvinsArmy last won the day on June 14 2023

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About MelvinsArmy

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  • Birthday 06/13/1975

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  1. I scored another Covid 29er! I say score because these things have shot up in price. This f/f came up for sale on the museum for way less than what I’ve seen any for sale for since they were new. It was advertised in “rider condition” and would probably need a fresh powder coat. It arrived, I spent an hour polishing it with Maguires automotive scratch remover and it looks great! No refinish necessary. I wanted a second one because the Covid 29 is my favorite f/f. Its geometry is perfect. It’s also sort of rare and 29ers just don’t come up for sale. I stole the wheels and pedals off my recently completed Turner 29er.
  2. Per Wikipedia and several other sources online, Gary welded up some 4130 BMX frames for his son Craig (who made this frame) in the days leading up to what we would know as GT. Sorry for the long cut and paste, but I thought this was interesting, from wiki: Origins 1972-1979Edit GT bicycles began in 1972 when professional drag racer and experienced welder Gary Turner makes a frame for his son Craig Turner in his Fullerton, California garage to race at the BMX track. Most frames used during this period were modified Schwinn Stingrays which were heavy and broke easily under the stress of BMX racing and jumping. Gary Turner made his frames from 4130 chrome-moly tubing, the same tubing used in building chassis for dragsters which is stronger and lighter than regular carbon steel. Craig's bike gets noticed at the BMX track and Gary starts making frames for other kids. 1977 Gary Turner BMX In 1976 Gary Turner begins producing frames for Pedals Ready, a Pro Shop at the Western Sports-A-Rama BMX track in Orange County, California named and marketed as Pedals Ready/GT. These are the first commercially distributed Gary Turner produced frames and one of the first sponsored riders to use them was Greg A. Hill whose father owned the Pedals Ready bike shop. Aware of the popularity of Gary Turner’s BMX frames, Richard Long contacts Turner in 1977 about supplying his Anaheim, California bicycle shop. Turner agrees and the foundation of GT Bicycles is born. These early frames were not yet the GT brand, but were simply called "Gary Turner" as seen by the frame stickers.
  3. Nice! My first good bike was an 87 D-Tour. I love these old Dynos.
  4. Thanks! It’s black. I was going for an old school black/polished/just a touch of gold combo.
  5. This was my winter project and I’ve been riding the hell out of it. Gary Turner and GT BMX did a run of 50 29er frames to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary. I had no plans to build another BMX bike but when they announced this project I had to get one and build it up. I’ve always been a GT guy. It’s probably clear by now but I am 100% converted to retro 29ers. They are true Old Man Flyers, at least for this old man. Also the size makes you feel like a 10 year old on a 20”. I haven’t done anything vintage in years. I can’t keep up with those prices or ahead of the reproductions. Both of those factors really took the wind out of my sails. I always rode my vintage bikes but being able to ride a bike without worrying about damaging it I find more enjoyable. (I know many don’t worry much about that, but I do) My last remaining vintage piece is on this bike, original finish Shimano DX pedals. f/f: Gary Turner x GT BMX 50th Anniversary bars: S&M Husky 4spd stem: GT mallet headset: Phil Wood cranks: Profile 175 spider and chainwheel: Profile bottom bracket: S&M pedals: Shimano DX hubs: Onyx rims: Velocity Cliffhanger tires: Tioga FS100 chain: Izumi brakes: Paul seatpost: Thomson clamp: Profile seat: Brooks C17 grips: Oury DH tensioners: JW With its sibling, a Gary Turner 29er disc.
  6. Kurt Cobain on a 10 speed, step sibling in an early BMX bike, and sister on a Krate-like bike.
  7. This is pretty crazy. I looked up the Redline site, it’s amazing how much this stuff is selling for. I understand paying a premium for actual vintage components but there are new parts available that are better and cost less. Double pinch flights look like 401s from 15 feet and cost a fraction. I know I’m stating the obvious here but the fact that everything on their site is sold out at those baffles me.
  8. Here’s something new, replacement dropouts with serial numbers.
  9. Thanks for the 24” history lesson! I would love to see more information on that bmxified Varsity! I’d never heard that before.
  10. So you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit Des Moines, Iowa. Well here it is! Lauridsen Skatepark, the largest outdoor skatepark in the US. And bikes are allowed! Very difficult to capture it in photos, I mostly just have the bowl areas here and a cool valley area, but there’s all kinds of half and quarter pipes, rails, and other awesome things I don’t know the names of. Today was 97 degrees and about 1000% humidity. I couldn’t keep my hands dry longer than 5 seconds it was so bad out, so I had a pretty mellow ride there today.
  11. Awesome bike and very well spent five bucks!
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