While period-correct restorations are great, nothing beats a vintage mountain bike built specifically to the owner’s desires. Sam’s Schwinn High Sierra rolled into our Readers’ Rides inbox this week, and we had to share it immediately!
I built this up about 4 years ago when I got back into mountain biking after a multi-year hiatus. I had been riding my BMX bike on the local mountain bike trails just to see if I could do it. Turns out, I could, but it was a little more struggle than I was looking for, even as I tried to convince myself that it was good training for the racing I was doing at the local BMX track.
I wanted the same feeling as a BMX bike, but I also knew I was going to be primarily riding it on the trails. I settled on searching for a small classic mountain bike frame to give the BMX feel, but the mountain bike geometry. I happened upon what was at the time a completely original 1984 Schwinn High Sierra with bullmoose bars and the timeless Araya 26×1.75 wheels.
For some reason, I saw the ice-blue frame and immediately started thinking white. I powdercoated white the original Dia Compe brake levers, calipers (I call them pea pods), Shimano MX pedals (since broken), Tourney cranks (since broken), and glorious SR MTE-100 seatpost. I scrounged up some white S&M Slam Bars and popped on a white SE Blitz seat and started sending it– out of the saddle riding only, of course!
I’ve been through a lot with this bike, but it just continues to hold up and put a smile on my face. Every time I get behind the bars on this thing I feel like I’m riding my first bike all over again, and that was totally the point.
I broke the original rear axle, then the replacement axle. I broke off a front brake boss, had it re-welded, then bent the original forks (apparently the breather holes located right behind and below the bosses are a common failure point). I rounded off the original cranks after bashing a rock on the trail. I broke the axle on one of the original Shimano pedals. Most recently, I cracked a headset cup.
What can I say? I don’t collect anything and I ride everything :)
Last season, I finally ditched the original “sealed system” high-flange hubs and went with some green TNT Revolvers straight outta the BMX old-school, laced with Phil spokes and nips to the original Araya rims. Butter. I thought the green would nicely reference the tiny trees in the top tube decal. The rest of the components and style are a real mix of MTB and BMX at this point that works really well for the way I ride it.
There has certainly been some trial-by-error building that has brought it to the current setup, but the real steel goodness of the frame and the playfulness of the build persists on.
“Man, that reminds me of my first BMX bike” is something I hear from folks out on the trail a lot.
Exactly, my friend, exactly :)
To add to the nostalgia, the pictures here were all taken on film (expired Fuji 200) after a recent ride.
Thanks for checking out my bike and having an awesome site!
Sam Affholter
Ypsilanti, MI
Build Spec:
- Year: 1984
- S/N:
- Frame: Schwinn High Sierra
- Forks: Tange Cro-mo unicrown
- Stem: SR BMX canti-mount, Haro Stem Saver spacer
- Headset: Origin8 Pro
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN55
- Handlebar: S&M Slam Bars
- Brake Levers: Dia-Compe
- Front Brake: Dia-Compe
- Rear Brake: Dia-Compe
- Brake Pads: Kool-Stop Eagle II
- Cables/Housing: Odyssey Slic Cable
- Crankset: Sugino Super Maxy
- Chainring: Profile Racing MTB Downhill ring, 40t w/integrated bash guard
- Pedals: Free Agent
- Hubs: TNT Revolver bolt-on
- Rims: Araya 26×1.75
- Tires: Specialized Fast Track Sport 26×2.35
- Seatpost: SR MTE-100
- Saddle: SE Blitz
- Seatpost QR:
- Grips: SE Wing
- Chain: KMC Z1eHX
- Freewheel: White Industries ENO 20t
We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!
