What's so cool about Bridgestones from the 1980s and 1990s is the legendary obstinacy of the company's CEO at the time, Grant Peterson.
When most other bicycle companies were working towards performance in racing by switching to aluminum and Carbon fiber bicycle frames, Bridgestone under Mr. Peterson continued building bicycles using lightweight Tange steel frame construction.
Rather than focusing on performance alone, Mr. Peterson was/is a strong believer that bicycles should be designed for touring and leisure riding as well racing, made to be as comfortable for the rider as possible, and suited to the use he or she was putting the bike to.
Anyway, Bridgestone designed and built some amazing bicycles during this period. The RB-1 and MB-1 are legendary because of their excellent quality, lightweight construction, and frame 'geometry' - the latter of which resulted in superior riding experience for the rider.
I learned all of this online, of course, so I could sound like I know what I'm talking about in the blog here. Learning is my job...
However, I can confirm the superior ride and feel of a Bridgestone, having experienced it on the RB-1 we owned for a short time. It really felt solid, went where you pointed it, and, well... It's hard to explain the differences between bicycles using words!
When most other bicycle companies were working towards performance in racing by switching to aluminum and Carbon fiber bicycle frames, Bridgestone under Mr. Peterson continued building bicycles using lightweight Tange steel frame construction.
Rather than focusing on performance alone, Mr. Peterson was/is a strong believer that bicycles should be designed for touring and leisure riding as well racing, made to be as comfortable for the rider as possible, and suited to the use he or she was putting the bike to.
Anyway, Bridgestone designed and built some amazing bicycles during this period. The RB-1 and MB-1 are legendary because of their excellent quality, lightweight construction, and frame 'geometry' - the latter of which resulted in superior riding experience for the rider.
I learned all of this online, of course, so I could sound like I know what I'm talking about in the blog here. Learning is my job...
However, I can confirm the superior ride and feel of a Bridgestone, having experienced it on the RB-1 we owned for a short time. It really felt solid, went where you pointed it, and, well... It's hard to explain the differences between bicycles using words!
Back to my 1990 MB-1. The front and rear deraileurs are now on, the stem is on, and the handlebars are on. Tomorrow if all goes well I'll put the tires and tubes on the wheels and do the cable housings - get things functioning, I hope.
Or maybe day after tomorrow, the way things are going...
Or maybe day after tomorrow, the way things are going...