My first (mountain) bike was a Diamond Back Ascent, 1994 model in Candy Red. It was kitted with a full Shimano 7sp STX groupset, and mostly Avenir branded components. It had a rigid chromoly fork to go with the Tange cr-mo steel frame. Cost my dad a whole R2499 back then, and made me the happiest 13 year old kid in the world! Man I loved that bike, i used to ride everywhere, with my best mate Dave. I even fitted a Topeak pannier rack and panniers to it and then we used it to get cash delivering the newspaper. I remember the day i snapped the chainstay on a small jump in the local park, but luckily after a few weeks my LBS managed to get the frame replaced under warrantee. They sent me the titanium coloured 1995 model, and we fitted a Manitou Mach 5 Comp fork to the bike at the same time. I really wanted a Manitou 3, but it really was way out of my budget and at the time cost the same as the whole bike did! Had the bike till 2003 when i got back from London, but then I brough home a brand new Cannondale mountain bike, so my Diamond Back was never ridden by me again. I also found cracks all over the frame, so i decided to toss it. Still have a box somewhere full of old used 7speed STX and LX parts, so if anyonw is looking for bits from that era, just drop me a line.
