Krischan from the Aus MTB Museum brings us the highlights of this year’s Show’n Shine.
Retro MTB SA, in partnership with the Australian Museum of Mountain Bike, organised their annual Show’n Shine in March. This event marked the third Show’n Shine in South Australia, held at O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park, and did not disappoint!
The day was a full immersion into the 1990s mountain biking scene, featuring a barbecue, social gathering, bike trading, discussions, bike games, displays, and riding—exclusively celebrating bikes from the ’90s. Bonus points were awarded to those dressed accordingly, too.
Video #1 – Watch Nigel Hill’s video here.
The video from the event, featuring an interview with Nathan Rennie discussing his World Cup racing beginnings, was filmed by Nigel Hill. Hill, a mountain bike collector, entered his collection in the show and is known for ranking highly with his bike builds. He’s a significant contributor to the local scene, and his retro builds and restorations can be followed on his YouTube channel.
Video #2 – Run through of all the bikes with Cam Munro
https://www.facebook.com/reel/738246238403148
This event keeps on getting better and bigger every year. Last year’s count of 49 bike entries paled compared to this year’s staggering 99, despite the unfortunate last-minute withdrawal of two prominent collectors. Remarkably, the number of bikes nearly doubled, and the quality significantly increased from the previous year.
We have several collectors here in South Australia. Their passion for retro MTBs and drive to collect and restore mountain bikes from the 90s and keep the era alive is phenomenal.
The Show’n Shine offered a variety of categories for bike enthusiasts to enter their cherished rides:
- ATB *
- Rigid MTB *
- Hardtail *
- Dual Suspension *
- DownHill **
- Retro-mod *
- Frankenbike *
- Non Retro mtb *
With an asterisk denoting bikes manufactured before 2000 and a double asterisk for those made before 2010.
Beyond the bike-centric awards, the event also recognised contributions in broader categories, including:
- Peoples Choice
- Retro MTB of the Year
- Grand Master of Retro
- Big Red Award
- Retro Attire
- Bridge Road Challenge
These categories celebrated the community’s engagement, from the most beloved bikes to the best retro outfits and the most arduous restorations.
As the event evolves from year to year, the categories are adapted based on feedback and the bikes brought along. Previously, to qualify, all bikes entered had to be pre-2000. For this year, however, the Downhill category’s manufacturing year was extended to pre-2010 to include some of the iconic DH bikes from the early 2000s but entered bikes still have to have 26″ wheels.
Let’s take a closer look at the Downhill category. The crown was taken by the 2002 Santacruz Super 8. It’s just such a classic bike, and paired with the upsidedown Shivers, profile cranks and Nokian Gazzaloddi tyres (2.6″ x24″ Rear and 3.0″ x26″ front), and in that baby blue, it was just perfect. It is rumoured that it changed hands on the day, so another super stoked collector will own it now.
We look forward to seeing if it will reappear next year. The blue 1998 GT LTS 2000 was paired with White Brothers DC110 forks and, like the Super 8, also owned by Jason.
Rex Williamson beautifully restored the Craftworks DHR 208, which has fresh paint and an exceptionally tidy presentation and components overall.
The 1999 Santacruz Bullit with first-generation Marzocchi Monsters was a bike from interstate. It was its first appearance at the Show and Shine and got some good attention as it screams HUCK!
The Diamondback V10, which we have seen before, is always a favourite at the show. It features Manitou X-Vert Ti’s and IRC Kujo tyres and is presented just as it was raced in the 90s without any restoration performed.
The 2006 GT DHi used to be Garry Patterson from CTR and these days’s Trailscapes’ DH race bike, but it is now owned and still ridden regularly by Nigel Hill, who says it rides so incredibly well and smooth, even a modern-day bike is barely faster on the local DH tracks.
Just for a bit of fun, a ‘non-retro-mtb’ category was added this year, just because we enjoy inclusiveness and if someone has a special bike they or a family member want to bring along and show but doesn’t fulfil the show’s cut-off year or fit into any other category, why not bring it along and show it in this category! And it did not disappoint with four stunning BMXs entered by Sam Styles. The SE and Skyway are shown in Image 8 above. The modern bikes in this category included Sam Davey’s custom-built Pole Taival and Marino. The Marino has a fully custom geo with custom paint and matching custom decals. Cam Munro brought along his Giant Team Trials Team, which has quite the following in the Retro Trials scene, but it was the only trial bike at the show this year.
The category “Retro-Mod” was also added this year, and some interesting bikes were included. The category’s only stipulation is a pre-2000 frame, but it can be built with as many or as few modern parts as desired. Above shown is Nigel’s 1992 Tequesta (Image 11.) with a stunning original Zebra crackle paint job and matching quill stem. We don’t see paint like that anymore, and we absolutely love that about the early 1990s bikes! Will Freeland entered his 1998 Iron Horse MT400 (Image 12) featuring a fascinating “Patina” paint job, a rare sight in the MTB world, a modern SLX drivetrain, Marzocchi Bomber Z2’s and cruiser-style braced high-rise bars. It’s a fantastic combination of retro style with some modern shifting functionality!
Jason Launer entered a 1990 GT Timberline in the Frankenbike category and nailed this category perfectly. The more you look at the bike, the more quirky features you find, such as the 5-spoke wheel, chopper-style sprung fork, lights and dynamo, and reverse mullet wheels with fenders! This bike really showed how creative you can be when building a bike from a frame. The bike was and possibly still is up for sale. Sadly, it did not find a new home on the day.
For the scoring, a total of 100 points from 5 criteria of 20 points each are awarded as follows:
1) Condition
2) Overall Composition
3) Era score
4) Rare parts
5) Radness factor
Typically, the panel consists of three judges: Joe Mullan, myself representing the Australian Museum of Mountain Bike and a guest judge. This year, we welcomed Nathan Rennie, accompanied by Sarah McMillan, as our guest judge. Each judge evaluates every bike according to five criteria, assigning a score for each. These scores from all three judges are then averaged to arrive at a final score out of 100 points for each bike, ensuring a fair and balanced assessment of all entries.
The Hardtail category boasted the largest turnout this year, with 18 entries. Dual Suspension followed closely with 17, and Rigid wasn’t far behind at 16. The Downhill category had a respectable showing with 12 bikes. The ATB and Retro-Mod categories were smaller yet significant, with 7 and 6 bikes, respectively. The combined Frankenbike and Non-retro MTB categories also had a substantial showing, with 15 entries. With the recent expansion of the Downhill category to include bikes made before 2010, it’s anticipated that this category will experience significant growth, attracting a range of early 2000s models in future events.
Who, and why?
The motivations among collectors are as diverse as their collections. Some are recreating the bikes they rode or coveted in the ’90s, while others chase the dream of owning a model or brand that was once beyond their grasp. Some seek bikes ridden by their childhood heroes, finding joy and challenge in pursuing these specific models and their associated parts. The digital age, with its wealth of online retro cycling communities, has vastly simplified the search for rare components, moving us away from the days of scouring classifieds or niche forum posts for that elusive piece.
For some, the Show n Shine is a year-long focal point, with countless hours dedicated to refining and enhancing their bikes until the event’s eve. The quest for the ideal components to finalise their projects is relentless, driven by the hope that these parts will surface in just the proper condition, specifications, and colour for the showcase.
Jason Launer is a prime example, having clinched the “Grandmaster of Retro” title for two consecutive years. His commitment to excellence is evident in the meticulous planning and strategic foresight applied to his entries, ensuring they stand out and maintain his esteemed status within the community.
The Gand Master
For the prestigious “Grandmaster of Retro” accolade, an entrant’s top scores from three categories are cumulated. This necessitates participants to present three high-scoring bikes across varied categories to be in contention for the award. Jason Launer’s strategy exemplifies this approach, with his 1993 GT RTS in the “Full Suspension” category, 1996 GT Zaskar Le in “Hardtail,” and 1990 Repco Crackenback in “Rigid” achieving top positions. These bikes, particularly the Zaskar and RTS, which were also entered previously, have been further refined for enhanced presentation.
However, Jason’s dedication is mirrored by others like Nigel Hill, whose focus also leans towards GT models, showcasing meticulously restored bikes such as a rare blue 1995 Zaskar Le, a 1997 GT RTS, and a 1998 GT LTS. Rex, another notable collector, presented a variety of high-scoring bikes, including a pristine Craftworks 208 and a V10 with rare Triple Monster forks, emphasising that a bike’s ridden history and character can be as valued as its showroom condition. Will Freeland’s Spooky Bandwagon DJ bike is a testament to this ethos, with its distinct character making it a standout. This approach celebrates the history and journey of these bikes, not just their aesthetic perfection. We love to see it!
The bikes Jason presented last year were at a high level, but he managed to step it up yet again this year. Last year’s overall winner was Jason’s RTS (Title pic), which took the best dual suspension this year. Jason had improved the bike’s overall presentation from last year, and it looked even cleaner and tidier, presented with a matching GT seatpost and bars and an immaculate Syncros Cattleprod stem, which was a better match than the Azonic stem fitted last year. The Zaskar Jason presented this year was near perfect. The majority of the components are either NOS or present as such. The entire bike was spotless, and the frame was polished to a very high level. Try finding a Judy SL and full XTR m950 groupset in near-new condition without any fading of the classic grey XTR colour! The matching Tioga bottle cage and bottle, GT grips and the CTR chainstay protector are the type of finishing touches that helped this bike get those last points required for the win. It ended up with the highest score of 97.5 and was well deserved.
Nigel Hill’s 1995 GT Zaskar LE, meticulously restored for the show, emerged as a strong podium contender. Featuring a classic Shimano M739 groupset and pioneering V-brakes from 1996, along with indestructible GT-branded Hadley hubs, a Kore stem and seatpost, Answer Hyperlight handlebars, and the era’s iconic Panaracer Smoke and Dart tyres, it was a homage to mid-’90s mountain biking. The ensemble was completed with a blue Flite Ti saddle, matching it with the anodised frame, making the bike stand out for its authentic parts selection and overall aesthetic. Having acquired the bike only months prior, Nigel reconstructed it from the frame up, using components he had been collecting for such a project. A significant find was the Kore seatpost, sourced from the United States just in time to complete this remarkable build. While the glow-in-the-dark Oury grips may not be period-specific, they add a unique touch that perfectly fits the bike’s daytime aesthetic.
Jack Wellington dedicated considerable effort to restoring an Orange 222, a revered early 2000s downhill bike, reputedly raced by Matti Lehikoinen for the Team Global World Cup factory team during the 2002/2003 season. Acquired from the United States in 2008 as a frame, fork, and shock package, the bike has been meticulously returned to its pristine condition. As a former team bike, it boasts unique characteristics such as a 150mm rear end—an optional feature on the subsequent 223 model—and a longer Blackbox shock that was never available to the public; it runs a lighter gauge tubing than the production bikes and a different geometry. While the bike sports the original Gen 1 graphics instead of the Gen 2 version used by Lehikoinen—due to sourcing challenges during restoration—the build’s authenticity and craftsmanship resonated with attendees, earning it the People’s Choice award at the show.
It was nice to see a Boy Bike Co Daredevil in the Hardtail category, owned by Brad Harrison. Boy Bike Co was a South Australian brand owned and operated by Garry Patterson, who was also the man behind the legendary CTR (Crash Test Research) protection gear, so it is appropriate to see the CTR stickers on the Daredevil, which is built as a strong do everything jump, dirt and slalom hardtail. The Spooky Darkside, as already mentioned, is owned by Will Freeland and stems from the Frank Wadelton akka “Frank the Welder” era of Spooky.
Frank is one of the all-time greatest in bicycle frame welding and fabrication. He moved to Spooky after he left Yeti Cycles in 1993 to weld their frames, and as such, any late 90s Spooky has some great history in its roots. Rex’s green 1996 Avalanche with fresh paint and matching forks has already been mentioned. Still, Rex also brought along the 1997 Rocky Mountain Vertex Team in this category, which features the classic Rocky Mountain Maple paint job and full M950 XTR paired with Marzocchi Bomber forks. The 1997 GT Backwoods that Jason showed were dripping in goodies like Magura HS33 brakes, red anodised Mavic rims and Bomber Z2s that match the original paint perfectly.
The dual suspension category is highly contested, with 17 bikes being entered. The GT RTS is a true classic and a collector’s favourite; all four displayed were fine examples. The grey RTS-2 that Cam brought along is an early 1993 example with mag21’s. Control Tech kit and every collector’s favourite saddle, the Flite Ti. Nigel’s 1997 RTS contrasts nicely with Marzocchi Z2’s, a Syncros stem and a period correct Xt groupset complete with V-brakes. Then, Rex’s Team RTS and Jason’s award-winning polished 1993 RTS were shown further up.
This wraps up the summary of the event. Heartfelt appreciation goes out to Nathan Rennie and Sarah McMillan for their journey from QLD to serve as judges, to Nigel Hill for his contributions to the video and interview segments, Cam Munro for providing the images, and Brad Harrison for his pivotal role in organising the day.
Those intrigued by the prospect of participating in next year’s Show’n Shine are warmly encouraged to mark it in your calendars. We’re keen to welcome more attendees from beyond South Australia. For further details on upcoming events, feel free to contact the Australian Museum of Mountainbike or engage with Retro MTB SA via their Facebook and Instagram platforms.
Website – https://www.australianmuseumofmtb.com.au/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AustralianMTB/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ausmusmtb/
Words – Krischan Spranz
Photos – Cam Munro
Videos – Nigel Hill & Cam Munro