Scribbles

From eBay gamble to handbuilt perfection.

Christian doesn’t just build bikes — he engineers them like a mad scientist who also happens to enjoy a good gravel climb and a smugly perfect cable line. This one started in January 2019 with a bare 1991 Schwinn Sierra MOS frame he found on eBay. Solid bones with a high-quality chromoly steel MTB frame from back when Schwinn still knew what they were doing — rugged construction, thoughtful geometry, and all the early-’90s vibes intact.

The donor parts came from his battle-tested 1988 Schwinn Sierra, a bike he knew inside and out. By May, the transplant was complete, and the whole thing was rolling on handbuilt Sun Ringle Rhyno Lite wheels — 32-hole, laced with Sapim Race double-butted spokes to Shimano LX hubs (HB-M563 up front, FH-M565 out back). The kind of wheelset you could ride to the end of the earth and back without even thinking about a truing stand.

Up front, the original Schwinn MOS fork and Deore DX 1 1/8" threaded headset keep the steering tight and classic. The cockpit runs a Race Face Respond 760mm bar mated to a quill adapter (25.4 to 28.6mm) so he can use a modern stem without losing that retro fork. The drivetrain is full SRAM NX 1x11 — crisp, modern shifting with a PG-1130 11-42T cassette that lets him climb walls or spin all day. Crank duties go to a Race Face Evolve, matched with a solid external bottom bracket setup for stiffness and reliability.

Stopping power comes from an Avid Single Digit 7 V-brake setup paired with Speed Dial 7 levers, dialed in with Kool Stop Tectonic pads — a reminder that rim brakes, when done right, can still stop on a dime. The saddle is a classic Selle Italia Turbo perched on an Origin 8 post, keeping things comfortable without breaking the vintage aesthetic.

Tires are CST Cambers, because Christian knows that a tire that hooks up in loose dirt but still rolls smooth on pavement is worth its weight in gold for a bike like this — equally at home on a trail, a towpath, or a beer run. And yes, in 2024, this very bike carried him to victory at the Voodoo Race Half-a-Toona, because it’s obviously also a race-winning machine.

This bike isn’t a museum piece. It’s a meticulously curated, battle-ready ride. Every decision, from spoke choice to quill adapter, serves a purpose. It’s a rolling testament to doing it right the first time — even if it takes you 30 years and a couple donor bikes to get there.

Christian built it to ride, not to sit pretty—but make no mistake: this bike will catch your eye before it drops you on the climb.

Christian Dicenso’s 1991 Schwinn Sierra MOS

The Build Sheet

Frame:
• 1991 Schwinn Sierra MOS, 21"
• Chromoly steel, lugged construction

Fork / Headset:
• Schwinn MOS fork
• Deore DX 1 1/8" threaded headset

Crankset / Bottom Bracket:
• Race Face Evolve crankset
• External BB

Saddle / Seatpost:
• Selle Italia Turbo saddle
• Origin 8 26.0mm seatpost

Brakes:
• Avid Single Digit 7 V-brakes
• Avid Speed Dial 7 levers
• Kool Stop Tectonic pads