One Frame To Rule Them All.

Hand-me-down frames used to be the norm. Back when Standard ruled the East Coast, it seemed like half the riders in the city were on second-hand (or third- or fourth-hand) STAs. And why not? They lasted forever, and who wanted to pay $330 for a brand-new one if it was just gonna get beat to shit anyway?

For the most part, those days are over. As frames get lighter and lighter, they get more and more disposable (although, alas, no cheaper). You can still find used frames, of course, but they're a lot more likely to be dented, twisted or otherwise mangled. And actually, with half the city riding for somebody (or just knowing somebody), there are always new frames to be had at less than retail. Not to mention people switching out frames from week-to-week—so I suppose the hand-me-down idea actually is very much alive, just with newer product.

Which brings us to the battered green frame you see up top (and below—in an exhaustive collection of photos). It's a rarity in more ways than one. For starters, it's one of the first Sunday frames ever made. I believe Jim Cielencki himself rode it first [CORRECTION: I spoke to Jim, and he did NOT ride it. My bad.], and it was the frame that appeared in the first Sunday ad. Then, in less than a year:

• Mike Hoder took possession, and was riding it when he 360ed over the Sean Burns gap at the Brooklyn Banks (see the Lotek Mixtape for footage).

• It was passed on to Vinnie Sammon, who rode it as his first Sunday frame.

• Big James got it, and rode it for a while. I believe the huge table out of the Banks (the very first shot on my blog) was on this bike.

• Mike Brennan had it for the Tiseo Jam this summer, and rode it for at least part of his Shook part. It survived sprocket stalls to over seven-foot drops to flat. More than once.

• Then it went to Blackman, who did God knows what on it. Hopped onto police cars, jumped off things that shouldn't have been jumped off of.


And now it sits in my apartment, waiting to go back to Buffalo. Jim sent Blackman a brand-new '07 frame in exchange for it, and I expect it will get a place of honor at the Sunday shop/offices. The amazing part? No dents or cracks. And still straight as an arrow. It looks beat, sure, but it's still perfectly rideable. A fresh coat of paint, and it would look brand-new. Not bad for a 5.4 pound frame that's been through the hands of some of the biggest street killers on the East Coast.