Bike Check: Alex’s “Not A Yeti Pasta Party”
During Cycling World Dusseldorf earlier this year, it was really hard not to stop at the Hunt stand to look at this beauty. This is Alex’s personal Sour Pasta Party, with a little paint twist, as you can see. But to understand better, we need to introduce Alex first. Like many of us, his obsession with cycling didn't start in a high-tech wind tunnel or on a carbon-fiber superbike. It started in the dirt.
His "office" was the local trails, and his currency was the hard-earned cash from his hours spent as a paperboy. Today, his role at HUNT allows him to obsess over the very future of wheel technology, but it’s clear from looking at this build that his heart is still firmly rooted in the era that defined mountain biking for him.
Growing up in the 90s was a wild time for mountain bikes. It was all about neon colors, crazy anodized parts, and tons of small brands pushing the limits of what we thought was possible. For a broke teenager reading bike magazines, those flashy alloy bikes were a dream, and they built the passion he still has today.
Alex told me he just wanted to feel that simple joy again. Is there anything better than riding fast downhill with just a basic bike, bibs, and a t-shirt? It’s pure, easy fun and the definition of “not overdoing it."
Fast forward thirty years, and he finally built his dream by teaming up with SOUR Cycles to bring back an iconic 90s paint job on this SOUR Pasta Party. They call it the "Time Traveling Machine" as it's a perfect mix of old-school NOS parts and modern tech. But don't let the shiny paint fool you. Alex isn't going to hang this on a wall. It’s a tool, not a jewel, and it’s built to get dirty on the trails.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
SOUR Pasta Party
Fork Manitou R8 Pro 120mm
Drivetrain Shimano XTR Di2
Brakes Shimano XTR
Seatpost and Saddle
Tune, Brooks C13
Stem and Handlebar
On_Off, Pro Taper Hyperlite Flat
Wheels
HUNT Proven Carbon Race XC
But back to the bike check. Starting with the obvious: a SOUR Pasta Party frame, looking incredible with that retro paint, which we should say is an homage to some well-known mountain bike brand. Up front, the Manitou R8 Pro fork is also a nod to classic 90s suspension but with a modern 120mm of travel.
Since he works at HUNT, he’s obviously running the Proven Carbon Race XC wheels, wrapped them in some chunky Ultradynamico Mars tires to keep that classic dirt look and spirit. Finally, a bit of spice with some purple anodized components like these bar-ends, Tune seat post, and White Industries headset.
The rest of the build is top-tier, with Shimano XTR all around and some other nice touches like this Brooks C13 saddle and titanium Silca bottle cages.
Seeing someone take such a beautiful, custom piece out into the mud is exactly what this culture is all about. And it might just prove that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to look back from time to time.
Time for dirt!
🎞: Kodak Color Plus 200
📷: Nikon F100
📍: Dusseldorf
