This week’s Reader’s Rig comes from Andrei in Helsinki, Finland, a new dad who shares the mid-90s Marin Pine Mountain he pieced together to haul his kid around town and on overnighters into the surrounding countryside. Meet Andrei and see his latest build here…

Words and photos by Andrei Turró

Hello, I’m Andrei Turró, 37, Virgo, art director for a certain Germanic grocery store chain’s local branch, and Helsinki, Finland, is what I call home. Bikes have always been a fun way to explore and get from point A to point B. A utilitarian and visually appealing object that brings a smile to my face. I also enjoy working on my bikes, and I have a bad habit of looking for cheap old Marin Bikes as winter projects for some fun builds.

1994 Marin Pine Mountain

Hence, bike adventures have been my main activity for a bit over a decade during my summer and winter vacations from a full-time job, especially in wilder, less populated areas in Finland and abroad. The empty Arctic landscape has an amazing beauty of solitude and a false sense of untouched wilderness. From the many bikes in my bike cave, I still tend to choose my Marin Pine Mountain when adventure is calling.

  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain

In September 2025, I became the father of the most beautiful tiny human. So before the baby was born, I was on a hunt for a nice winter project bike. In August, I found a 1994 Marin Pine Mountain frameset for 30€. Then just before the baby was born, I managed to pay off my stupid loans that had taken at worst 60% of my monthly income. This bike was my fifth Pine Mountain, but my first 90s one. I had some partly used spray paint cans from my 2016 Pine Mountain fork-and-stem painting project, and a Crust Clydesdale fork had been on my mind for years.

1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain

So, it felt like I had a great reason to build and paint a ratty cargo conversion with nice, colorful parts, hoping that the Ratty Rusty Orange paint job, combined with colorful components, a weird fork with the biggest basket, and a baby seat, would keep the Finnish bike thieves away. Because, as it is commonly known, Finns love everything in black. From the start, it was clear to me that the dadbike should also work as a basketpacker, so I found the biggest Wald basket. It fits grocery shopping, toys, and baby stuff, and it also fits a tent stove, a hot tent, and a bag of firewood quite perfectly.

  • Frame: 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • Fork: Crust Clydesdale 1″
  • Rims: 20″ Bullitt (front) / 26″ Halo White (rear)
  • Hubs: Shimano Alfine dynamo (front) / Shimano XT (rear)
  • Tires: Bontrager XR 1 20×2.25″ (front) / XR 2 26×2.15″ (rear)
  • Handlebars: Stridsland Anchor Bar 850mm
  • Headset: Stridsland 1″ threadless
  • Crankset: Sumo Cycles Prism cranks, spider, and 38T chainring
  • Pedals: Crankbrothers Stamp 7
  • Cassette: Garbaruk 11-51T 12-speed
  • Derailleur(s): Madrone Jab
  • Brakes: Paul Klamper (front) / Paul Neo-Retro (rear)
  • Brake levers: Paul Canti Levers
  • Shifter(s): Shimano 12-speed XT
  • Saddle: Marin branded from the early 90s
  • Seatpost: No-name 27.0mm
  • Stem: Velo Orange Tall Stack
  • Basket: Wald 157
  • Lights: Busch & Muller
  • Fenders: Sawed-off 20″ 65mm SKS Bluemels (front) / Ass Savers x Bicycle Pubes WinWing (rear)

This build had quite many “measure twice, order once” moments. For some reason, since the frame was a 1994, I assumed it had a 1″ fork. So I ordered a 1″ Clydesdale and a purple headset. When the fork arrived, and I realized my mistake, I chose to have a headtube reducer adapter. The first one I ordered was a 1⅛ to 1¼”. Then the second one was a 1⅛ to 1″ reducer. And using six-year-old, partly used spray paints didn’t create a beautiful sunset fade, but more of a rusty, spiky sandpaper-like texture. Some sanding and a clear coat later, I ended up with a nice, ratty, and a bit rusty-looking paint job. I might get the seat tube reamed to fit a 27.2mm dropper post at some point in the future.

  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain

Now all that is needed is to wait for the end of April when my seven-month paternity leave starts and the baby is old enough for the baby seat. I’m hoping for seven months of baby rides, seeing the baby learning to love riding, and once a month taking the bike for an overnighter.

1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain
  • 1994 Marin Pine Mountain

You can keep up with Andrei on Instagram.

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