My father’s old bike was rebuilt with a few choice retro parts (Bontrager C20 saddle, handbuilt Mavic wheels [ex-Jason McRoy!], Tioga Pyscho K tyres, Odyssey Sharkbite pedals) to make an ideal beginner’s MTB. It had a nice, springy Tange cro-mo frame - very light and responsive in that “real steel” way!