Back in 1993 i was riding a raleigh, i just used it for longer casual rides around the local woods. I rode bmx's when i wanted to go jumping and more aggresive/fun type riding.
Anyway, one day my friend rode up to me on his new bike, it looked kind of strange from what i can remember, almost too small for the wheels, a bit like 29r's look nowadays. I obviously had a go anyway and discovered it was a cross between my raleigh and one of my bmx's. Wow, i could now go on longer rides up the woods and jump and have fun, all on the one bike!
After a few months of constant naggin to sell me the bike, he finally did, and my life and view to mountainbikes had changed forever. Ever since then i have judged all bikes by this, meaning the fit and feel of the frame. I have come close to finding other bikes that match but nothing has surpased it, including all my Ti frames and steel frames i have owned over the years.
To most it is nothing special, but to me, it is what a bike should be!
Many of you would have seen this, as i did, on ebay. I knew i had to have it and after being in contact with the seller and persuading him to post, i placed a high bid. The winning bid was, in my mind, low, so i was even more pleased, and yesterday the box arrived.
Now i have seen the bike i am in two minds, wether to restore to catalogue spec or just upgrade and ride. Obviously i am going to ride first, well when i get back as i am going away today
but i will decide what to do in the coming weeks.
For now here are some pics of how the bike came.
'93 Kona Kilauea
Anyway, one day my friend rode up to me on his new bike, it looked kind of strange from what i can remember, almost too small for the wheels, a bit like 29r's look nowadays. I obviously had a go anyway and discovered it was a cross between my raleigh and one of my bmx's. Wow, i could now go on longer rides up the woods and jump and have fun, all on the one bike!
After a few months of constant naggin to sell me the bike, he finally did, and my life and view to mountainbikes had changed forever. Ever since then i have judged all bikes by this, meaning the fit and feel of the frame. I have come close to finding other bikes that match but nothing has surpased it, including all my Ti frames and steel frames i have owned over the years.
To most it is nothing special, but to me, it is what a bike should be!
Many of you would have seen this, as i did, on ebay. I knew i had to have it and after being in contact with the seller and persuading him to post, i placed a high bid. The winning bid was, in my mind, low, so i was even more pleased, and yesterday the box arrived.
Now i have seen the bike i am in two minds, wether to restore to catalogue spec or just upgrade and ride. Obviously i am going to ride first, well when i get back as i am going away today
but i will decide what to do in the coming weeks.For now here are some pics of how the bike came.
'93 Kona Kilauea
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