TerryParadise
Retro Guru
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After seeing how much fun I was having with my Giant AC Team my partner decided that she'd rather like a bike too.
Now, the sensible, easy and cheap way to do this would be to do a little research, get a budget and find a complete modern bike for her to ride. While that would, admittedly, mean she'd have something to enjoy immediately, it would also mean I'd have to spend time looking at a 2000s bike with Alivo (at best) components and awful graphics.
I figured what with the English winter having arrived the chances of us riding at all together over the next few months were pretty slim, and with work slowing down it seemed like the perfect opportunity to build her something special.
After finding a few amazing looking Rockhoppers, I narrowed down my favourite era (graphics wise) to 1997-98. Then a frame appeared on eBay, and I promptly won it. The geometry looked to me like the old On-One Gimp or DMR Rhythm DJ bikes of my teens and I figured it would be fun to have a bike that not only could my partner ride, but maybe I could find a nearby pump track and have some fun on.
eBay listing image:
I'm very limited currently by my lack of a workshop and any serious tools, so I won't be able to strip the frame down and rebuild it (I'd prefer it in metallic black, and some of the decals could do with replacing) but I will at least be able to spec it with parts that I always wanted (finally, a CK headset!), even if they end up being worth far more than the frame.
Now, the sensible, easy and cheap way to do this would be to do a little research, get a budget and find a complete modern bike for her to ride. While that would, admittedly, mean she'd have something to enjoy immediately, it would also mean I'd have to spend time looking at a 2000s bike with Alivo (at best) components and awful graphics.
I figured what with the English winter having arrived the chances of us riding at all together over the next few months were pretty slim, and with work slowing down it seemed like the perfect opportunity to build her something special.
After finding a few amazing looking Rockhoppers, I narrowed down my favourite era (graphics wise) to 1997-98. Then a frame appeared on eBay, and I promptly won it. The geometry looked to me like the old On-One Gimp or DMR Rhythm DJ bikes of my teens and I figured it would be fun to have a bike that not only could my partner ride, but maybe I could find a nearby pump track and have some fun on.
eBay listing image:
I'm very limited currently by my lack of a workshop and any serious tools, so I won't be able to strip the frame down and rebuild it (I'd prefer it in metallic black, and some of the decals could do with replacing) but I will at least be able to spec it with parts that I always wanted (finally, a CK headset!), even if they end up being worth far more than the frame.
