DietmarDoerschlag
Retro Newbie
The Gary Fisher Cronus was my first bike I bought when I moved to the flatlands of Texas in 1995, and it relocated a few times with me all over the worlds.
Fast forward to December 2021 and I decided to put new life into this old beauty. Unfortunately, a highly respected custom frame painter (Toxic Harald, Harald Strasser) ran into significant challenges (more here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/harald-is-in-medical-crisis-and-needs-your-help - as my project was in flight) and could not finish my project. To top things off, his shop burned to the ground, and my bike frame plus my Rock Shox Psylo SL fork barely survived the inferno.
It was Chris Dekerf - https://www.dekerf.com - a well-respected custom bike builder - who literally carried my beloved Gary Fisher frame out of what was left after the flames subsides. Chris restored the Gary Fisher bike to its old beauty. I was able also able to equip it with a full set of Shimano XT components, vintage early 1990s.
I thought it was fitting to give my bike a new name. Phoenix The Firebird. The bird has literally risen from the ashes, and flies again. The custom decal on the frame reflects the story behind this reno job.
As I took my GF for our first spin, I found it fitting that we ran into feathered friends (see pictures). Phoenix met his match and bites the dust. The circle closes, and Gary Fisher and his Cronus are riding again.
Thanks to Chris Dekerf for finishing a rather emotional journey which I thought would never end.
I love my old new bike. It now has a prominent place next to my 1995 Red Bull Marone Kampfmaschine which I had restored a few years back and had posted about a few years ago.
Phoenix went on a long ride along the Pacific coast and got to meet some of his feathered friends. They turned out to be Bald Eagles, hanging out just a few meters above us. I thought that was rather fitting.
Thanks again to Chris Dekerf for taking this on. Please support Harald at above link as he desperately needs the help.
Fast forward to December 2021 and I decided to put new life into this old beauty. Unfortunately, a highly respected custom frame painter (Toxic Harald, Harald Strasser) ran into significant challenges (more here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/harald-is-in-medical-crisis-and-needs-your-help - as my project was in flight) and could not finish my project. To top things off, his shop burned to the ground, and my bike frame plus my Rock Shox Psylo SL fork barely survived the inferno.
It was Chris Dekerf - https://www.dekerf.com - a well-respected custom bike builder - who literally carried my beloved Gary Fisher frame out of what was left after the flames subsides. Chris restored the Gary Fisher bike to its old beauty. I was able also able to equip it with a full set of Shimano XT components, vintage early 1990s.
I thought it was fitting to give my bike a new name. Phoenix The Firebird. The bird has literally risen from the ashes, and flies again. The custom decal on the frame reflects the story behind this reno job.
As I took my GF for our first spin, I found it fitting that we ran into feathered friends (see pictures). Phoenix met his match and bites the dust. The circle closes, and Gary Fisher and his Cronus are riding again.
Thanks to Chris Dekerf for finishing a rather emotional journey which I thought would never end.
I love my old new bike. It now has a prominent place next to my 1995 Red Bull Marone Kampfmaschine which I had restored a few years back and had posted about a few years ago.
Phoenix went on a long ride along the Pacific coast and got to meet some of his feathered friends. They turned out to be Bald Eagles, hanging out just a few meters above us. I thought that was rather fitting.
Thanks again to Chris Dekerf for taking this on. Please support Harald at above link as he desperately needs the help.
