Here is my beloved Kona in it's 'orrible splatter paint: i say horrible because over the years it's faded to a mucky yellow.
I replaced the original chainset many years ago when it wore out for a Sugino Fuse 500 compact when they first came out. The rear derailleur was swopped for a Suntour MD and at the same time I went over to friction with Deore XT thumbies. I replaced the brakes with Diacompe 7 levers and Deore LX cantis. The rims are Mavic 231CDs with the original Suntour hubs which are still as sweet as a nut.
The handlebars were the result of a brainstorm on my part; Scott AT4s and much too narrow. Indeed I'm intending to ditch them in favour of On-One's Mary bar in the next month.
I know I'm a retrogrouch but I don't see the need for front suspension on the chalk downs of Wiltshire. The friction came about through being fed up with indexing going out the moment the rear derailleur touched the side of a rut.
I'm wondering about having the frame resprayed as the paintwork has taken a beating over the years (Clay with flints makes a fine abrasive combound) and I dn't want the frame to rust badly.
Anyway the Kona's given great pleasure over the years; only yesterday my 14 year old son and I steamed over a substantial part of Salisbury Plain with him going backwards on the hills with the weight of his front suspension -hee, hee!
I replaced the original chainset many years ago when it wore out for a Sugino Fuse 500 compact when they first came out. The rear derailleur was swopped for a Suntour MD and at the same time I went over to friction with Deore XT thumbies. I replaced the brakes with Diacompe 7 levers and Deore LX cantis. The rims are Mavic 231CDs with the original Suntour hubs which are still as sweet as a nut.
The handlebars were the result of a brainstorm on my part; Scott AT4s and much too narrow. Indeed I'm intending to ditch them in favour of On-One's Mary bar in the next month.
I know I'm a retrogrouch but I don't see the need for front suspension on the chalk downs of Wiltshire. The friction came about through being fed up with indexing going out the moment the rear derailleur touched the side of a rut.
I'm wondering about having the frame resprayed as the paintwork has taken a beating over the years (Clay with flints makes a fine abrasive combound) and I dn't want the frame to rust badly.
Anyway the Kona's given great pleasure over the years; only yesterday my 14 year old son and I steamed over a substantial part of Salisbury Plain with him going backwards on the hills with the weight of his front suspension -hee, hee!
