Right then - I've been meaning to do this for a while. First, some history:
Back in 1992 (as a 14 yr old lad) I was fortunate to get a brand new Kona Kilauea. I had a few happy years riding it until ultimately at I properly succumbed to the lure of fast cars, beers, clubbing and faster women ad stopped riding the bike.
Sadly the bike lay relatively unused for 3-5 years so I figured it deserved more and gave it to my dad. He subsequently got a number of good years use out of it until he fell off fording a err, well a ford and he broke his femur. That was about 2003 if my memory serves me correctly. Since then, it has stayed in his flat unused for 10 years; until now.
Two years ago my wife did an incredible thing and bought me a new bike for christmas (2011 Giant Trance X4 since you ask). After about 16 years off riding bikes properly I'd forgotten how fun it was and have spent the last couple of years reacquainting myself with a sport I used to love. I'm now very much back in the swing of things and my attention has turned to the classic that's been sat gathering dust.
Which brings us bang up to date. My dad has just popped down to see me and the family ahead of Christmas and has brought the bike with him. It's not pristine, but not bad and should form the basis for a great bike whatever I choose to do with it. I'm thinking of a modern take on the bike and will hopefully ride it on a regular basis commuting to work a couple of days a week.
I'll aim to update this on a regular basis but in the mean time, here's a few (rubbish phone shots) of what it looks like now.
It came down looking like this:
Having put it together it's in the shed looking like it very much belongs there
Seems I updated the rear mech to a newer LX (from original Deore DX)
It's running some Dave Hinde Mavic 230s on the front
But original rims on the back (I think!)
Also seem to have uncovered an original Equilibrium front tyre as well as a panracer smoke dart from the period...:
Flight titanium transalp on it:
Still got the Dx thumbies and front mech:
I think the frame is straight and despite some chips there doesn't appear to be any major rust (fingers crossed when I give it a proper check over the next few weeks).
So anyway - hope this is of interest and look forward to any advice and thoughts as this retro bike mallarky is all pretty new to me
Back in 1992 (as a 14 yr old lad) I was fortunate to get a brand new Kona Kilauea. I had a few happy years riding it until ultimately at I properly succumbed to the lure of fast cars, beers, clubbing and faster women ad stopped riding the bike.
Sadly the bike lay relatively unused for 3-5 years so I figured it deserved more and gave it to my dad. He subsequently got a number of good years use out of it until he fell off fording a err, well a ford and he broke his femur. That was about 2003 if my memory serves me correctly. Since then, it has stayed in his flat unused for 10 years; until now.
Two years ago my wife did an incredible thing and bought me a new bike for christmas (2011 Giant Trance X4 since you ask). After about 16 years off riding bikes properly I'd forgotten how fun it was and have spent the last couple of years reacquainting myself with a sport I used to love. I'm now very much back in the swing of things and my attention has turned to the classic that's been sat gathering dust.
Which brings us bang up to date. My dad has just popped down to see me and the family ahead of Christmas and has brought the bike with him. It's not pristine, but not bad and should form the basis for a great bike whatever I choose to do with it. I'm thinking of a modern take on the bike and will hopefully ride it on a regular basis commuting to work a couple of days a week.
I'll aim to update this on a regular basis but in the mean time, here's a few (rubbish phone shots) of what it looks like now.
It came down looking like this:
Having put it together it's in the shed looking like it very much belongs there
Seems I updated the rear mech to a newer LX (from original Deore DX)
It's running some Dave Hinde Mavic 230s on the front
But original rims on the back (I think!)
Also seem to have uncovered an original Equilibrium front tyre as well as a panracer smoke dart from the period...:
Flight titanium transalp on it:
Still got the Dx thumbies and front mech:
I think the frame is straight and despite some chips there doesn't appear to be any major rust (fingers crossed when I give it a proper check over the next few weeks).
So anyway - hope this is of interest and look forward to any advice and thoughts as this retro bike mallarky is all pretty new to me
