kevin clark
Dirt Disciple
Re:
After playing Rugby League came to an end through too many broken arms, I then took up running to keep fit, talked to some friends at work who were doing triahlons, so bought my first bike, a Raleigh Prorace which lasted about 18 months until the frame cracked, then through a friend managed to own a ex-Castorama 753 Frame which went through various stages of build, Shimano 105 (biopace chainrings(still got them)) to Dura-ace 8 speed STI with Pete Matthews Pianni Carbon Rims thus ended my Triathlon career over the bonnet of a car during a race (Ampleforth, Yorkshire) breaking more bones than I care to remember!
After a sabatical I always lusted after a Kestrel KM40 Airfoil which I could never afford when doing triathlons, so a 2003 frame (silver/ black fade) was purchased from eBay USA, then again built up in various Dura Ace guises currently 7800. Then an impluse eBay £50 Cannondale frame 1998 now built with Ultegra.
Forward to last year with me now being closer to 60 than 50 another work collegue has started triathlons, I got all nostalgic and thought about resurecting the Kestrel Zipp 400/404 wheels were bought and then she who must be obeyed said NO YOU ARE NOT DOING TRIATHLONS, last time you did a Triathlon you ended up in hospital!!!
I then found retro sportives and a plan came together to do L'ancienne in Ulverston. Again eBay was scoured and a Vitus 979 frame was found along with a full Dura Ace 7200 groupset, wheels have been built with Wolber 20 profile rims & Wolber 290 classic tubs, Turbo saddle, 3TTT Grimondi bars, Dura Ace Stem and a spare pair of Mavic GP4 wheels.
I am currently getting use to the lack of gears and using down tube shifters again.
After playing Rugby League came to an end through too many broken arms, I then took up running to keep fit, talked to some friends at work who were doing triahlons, so bought my first bike, a Raleigh Prorace which lasted about 18 months until the frame cracked, then through a friend managed to own a ex-Castorama 753 Frame which went through various stages of build, Shimano 105 (biopace chainrings(still got them)) to Dura-ace 8 speed STI with Pete Matthews Pianni Carbon Rims thus ended my Triathlon career over the bonnet of a car during a race (Ampleforth, Yorkshire) breaking more bones than I care to remember!
After a sabatical I always lusted after a Kestrel KM40 Airfoil which I could never afford when doing triathlons, so a 2003 frame (silver/ black fade) was purchased from eBay USA, then again built up in various Dura Ace guises currently 7800. Then an impluse eBay £50 Cannondale frame 1998 now built with Ultegra.
Forward to last year with me now being closer to 60 than 50 another work collegue has started triathlons, I got all nostalgic and thought about resurecting the Kestrel Zipp 400/404 wheels were bought and then she who must be obeyed said NO YOU ARE NOT DOING TRIATHLONS, last time you did a Triathlon you ended up in hospital!!!
I then found retro sportives and a plan came together to do L'ancienne in Ulverston. Again eBay was scoured and a Vitus 979 frame was found along with a full Dura Ace 7200 groupset, wheels have been built with Wolber 20 profile rims & Wolber 290 classic tubs, Turbo saddle, 3TTT Grimondi bars, Dura Ace Stem and a spare pair of Mavic GP4 wheels.
I am currently getting use to the lack of gears and using down tube shifters again.
