The frame sat in the corner of the house for months. It had the original purple and pink color scheme. The initial plan was to re-spray it with a titanium looking color and use as much original parts as I could find. As the powder coating company did not have a titanium color, I decided to go with warm yellow (bearing in mind that my other KHS Montana Pro is also yellow). I saw a similar bike on the internet which had a yellow frame and blue fork and thought it looked quite nice. So, I bought a blue fork on eBay.
Then, the assembly began and that's when I decided I am going to call this the RYBWG bike. Most sailors would know what that acronym means. I remember a friend who had a green saddle for sale. At the same time, I had a spare red handle bar from a previous bike. This is the final product.
Not wanting to deviate too far from the plan, I used as much original parts as possible. The brakes are cantilever brakes with brand new brake pads. The wheel are genuine Ritchey Vantage Comp wheels laced to Shimano Deore DX hubs. The brake levers are not part of the Shimano series but it works just as well. The Shimano Alivio 7/8 speed crank was from a previous bike. The newer parts are; 3x7-speed Microshifters, Alivio 7/8 speed rear derailleur and Deore front derailleur.
The bike is an 18 incher which is a little big for me but since it will be used on-road more than off-road, it is perfect. There is no words to describe the ride on a steel bike; it is just so surreal. The bike gets lots of attention wherever it goes because it is so funkified! The initial plan to sell it after rebuilding it may be shelved.
More pictures of the funky bike…
As usual, I seek some sense of perfection in the bikes I build. I have never really liked the multiple gears because they are not period correct. It makes the bike looked out of place. To build the bike back to its roots will take a long time. So, I decided that the multiple gears will have to go and in its place temporarily, a single speed set up will be used instead.
The bike looks clean and simple with single speed set up. It is also lightened considerably. Up front is a Shimano Dura Ace 38T chain ring paired with the crank arm from the Marin. This is not your usual 'market bike' set up.
The former tyres (I don't even remember what they are) were replaced by Freedom Thickslicks 2.1 tyres. It gives the bike a masculine, hunky look and essentially shouts out that this not an ordinary bike.
Shimano Servo Wave brake levers looks retro but more than that, they match perfectly with the caliper brakes.
Good old caliper brakes from Shimano. These are entry-level Alivio brakes but set up properly, you wouldn't know they are inexpensive stuff.
These Rigida rims are factory fitted rims on the Porsche Bike S. They don't make rims like this anymore. Strong and light, made in France and with a little bit of aero shape, they look at home on the bike.
A close-up of the crankset. Looks ordinary but who would guess the chain ring is a top-of-the-line Shimano Dura Ace.
The Gusset chain tensioner works well but it will be replaced soon.
Thickslick tyres have very little rolling resistance. They are great in both wet and dry conditions.
About the only thing that remained from the last set-up is the seat. It is just too comfortable and retro to replace.
Steel bikes are making a comeback. If you have never ridden a steel bike, you don't know what you are missing. Rather than boast about how nice it is, its better you hop on a steel bike and find out for yourself.
The riding position now is reminiscent of the old school hunched-over, reached-out type. This bike truly brings me back to my roots.
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