ADBC
Retro Newbie
December 95: I remember the day I got my Kilauea. It came on my birthday with a note form the bike shop saying, "Enjoy your beast." I'd bought it with my student loan. (Is there anything better to spaz your student loan on?.. Maybe booze, I dunno, its close). Anyway after 4-5 years of heavy use but careful maintenance I left it in my Mum and Dad's garage as I was moving to London to live. This is when my brother found it and consequently ran it into the ground over the next 10 years or so. This was all that was left for me.(See pics KK_1/KK_3). The stem was shot, no back wheel, brake levers bent etc.. it took me a day just to get the pedals and seat stem off! . Its what little brothers do I guess. Except he's a lot bigger than me and I couldn't fight him.
August 2013: I moved to Los Angeles at the beginning of 2013 and took this bike/wreck with me as I was determined to restore it. I now live near some great trails and love the idea of riding a completely rigid bike next to all the massive suspension machines out now. I didn't go for a historic correct restoration as I'd upgraded the crank, gripshifts, front and rear derailleurs over the first 2 years of ownership. I kept these parts though and wanted to keep the P2's but I wanted to go thread less. (I'd always coveted Hope stuff)
The frame had gone yellow instead of the beautiful white pearlescent original colour. I wanted to just keep this a simple Black and White bike so got the frame powder coated white and fitted black components where I could. I know this is not one for the purists out there but at least the frame lives on... Those frames are just great and its the reason why I wanted to restore it and not just buy a new bike. I'm glad I did. It rides even better than I remember.
August 2013: I moved to Los Angeles at the beginning of 2013 and took this bike/wreck with me as I was determined to restore it. I now live near some great trails and love the idea of riding a completely rigid bike next to all the massive suspension machines out now. I didn't go for a historic correct restoration as I'd upgraded the crank, gripshifts, front and rear derailleurs over the first 2 years of ownership. I kept these parts though and wanted to keep the P2's but I wanted to go thread less. (I'd always coveted Hope stuff)
The frame had gone yellow instead of the beautiful white pearlescent original colour. I wanted to just keep this a simple Black and White bike so got the frame powder coated white and fitted black components where I could. I know this is not one for the purists out there but at least the frame lives on... Those frames are just great and its the reason why I wanted to restore it and not just buy a new bike. I'm glad I did. It rides even better than I remember.
