1989 Grove Innovations Hardcore

[rody]

Patience is a virtue...

Good things come to those who wait...

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while...

All these quotes have become the mantra that I've been adhering to for the last uncounted years. The reason...the story has finally come full circle.

During the late 80's and early 90's, I was racing road bikes a lot, enjoying the physical challenge, the adrenaline of the breakaway, and the speed of the peleton. Along with the time on the road came the requisite time hanging out in the shop to talk trash and check out the next great piece of equipment. One afternoon, while making a dash through the shop, a frame with myriad of colors caught my eye . I had never seen anything like it. Aside from the multiple rings of neon, the tubing was WAY oversized, changing shape as traveled linearly from joint to joint, welds so seamless they appeared as fine ripples in a placid pool. The lines of the frame seemed to be continuous as they flowed into a one piece bar/stem combination with ergonomic bends, the front end supported by an overbuilt, straight bladed fork. Though it held artistic aspects, the package elicited a feeling that was dually stated by the decals on the tubing; HARD CORE. After racing svelte steel road bikes, this thing was the antithesis of all I knew about cycling...and I was in love! Although I had never before ridden a mountain bike, I quickly decided that I would be taking this frame home.

Closing the sale, I learned that the frame was one of three that were for sale from the shop, crafted by a small frame builder in Pennsylvania by the name of Bill Grove. The other two, an ASSAULT and an X-frame, stirred my curiosity as they were decidedly different from the rest of the Schwinns/Treks/Cannondales that clogged the aisles. The Groves made a statement; not about being flashy or standing out, but that these were machines that were designed to take you farther into the wilderness than ventured before, designs that could stand up to adventure and bring the rider back exhausted but with a smile.

The next few years my riding emphasis was drawn from the tarmac to the singletrack. The Hardcore opened doors to places I would not have expected and skills that engaged the childlike fun of riding free. Unlike many who do not realize how special that first bike is until it is gone, I knew that I’d hang onto the Hardcore for a long time unless something forced it’s sale. As life often does, an opportunity came along that I could not pass up…

My wife Christi and I had become ardent tandem enthusiasts and were soon searching for a design that met our needs for a frame that could take us from the pavement to mild off road duty in our explorations of the North East. Unsatisfied with what was available, I designed a frame that I felt met our needs and began to shop around for a builder to make it a reality. That builder turned out to be Bill Grove. In visiting the shop, located in the small central PA town of Center Hall, I was drawn to the magic that went on there. The process of building frames had taken me and I knew that I had to know more. I appealed to Bill’s love of teaching and convinced him to let me come back and learn, fortunately for me, every shop needs a grunt to carry out the mundane . The only issue that I had to resolve was how I was going to pay my bills while I was gone…the solution, sell what I could.

The sale of the Hardcore was bittersweet. I hated to part with the machine that had inspired my new direction but rationalized that once I learned the craft of frame building, I could fashion my own frame to fill the void. Turns out, I could build lots of frames but none could ever replace the emotional attachment I had for that bike. I made a weak attempt to find the Hardcore but the guy I had sold it to had moved out of town and did not leave a forwarding address.

Twelve years have passed since that time and my interest in retro has been peaked. Reading threads about first bikes, bikes you wish you would have never sold, and how you got started in the sport poked me in the ribs each time I ran across one. Why did I have to sell that Grove? In a vain attempt, I made up a wanted sign to hang in the local shop, posting a reward for anyone who could provide info to where the frame is now. Silly, I know, but I thought if there was a chance…


Two weeks ago, the owner of the shop gave me a call… “Rody, you’ll never guess what just came in the door! It’s gotta be your bike, I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

I rushed down to the shop, skeptical that it could really be my old ride, but childishly hopeful all the same. As I opened the door, there it hung in the stand, beaming it’s neon like the day it was new. I knew in that instant that it was my old ride. The one piece bar/stem had been changed out and the thumbies replaced by rapid-fire, but other than that, it was still all original down to the last item…even the cable housing! The current owner, Mike, had just received the bike as a gift from a friend to help him recover from a heart attack. Although he lives two hours away and had to pass at least three other shops, he brought the bike to my local shop to have it tuned up. Sometimes the planets align!

When Mike rolled the bike into the shop, the guys immediately went nuts…so much so that the poor guy started to have chest pains again thinking that he had taken possesion of a stolen bike. They quickly showed him the Wanted poster with the picture and he realized what all the excitement was about. Fortunately for me, Mike is a musician and is currently involved in trying to recover a few old guitars he had sold years ago, so was empathetic to my situation. Even better, he still had the original fork and bar/stem combo that I had sold with it.

He gave me the Hardcore in trade for one that I am building for him…more than fair in my mind.

So the tale has come full circle. I’ve got my first mountain bike back, the frame that inspired my love of dirt, my desire to fabricate, and satiates my emotional attachment.

I’ve stripped it down, cleaned it up and am planning on rebuilding it with it’s original components…might have to replace the original cable housing this time around though .

Here are a few pics to get the ball rolling.

Thanks,

rody

[rody]

a few more pics...

[rody]

more pics...

[cchris2lou]

I usually go to th pictures first and then read the thread .

this time I am glad I have read it first .

amazing colour .

[mamadirt]

That story brought tears to my eyes till I saw the pics Wow!!

Nowhere near the same league but wonder if a wanted poster would do the same for my old Cinder Cone - sold 8 years ago to a guy in the village where I work via a shop advert but never seen it since.

[Elev12k]

Hi Rody,

It makes me think of



Seriously, I find it beautifull. At the same time I can imagine real animals will be scared when they see this beast coming

Great story ...and great the circle came round!

- Melvin

[scant]

thats 1 of the nicest stories I've heard on this site, chuffed for you rody & I love the paint

[gump]

that is great news!!

Sometimes you realise that no matter what the odds, things just happen if meant to be.

True retro paint too. nice.

[John]

Rody,

made up for you that you managed to find your old frame, its certainly a beauty! What are your plans? Rebuild to it's former glory and ride or wall hanger? Either way is right
Great story, might feature it on the front page at some if your cool with it?

[rody]

Thanks all, appreciate the kind words.

John, yep, it'll be built back up with all it's parts.

Wall hanger , the thought makes me cringe. I plan on deriving as much joy as I can, that means I'll be riding the piss out of it

She won't be a NOS beauty, but I've always had a soft spot for bikes with a bit of wear/experience on them.

Worthy of front page action? Don't know, but this is the closest I'll ever be to winning the lottery. Feel free to link it if you like.

cheers,

rody

[HoSS]

The odds had to be astronomical that you'd ever see it again. I do wish they'd taken my offer instead.

BTW, I owe you a call. We have a bike to build.

[stevet1]

Ace story, ace looking frame, ace paint. Doesn't get any better than this

Although...is it just me or are those bars bent? Maybe meant to be like that?

[slimjoe]

Hello Rody, yep i think we all did the same thing at some point. sold our all time favorite mtb. You are bloody lucky! i sold a 91 YETI FRO when i needed the money. And the son of abitch who bought it still teases the hell out of me with it on the rare occasion our paths cross. I have a brand new GROVE hammerhead bar/stem combo in tripple neon fade. Been saving it for the right bike. The right bike never came so im going to sell it! Any takers i can e-mail pictures.

[Elev12k]

[rody]

Steve,

Yes, the Hammerhead and Hothead bars are bent on purpose. There are actually 3 bends that are p[laced under the hands to reduce wrist strain and improve ergonomics.

Melvin,

Those triple neon fade have to be close to the bars you lost out on...being a "son of a bitch" would be well worth it



Worked on putting the bike together last night...got it to a rolling chasis, hoping to ride it by the weekend.

rody