What bike won't get nicked, that I would still want to ride?

[Timothy Claypole]

Downward said:

I have the 2008 Dew deluxe.

Reckon I must have done 15k miles on it.


Just been cleaning a months worth of rain and dirt off the chain and cassette and put a rack on as I am moving jobs so looks like I'll have no storage at work.

Edited by Downward on Saturday 18th February 15:16

That looks fabulous given the miles and the years!
Is it a trigger's broom?

Mine being the same year, I was wondering what I'm missing out on with not having the deluxe, not much more than discs it seems:

Fork	Kona P2 700c Disc	Kona P2 700c
Crankarms	FSA Alpha Drive	FSA Dyna Drive
Chainrings	48/36/26	48/38/28
Chain	Shimano HG40	KMC Z-72
Freewheel	Shimano HG40 (11-34, 8spd)	Shimano HG40 (11-34, 8-spd)
F/D	Shimano Altus	Shimano Tourney
R/D	Shimano Deore	Shimano Altus
Shifters	Shimano Alivio	Shimano EZ-Fire Integrated
Brakes	Shimano 485 Hydraulic Disc	Tektro M530
Brake Levers	Shimano 485	Shimano EZ-Fire Integrated
Rear hub	Shimano M475 disc	Formula
Spokes	DT Stainless 15g front/14g rear	Sandvik Stainless 15g front/14g rear
Rims	Sun MZ-14	Rigida Cyber 10
Saddle	WTB Speed V Sport SE	Kona Comfort
Color	Gold	Blue

Specs:
http://www.konabikeworld.com/08_dew_w.htm
http://www.konabikeworld.com/08_dewdeluxe_w.htm

Interesting they changed the chainrings to make them even smaller.

[Kell]

scherzkeks said:

While it may be nothing special to a bike geek, IMO, that bike is as likely to get nicked as any of the suggestions made so far.

That is exactly the sort of bike that used to get ripped off and show up on Craigs List for USD 300 when I lived in a major metro area in the States. Can't imagine it being much different in the UK.

idiotgap said:

I had to text him when I got to his road, then he brought the bike out to under a street light near his home to show it to me. It was a pain not being able to test ride it, but it looked like I could make it work, so I got him down from 70 to 56 quid.

The previous seller might have already done that. Sounds dodgy as feck to me anyway.

[Timothy Claypole]

Buying things on gumtree is often an adventure, you don't know what kind of person you'll meet or experience you'll have until you get there. This guy lived in some flats and didn't communicate the meeting point until I got there, I was glad not to have to walk the halls and staircases to find his flat. I didn't reckon he'd nicked it with it's missing chain, flat tyres and rust - I could be wrong,

[Downward]

Timothy Claypole said:

Downward said:

I have the 2008 Dew deluxe.

Reckon I must have done 15k miles on it.


Just been cleaning a months worth of rain and dirt off the chain and cassette and put a rack on as I am moving jobs so looks like I'll have no storage at work.

Edited by Downward on Saturday 18th February 15:16

That looks fabulous given the miles and the years!
Is it a trigger's broom?

Mine being the same year, I was wondering what I'm missing out on with not having the deluxe, not much more than discs it seems:

Fork	Kona P2 700c Disc	Kona P2 700c
Crankarms	FSA Alpha Drive	FSA Dyna Drive
Chainrings	48/36/26	48/38/28
Chain	Shimano HG40	KMC Z-72
Freewheel	Shimano HG40 (11-34, 8spd)	Shimano HG40 (11-34, 8-spd)
F/D	Shimano Altus	Shimano Tourney
R/D	Shimano Deore	Shimano Altus
Shifters	Shimano Alivio	Shimano EZ-Fire Integrated
Brakes	Shimano 485 Hydraulic Disc	Tektro M530
Brake Levers	Shimano 485	Shimano EZ-Fire Integrated
Rear hub	Shimano M475 disc	Formula
Spokes	DT Stainless 15g front/14g rear	Sandvik Stainless 15g front/14g rear
Rims	Sun MZ-14	Rigida Cyber 10
Saddle	WTB Speed V Sport SE	Kona Comfort
Color	Gold	Blue

Specs:
http://www.konabikeworld.com/08_dew_w.htm
http://www.konabikeworld.com/08_dewdeluxe_w.htm

Interesting they changed the chainrings to make them even smaller.

Actually I binned that rack after 1 commute. It just won't stop moving side to side,

Bearing in mind the bike lives outside at work it's on its 2nd chain, 2nd cassette and 2nd front and rear derailleur.
I changed the shimano brakes to those avid. £20 for the lever,calliper and pads.
Oh it's also on its 2nd lot of discs and this is my 5th set of tyres, 3rd marathon plus.

The roads have got so bad now I've moved from 28's to 35's.

The handlebar grips are the ones, I seem to go through them every 6 months.

[Downward]

Kona's off the road now. Replaced by a boardman. It needs a new bottom bracket, chain, front and rear derailleur and new pads.

It's had it's time and is now confined to the shed for winter use and off road rides with the family only.

[The Rookie]

Downward said:

The handlebar grips are the ones, I seem to go through them every 6 months.

I have Avenir foam grips on my commuter, same grips now for 6 years and about 7000miles, no sign of them needing replacing any time soon.

As for not nicked...I have a 1997 Gary Fisher Piranha as my town hack bike, built out of parts in the Justin box for about £35, I use car wax polish to stop the rust patches getting worse. 1x7 gearing and plenty fast enough for the 2-4mile each way trip to whatever shops I'm visiting.

[idiotgap]

I broke my arm on a ski-trip in mid Feb, I didn't realise at the time and cycled to work and back 6 days (approx 120 miles) before I realised the sprain i thought I had wasn't getting any better. I popped into casualty to have it checked over, maybe get a tube bandage on it or something. They decided to x-ray and I came out in plaster! After a week in plaster then 3 in a wrist brace I've been told I can ditch the splints, but not advised to cycle for another 4 weeks.

I'm missing commuting on the bike desperately and very much looking forward to getting back out there.

Sorry to hear about the retirement of downward's kona.

[lake]

Just thought I would mention a little trick I know a couple of people used to do back in the day. I used to work many moons ago for a custom bike (frame) builder in south London. A couple of the customers ordered bespoke frames, geometry, components etc then brought in "Raleigh" transfers and requested "distressed" paint jobs as they were commute/courier bikes in real life. Essentially dressing up their custom £1500 (back in the 80s) bike as a £50 lump of rubbish pig iron

As has already been mentioned though, people these days like the components more than the frames.

Lake

[idiotgap]

Back on the clunker today, lovely to ride into work again after what feels like forever off the bike with the broken wrist.

Yesterday I used my home-made (Roger Musson design) wheel building stand to have a first go at truing wheels, nice not to have the grabby lurching stops that used to be a characteristic of this bike.

I've now done 900 miles on this thing... I might treat it to a wash at 1000. Have so far been studiously keeping it grim and dirty. Also looking at getting some new v-brake brake-blocks.

[idiotgap]

A busy time for the commuter bike. I got back on it a couple of weeks ago after the broken arm and have settled back in. Very much enjoying the weather being a bit better.

I lost a rack mounting bolt in the field, turns out the frame boss thread had stripped so I looked into getting it re-tapped (Evans Gatwick tried but it wouldn't take) and I bought a pack of tortec p-clips. In the end though I decided to drill through the seat-stay and bolt through.


Last week we clocked up over 1000 miles together and although I'd done a fair bit to the bike to keep it going there were still a few basics that let it down.

This cable for the front mech had to be replaced a week ago but the rest were still the ones on the bike when I got it.


So, this weekend we got stuck in with:-
- Trued the front wheel again, hopefully I got it a bit better dialed in this time. Rear has been good since I did it before
- Straightened the chainrings, they were a bit bent and were rubbing on the front-mech
- new brake blocks
- front and rear new brake cable, outers, noodles and boots.
- Stripped cleaned and re-greased the v-brake arms
- new rear-mech cable and outer



It rode nicely this morning, shame there was a head-wind!

[idiotgap]

Ticked over 2000 miles yesterday all going well.

[hyphen]

If you did it again, would you still go for a standard setup? Or would you be tempted to go with Nexus/Alfine so less maintenance?

As I am looking to buy the same, but as it may get left out in the weather, wondering if hub is the way to go.

[idiotgap]

hyphen said:

If you did it again, would you still go for a standard setup? Or would you be tempted to go with Nexus/Alfine so less maintenance?

As I am looking to buy the same, but as it may get left out in the weather, wondering if hub is the way to go.

Sorry to not reply for a while... I might have another go at sourcing a commuting bike and soon-ish.

This Kona is still serving me well and I don't find the maintenance an issue really, but... my requirements have changed.

I've given up on the train almost entirely and these days throw my bike into the boot (e-class estate with seats down) drive to Purley or thereabouts and park on a residential street for free and cycle in from there. I no longer need the bike to be able to survive locked up on the streets and I don't need my luggage to be luggable by hand on the train so much and I'm hankering for something rather lighter.

One option is to do something with my 2010 Specialized Allez sport. It is aluminium with rack/mudguard mounts and the full 9sp tiagra drivetrain is ok.

I have a 10sp 105 setup I'm stripping off my Colnago (putting shoestring used Sram Red on that) so I might trickle the 105 down onto the allez, add mudguards, maybe wrap the frame for fun. Maybe I could have some fun converting the Kona to drop bars with the Tiagra groupset and slightly weight weenie it...

I'm not inclined at the moment to go with nexus or alfine because I don't know much about them and don't have one on the shelf (I am very stingy). I might be thinking differently once Winter comes along.

[MysteryLemon]

Well being your in London and I'm in the Midlands, it's unlikely, but I have a 2014 Schwinn Slicker in the shed that needs some minor attention. £50 to whoever wants it.

Perfect bike for an urban commute. Really nice bike to ride and well built. I've done upto 35 miles on it at a time and used it to commute 20 miles a day a couple of years back.

Needs a new spoke on the front wheel as it snapped a week or so ago and hasn't been used since. Derailleur can be a bit stiff at times but it appears to be the cable housing that's seizing up after a few days without use, not the actual derailleur. Bit tatty, I've had it 3 years, but had new tyres and tubes, new saddle and new brake pads a few months ago.

Will be getting a clean up and going on ebay as is in a week or two. Only selling as I've fancied a new bike for a while now and the spoke breaking made me do it.

ETA, just realised this thread is ancient.

Edited by MysteryLemon on Wednesday 6th September 15:42

[TwistingMyMelon]

idiotgap said:

hyphen said:

If you did it again, would you still go for a standard setup? Or would you be tempted to go with Nexus/Alfine so less maintenance?

As I am looking to buy the same, but as it may get left out in the weather, wondering if hub is the way to go.

Sorry to not reply for a while... I might have another go at sourcing a commuting bike and soon-ish.

This Kona is still serving me well and I don't find the maintenance an issue really, but... my requirements have changed.

I've given up on the train almost entirely and these days throw my bike into the boot (e-class estate with seats down) drive to Purley or thereabouts and park on a residential street for free and cycle in from there. I no longer need the bike to be able to survive locked up on the streets and I don't need my luggage to be luggable by hand on the train so much and I'm hankering for something rather lighter.

One option is to do something with my 2010 Specialized Allez sport. It is aluminium with rack/mudguard mounts and the full 9sp tiagra drivetrain is ok.

I have a 10sp 105 setup I'm stripping off my Colnago (putting shoestring used Sram Red on that) so I might trickle the 105 down onto the allez, add mudguards, maybe wrap the frame for fun. Maybe I could have some fun converting the Kona to drop bars with the Tiagra groupset and slightly weight weenie it...

I'm not inclined at the moment to go with nexus or alfine because I don't know much about them and don't have one on the shelf (I am very stingy). I might be thinking differently once Winter comes along.

How many miles is the full commute?

If it was me (and I do this!) is keep the Dew for the winter and use a road bike for spring/summer/autumn

Not sure what roads are like you but the lanes near me are a potholed mudbath through the winter so I only use my steel road bike with big tyres, in the past I used my Dew and that worked perfectly

In the spring/summer id use a road bike as you can exploit the extra speed

[idiotgap]

The park'n'ride commute I do these days is 14 miles. The roads are mostly ok-ish being London and suburbs. They are actually really a terrible rutted patchwork, but there aren't too many sharp holes. If I was cycling door to door it would be more like 30 miles and some more potholed badly surfaced dark country lanes with significant hills so I only do that in the summer and once in a while as a change on a nice bike. If I do more than 2 days of a 60mile round trip commute in a week I get so tired I can't really function.

I reckon using the Kona in winter and something else in the nicer months is a good shout. Maybe I'll still think about a drop bar conversion and lose the basket to keep my interest in it.

[Barchettaman]

That Kona looks like an OK candidate for a drop bar conversion.

Purecycles.eu do a drop bar in MTB diameter that's worth a look, that way you can use your existing shifters on the top and just pick up a set of the Tektro V-brake road levers.

[idiotgap]

Barchettaman said:

That Kona looks like an OK candidate for a drop bar conversion.

Purecycles.eu do a drop bar in MTB diameter that's worth a look, that way you can use your existing shifters on the top and just pick up a set of the Tektro V-brake road levers.

Ooh, that sounds a bit horrible, I think I've got a deda stem and bars lying around. Assuming the steerer diameter is standard... will my tiagra shifters not pull enough to operate the v-brakes or something?

From memory, the current shifters and brake levers are integrated, Shimano Total Integration!

- going off to google things...

[Barchettaman]

You'll need a pair of Travel Agents for your existing V-brakes, or swap them for mini V-brakes (or cantilevers) to make them work with those Tiagra STI units.

All do-able but a bit of a faff. Mini-Vs are about £30 a pair, I think, and you'll need an inline barrel adjuster or a threaded brake pipe thingy for wheel removal and setup. Don't try to set them up without some form of fine adustment.

[idiotgap]

It's my birthday next week so I've asked for a set of mini v-brakes, tektro 926al £20 the pair (of pairs) from planetx. There are a few other projects to complete to release the brifters before I get to that stage as it's all a trickle down.