and my new 2006 bike here  my new hat 2007

and the latest 2007 model here and the even later 2007 model here

Hi there. I'm the Elder Statesman of known to my peers variously as "Gollum", "Skeletor" or "Old Git". This is my 2002 Kona Bear new and on the right after it's Easter 05 upgrade! Sadly, it's no longer mine. Story elsewhere.

"Why Gollum?", I detect you asking. Well, it's a short story - the Gollum and I share an uncanny physical resemblance, bodily and facially. Here's a picture of me at bath time - judge for yourself -

Here's me and it on The Slab at Dalbeattie (inc GeordieSoond™) 3.7MB .wmv vid.

NB video works now!  (vidz are naff anyway) - download first, then run.       Mudguardz!

It's been a fabulous bike, bought from Atomic Sports in Stockton on Tees. Got a good deal on it and the shop owner is a Good Guy. Since buying I've put Marzocchi Z1 Drop Offs (130mm) on it and lifted the back end to match with 5" - 6" Rocker Arms from BETD, bit expensive but have proved to be worth it.

 

The shock is standard in the piccie but I've just swapped the original Fox Float R for a Vanilla Coil and its a bit springier (would be with a spring on, iriot!). It has Hayes HFX-9 205mm discs front and rear (slight overkill but they look evil) and I've removed my 7 or 8 Crud Catchers to reveal the frame as it was meant to be (can't take any more ribbing from the young 'uns).

I've also fitted SRAM X-9 rear derailleur with X-7 thumb shifters and a SRAM PG990 cassette. RaceFace Prodigy chainrings saw out three chains until Easter when I put new rings on.

This is my home brewed Barracuda with the bits from my old Univega Flyte hardtail, original Kona Bear and carefully doctored logos!

When I'm not having a with the lads you'll find me out and about with the wife ->

Below right on the Slab at Dalbeattie and left - Secret Identity Revealed!

Latest on my beloved Kona Bear - found a great price for a pair of 2005 Marzocchi Junior T's at   so they'll be going on to replace the Z1 Drop-Off 130s for this weekend's trip to the Seven Stanes if they arrive before Sunday. (They did! Thanks, ActiveSports). These triple-clampers (big piccy) have generated mixed feeling on the forums, but generally people seem satisfied once they've put heavier grade oil in to stiffen them up a bit. I'll surely let you know what I think. Actually, I don't care - they look fantastic. If you've got one of these deadly items, get rid of it!

Since my last bout of trouble with the SRAM X-9 rear derailleur I've ditched it for an XT changer but partnered with the SRAM Rocket thumb trigger and it's fine. The X-9 was super while it was undamaged but it didn't seem quite as strong as Shimano stuff. Maybe. Perhaps it's direct hit on a stile with the bike on it's back wheel didn't help it to survive? I did experiment with 10wt fork oil in the Junior Ts and with the preload wound right up it's less rickety on small stones, but not really as plush as the Z1s I took off or the 66s on Jason's Coiler Dee Lux.

These Cycle Speedway trials encouraged by my old pal Mick are beginning to take on sinister undertones. He's obviously invested in a brand new bike for a one-off Veterans Championship appearance and could be joined by others. At the moment I'm torn as I did the event in 1991 and said that was my finish. We're now both in the "GrandVeteran" (50-plus) category and he's really pressing me to enter, probably just for the company on the day. Mountain biking hurts, but I'm absolutely scared rigid at the thought of coming off a cycle speedway bike again. But he is wearing down my resistance!

Just fitted Goodridge stainless steel brake hoses to my beloved Kona Bear. The instructions weren't fabulous but eventually got it sorted OK. Will give a full run-down on the Fixes Page soonish. Front brake actually lost power first time out in Chopwell - fixed now (bled properly!)

Here's a set of Golly's recurring nightmares (see ouch page for theme):

Dalbeattie Mabie Kirroughtree

Glentrool Glentress Newcastleton

Innerleithen Hamsterley Helley Hansen

Waskerley Chopwell Minch Moor

  

Here's my idea of a super rear mudguard, designed and manufactured in two hours, February 2007:

Look at that lovely clean shocker! Mudguard started as a normal set of extra-wide "bicycle" types from local bike shop. I chopped the plastic down a bit and bent some fixing eyes on the stainless steel stays so I could anchore them with the Vee brake mounting posts. It got a good thrashing on Sunday 25th feb 2007 at the Reivers Downhill and survived without slippage. Definitely kept some spray off my nethers as well as the shock. Look out for the Mark Two later in the year!!!

coming soon - - some junk from a previous life

mail Terry at terry@midaircrisis.org.uk

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