A few months ago, my Cannondale CAAD8 was stolen. That bike held a special place in my heart because it was my first as an adult, igniting my passion for cycling. To be honest, I never truly enjoyed it due to its stiff ride and narrow tires, so I’d been considering an upgrade for a while.
I’ve always been drawn to the aesthetics of CX/Gravel bikes, especially those with steel frames. So, I regularly scoured Facebook for brands like Surly, All City, Kona, Salsa, and the like. Unfortunately, these brands were quite pricey in my area, and I wasn’t keen on investing heavily in another bike so soon.
But, my determination paid off when I stumbled upon a 2014 steel-framed Kona Rove at a reasonable price. However, the bike had several issues. It was covered in grime, the rear brake was practically non-functional, the front shifter was problematic, the bar tape was in poor condition, the saddle was torn, and the tires were worn down. After some negotiation, I brought the bike home with the intention of refurbishing it myself.
I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with mechanical objects, and YouTube served as an invaluable resource to guide me through the process. Though the restoration took a bit longer than expected and cost more than I initially budgeted for due to tools and supplies, I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m still fine-tuning the saddle and making adjustments to the handlebars and shifter, but I’m genuinely thrilled with how it rides and feels!
In addition to addressing the rear brake, rebuilding the front shifter, conducting a comprehensive cleaning, replacing all the cables, and removing the old racks, I made several upgrades. These included installing Salsa Cowbell Deluxe bars (a $30 find on Facebook), wrapping them with Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Classic bar tape, and adding a WTB Volt saddle along with WTB Venture TCS 700c x 40 tires equipped with Continental tubes.
My future plans for this bike involve incorporating some high-quality racks and bags to make it a versatile commuter, suitable for occasional light gravel adventures. I hope you all appreciate the transformation!
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A few months ago, my Cannondale CAAD8 was stolen. That bike held a special place in my heart because it was my first as an adult, igniting my passion for cycling. To be honest, I never truly enjoyed it due to its stiff ride and narrow tires, so I’d been considering an upgrade for a while.
I’ve always been drawn to the aesthetics of CX/Gravel bikes, especially those with steel frames. So, I regularly scoured Facebook for brands like Surly, All City, Kona, Salsa, and the like. Unfortunately, these brands were quite pricey in my area, and I wasn’t keen on investing heavily in another bike so soon.
But, my determination paid off when I stumbled upon a 2014 steel-framed Kona Rove at a reasonable price. However, the bike had several issues. It was covered in grime, the rear brake was practically non-functional, the front shifter was problematic, the bar tape was in poor condition, the saddle was torn, and the tires were worn down. After some negotiation, I brought the bike home with the intention of refurbishing it myself.
I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with mechanical objects, and YouTube served as an invaluable resource to guide me through the process. Though the restoration took a bit longer than expected and cost more than I initially budgeted for due to tools and supplies, I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m still fine-tuning the saddle and making adjustments to the handlebars and shifter, but I’m genuinely thrilled with how it rides and feels!
In addition to addressing the rear brake, rebuilding the front shifter, conducting a comprehensive cleaning, replacing all the cables, and removing the old racks, I made several upgrades. These included installing Salsa Cowbell Deluxe bars (a $30 find on Facebook), wrapping them with Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Classic bar tape, and adding a WTB Volt saddle along with WTB Venture TCS 700c x 40 tires equipped with Continental tubes.
My future plans for this bike involve incorporating some high-quality racks and bags to make it a versatile commuter, suitable for occasional light gravel adventures. I hope you all appreciate the transformation!