1992 Giant Granite

[benjabbi]

This is pretty much where it started for me, this was the first bike I owned that was actually the right size (the Topanga that preceded it, would still be too big now!) rode it for a year or so before trading it in for an Orange Prestige.
It was also the starting point of this retro obsession, about 10 years ago the bike shop I work in now bought all the old stock off of the shop I used to work in as they were closing down, my boss wheeled the old bike out of the van and said he'd been told to 'give this one to Ben'. I hadn't seen it for 15 years and it was thrown together with a right mish mash of bits but the memories came flooding back and it lead me to this place!
Over the last 10 years it has been built up in many different ways, usually ending up specced well over the top for what, was and is, a pretty basic frame (it has Cromo main tubes )
Anyway a couple of years ago I picked up a complete Exage ES group shoved it in a box and forgot about it! Over the weekend and spurred on by the disappearing groupset thread, I found the box and got the spanners out, this is the result.

 

[k-rod]

Re:

and that ^^, fellow retro-builders, imo ... is a beautiful piece of work!

 

[benjabbi]

Thanks @k-rod, it's one of two (with the Prestige as the other one) that I'll never sell, worth nothing and the sentimental value is high! It rides well, and once I've done the regulation shifter flush out the Exage works better than expected! (I will admit to being a bit of an XT/XTR snob ).

 

[rwm1962]

Great story! I'd love to be reunited with one of my past bikes (not mtb)

 

[jinjrich]

That's Awesome.
The high end stuff is all well and good but....
Its great to see mid range bikes with a story getting some love!

 

[Graham_hkr]

Re:

I like it, nice work!

 

[benjabbi]

Re: 1992 Giant Granite

Thanks for the comments guys, I'm pleased at how this has come out

Frame: 1992 Giant Granite, 16"

Fork: Giant rigid

Headset: Tange Levin
Stem: Zoom
Handlebar: Shogun
Grips: Ritchey True Grip
Barends: n/a

Brakes: Shimano Exage ES m520
Brake Pads: Aztec Control blocks
Brake Cables: Shimano
Cantilever cable hangers: Shimano link wires
Brake Levers: Shimano Exage ES m520

Shifters: Shimano Exage ES m520
Front Derailleur: Shimano Exage ES m520
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Exage ES m520
Derailleur Cables: Shimano
Cassette: HG50 13-30 7 speed
Chain: Shimano HG71
Cranks: Shimano Exage ES m520
Crank Bolts: Shimano Allen bolt
Chainrings: Shimano 46/36/26
Chainring bolts: Shimano
Bottom Bracket: NOS 105 cup and cone (only one I have the right length so in it went!)
Pedals: Shimano PD-M525 SPD

Hub Skewers: Exage
Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite 32h
Hubs: Shimano Exage , hb-rm50 front, fh-hg50 rear
Nipples: DT Swiss brass
Spokes: DT Swiss Champion
Tyres: Bontrager Earl 2.125"
Tubes: Bontrager

Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo re-issue
Seatpost: Kalloy
Seatpost Binder: Allen bolt.

Misc: SKS mudguards, Bontrager bottle cage

Weight: 29lb 13oz

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Re: 1992 Giant Granite (Exage ES reappears)

Nice.
As exciting as it is to see the exotica that grace this forum, for me, bikes like this have just as much resonance, if not more because of the part they played in our cycling history! The story with this one is an extra bonus.

So did this languish in the shop since you traded it for the Orange? And your old boss knew to tell your new boss?

 

[benjabbi]

Re: 1992 Giant Granite (Exage ES reappears)

@firedfromthecircus, I swapped the bits from this to the Orange,apparently it languishing upstairs for years as a frame and forks, even surviving a shop move, but was only reassembled at the end when they were trying to offload everything in the building! (RIP Oakley Cycles). My current boss decided to buy it all, mainly for the workshop contents and Mike (old boss) very kindly pointed out it used to be mine, was worth peanuts, so they might as well give it back to me!! Result
I was also offered a mint 92 Lavadome for free at the same time,left it cos it was 18", still kicking myself over that one now

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Looks in surprisingly good condition, and the Exage ES group looks decent, removable chainrings, nice cut away bar clamps, what's not to like?
Great back story to go with this bike too, I can see why you'd want to hold onto it.