The Caldera is a delightful looking frame with big welded gussets for strength and a fancy hydroformed downtube that magically metamorphosises from a cyclindrical shape to a cuboid shape between the bottom bracket and the headtube. This not only looks and feels strong but I expect it is too.
The paint job is deep blood red so the blood won't show up on the frame which is great for cleaning purposes. Red is more versatile than white which would start to look dirty so quickly. I'd spend all my time cleaning it and not riding it (unlikely) .
When one hold's it up and feels the paintwork under the palm of the hand, it's akin to putting one's hands into an ice cold mountain stream. No doubt this will make your ride flow like water.
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves."
“If you want to learn to swim jump into the water. On dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you”
"Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
-Bruce Lee
Kona have managed to combine water and steel using secret technology in order to maximise your ride.
The frame is incredibly light considering it's beefiness and looks like it would eat rocks, pedestrians and curry for breakfast.
As soon as I got it, I spent a good amount of time getting to know it as you can see we have started to bond well, which is very important. (I haven't shown these photos to Fanny yet). I will make sure I wear my helmet when I do.
Surprisingly the frame has rack mounts ready for my touring rack when I make the transition from mountain biking to touring again. The Explosif lacked these, but it wasn't a problem because the excellent 'fit-it-and-forget-about-it' Tubus rear rack has the availability of a clamp system which works just as well, if not better.
The rear-triangle tubes on the frame are tantalisingly and sumptuously curvy. The hose guides are finished very neatly as are the Disk brake mounts. There is the 'standard' replaceable rear dropout incase it gets damaged.
Many cycle tourists I met were on aluminium frames and getting on fine. It will be interesting to use my new aluminium frame to see how it fares compared to the steel Explosif. The Caldera frame is Kona's top of the range hardcore backcountry hardtail mountain bike frame and should fare very well.
Steel frames offer more 'give' so should in theory be more comfortable to ride over a long distance, but that also depends on the design of the frame.
So the heat is on. Aluminium versus Steel frames for touring? Is the ability to fix a steel frame at a village welder the only notable (but obviously very important for back of beyond touring) benefit? Watch this space.
In the mean time why not check out Konaworld.com. Or check out our sponsors pages for more information about our gear.
I have a Kona Caldera and I am very happy, I feel like it was me in your pictures with your friend, I would like to sleep with my Kona but my wife doesn't let me do it, bye and GOD bless you a lot.
ReplyDelete