Bike Of The Week: KHS Team ST

This is my KHS. It's a 19" frame, but I am constantly struggling to make it fit my 6 foot frame. I saw this bike in the Interbike coverage from the 2000 model year and HAD to have it. I don't know for sure why I was so smitten with it, never having been on it, but something grabbed me and said, "Must have bike!" You know how it goes, right? So I have spent 8 years hating this bike, but riding it just the same. It gets no respect from me. It has a Rapid Rise XTR rear on it and I really can't stand it. The first race I rode with it was Decorah, and the bottom of the first long, rocky climb was no time to forget that you don't use the thumb shifter to grab a climbing gear, you use the trigger! Cross chaining the granny and 11 tooth is not going to get you up that hill! Also, the top tube is too long, the stem is too long, the soft ride doesn't do jack, I indexed the headset, and the chain suck is too often. I know I could remedy the stem easily, but gee, it matches the bars! Kidding, I'll do it some day. It is a very delicate relationship to maintain, and you thought marriage was a lot of work? Some days it even boils down to which tires are on it! I think it rides best with green Michelins, but they're almost always on my GT singlespeed. I think I would not mind breaking this frame, but I will keep the bike until that happens. It's paid for, why get rid of it? Later!