One of our favorite things about our Readers’ Rides segment is when we feature builds from our European readership. This week, we’re featuring Kach from Georgia and his Author Ronin, which he’s changed over the years. What you see here has been the result of a five-year journey…
Hello, Radavist team! My name is Vladimir Obleykin aka Kach, and I am a bike mechanic currently residing in Tbilisi, Georgia. I want to share with you a story along with photos of my bike—I hope you like it.
I bought my Author Ronin bike as an addition to my fixed gear, box, and old MTB in 2018. Since then, it has become my trusted companion on numerous adventures. Over the course of five years, I’ve made many changes to its configuration to make it even more functional and ready for adventure.
Starting with the groupset, I replaced the Shimano 2×10 with Sram Rival, which gave me more flexibility and power in shifting gears. Then I moved on to Gevenalle shifters and a Microshift 1×11 derailleur, which gave me even more precision and control over gear shifting.
I also swapped out wheel sets to adapt to different types of roads and loads. I used 700c and 650b wheels with tires ranging from 32 up to 47mm for more flexibility and stability. I also swapped out handlebars—trying both drop bar and flat bar setups—aded a dynohub, and rack, to really make the bike comfortable and capable for longer trips.
On this bike, I’ve traveled many asphalt roads and trails in Sochi, the Caucasus, and Turkey. I climbed to an altitude of 3000 meters in the mountains and descended to the sea. I’ve also participated in several gravel races, CX races, and bikepacking adventures. Despite its not very expensive assembly, it is maximally utilitarian. Throughout it all, this bike has never let me down and has given me a lot of unforgettable moments.
My skills and knowledge as a mechanic allowed me to make these customizations and upgrades to my Author Ronin bike. And also, with the help of my friends, I was able to create a bike that is not only functional but also a reflection of my personal style and the adventure preferences. Now, as I look to sell the bike, I want to document its history and the memories it holds for me.
Specs:
Frameset: Author Ronin 2018
Hubs: DT350/Shutter Precision
Rims: WTB Frequency i19
Tires: WTB Resolute 650×42
Shifters: Gevenalle
Cranks: SRAM Rival
Rear Mech: Microshift XLE
Cassette: Sunrace 11-42
Chain: KMC X11
Brakes: TRP Spire
Bars: Salsa Cowchippers
Stem: Thomson Elite X4 100mm
Headset: Chris King
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Saddle: Brooks Cambium
Dynamo Lamp: B&M
Cages: King Cage Iris
We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!