Update of the bike collection in use, and plans for this year etc...
Genesis Cdf 13;
The new Genesis Cdf 13 for commutting (except winter-have a winter hack for that) and cycling around our countys country roads and venturing off them with some Green laning and roughstuff, also be doing some gravel grinding in the local Lammermuirs...
Plans; I want to ride more old lost roads and document them in pictures or film. Prob do some bike packing trips too and make the most of the bikes speed for getting the miles in...
Surly Moonlander;
2 years old now the big Moonie is still for myself the ultimate beach bike for soft sand and rock crawling here on the east coast. It takes where a 4" fatbike can be ridden to new levels of float on soft sand and grip on exposed rocks at low tide here on our coast with it`s huge 5" tyres on 100mm rims. The thing is just total nuts when you start pushing it in places regular MTB`s would never go or struggle to the point of being no fun at all.
I cancelled the idea of building a new Surly Pugsley with the Jones steel truss fork i have. And being my "Treat bike" have put the Truss fork back on the big Moonie...
Plans; Last summer i did what i wanted and rode the big Moonie at the dunes of Faraid Head at Durness.
This year it will be on the coast as usual riding the real soft trails through the dunes and rock crawling where it`s extra float excels compared to the regular 4" Pugsleys i have...
Purple MK 1 Surly Pugsley;
Now with a retro theme the Mk 1 purple Pug is built up as a spare bike/lend bike for my girlfriend Francis or friends to ride. I still have some Surly Gumwall Nates to fit when they arrive in the UK next month...
Plans; Just to keep on trucking with the old Pug as it always has done here on the coast and trails!...
Surly KramPug;
My original Grey Pugsley that was the first Pug in Scotland before i got the chance to buy an unused Mk 1 Purple frame set was given a new lease of life when Tyler from Surly Bikes gave me the offset Krampus wheel set after he and Eric came to FORTH FAT Fatbike Gathering in April 2013.
Recently i built the bike up to show that a fatbike can be built cheaply using fatbike secific parts that are now turning up secondhand at good prices in classifieds; Sub £500 Fatbike build
Now the bike is back with the Pumpkin black and orange colour scheme as it was when it was built up after FORTH FAT Fatbike Gathering as the 29+ with Krampus wheels offset built. I called the theme the Surly KramPug, Time to use this bike again like this and also as a regular Fatbike with 4" rubber!,
The bike now also has a set of Surly Large Marge 65mm ; Hope hub fat wheels so can also be a regular fatbike as it has been used since the start of the winter...
Recently i built the bike up to show that a fatbike can be built cheaply using fatbike secific parts that are now turning up secondhand at good prices in classifieds; Sub £500 Fatbike build
Now the bike is back with the Pumpkin black and orange colour scheme as it was when it was built up after FORTH FAT Fatbike Gathering as the 29+ with Krampus wheels offset built. I called the theme the Surly KramPug, Time to use this bike again like this and also as a regular Fatbike with 4" rubber!,
The bike now also has a set of Surly Large Marge 65mm ; Hope hub fat wheels so can also be a regular fatbike as it has been used since the start of the winter...
The spec of both the Pugsleys are cheap and cheerful with Shimano 9 speed 2x9 Deore LX gears, steel cassettes, and Truvativ cranks with steel chain rings. BB7 brakes,
Low value fatbikes-ok to lock up outside cafes and pubs in daytime. While the purple Pugs has Nate tyres, the black Pug has a smoother Endomorph rear/Larry front combo-better for road riding-this bike does the odd commute and shopping run for cider!.
Two wheel sets on one bike is great for weekends away and summer hols etc with the car- 2 bikes in one, 5 mins to swap the wheels and were rolling 29+, these just roll and roll on trails...
The Surly Monkey Nuts are needed in the chainstay to clear the front mech with the 29+ wheels fitted-this depends on the make of cranks/front mech you fit, i`m leaving them in for now on both wheel sets...
Plans; Beachriding, trail riding, odd trail centre days out, bike packing, hauling firewood with the Fat BOB trailer- you name it and a Pugsley can do it!, some bikes i own are more mission specific-like the Moonlander, but the old Pugs is a great bike.
Low value fatbikes-ok to lock up outside cafes and pubs in daytime. While the purple Pugs has Nate tyres, the black Pug has a smoother Endomorph rear/Larry front combo-better for road riding-this bike does the odd commute and shopping run for cider!.
Two wheel sets on one bike is great for weekends away and summer hols etc with the car- 2 bikes in one, 5 mins to swap the wheels and were rolling 29+, these just roll and roll on trails...
Surly Karate Monkey 29er;
This Surly is my 2nd Karate Monkey 29er. I admit to hardly using the bike since i got the 29+ wheels as they as a lot more suited to xc around here with their increased tyre float, comfort, and roll on our coastlines sandy loam trails.
I pinched the gears and rear hub off the Monkey swapping it to single speed from the KramPug and it has remained unchanged. It is built with "Hand me down" parts having been robbed of most of it`s nice parts but it is still a great bike as it is in SS mode.
Plans; Prob going to fit an Shimano 8 speed Alfine internal gear hub and a cheap suspension fork later this year to make the bike more versatile...
I pinched the gears and rear hub off the Monkey swapping it to single speed from the KramPug and it has remained unchanged. It is built with "Hand me down" parts having been robbed of most of it`s nice parts but it is still a great bike as it is in SS mode.
Hack Bikes; 1985 Peugeot Triathlon, and 2010 Pearson Touche Fixie;
2 bikes i have been given by my big brother...
The Peugeot he bought when at Uni in the mid 1980`s and raced. I started using it a year ago after it had hung in the man cave for a few years...
It makes a great winter hack and i ride it nearly daily this now with the country roads caked in mud and road salt!, yep, that`s a tarmac road! lol...
A dirty bike is great as it just gets hung up. All i do is fit a new 8 speed chain before winter and lube the control cables and it is good to go...
A dirty bike is great as it just gets hung up. All i do is fit a new 8 speed chain before winter and lube the control cables and it is good to go...
The Pearson Fixie i picked up from my big bro up in Stirling last November...
It is a 54cm frame and a size too small but it is ok to ride short distances. It is the pub bike as ideal to lock out side on narrow pavements with its narrow drop bars.
If a Ned attempts to steal it he will be in for the biggest surprise as he sprints off up the street. then backs of peddling and the cranks keep on going lol!!!...
If a Ned attempts to steal it he will be in for the biggest surprise as he sprints off up the street. then backs of peddling and the cranks keep on going lol!!!...
So that lot will keep me rolling through 2014...
Room for one more...
With a cancelled new fatbike build after deciding to buy a new drop bar disc brake multi purpose bike i have a small pile of nice fatbike build specific stuff...
Pair of Surly Marge Lite rims (powder coated white),
Pair of Surly Nate tyres (Once the Gumwall Nates arrive),
Phil Wood 100mm Square taper Bottom Bracket,
Middleburn square taper crank arms,
Problem solver front mech mount and Shimano 9 speed front mech,
Shimano LX 9 speed trigger shifters,
Hope Fatsno 100mm front hub,
Surly Moonlander inline fork if needed,
BB7 brakes, bars, stem, seat post, 9 speed drive chain,
BB7 brakes, bars, stem, seat post, 9 speed drive chain,
A Fatbike build kit, just needing a 170mm Fatsno rear hub if an in line hub is needed, i can have a Hope Pro 2 rear 135mm hub built once i get a hub shell.
So going to see if any manufacturers would like a frame tested and reviewed. There is a lot of new Fatbikes and frames coming out available here in the UK. Many though have not been ridden and reviewed by owners of fatbikes already who have a base line to compare to...
Maybe something will turn up in 2014...
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