April Sunshine and Surly Karate Monkey drop bar 29er update...

A high pressure across SE Scotland has seen a big sky week in East Lothian so far...
Everything is starting to flower and grow, spring has arrived!,
Francis`s sheep have had lambs, sweeet!!! :)

Sunset is 20;17 and the days are growing longer as well as warmer...

Cycling nearly every day as usual, been doing some tweaks to the drop bar bikes,

2013 Genesis Cdf;
My plan has been to spend little money on the Cdf but i worked out a plan to do a few tweaks to improve the bike for my comfort, the stock bars are ok but on the drops off road my hands slip a bit with the bumps and stuff...

And the saddle is not the most comfortable after 50+ miles, but hey for £699 that i paid for the bike i cannot complain!...

I really like the 25.4mm Salsa Bell Lap bars  i originally bought for the Fargo that are now on the drop bar Karate Monkey 29er, riding off road on the drops your hands stay put on the inward curved bar below the lever hood in picture...

I really wanted to get some Salsa Woodchipper bars for the Karate Monkey after reading so many owners positive reviews of these bars for mountain bike type riding on drop bars so ordered a pair last week from Charlie Bike Monger , being oversize 31.8mm i need a stem so bought a cheap £15 On One 70mm 25 degree rise stem from Planet X.
I am fitting the 25.4mm Bell lap bars off the Monkey onto the Genesis Cdf and have a 100mm lenght 25.4mm stem from the Moonlander and a brown Charge saddle spare now i fitted the new Brooks Cambium saddle to the purple Pugsley. The Cdf will also get the brown Charge bar tape and its black tape will go on the Monkey...

Waiting on Cinelli Gel bar pads to arrive before i can wrap the bar tape on the Genesis-everyone is out of stock of them but i will prob just wrap the bars and then fit them once available...


Surly Karate Monkey Drop bar 29er...
But the Monkey is rolling with the Woodchippers and it is ace to ride now off road on the drops!...

Cruised up to work yesterday, the drops make the road riding so much less effort and it was the 44t big ring everywhere on tarmac...

Another high pressure clear sky sunrise...

Big skies over Whitekirk Hill, love it at work on days like this...

Home time and a detour home across Becky`s Strip Byway, bone dry and like concrete!...

Yup the Karate Monkey deft feels better with these drop bars off road. The Bell Lap bars previously fitted will suit the CX style of the Genesis better...

Also the bar end Shimano gear shifters are now out to the side away from leg contact. previously i kept hitting them with the traditional style Bell lap bars...

Ace weeks weather, ace dry trails, and an ace bike!...

This evening the bike lost the rear rack as i have other bikes to take panniers for the shopping , and fitted a crud catcher rear guard. Ready to roll now...

More soon...