Green Pugsley No 3 rolling!, 3 Pugsleys, all Pugsleys, but all quite differant...

This is replacing my ridged Karate Monkey 29er which i bought as a used but unbuilt frameset but only rode it twice since building it up, I like it and it rides lovely,

But i feel this now i don`t really need it having had a taste of riding 29+ with my Surly  #KramPug#  and the roll and comfort of those 3" tyres on the 50mm Surly Rabbit Hole 50mm wide rims, i class that as Fat-Lite, running around 12-15 psi... this has been the ride that has re sparked my cycling away from the coast...

Thing is i really wanted to build a Krampus to compliment this bike which is more set up like Surlys ECR for Xc riding as the Krampus is a hoot to ride, esp fast nailing it anywhere,  and i faked myself building the Karate Monkey with Rabbit Hole rims as a cheaper option to the Krampus, instead of just waiting and saving and buying a new Krampus frame when i had saved enough as could not afford it a few months back and have  little patience as cash is tight these days with still no pay rise etc..
So i had decided to sell the KM frame set (now sold) to pay for another used Pugsley frame set  when i was offered to buy one as it would be better off as another KramPug 29+ built with parts from the KM spec with a few changes to spec, and the bonus being it can be run as a regular Fatbike when needed ;) .

No Krampus?
Well not for now, but i reckon if i can ride my old (heavy these days) `Large Marge` undrilled twin wall rim Pugsleys 30-40 miles in a day that friends do on their lighter Fatbikes, then i can ride the same stuff on a Pugsley framed 29+ `KramPug`  that some would ride in a day on a pukka Krampus- yeah i know it will not have the same geometry and handling for out the saddle nailing it on trails etc... but i`m not kidding myself anymore, i am 43 years old now... not 23...  leave it to the kids made of rubber bone to honk on and take the spills, most of my cycling is sat down these days...

Building it up;
As previously mentioned  this is a used Mk 4 Snow blind Pugsley- from friend Gary Buckham that he had re coated in Landrover Olive Green,

You can read the blog post here of the offset Krampus wheels i had a go at re lacing myself having bought a Surly 135 SS hub to use on the front wheel...

The rest of the build is cheap n cheerful 9 spd Deore 2x9 gears with bash guard on old Middleburn  Rs7s that i bought 7 years ago for the first Pugsley. The square taper 100mm bottom bracket needed is an On One item i bought used on  Facebook after putting up an add for one.
Sporting 2.5" Minions on the Surly Rabbit Hole 50mm  wide 29er wheels until the 3" wide 29+ Dirt Wizards arrive, it is not a true 29+  i know, and in no real hurry for them as got these skins to wear out first :)

On Saturday the On One 100mm square taper bottom bracket arrived so i got the green pugsley rolling...

The bottom bracket has 2 bearings on either side (Phil Wood square taper BBs have 1 bearing each side), so it is a neat design and if the bearings get replaced with quality SKF bearings then it should last a long time..

Grease on the axle and on with the cranks, chain, then just a case of dialling in the mechs and it was rolling!...

Under a minute to swap wheels!- Two bikes in one...
The Offset Krampus wheels have the same Shimano rear/Surly hubs so is real quick to swap wheel sets,  no need to re set gears or re aline brake disc calliper's.
5 minutes and its now a KramPug-abet with regular 2.5" 29er tyres for now...

This bike is replacing my ridged Karate Monkey as i was just not using it, and the 2.5"  rear tyre was too neat for mud clearance,

So from this...

To this...

100mm wide Fatbike bottom bracket i think i actually prefer these days to a regular 73mm bb width, and it has reversible wheels so i can single speed it too...

And with 2.5" tyres, or 3" later in the year when the Dirt Wizard tyres arrive there is not a problem  with mud clearance...

And it rides just like my other KramPug!...

Cost?
This bike has not cost a fortune to build using the running gear from the Karate Monkey, selling some of it to change a few parts, being patient on many eBay bids until i won stuff, and keeping an eye on Fatbike classifieds for stuff going cheap...

Snowdrops are out!

With Shimano rear hubs i will be keeping the wheels out of the real wet sand on the coast, i have the old original 36 spoke Surly Marge/Hope hub wheels for doing that...

So what about my other Surly KramPug 29+?
It is still as it is, kinda my answer to a Surly ECR, and for long XC days out, maybe even some bike packing weekends this year!...
The Pumpkin Pugsley is my good Pugsley, all the best parts,  it will not see too much salt water exposure, but can if needed share the wheels of the Green Pugsley, so all 3 Pugsleys can go 4" fat on the coast.

Set up with the Jones 710mm Loop Bars i do like them for long days but prefer regular wide MTB bars for whizzing about on trails...

Offset fork with Salsa anything cage mounts anyone?  :)

Under cage bottle mount for if i use a full frame bag, TIME Spd pedals on this bike too...

The old original Pugsley;
Original Grey Pugsley (black for now)  is the run around Pug,  rear rack and Alfine 8 speed internal gear hub, Francis rides this bike when were out and i used it too scoot about, odd commute, shops etc...

All old Fatbikes, still all great bikes with years of fun to be had yet with...

Fatbikes as Mountainbikes;
Seems to be the way a lot of the marketing is heading in Fatbikes with forks and geometry for riding regular trails. I agree in places they are ace with the massive grip and climbing ability. I like many would love to ride/own the new full suspension Fatbikes like the Salsa Bucksaw, for now i can dream on... :)
Far as i`m concerned they will not replace a regular MTB for regular trail riding for most people and they will not replace frame sets like the old faith full Karate Monkeys etc..
Fatbikes will still for myself be for riding where regular MTBs cannot go or struggle to go to be of any enjoyment. Places we all have somewhere on our doorstep...
Apart from a pair of new tyres for the big Moonlander to buy later this year my cycling will be focusing a lot on my 29+ bikes  when above the high tide line and riding regular trails...
Lots more fun miles per smiles to come...

More soon...