After only a year and a dozen or so rides and only 2 bike packing trips i have come to the conclusion that i don`t need two 29+ specific bikes in my stable,
I don't ride my other 29+ bike enough-The Krampus, out the two it is my favourite and a real treat to take out on trails...
I have already rode a Pugsley with 29+ wheels (termed a KramPug) and Jones bars fitted a while back and while also like a Pugsley with regular riser bars, or semi dropped CX bars like Salsa Wood chippers, i would not like to only have one Pugsley with just a Jones bar or drop bar.
The solution? have three Pugsleys!,
Ok two of them will have 29+ wheel options but both will be built and set up different,
Putting the build kit of the ECR onto a Pugsley frame set would be of much more use as a camping/all day bike with bike packing kit fitted that would give me two bikes in one with swappable wheels from my other two Pugsleys,
So i worked out a plan to trade frames down in age, but allow some free money to buy another pair of fat wheels and a few parts,
Using my existing front Pugsley 29+ wheel i could offset the rear ECR wheel, add a 100mm BB and everything else would swap straight over...
Friend Peter has been looking for an ECR frame set for a while and after a few emails he popped over from Fife one evening and happily payed the agreed price for the ECR frame set, the custom fitted Alpkit frame bag, Laid back seat post, the complete front wheel, and a Rabbit Hole rim i had spare.
I threw in the head set, BB and Deore crank arms for free...
So Peter just has to source regular MTB parts and another 29 x 3" tyre....
Pug Luck!;
Friend Alan from Glasgow emailed me around the same time about an older white complete Pugsley he had bought for some of the parts and the frame set was up for sale- perfect!...
It was a Large -i ride a medium Pug but with the Jones bars i think it will be fine with a 70mm stem for myself. It also had a Phil Wood square taper BB, worth buying as i have square taper crank arms,
And i also ended up buying the Alfine 8 speed Internal Gear hub (IGH) and Surly Marge lite rims, after i stripped the wheels for Alan, i also offered to re lace his new hub he had bought onto the Rollin Daryll rims he chose to keep out the two pairs he brought.
So with a price we were both happy on Alan went home happy to start to re cover some of the cost of the bike and i have got nearly all the parts i need!...
Soon have another KramPug out this lot - Alfine hub geared this time!...
Offsetting an in line Surly Rabbit Hole rim;
So i dropped the frame set off at the powder coaters and while i wait started to sort out the re build starting with off setting the rear wheel to suit a Pugsley, removed and washed out the tyre sealant and cleaned and dry it was inside for a couple of hours, i always find wheel building very relaxing, Listening to BBC Radio 6 Music and a cup of tea and taking your time...
Loosen all spokes then swap the non drive side spokes onto the drive side spoke holes and oil the spoke threads before adding the spoke nipple...
Then out to the Man Cave and check centre alignment using a fork...
Then onto the wheel jig to tension. I still find the lateral tension hardest to get near perfect but it was soon good enough...
Ghetto Split tube tubeless;
I gave Peter the rear white rim strip to match his front wheel and fitted a new Orange rim strip after opening up the valve hole as i drill my rims and use Schrader valves...
The rim tape is see through and a bit dull once a black inner tube is against it so i add a strip of white Duct tape...
Brighter now...
Press the tape into the well of the rim. This also stops the possibility of the rim tape moving and coming through the wheel cut outs...
Next cut some strips of Vinyl Underlay foam
I did one wrap first, sometimes need two if you want to inflate with a track pump...
Copper grease the valve thread as unless the side wall gets a massive rip this tyre could be on here a while...
Tube stretched round, this is a 24" tube previously used on a 80mm rim so although cut and trimmed it was still wide enough for the 50mm wide Rabbit Hole rim...
Tyre was real tight to fit and it pulled the tube under here...
You can work along and slowly pull the split tube back out...
Final bit i used a lever and then all on...
If i cannot inflate a tubeless set up with a track pump or Co2 then it is no use out on the trail if you manage to burp it to deflate it or rip a side wall and need to re inflate it after repair,
Removing the valve core and a Co2 inflates up to check seating and saves energy pumping!...
Then remove the valve core again and add sealant...
Re inflate to 20 psi then do the `Stans Shake to wash the sealant around and then using a Stanly knife with new blade carefully trim the excess inner tube...
Will leave it at 20 psi until i fit it to ride but its good to go and worth the faff to have thorn free and no pinch flat free riding...
Pt 2 of the build to follow once i get the frame back!...
More soon...
Can you compare the Krampus vs.the ECR frames and how they are different to ride?
ReplyDeleteHi Vik, The ECR is very like a Karate Monkey with a comfier ride with 29+ wheels,
ReplyDeleteIt has a lower BB than the Krampus and you feel more like your sitting in the bike which of course lends itself well to its intended purpose of long days in the saddle.
The krampus feels a lot more lively esp when out the saddle and at speed, the front end feels more stable when you point it down steep terrain the ride i think is more confident inspiring,
Lots of cross overs between them both and i would also add the Pugsley in KramPug option more closer to the ECR than the Krampus,
All typical of Surlys in their versatility and build options!
Read your thread over at MTBR many a time... Nice to find your blog. I scored my BShip grey 2014 'Ops back in February 3rd hand, for a pittance... The biggest move I had made was choosing Specialized Fast Trak Fat tires, which roll like the wind, and having them tubeless... When I lend it out for spins, people are amazed at how quick it is... Well, being unable to leave well enough alone, I have on order Rabbit Holes and accoutrements to have a Krampug... I am exited. I will have to start with 2.4 Maxxis Ardents as my tires (Biggest I have for my Ogre,) and am a bit nervous about raising the height of the Krampugs too much more... Loving it as it sits 26x4 with a nice inch of standover... Going to be a bit dicey, but, if it seems dangerous (heck I have my 2 kids, so...) my plan B is to bite the bullet and use the Rabbit Holes for my Ogre... Anyways, just wanted to let you know that your time and energy have been appreciated and are inspiring!
ReplyDeleteHi amsweet, thanks for looking in on the blog and enjoy the posts,
ReplyDeleteWith 2.4" tyres our BB height will only be raised a 1/2" so it will not make a dramatic effect to the bikes standover and ride. Good you can start with that tyre size option with out any outlay to get rolling.
You will notice the difference on trails and road with the 29" wheels. Offered the frame will prob have more comfort than your Ogre-one of the nice points of the Pugsley,
Have fun!
Cheers
Bruce