Tuesday 21 March 2017

The Prototype Genesis Fatbike...


 Fatbike geeks feast your eyes on a bit of UK Fatbike history that i got the chance to purchase and is too good a thing to pass owning, this is the Genesis Prototype Fatbike frame, a pre production Caribou Fatbike it was a one off Reynolds 525 Tube frame set finished in Genesis Team colours paint and also has sliding drop outs...



Here is a pic when Genesis built it...

Building the frame set...
Symmetrical frame set with sizing for a 170mm rear hub and 135mm front hub, so i raked through the spares in the man cave to see what i had to build this bike up.
With a supplied headset i had a stem and bars, front hub, Halo Tundra rims and some as new tyres, Some cheap Shimano square taper cranks would do, and while i have a spare 1x3 Pugsley drive chain that includes shifters cables and front and rear mechs i wanted to make this build different to my Pugsleys so with a Surly stainless 32t chainring and a little used single speed BMX half link chain from a previous 29er Singlespeed build i decided to build this as a single speed,
A Square taper VP 100mm Bottom Bracket was ordered from France, an On One single speed spacer kit, and a used Halo 135mm rear hub were all ordered via eBay and once they arrived i started off with building the wheels...



Spokes were used items with new spoke nipples, one pair were 262mm which were ideal on the rear hub build, while the 264mm spokes were a wee bit long on the front wheel build but the odd protruding spoke was ground down with the Dremmel once built and true...



Rear done...


Rear 170mm hub was a tad too wide for my older wheel jig but still managed to true it ok...


And front after a bit Dremmel work on the spokes...


Out to the Man Cave and new parts i received that morning in the post,  Charge saddle, Race Face Ride seat post, Ergon grips, Surly Orange rim tape, and the On One Single speed spacer kit...


Surly Gumwall Nate tyres mounted with the orange rim tape...



Stem and bars next, with free Avid BB5 brake set, and some spare disc rotors from the spares pile...




And ready waiting for a Square taper Bottom Bracket...






All that above was 2 weeks ago, and Tuesday this arrived through the post from France, a sweet VP 100mm BB that is real smooth and was under £30 posted from France!, why does no one in the UK sell these?...



Fitted with Copper greased threads and greased ends ready for crank arms...



Tightened up, and a spirit level as a straight edge placed on the chainwheel to check chain line to the rear sprocket and pure fluke it was in line!...


Half link chain on and ideal chain tension,  gearing is 32t x 18t...


Some Alpkit Love Mud  Guards fitted and a wash after de greasing the chain which once wiped dry was lubed with Squirt Dry Lube, and job done....


A lot `more soon` of this bike...

6 comments:

  1. Awesome opportunity for a unique build! And what a great build!

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  2. That looks awesome Bruce 👌🏼

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  3. where did you find the VP bb out of interest ..was it ebay.fr
    thanks
    Bill

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    1. Hi Bill, sorry for late reply, yes found it on eBay via France,

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  4. Have you used the VP bottom bracket before mate ? Any good ? Given the amount your on the beach they must be pretty well sealed...

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    1. Hi Paul. first time i have used one of these, it is lighter and more simple than the On One Square taper 100mm BB with regular screw in ends like most square taper BB`s, bearings feel smooth enough

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