With my original Surly Pugsley Fatbike having cycled over 12, 000 miles of smiles and a lot of off road abuse it`s time to rebuild Scotland`s first Fatbike, give it some `Pug lovin`, and restore it to more or less how it was used in it`s first couple of years.
The bike has been a real triggers broom and nearly everything has been swapped out or replaced.
The frame has been sold, luckily re bought and now with other bikes to use i can save this old bike and its time to retire the bike and just bring it out on the odd ride for a bit of nostalgia, i don`t think i have ever had so much nostalgia for a bicycle before!,
So then, not a lot of original parts left, the original 36 spoke Large Marge wheels with Hope hubs were sold on another Pugsley and most parts have been worn out leaving just two items. the right hand Middleburn crank arm and spider and the Phi Wood BB, that`s on the Salsa Mukluk i recently built so for now until i can be bothered swapping a VP square taper (147.5mm) BB can go on...
First thing was strip the bike down to the frame and fork...
Next was go take it to get it sand blasted by Nick at Lothian Pressure Clean
Which revealed two small cracks, one on the fork and one on the chain stay, no real suprise with the miles of off road riding this frame set has done, i taped over the welds before giving the frame set a spray with PlastiKote primer to stop the frame oxidising and getting surface rust...
Next along to Anderson Blacksmiths (Facebook page) and the cracks welded,
A spray over the repairs with PlastiKote primer and it was ready for the first of several coasts of Grey PlastiKote, i planned to rattle can spray the frame set myself rather than powder coat to see it in bare metal just in case it had any cracks like this...
Time to get spraying several coats over the afternoon...
Next day and apply the graphics then spray a clear gloss to seal them...
That evening i put the assembled parts together and as the build went on i thought about all the miles and places i have been on this bike, esp the first year or so where i rode and explored and was amazed where this bike could easily go...
A pair of original Endomorph tyres, gifted by Alan W, though now like other old wheel sets these are set up split tube tubeless, wish i had known how to do this back then!...
9 speed gears came from the Surly Moonlander...
Remember this?, `Do they they float` someone asked, one way to find out!...
And the modified BOB (Beast of Burden) Yak trailer was a great idea and has hauled most of my firewood over the years...
Nearly done...
Door closed late at night on a complete build. Next day after work a shakedown ride around the block and a few adjustments made and ready to roll...
Next evening i cycled down to see M and the bike rides great...The Endomorph tyres i remember being real weird with self steering actually steer ok on tarmac now set up tubeless!, while there ability for grip away from anything sand or snow is a bit limited they roll great on tarmac and for the odd ride on dry and dusty summer trails they will be fine, for it`s weight the old bike still rides great... 
Retro Fatbikes...
Here is some film made during the build with a few old clips from 10 years ago...
Song is `Oscar See Through Red Eye` by Boards of Canada...
2008 Surly Pugsley; 10 Years old Restoration from coastkid71 on Vimeo.
More soon...
Great post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see a legend of bike getting such good treatment.
ReplyDeleteAll the best
SuperSolo