Never thought i would type this, but the sand above the high tide line on many areas along the coast is getting too soft in places for regular 4" tyre Fatbikes, really!, on my old Pugsley and Glenda on her Genesis Prototype we have been struggling a bit in places often with front ends tucking in or rear tyres spinning out!, time to call in the big Guns....
Step forward the Surly Moonlander which easts up soft conditions with its huge 100mm rims and 4.8" tyres that can be aired down to 4psi or even lower if required.
Glenda is searching for a Surly Moonlander at a good price or even just a frame set as i have a spare pair of Moonie wheels and all the spare parts to build one up, so in the meantime she can ride the big Moonie and i am reverting the Surly Wednesday back to stock set up with original fork and seat post,
The Bluto suspension fork and drooper seat post is at the end of the day just things with something else to go wrong with so after washing both bikes after a cycle out to the Sub wrecks i soon had the parts swapped over....
A new Race Face Ride seatpost i bought a while back would soon be on after adding some Coppergrease to the seat bolts and Marine grease to the post...
First i had to remove the dropper post and it`s internal cable routing...
The post was in a state as you can see with not betting moved at all, this is why i use Quick Release seat clamps to reguarly check and regrease posts, and i just order a Salsa Flip Lock seat clamp from the USA ans none here in the UK in the required 33.1mm, costing me £40 posted but they are the best seat clamps....
Disconect the cable to remove and a clean up of the post and back in it`s box to sell on to someone as i don`t need a dropper post riding here in East Lothian, and i have never went to the Borders to Glentress trail centre etc since i have built the Wednesday, Been there and done it and happy Cycling here in the Shire on natural trails...
New post greased and fitted...
Down to Peffersands and while only a 4.6" rear tyre the 5" front tyre on 80mm rims is pretty close to the Moonlander for float, i was running 5 psi in both tyres while Glenda was down to 3 psi on the big Moonie, and we were managing to cycle the real soft sand we struggled on our 4" bikes a few days earlier... you can see it at the start of the film...
Big Sky Day...
As a matter of interest once back home i tried the Moonlander rear wheel in my new V.2 Surly Pugsley, which is suppossed to to take a 4.8" rear tyre, and i was wondering if it will fit with a 10oomm rim?, and here is the answer;
Yep!, with loads of tyre and also tyre to chain clearance!...
The Definitive Surly fatbike frame?
So this kind of sums up where i am at with my Surly frames, the Wednesday is a dam fine trail bike with it`s handling which is basicly the same as the Surly Krampus but with a 100mm wide bottom bracket which also can take 4.6" tyre Fat wheels, and while the Moonlander is a tried and tested full float Fatbike, the V.2 Pugsley with a Moonlander fork as Surly also state allows 4.8" tyres up front and now i know 100mm wide rims can be used,
If your not interested in ever using a suspension fork or dropper post the V.2 Pugsley with it`s taller Headtube and 100mm threaded bottom bracket is in my opinion the definitive Surly Steel Fatbike Frame for Full float 5" (4.8') Tyres on 100mm (4") rims as Fat wheels and 29+ wheels for trail bike / Bike packing duties,
Now why has no one else said this yet about the new Surly Pugsley?
Anyway an offset Moonlander fork is now ordered and on it's way from France :)
Wee film, Song is `Hungry Face` by Mogwai
Isolation Cycle 43; Surly Moonlander and Surly Wednesday, May 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.
More soon...
