Did you hang on to the Bob Keller? Does it have a second life coming? I recently went through a purge and was really struggling to justify keeping my V1 Waltworks - I ended up paying to have it modded (rack and fender mounts) and it replaced my commuter. It’s long and slack for the application but any decrease in snappy speed is more than made up for in the emotional factor.
I don’t doubt that when the term ‘Steel Is Real’ and all the associated myths were created that there was truths inherent. I owned some old Cannondale Aluminum hardtails and they were stiff as, especially with ~2” tires pumped up so they wouldn’t flat. Manufacturing has changed, bigger wheels with fatter tires with sidewalls that can handle lower pressures - it’s a different game.
The one place steel wins is in the custom works because it’s much cheaper and easier to work on - especially for garage builders. I live my steel frames but the same geo in an FTW aluminum frame would stoke my fire too.
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I’d say over the last year or two NSMB has had a healthy increase in XC (Tech-C) riding and even gravel content. Many of folks test writing here ride and enjoy many different types of bike (and getting places by bike) and the readership is diverse - as evidenced by the fact that I’m far from the only rigid single-speed type. Thanks for coming along!
That said, this/any Timberjack with the right pair of tires would be quite at home on most of our trails - maybe add an Angleset - as long as the rider is cool with not keeping up on the downs when riding with someone of equal ability on an Enduro-duallie.
June 1, 2022, 5:47 p.m. - Andrew Major
Did you hang on to the Bob Keller? Does it have a second life coming? I recently went through a purge and was really struggling to justify keeping my V1 Waltworks - I ended up paying to have it modded (rack and fender mounts) and it replaced my commuter. It’s long and slack for the application but any decrease in snappy speed is more than made up for in the emotional factor. I don’t doubt that when the term ‘Steel Is Real’ and all the associated myths were created that there was truths inherent. I owned some old Cannondale Aluminum hardtails and they were stiff as, especially with ~2” tires pumped up so they wouldn’t flat. Manufacturing has changed, bigger wheels with fatter tires with sidewalls that can handle lower pressures - it’s a different game. The one place steel wins is in the custom works because it’s much cheaper and easier to work on - especially for garage builders. I live my steel frames but the same geo in an FTW aluminum frame would stoke my fire too. ——— I’d say over the last year or two NSMB has had a healthy increase in XC (Tech-C) riding and even gravel content. Many of folks test writing here ride and enjoy many different types of bike (and getting places by bike) and the readership is diverse - as evidenced by the fact that I’m far from the only rigid single-speed type. Thanks for coming along! That said, this/any Timberjack with the right pair of tires would be quite at home on most of our trails - maybe add an Angleset - as long as the rider is cool with not keeping up on the downs when riding with someone of equal ability on an Enduro-duallie.