NSMB - 2023 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

Posted by: Vikb

BTW - I was lamenting Stooge's move to straight forks on its bikes and then I noticed the Speedbomb that they've got in the store comes with a curved fork and room for 29 x 3.0" tires and an EBB for a clean SS setup. I'm glad to see the curved fork aesthetic is not totally gone. This way straight fork lovers have an option in the Mk6 and curvey forkers can get a Speedbomb...something for everyone. ;-)

I think I saw somewhere that Andy said the straight fork on the mk6 is because the Pinkbike article on the mk4 attracted a "rigid Enduro" crowd and he was getting a lot of bent mk4/mk5 forks (from people hucking off roofs, etc.), but he was planning to go with the curved forks on any non-mkX models.

I got hit by a car (and got off amazingly lightly - still alive, nothing broken besides my helmet and the bike) Tuesday so I'm considering swapping my road bike for a Rambler, would complement my Scrambler nicely. Or go to the dark side and get a FS. Less pavement, more dirt, in any case.

No cars on THIS road!

Posted by: TristanC

I think I saw somewhere that Andy said the straight fork on the mk6 is because the Pinkbike article on the mk4 attracted a "rigid Enduro" crowd and he was getting a lot of bent mk4/mk5 forks (from people hucking off roofs, etc.), but he was planning to go with the curved forks on any non-mkX models.

PB also ran an enduro-esque article on the Dirtbomb which is the ancestor of the current Speedbomb and it retains the curved fork legs. 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-matt-lakins-fully-rigid-stooge-cycles-dirtbomb-enduro-race-bike.html

Here is one of their dealer's marketing spew:

"We Say…

The Speedbomb is probably the most offroad capable rigid bike of all time, an absolute trail slayer.

Matt Lakin rides a Dirt Bomb (the previous version of the speed bomb) at enduro and Downhill races, he apparently rides to the races, bivvys the night before and regularly places in the top 3 despite everyone else having suspension!

SEE BELOW

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-matt-lakins-fully-rigid-stooge-cycles-dirtbomb-enduro-race-bike.html"

https://www.thewoodscyclery.co.uk/shop/uncategorised/bike-packing-rigs/stooge-speedbomb-29/

I'm not saying your take is incorrect, but it's confusing given the way the Stooge models are marketed.

Posted by: TristanC

I got hit by a car (and got off amazingly lightly - still alive, nothing broken besides my helmet and the bike) Tuesday so I'm considering swapping my road bike for a Rambler, would complement my Scrambler nicely. Or go to the dark side and get a FS. Less pavement, more dirt, in any case.

Sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were not seriously hurt. I can understand our desire to get off the road more. The Rambler frames do look sweet and there are some nice owner builds floating around the internet. Sounds like the next batch will land spring 2024 if you can wait that long.

Posted by: Vikb

I'm not saying your take is incorrect, but it's confusing given the way the Stooge models are marketed.

Agreed, I think there's a lot of overlap between the various models too, so it's hard to say what each one is intended for. For example - with drop bars on a Scrambler, isn't it just a bigger Rambler?

Not that I'm complaining that they're versatile. Especially now with one fewer bike; maybe that's a good place to stay, with a hardtail, a rigid MTB, and an upright Dutch-esque commuter/bar bike.

Posted by: TristanC

Especially now with one fewer bike; maybe that's a good place to stay, with a hardtail, a rigid MTB, and an upright Dutch-esque commuter/bar bike.

Those are nice options that cover a lot of potential bike missions.

The first ride of fall did not disappoint. Rain. Mud. Cool temps. One of our friends is recovering from an injury and it was great to see him back on the trails. Made it back to the vehicle just as the wetness was nudging over the line to unpleasant.

It's been a long time since I had something "new" to lean. Last time I built up a new bike was in 2017!

I'd sworn I wouldn't move up from 26" wheels until I had a clean ride in Emerald, but then Conti started discontinuing their good 26" tires and I broke my 2011 Slayer, so I caved and got something a little more "modern"

Behold my new (to me) Triton!

It's a bit of a one-off that is pretty close to 2020 Chromag Surface geometry except rendered in Titanium. On key difference is instead of having Chromag's yokel for the chainstays, it's got this little piece of madness:

That's two pieces of billet Titanium that were machined out and then perimeter welded together (so the center is actually hollow)

Weight is just under 29lbs. (It was 29 before I started changing wheels/bars/...)

The bike came with E13 wheels. I found the noisy hub incredibly annoying. At one point, I came buzzing down a road and pulled to a stop, only to have a cinnamon bear wander out of a blueberry patch, get within a bike length of me, and give me a thorough sniffing as if to say, "I hears the bees--where the honey at?" before wandering away.

After a half-dozen rides, a rock put the derailleur into the spokes, so I needed to build a new wheel. I really wanted to try an Onyx hub for the silence, but the tales of Vesper reliability made me nervous and the classic is too damn heavy. I went on this huge vision quest trying to find other quiet but light hub options and in the end arrived back at the same hub I've used on my last 4 bikes: The DT Swiss 240s (non-EXP). With the non-boost hub (frame is 12x142) and the offset-spoke Stan's Flow MK4, I get the same spoke length and pretty equal spoke tension. After a couple of rides on the new wheel, I'm pleasantly surprised how quiet the new factory-lubed 18t setup is compared to my mix of old 18t and 36t hubs that are probably due for a clean/lube.

The bike also came with an 35mm/800mm Renthal Fatbar and it didn't take me long to realize I can't go back to riding a low-sweep bar and that I've got absolutely no use for wide or 35mm bars. They've been replaced with a 31.8mm/730mm/12deg Thomson Ti flat bar. Much better in terms of hand/wrist position and vibration damping.

Sweet ride, but, but... Tell us about the toe clips!

Posted by: velocipedestrian

Sweet ride, but, but... Tell us about the toe clips!

Not toe clips, HALF clips!  Best of both worlds between flats and clipless.  ;)

Gives me almost as much pull-up and push forward ability as clipless, but instant lateral and rearwards release ...and they work well with [trail] work boots.

Biggest drawback is they are a consumable.  If I drop into something and don't have time to kick in (so the clip is on the bottom) it will shear off if struck.  Can also be snapped off if I kick something (but does provide a little toe impact protection)

WeTYC - sweet "new" rig.  I always liked the Surface geo from that time - was good sensible do everything geo. Let us know how it rides once you have some miles in it.

Has anyone put bouncy forks on a Unit?  It looks like a good candidate to HT.

Posted by: WeTYC...

After a half-dozen rides, a rock put the derailleur into the spokes, so I needed to build a new wheel. I really wanted to try an Onyx hub for the silence, but the tales of Vesper reliability made me nervous and the classic is too damn heavy. 

I've been on Vesper hubs for a few years.  I have had one issue with the sprag clutch that was resolved by Onyx at no cost even though I bought the wheels used.  They even sent an extra set of parts for my second wheelset.  Just a positive anecdote to add to the equation :)

Workshop lean with new frame bag:

Closer view. A small size (6L) Revalate Ranger bag in a 'long' Moxie frame: