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NSMB - 2024 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

Jan. 11, 2024, 8:18 p.m.
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sept. 10, 2012

Posted by: MWVFU

I ended up down a rabbit hole today by way of an article on bikepacking. Is the mega Krampus still in the fleet? My Krampus is getting the 2 degree angleset treatment this weekend

Yes the Mega Krampus lives! I've got it setup with gears and a rear rack for gravel/bike camping/road biking. Enjoy the slacker Krampus. I've put a -1 deg headset mine and had no regrets even for city/paved use. Let us know how you like it.

Related Blog Post --> https://vikapprovedblog.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/state-of-the-atb-fleet-winter-2023/


 Last edited by: Vikb on Jan. 12, 2024, 8:40 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Jan. 11, 2024, 8:29 p.m.
Posts: 1134
Joined: March 16, 2017

Couple days ago crap snow ride lean. Hey Lower Mainland found your missing wet snow. LOL

Jan. 11, 2024, 10:53 p.m.
Posts: 1246
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

MWVFU - Let us know how the angleset turns iut in the Krampus. I've just put my -2 back in my Krampus and really like the one in the Solaris Max.


 Last edited by: fartymarty on Jan. 11, 2024, 10:54 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
Jan. 12, 2024, 8:04 a.m.
Posts: 182
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Wall lean.

I just replaced my previous budget red 26" CCM fat bike by a budget red 27.5" Louis Garneau fat bike. Exactly the same color, I guess they were painted in the same factory haha. I couldn't pass up the 65% off deal at Costco even if that meant that I'd do a complete DIY PPF job (I could have done without this haha), a total rebuild of everything (down to adjusting spoke tension) and spending money to downgrade from SRAM Level brakes to finicky Shimano M375 mechanicals. Mechanical brakes in 0 to -20C is less chance of trouble in my experience, and as long as the initial setup is well made, they work totally fine.

After a bit of brake tab facing on the rear and on the caliper, they finally work well, but the pad-rotor clearance is like paper thin to obtain a lever throw that I like. Those rotors better stay straight! I thought the previous "Radius" calipers I had on my other fat bike were not too bad, and honestly, those Shimano are the worst mechanicals I've used. The 15 year-old Tektro on my city bike seem easier to adjust and maintain, but I'll give the Shimano a chance. For those who'd be curious, the main problem is that the fixed piston aren't always perfectly parallel to the rotor, depending on where the indexed clicks end up when screwing the adjuster bolt. And depending of the lever throw you want, it's not always possible to make it arrive at the right spot. Unfortunately, with the alignment and throw I wanted, the fixed pad ends up a bit on an angle, so it makes setting it up rub-free not easy. I spent a good while lining it up properly and making sure the rotor was as true as possible. A non-indexed adjustment would be better to help find the sweet spot, but sometimes they work their way in/out when it's not indexed. So that'll be it for now. At least the calipers were 50% off (26$!) so if I get fed up, I'll just put the Radius on.

A few upgrades (not including the brakes) were needed to make it a bit more itrail-worthy and nice : 150mm TranzX dropper (70$ on sale), Saint BB for longer thread engagement, blue Chromag grips, blue Deity seat post collar and E13 Base pedals. I also got a RF Ride (190mm axle) crankset for it but I'll see how long the Charm holds. It seems sturdy and the steel ring should last long as well.

I was really fond of the 8spd Microshift Acolyte groupset on my previous fat bike, so I'm looking forward to see how the Advent (with clutch) drivetrain works. The shifter seems much better quality, the derailleur is a bit nicer, and for winter riding, I like the fact that it's 9 speed. Less clicking than 12 spd is nice when wearing thick gloves. I might just replace the bars with a higher rise and maybe 180mm rotor in the back, but otherwise, I'll keep this one as simple as possible so that I don't need to do any maintenance over the winter.

For around 950$ all included (same price as my previous one), this one has better geo, better fit, bigger tires and has all the latest standards to make upgrading possibe. Plus a friend bought my old one, so I gained a fat bike riding partner in the process!


 Last edited by: humdishum on Jan. 12, 2024, 2:17 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
Jan. 12, 2024, 8:18 a.m.
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sept. 10, 2012

Posted by: martin

Plus a friend bought my old one, so I gained a fat bike riding partner in the process!

That's ^^^ the best part of the deal. Enjoy the new ride.

Jan. 12, 2024, 8:37 a.m.
Posts: 738
Joined: May 11, 2022

This weather has me both fat bike curious and "brakes that work with mitts" curious--err I guess people use pogies?  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Jan. 12, 2024, 10:43 a.m.
Posts: 182
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: martin

Plus a friend bought my old one, so I gained a fat bike riding partner in the process!

That's ^^^ the best part of the deal. Enjoy the new ride.

Thanks, and yes absolutely! He had never ridden one before and after his first ride last week, he texted me "Man this is awesome! It's my new favorite winter activity". Mission accomplished : )

Jan. 12, 2024, 11:34 a.m.
Posts: 1134
Joined: March 16, 2017

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

This weather has me both fat bike curious and "brakes that work with mitts" curious--err I guess people use pogies?  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Pogies below say minus 10 is the best option.  It is from 2017 so is a bit outdated however a rough list of those who make pogies for the those who are members of the Frozen Few MTB Society. LOL 

https://bikepacking.com/gear/pogies/

Jan. 12, 2024, 4:08 p.m.
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sept. 10, 2012

Triple hardtail pre-post office trip lean. Last of my work tasks to wrap up 2023. 40lbs of dead trees in end of year reports off my desk.

First ride I can remember where I was legit painfully cold despite bundling up. Still happier riding than driving. Brrrr!


 Last edited by: Vikb on Jan. 12, 2024, 4:08 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
Jan. 12, 2024, 7:51 p.m.
Posts: 19082
Joined: Oct. 28, 2003

Keeping the island economy growing trees. 🤑

Jan. 12, 2024, 8:05 p.m.
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sept. 10, 2012

Posted by: heckler

Keeping the island economy growing trees. 🤑

Sadly yes. The government will probably check a box on a form that I submitted the reports as required by the contract...and then shred them. **sigh**

Jan. 12, 2024, 8:09 p.m.
Posts: 1134
Joined: March 16, 2017

Posted by: Vikb

First ride I can remember where I was legit painfully cold despite bundling up. Still happier riding than driving. Brrrr!

Minus 13 is cold? 😜😉

Wait a tick…. You were stationed at the charming Base Kingston in winter. Where the buildings are warm depending on which way the wind gusts. 🤣🤣

Jan. 13, 2024, 5:40 a.m.
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sept. 10, 2012

If the experience riding felt even close to what the forecast had been it wouldn't have been notable. I was dressed appropriately. I ride all winter all the time. ON, AB, BC wherever. But, there was something going on yesterday that just seemed so much worse than it should have been. I'm just making an observation. It didn't stop me from riding nor from taking the long way home and stopping in at my LBS to chat with the crew.

Jan. 13, 2024, 9:06 a.m.
Posts: 1134
Joined: March 16, 2017

Posted by: Vikb

If the experience riding felt even close to what the forecast had been it wouldn't have been notable. I was dressed appropriately. I ride all winter all the time. ON, AB, BC wherever. But, there was something going on yesterday that just seemed so much worse than it should have been. I'm just making an observation. It didn't stop me from riding nor from taking the long way home and stopping in at my LBS to chat with the crew.

Just bugging you. To be honest it seems weird as for years it was the opposite. BC was warmer while here was things like minus 28-30. One year it was minus 25-28 for like 8 weeks.  Though to be honest rather been enjoying the less cold as it hasn’t been triggering injuries to ache and such as often. Thus decreasing the potential pain pill intake.

Jan. 13, 2024, 9:24 a.m.
Posts: 1134
Joined: March 16, 2017

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

This weather has me both fat bike curious and "brakes that work with mitts" curious--err I guess people use pogies?  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

To better answer you. Had to dig into archives. Got these back in 2011 and at the time where made by a Toronto bike courier and she stopped selling them long ago. At the time hadn't ever used anything like this and wasn't exactly a lot of info around stuff like this.  Worked though to be fair it was designed by a courier around the idea that you would be stopping and running in and out of buildings all day. So not designed being on the bike for 3 hours straight.

Still had to use a thicker glove inside to help keep warm but nothing like you would have to if you didn't have these. Upgraded December 2022 to a more modern version which does a better job. Getting even minor frostbite really sucks as it as I found out long term makes one more susceptible to cold.

Old photo Cold snow ride lean- 2014 minus 32 

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