Bikes Of 2015: Surly 1X1

Current state of the 1X1

Here's another bike that has seen a lot of play- both here on the blog as Project 1X1 and as a rider. Since most of this bike's play here has been fairly recent, I won't get into any technical breakdown on the spec, or what have you. I mean.......it's a single speed with cantilever brakes. What more do you need to know? 

I am not sure I've had a proper image up with these fenders though, so let me talk about that here now. The Extraterrestrial tires on the Velocity Cliffhanger rims set up tubeless has made these tires about 64mm wide or so. The widest fenders I could source within reason are these Planet Bike Cascadia fenders which are 60mm wide. Sooooo......... Mounting the fenders was a bit tricky.

I had to take particular care in centering the fenders over the tires so that the tread area is covered up and what is not is mostly just the casing/sidewall as it "bellies out" on its way to the rim edges. That was tedious, but not difficult. The other thing, which did not become readily apparent until I started riding this bike, was that due to the Cascadia fender's proclivity to twist, I had to modify the hard points where the stays attach to the fenders so they wouldn't bounce off the tires as much. No doubt that the new ALX (aluminum, so stiffer), versions of the Cascadia fender would be better here, but these will do for now.

So, with that done the bike is good to go and performs its task well. The fenders really do keep me dry and mud free despite their lack of coverage in width, which is more than made up for in length here. I will be trying to see if I can fit a rack onto this rig next to further its utilitarian nature and turn it into one of my grocery getters.

Bikes Of 2015: Surly 1X1

Current state of the 1X1

Here's another bike that has seen a lot of play- both here on the blog as Project 1X1 and as a rider. Since most of this bike's play here has been fairly recent, I won't get into any technical breakdown on the spec, or what have you. I mean.......it's a single speed with cantilever brakes. What more do you need to know? 

I am not sure I've had a proper image up with these fenders though, so let me talk about that here now. The Extraterrestrial tires on the Velocity Cliffhanger rims set up tubeless has made these tires about 64mm wide or so. The widest fenders I could source within reason are these Planet Bike Cascadia fenders which are 60mm wide. Sooooo......... Mounting the fenders was a bit tricky.

I had to take particular care in centering the fenders over the tires so that the tread area is covered up and what is not is mostly just the casing/sidewall as it "bellies out" on its way to the rim edges. That was tedious, but not difficult. The other thing, which did not become readily apparent until I started riding this bike, was that due to the Cascadia fender's proclivity to twist, I had to modify the hard points where the stays attach to the fenders so they wouldn't bounce off the tires as much. No doubt that the new ALX (aluminum, so stiffer), versions of the Cascadia fender would be better here, but these will do for now.

So, with that done the bike is good to go and performs its task well. The fenders really do keep me dry and mud free despite their lack of coverage in width, which is more than made up for in length here. I will be trying to see if I can fit a rack onto this rig next to further its utilitarian nature and turn it into one of my grocery getters.

Bikes Of 2015: Singular Cycles Buzzard

You can almost hear the Buzzard flapping its wings.....

Making a few cameo appearances during 2015 was my Singular Cycles Buzzard. I don't have a lot of mountain bikes around, and the only geared one I have is this one. I put this together about a couple years ago now and I really enjoy riding it on mountain bike trails. It is a bit of a tank, but it goes over and around most anything. I'll probably never kill the frame. Too burly.

Anyway, here's the rundown on this bike....

• Frame: Singular Cycles Buzzard, Size Large
• Fork: MRP Stage 140mm travel
• Drive Train: Shimano 2 X 10 STX DynSys 10spd clutch type rear derailleur. 
• Brakes: Shimano STX Hydro.
• Wheels: Velocity hubs and Velocity Dually rims
• Tires: On One Chunky Monkey frt 2.4" and One One Smorgasbord 2.25" rear- both tubeless.
• Seat Post: Specialized Command Post dropper type. 
• Bars/Stem: Kore B52 stem and Shimano PRO Alloy Tharsis bar with Ergon grips. 

Besides some minor brake maintenance, this bike is good to go and I do not plan any future upgrades here unless it might be a better dropper post than I have on here now. This bike really tames the terrain here. It's almost silly how easy everything is around here. That's good, and its bad. Bad because it is hard to have a challenging ride around here and you have to travel to places that would push my limits with this bike. Good because I can travel to places with tougher trails and have a capable rig.

Bikes Of 2015: Singular Cycles Buzzard

You can almost hear the Buzzard flapping its wings.....

Making a few cameo appearances during 2015 was my Singular Cycles Buzzard. I don't have a lot of mountain bikes around, and the only geared one I have is this one. I put this together about a couple years ago now and I really enjoy riding it on mountain bike trails. It is a bit of a tank, but it goes over and around most anything. I'll probably never kill the frame. Too burly.

Anyway, here's the rundown on this bike....

• Frame: Singular Cycles Buzzard, Size Large
• Fork: MRP Stage 140mm travel
• Drive Train: Shimano 2 X 10 STX DynSys 10spd clutch type rear derailleur. 
• Brakes: Shimano STX Hydro.
• Wheels: Velocity hubs and Velocity Dually rims
• Tires: On One Chunky Monkey frt 2.4" and One One Smorgasbord 2.25" rear- both tubeless.
• Seat Post: Specialized Command Post dropper type. 
• Bars/Stem: Kore B52 stem and Shimano PRO Alloy Tharsis bar with Ergon grips. 

Besides some minor brake maintenance, this bike is good to go and I do not plan any future upgrades here unless it might be a better dropper post than I have on here now. This bike really tames the terrain here. It's almost silly how easy everything is around here. That's good, and its bad. Bad because it is hard to have a challenging ride around here and you have to travel to places that would push my limits with this bike. Good because I can travel to places with tougher trails and have a capable rig.

Bikes Of 2015: Twin Six Standard Rando

Although it wasn't my bike then, it is now!

This one is a surprise for me. It all started out as a review bike for RidingGravel.com. I figured that I might like it, but after I started riding it, I parked just about everything else I owned and rode this bike fairly exclusively until September when I figured it would have to go back. Then something strange happened.......

I asked Twin Six if they'd sell it to me and for how much. 

I'd pretty much never done that in a decade of reviewing stuff. But, I liked this bike that much. I just am very surprised that it rides as smooth as it does and with such stability and yet has a certain snap. Hard to 'splain it, but all you need to know is that I like it a lot.

The Bike: Twin Six Standard Rando. It is a bike with many purposes, but it seems to suit my gravel travels quite nicely. Here's a quick run down of what it has on it and one thing it will have on it soon....

• Frame/Fork: Twin Six ain't sayin' what kind of steel this is, but it rides really well.
• Drivetrain: SRAM Rival 22 w/mech disc brakes.
• Bars/Stem: fizik with Torx fasteners. (Why?!!) 
• Wheels: Here's the part I didn't buy when I got the bike. I am building up some White Industries hubs to WTB KOM rims. Stay tuned.....

That last part is why this bike hasn't seen the light of day for months. I now have the rims and the hubs are on the way. Sometime this Winter this bike will have wheels again. Why didn't I buy the wheels? Because they weren't what I wanted. Frankly, I don't feel that they were the right way to go in terms of where wheels and tires are headed these days.

Other than that, I probably will end up ditching the crazy fizik stuff and especially that saddle. I see a set of Cowbells headed for this bike, a different stem without Torx bolts, and lighter seat post. But first the wheels and tires will get done. I have a saddle as a replacement, but the rest will come much later.

Bikes Of 2015: Twin Six Standard Rando

Although it wasn't my bike then, it is now!

This one is a surprise for me. It all started out as a review bike for RidingGravel.com. I figured that I might like it, but after I started riding it, I parked just about everything else I owned and rode this bike fairly exclusively until September when I figured it would have to go back. Then something strange happened.......

I asked Twin Six if they'd sell it to me and for how much. 

I'd pretty much never done that in a decade of reviewing stuff. But, I liked this bike that much. I just am very surprised that it rides as smooth as it does and with such stability and yet has a certain snap. Hard to 'splain it, but all you need to know is that I like it a lot.

The Bike: Twin Six Standard Rando. It is a bike with many purposes, but it seems to suit my gravel travels quite nicely. Here's a quick run down of what it has on it and one thing it will have on it soon....

• Frame/Fork: Twin Six ain't sayin' what kind of steel this is, but it rides really well.
• Drivetrain: SRAM Rival 22 w/mech disc brakes.
• Bars/Stem: fizik with Torx fasteners. (Why?!!) 
• Wheels: Here's the part I didn't buy when I got the bike. I am building up some White Industries hubs to WTB KOM rims. Stay tuned.....

That last part is why this bike hasn't seen the light of day for months. I now have the rims and the hubs are on the way. Sometime this Winter this bike will have wheels again. Why didn't I buy the wheels? Because they weren't what I wanted. Frankly, I don't feel that they were the right way to go in terms of where wheels and tires are headed these days.

Other than that, I probably will end up ditching the crazy fizik stuff and especially that saddle. I see a set of Cowbells headed for this bike, a different stem without Torx bolts, and lighter seat post. But first the wheels and tires will get done. I have a saddle as a replacement, but the rest will come much later.

Bikes Of 2015: Titanium Mukluk

The geared fat bike.

This is a fat bike I built up from a frame and fork back at the end of 2011. It is a U.S. made Salsa Cycles Mukluk Titanium and originally it came with a steel fork, but that was swapped over to my son's bike during the fork recall on Mukluks and that hasn't been resolved yet. (Mostly because I forget about doing anything about it.)

Anyway, this bike has been modded constantly until this year when I pretty much brought it up to a state where I am pretty happy with the bike now. There are still a few details I want to address at some point, but for now the Ti Muk will stay in this state for a while to come. Future upgrades will be listed later, but here is the spec as it sits today.

• Frame/Fork: 2012 Titanium Mukluk with On One Fatty carbon fork.
• Wheels/Tires: Rolling Darryls, tubed, with a Bud up front and an unbadged Chinese tire out back which strongly resembles a Panaracer Fat B Nimble. Hubs are Salsa w/Salsa skewers.
• Drive Train- Surly OD Crankset w/36T/22T rings, SRAM cassette, 10spd 11-36T, XT Shadow Plus DynaSys rear derailleur w/clutch, Shimano 105 10spd chain. SRAM x-9 direct mount front derailleur
• Right Shifter- DynaSys 10 speed, Left Shifter- SRAM X-9
• Brakes- Magura Lower end CarboTech model, can't remember the model right now. 
• Bar/Stem: Answer carbon flat bar and Answer aluminum stem. Grips are an Ergon cork model. 
• Seat Post- Body Float with titanium shaft. Saddle is a Velo take off from an SE Racing single speed. 
• Pedals: Fixation Mesa MP
• Accessories: Dave's Mud Shovel rear fender, Bike Bag Dude bags, prototype mud guard on crank.

Future Upgrades: I would like to get a new wheel set on this with tubeless tires at some point. That will be a big expense, but tubeless fat bike ride quality is so vastly superior to riding with tubes it isn't even a consideration for me to stick with tubed wheels and tires. Beyond that though, I think this bike will eventually end up as a 1 X 11 drivetrain. Mostly because I need the tire clearance for a slightly bigger rear tire I have in mind for this bike.

Bikes Of 2015: Titanium Mukluk

The geared fat bike.

This is a fat bike I built up from a frame and fork back at the end of 2011. It is a U.S. made Salsa Cycles Mukluk Titanium and originally it came with a steel fork, but that was swapped over to my son's bike during the fork recall on Mukluks and that hasn't been resolved yet. (Mostly because I forget about doing anything about it.)

Anyway, this bike has been modded constantly until this year when I pretty much brought it up to a state where I am pretty happy with the bike now. There are still a few details I want to address at some point, but for now the Ti Muk will stay in this state for a while to come. Future upgrades will be listed later, but here is the spec as it sits today.

• Frame/Fork: 2012 Titanium Mukluk with On One Fatty carbon fork.
• Wheels/Tires: Rolling Darryls, tubed, with a Bud up front and an unbadged Chinese tire out back which strongly resembles a Panaracer Fat B Nimble. Hubs are Salsa w/Salsa skewers.
• Drive Train- Surly OD Crankset w/36T/22T rings, SRAM cassette, 10spd 11-36T, XT Shadow Plus DynaSys rear derailleur w/clutch, Shimano 105 10spd chain. SRAM x-9 direct mount front derailleur
• Right Shifter- DynaSys 10 speed, Left Shifter- SRAM X-9
• Brakes- Magura Lower end CarboTech model, can't remember the model right now. 
• Bar/Stem: Answer carbon flat bar and Answer aluminum stem. Grips are an Ergon cork model. 
• Seat Post- Body Float with titanium shaft. Saddle is a Velo take off from an SE Racing single speed. 
• Pedals: Fixation Mesa MP
• Accessories: Dave's Mud Shovel rear fender, Bike Bag Dude bags, prototype mud guard on crank.

Future Upgrades: I would like to get a new wheel set on this with tubeless tires at some point. That will be a big expense, but tubeless fat bike ride quality is so vastly superior to riding with tubes it isn't even a consideration for me to stick with tubed wheels and tires. Beyond that though, I think this bike will eventually end up as a 1 X 11 drivetrain. Mostly because I need the tire clearance for a slightly bigger rear tire I have in mind for this bike.

Bikes Of 2015: "Fat Fargo"

The "Fat Fargo" was the "perfect bike" on a couple of occasions

Here's a bike that, to be quite honest, I used far more than I had ever thought I would when this year began. Back in January it was pretty much an experiment in a possible bikepacking platform, maybe reverting back to the XC-ish, dirt oriented Fargo I figured it always would be ever since I have had this 2012 version of the Fargo. A chance at getting to go to the Dirty Kanza 200 ended up changing my outlook on this bike dramatically.

The Bike: This is a Gen 2 version of the Salsa Cycles Fargo model which has been modified to be a 27.5+/B+ type drop bar hard tail bike. I built it up originally from a frame and fork. I'll detail some of the more interesting bits from the current build:

• Wheels: The hubs are '00 era Chris King ISO Disc hubs laced to Velocity USA Blunt 35 rims with Wheelsmith spokes and alloy nipples. 
• Tires: WTB Trailblazer 2.8's tubeless
• Divetrain is a 3X9 using an '07 LX crank and SRAM 9spd 11-36T cassette
• Shifters are a mixed bag. Rear shifter is a Gevenalle 10 speed GX. (YES- ten speed), and the front shifter is a Shimano bar end. 
• Seat Post: Salsa Cycles Regulator titanium 27.2 x 400mm
• Handlebars: Salsa Cycles Cowchipper 46cm. 

The longest ride I have ever done in terms of mileage and time in the saddle was done on this bike at the DK200 last Spring. I also used it at Odin's Revenge, and in both instances I was told by fellow riders that this was "the perfect bike" for the conditions. In many ways, it perhaps was that. I know that at the DK 200 that I had a distinct advantage over many when it came to the mud and water crossings. At Odin's, the "moon dust", ruts, and dirt were easier with the bigger, cushy tires. I had float too when it mattered. 

Disadvantages maybe were more wheel weight, and a heavier over all bike, but honestly, the planted feel and stability the bike had in the higher speed down hills and technical stuff made up for it. Anyway, I don't foresee any major modifications to this set up and I expect to use it again at some events next season. 

Bikes Of 2015: "Fat Fargo"

The "Fat Fargo" was the "perfect bike" on a couple of occasions

Here's a bike that, to be quite honest, I used far more than I had ever thought I would when this year began. Back in January it was pretty much an experiment in a possible bikepacking platform, maybe reverting back to the XC-ish, dirt oriented Fargo I figured it always would be ever since I have had this 2012 version of the Fargo. A chance at getting to go to the Dirty Kanza 200 ended up changing my outlook on this bike dramatically.

The Bike: This is a Gen 2 version of the Salsa Cycles Fargo model which has been modified to be a 27.5+/B+ type drop bar hard tail bike. I built it up originally from a frame and fork. I'll detail some of the more interesting bits from the current build:

• Wheels: The hubs are '00 era Chris King ISO Disc hubs laced to Velocity USA Blunt 35 rims with Wheelsmith spokes and alloy nipples. 
• Tires: WTB Trailblazer 2.8's tubeless
• Divetrain is a 3X9 using an '07 LX crank and SRAM 9spd 11-36T cassette
• Shifters are a mixed bag. Rear shifter is a Gevenalle 10 speed GX. (YES- ten speed), and the front shifter is a Shimano bar end. 
• Seat Post: Salsa Cycles Regulator titanium 27.2 x 400mm
• Handlebars: Salsa Cycles Cowchipper 46cm. 

The longest ride I have ever done in terms of mileage and time in the saddle was done on this bike at the DK200 last Spring. I also used it at Odin's Revenge, and in both instances I was told by fellow riders that this was "the perfect bike" for the conditions. In many ways, it perhaps was that. I know that at the DK 200 that I had a distinct advantage over many when it came to the mud and water crossings. At Odin's, the "moon dust", ruts, and dirt were easier with the bigger, cushy tires. I had float too when it mattered. 

Disadvantages maybe were more wheel weight, and a heavier over all bike, but honestly, the planted feel and stability the bike had in the higher speed down hills and technical stuff made up for it. Anyway, I don't foresee any major modifications to this set up and I expect to use it again at some events next season. 

Bikes Of 2015: Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross

Surprise, surprise! You knew this was coming, didn't you?

When I started this  series on bikes I used during 2015, a lot of you probably thought that this would be showing up sooner or later. It has been in "regular rotation" as a bike I generally use since I purchased the frame and fork four years ago or so. The funny thing about this one is that I get asked a lot about it and what components I have on it. More so than anything else I own.

The Bike: This is a bike from a bike shop with the same name- Black Mountain Cycles- which is located at Point Reyes Station, California. This one is the Monster Cross frame and fork. I call it "Orange Crush", but Black Mountain Cycles founder, Mike Varley, can't do that for obvious reasons. You can get a full build kit from BMC, but I got just the frame set. While I often modify this bike, the basic set up is as follows with this one:

• Crank Set: Older Shimano Non-series five arm 110BCD w/46T/36T rings
• Cassette: SRAM 9 speed 11-34T
• Rear Derailleur: Older Ultegra 9 speed long cage.
• Front Derailleur: 90's vintage top pull Shimano STX
• Shifters/Brake levers: Gevenalle- These are the older non-linear pull type which I mounted Shimano 9spd bar end shifters to. 
• Wheels: Either Velocity USA polished A-23's or HED Ardennes+ with various tires.
• Brakes: Tektro cantilevers
• Stem & Seat Post: Ritchey Classic
• Headset: Origin 8 sealed bearing threadless. 
• Handle Bar: Salsa Cycles 46cm Cowbell
• Saddle: WTB Pure V
• Rack: Velo Orange Pass Hunter
• Bags: Front Rack-  Out of production, sorry!, Frame- Revelate Tangle Bag, Medium, Top Tube Bag- Planet Bike Snack Sack. 
• Fenders: (When Used) Planet Bike Cascadia ALX

Obviously I like this bike a lot. It just plain works and is comfortable. It is by no means perfect from my point of view though. The bottom bracket is too high, and the head angle a bit too steep. This bike gets kinda squirrelly when things get fast and loose, which I am not comfortable with. But mostly it is fun and it can swallow huge tires and have the capability to run fenders all without a truck-like wheel base. Actually, it is a pretty amazing design, and one I often point to when I get feedback from other bike companies saying, "We can't do that.....". Obviously, you could, and the proof is right here in the Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross rig. Now if I could only get Mike Varley to design a disc brake version with a lower BB and slightly slacker head angle.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bikes Of 2015: Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross

Surprise, surprise! You knew this was coming, didn't you?

When I started this  series on bikes I used during 2015, a lot of you probably thought that this would be showing up sooner or later. It has been in "regular rotation" as a bike I generally use since I purchased the frame and fork four years ago or so. The funny thing about this one is that I get asked a lot about it and what components I have on it. More so than anything else I own.

The Bike: This is a bike from a bike shop with the same name- Black Mountain Cycles- which is located at Point Reyes Station, California. This one is the Monster Cross frame and fork. I call it "Orange Crush", but Black Mountain Cycles founder, Mike Varley, can't do that for obvious reasons. You can get a full build kit from BMC, but I got just the frame set. While I often modify this bike, the basic set up is as follows with this one:

• Crank Set: Older Shimano Non-series five arm 110BCD w/46T/36T rings
• Cassette: SRAM 9 speed 11-34T
• Rear Derailleur: Older Ultegra 9 speed long cage.
• Front Derailleur: 90's vintage top pull Shimano STX
• Shifters/Brake levers: Gevenalle- These are the older non-linear pull type which I mounted Shimano 9spd bar end shifters to. 
• Wheels: Either Velocity USA polished A-23's or HED Ardennes+ with various tires.
• Brakes: Tektro cantilevers
• Stem & Seat Post: Ritchey Classic
• Headset: Origin 8 sealed bearing threadless. 
• Handle Bar: Salsa Cycles 46cm Cowbell
• Saddle: WTB Pure V
• Rack: Velo Orange Pass Hunter
• Bags: Front Rack-  Out of production, sorry!, Frame- Revelate Tangle Bag, Medium, Top Tube Bag- Planet Bike Snack Sack. 
• Fenders: (When Used) Planet Bike Cascadia ALX

Obviously I like this bike a lot. It just plain works and is comfortable. It is by no means perfect from my point of view though. The bottom bracket is too high, and the head angle a bit too steep. This bike gets kinda squirrelly when things get fast and loose, which I am not comfortable with. But mostly it is fun and it can swallow huge tires and have the capability to run fenders all without a truck-like wheel base. Actually, it is a pretty amazing design, and one I often point to when I get feedback from other bike companies saying, "We can't do that.....". Obviously, you could, and the proof is right here in the Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross rig. Now if I could only get Mike Varley to design a disc brake version with a lower BB and slightly slacker head angle.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bikes Of 2015

From that one time in 2015 when we actually had snow!

Over the course of the year I have been using an assortment of bicycles and blogging about them here. They have been old friends and new. I guess, in a way, you could say that these were my favorite bikes that I used in 2015. I have other bikes as well, but for whatever reason, they weren't used much- or at all- all year this year.

I thought it might be kind of fun to do a special post on each one that I found here in the past blog posts for 2015. I won't be doing these in any special order, so if I don't get to one you were wondering about, stay tuned.....

Each post will give you a breakdown of each bike- frame, fork, parts, and why I like those things. If there is some future changes in store, I'll detail those as well. If there is a reason I think each bike could be better, I'll say so.

This will be in addition to my usual "Rear View" posts, which will begin next week. So, if you have any requests, please let them be known in the comments. Otherwise, stay tuned for the first bike to be revealed tomorrow. I'm not even sure how many there will be! So, I cannot say if this will go on the rest of this year or just this week. You'll have to keep checking back to see just what I come up with!

Bikes Of 2015

From that one time in 2015 when we actually had snow!

Over the course of the year I have been using an assortment of bicycles and blogging about them here. They have been old friends and new. I guess, in a way, you could say that these were my favorite bikes that I used in 2015. I have other bikes as well, but for whatever reason, they weren't used much- or at all- all year this year.

I thought it might be kind of fun to do a special post on each one that I found here in the past blog posts for 2015. I won't be doing these in any special order, so if I don't get to one you were wondering about, stay tuned.....

Each post will give you a breakdown of each bike- frame, fork, parts, and why I like those things. If there is some future changes in store, I'll detail those as well. If there is a reason I think each bike could be better, I'll say so.

This will be in addition to my usual "Rear View" posts, which will begin next week. So, if you have any requests, please let them be known in the comments. Otherwise, stay tuned for the first bike to be revealed tomorrow. I'm not even sure how many there will be! So, I cannot say if this will go on the rest of this year or just this week. You'll have to keep checking back to see just what I come up with!