Slow Day At The Office

The current state of the Snow Dog

Wednesday was cold, dreary, and it rained/snowed/sleeted almost all day. It was an awesome start to November. (sarcasm alert) Yeah........soooo exciting! 

I ran an errand on the 1X1 across town, then I piddled around the house doing things I should have gotten done when it was Sunny, nice, and I wanted to get out and ride. We need the dreary days, that's certainly true, if not for anything else but for getting those "in the way of cycling" chores done. And rest. We should rest sometimes.......

I haven't been motivated enough to get out in the windy, cold weather on gravel. It has been very windy here of late, and just riding around in town has been a chore in acclimatizing oneself again to cold weather riding. I imagine once the shock of it wears off I'll be out there again. It was only a week ago I was riding coatless out in the country. Not anymore!

This colder weather has hit sooner, it seems to me, than it has for several years. I know we've had decent, snow free roads till December for several years now. I'm hoping that is the case again because not only do I need to ride more country roads, I need to get going on Trans Iowa recon!

So, I have been riding the fat bikes more again. I haven't busted out the Blackborow yet, but the Ti Muk and The Snow Dog have been in the rotation quite a bit of late. It just seems like fat biking weather to me again, what with this onslaught of cold, windy weather we've had recently.

The Ti Muk from a recent Dirt Home From Work ride on the banks of the Cedar River.

I was thinking about redoing the Snow Dog with some new bits, but instead I just popped on a new 9 speed chain, which was all it really needed. I saw that the powdercoat is bubbling off the chain and seat stay braces pretty badly. The old dog is nearly seven years old now. That frame is woefully outdated, and the components, while serviceable, are tired and old as well. The frame/fork owe me nothing. The Snow Dog has given me a good life of service.

Surly's Wednesday frame/fork- Possible Snow Dog upgrade.

I could do a new powder coat, and that would keep it going, I suppose. But I was also thinking I could just as well upgrade to something a little more modern, useful to me, and also be able to swap over all my components with the exception of the seat post and headset. That upgrade would be a Surly Wednesday frame/fork.

Yes, the Wednesday has a 150mm spaced front fork, but....My spare Ti Muk fork would go right in there and look fab, since it is black. Then that solves the issue with having to switch hubs on the front wheel. The seat post size is a dropper standard 30.9mm, so my current 27.2mm would have to be shimmed if I wanted to use it. Essentially, I could use everything I already have but the head set, and I may even have that at work in my tool box. Potentially, I may need nothing but a seat post shim. But worst case scenario, it would be what I stated previously for parts, and that isn't bad at all.

The Wednesday does have bigger tire clearances than the Snow Dog, it has all the same, expedition type braze-ons, and eventually I could upgrade to the wider front hub and have everything up to snuff with regard to "standards". Besides, the Wednesday has through axles compatibility as well, which the Snow Dog does not have at all. The head set is tapered steer tube compatible, and the Snow Dog's is not, and neither is it suspension fork compatible. Upgrading the frame from the Snow Dog makes a lot of sense. It would almost be like coming from the 90's in to the teens of the 21st Century in terms of upgrades.

Will I pull the trigger? Maybe. Probably. I don't know...... These are the things that happen when you have too much time on your hands and it is slow.

Slow Day At The Office

The current state of the Snow Dog

Wednesday was cold, dreary, and it rained/snowed/sleeted almost all day. It was an awesome start to November. (sarcasm alert) Yeah........soooo exciting! 

I ran an errand on the 1X1 across town, then I piddled around the house doing things I should have gotten done when it was Sunny, nice, and I wanted to get out and ride. We need the dreary days, that's certainly true, if not for anything else but for getting those "in the way of cycling" chores done. And rest. We should rest sometimes.......

I haven't been motivated enough to get out in the windy, cold weather on gravel. It has been very windy here of late, and just riding around in town has been a chore in acclimatizing oneself again to cold weather riding. I imagine once the shock of it wears off I'll be out there again. It was only a week ago I was riding coatless out in the country. Not anymore!

This colder weather has hit sooner, it seems to me, than it has for several years. I know we've had decent, snow free roads till December for several years now. I'm hoping that is the case again because not only do I need to ride more country roads, I need to get going on Trans Iowa recon!

So, I have been riding the fat bikes more again. I haven't busted out the Blackborow yet, but the Ti Muk and The Snow Dog have been in the rotation quite a bit of late. It just seems like fat biking weather to me again, what with this onslaught of cold, windy weather we've had recently.

The Ti Muk from a recent Dirt Home From Work ride on the banks of the Cedar River.

I was thinking about redoing the Snow Dog with some new bits, but instead I just popped on a new 9 speed chain, which was all it really needed. I saw that the powdercoat is bubbling off the chain and seat stay braces pretty badly. The old dog is nearly seven years old now. That frame is woefully outdated, and the components, while serviceable, are tired and old as well. The frame/fork owe me nothing. The Snow Dog has given me a good life of service.

Surly's Wednesday frame/fork- Possible Snow Dog upgrade.

I could do a new powder coat, and that would keep it going, I suppose. But I was also thinking I could just as well upgrade to something a little more modern, useful to me, and also be able to swap over all my components with the exception of the seat post and headset. That upgrade would be a Surly Wednesday frame/fork.

Yes, the Wednesday has a 150mm spaced front fork, but....My spare Ti Muk fork would go right in there and look fab, since it is black. Then that solves the issue with having to switch hubs on the front wheel. The seat post size is a dropper standard 30.9mm, so my current 27.2mm would have to be shimmed if I wanted to use it. Essentially, I could use everything I already have but the head set, and I may even have that at work in my tool box. Potentially, I may need nothing but a seat post shim. But worst case scenario, it would be what I stated previously for parts, and that isn't bad at all.

The Wednesday does have bigger tire clearances than the Snow Dog, it has all the same, expedition type braze-ons, and eventually I could upgrade to the wider front hub and have everything up to snuff with regard to "standards". Besides, the Wednesday has through axles compatibility as well, which the Snow Dog does not have at all. The head set is tapered steer tube compatible, and the Snow Dog's is not, and neither is it suspension fork compatible. Upgrading the frame from the Snow Dog makes a lot of sense. It would almost be like coming from the 90's in to the teens of the 21st Century in terms of upgrades.

Will I pull the trigger? Maybe. Probably. I don't know...... These are the things that happen when you have too much time on your hands and it is slow.

Friday News And Views

Trek's Gnarwall studded fat bike tires should be available this Winter

Fat Bike Tires:

Yesterday I learned that the new Gnarwall studded fat bike tire will be available this Winter and the retail should be about $245.00 each. Ouch! I was hoping that these might be a bit better priced, since the other tires out there for fat bikes with studs aren't cheap either. However; one can hope that you will actually be able to get these tires, unlike the competition's offerings.

 Trek will also have the 4.7" "Barbegazi" tires available aftermarket, which are nice looking treads. I'd be interested in these because of their tubeless compatibility, despite their not being as big as maybe the Lou tires are. Finally, I also saw that the 27.5 X 3.8" "Hodad" treads will be available aftermarket too, but obviously that may not be a hot seller right away! 27.5" diameter fat bike tires seem like an odd deal, and without anyone else moving toward that size, (as yet, anyway), I have to wonder how long that will last as a tire size for fat bikes.

On the 29+ front, Trek seems to be cautiously watching where the trends are going. It seems that the vibe I'm getting is that Trek is taking a wait and see approach before doing anything more with that format. Obviously, the trend industry-wide isn't backing Trek up on the 29+ front, so it should be interesting to see where 29+ goes in a couple of years from now. Right now all I hear is positives about the Stache 29+ bikes and that seems to be about the only 29+ rig out now that anyone is buzzing about, besides the touring/bikepacking Surly ECR and upcoming Salsa Deadwood bike.

Surly's new "Wednesday" (Really! That's its name) fat bike.

New Surly Fat Bike:

Surly Bikes unleashed a rather strangely named fat bike Wednesday at Eurobike dubbed the.....Wednesday. Yes, it is real. The bike is named after a day of the week.

Apparently the weekend days were trade marked already!

Anyway, what we have here is a continuation of Surly's updating throughout the line which started with the resurrection of the Instigator and then the ICT, Karate Monkey, and now the newest bike, the Wednesday which features many of the small details that Surly has been using of late. This one has geometry that reflects the Krampus and Instigator bikes with a slacker front and shorter rear/center. The 26 X 3.8" tires/wheels are the realm of this number and obviously, that makes it a primo candidate for a 27.5+ conversion. The front fork is "Bluto spaced" at 150mmOD, so the Bluto fork is an easy swap here.

I find this bike to be a great addition to Surly's line up, albeit about two years too late, and it brings up the question: "Where does this leave the venerable Pugsley?" Also, how is it that the Ice Cream Truck doesn't make the Moonlander obsolete? Anyway, I feel that at some point push is coming to shove and the offset fat bikes Surly has now will be a thing of the past.

MOBD fat bike rims from Surly- Coming Soon!!

Surly Announces New Fat Bike Rims: 

One of my biggest complaints against Surly fat bike rims was that they were not tubeless ready. Well, that is all about to change here very soon. Just announced at Eurobike, we can expect the "My Other Brother Darryl" rims to be coming out sometime in the near future.

These will be offered as stock on Wednesday bikes, but those will be pinned rim versions and you won't be able to purchase those separately. The aftermarket MOBD rims will be welded seam rims. There is also a difference in cut outs which reflects how the rims can be laced. The hexagonal hole MOBD rims can be offset laced to Pugsleys and Moonlanders. The ones with triangular shaped cut outs are meant for symmetrical fat bikes like Wednedays, ICT's, Mukluks, etc. Finally, you can get them polished or in black anodized finishes. Weights are claimed to be in the sub 700 gram area, but we'll see about that. If so, that is very competitive with the carbon fiber rims out of China. Obviously those carbon rims do not require rim strips, but the Surly ones will. I think a bit of color in the rim strips showing through is cool, so I'm okay with that.

I don't know much else about these now, but the polished ones would be cool on the Snow Dog.That and a good set of tubeless tires and a 1X set up..... That may become a new project bike.

And Finally.....

 I was reminded yesterday of the short time we have on this Earth when I learned of the death of one of my Uncles. Don't waste anymore time and say those things you should say to the ones you love, spend time doing the things that bring you joy, and try to do something nice for someone everyday. You never know when your time is done here.....

Have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

Trek's Gnarwall studded fat bike tires should be available this Winter

Fat Bike Tires:

Yesterday I learned that the new Gnarwall studded fat bike tire will be available this Winter and the retail should be about $245.00 each. Ouch! I was hoping that these might be a bit better priced, since the other tires out there for fat bikes with studs aren't cheap either. However; one can hope that you will actually be able to get these tires, unlike the competition's offerings.

 Trek will also have the 4.7" "Barbegazi" tires available aftermarket, which are nice looking treads. I'd be interested in these because of their tubeless compatibility, despite their not being as big as maybe the Lou tires are. Finally, I also saw that the 27.5 X 3.8" "Hodad" treads will be available aftermarket too, but obviously that may not be a hot seller right away! 27.5" diameter fat bike tires seem like an odd deal, and without anyone else moving toward that size, (as yet, anyway), I have to wonder how long that will last as a tire size for fat bikes.

On the 29+ front, Trek seems to be cautiously watching where the trends are going. It seems that the vibe I'm getting is that Trek is taking a wait and see approach before doing anything more with that format. Obviously, the trend industry-wide isn't backing Trek up on the 29+ front, so it should be interesting to see where 29+ goes in a couple of years from now. Right now all I hear is positives about the Stache 29+ bikes and that seems to be about the only 29+ rig out now that anyone is buzzing about, besides the touring/bikepacking Surly ECR and upcoming Salsa Deadwood bike.

Surly's new "Wednesday" (Really! That's its name) fat bike.

New Surly Fat Bike:

Surly Bikes unleashed a rather strangely named fat bike Wednesday at Eurobike dubbed the.....Wednesday. Yes, it is real. The bike is named after a day of the week.

Apparently the weekend days were trade marked already!

Anyway, what we have here is a continuation of Surly's updating throughout the line which started with the resurrection of the Instigator and then the ICT, Karate Monkey, and now the newest bike, the Wednesday which features many of the small details that Surly has been using of late. This one has geometry that reflects the Krampus and Instigator bikes with a slacker front and shorter rear/center. The 26 X 3.8" tires/wheels are the realm of this number and obviously, that makes it a primo candidate for a 27.5+ conversion. The front fork is "Bluto spaced" at 150mmOD, so the Bluto fork is an easy swap here.

I find this bike to be a great addition to Surly's line up, albeit about two years too late, and it brings up the question: "Where does this leave the venerable Pugsley?" Also, how is it that the Ice Cream Truck doesn't make the Moonlander obsolete? Anyway, I feel that at some point push is coming to shove and the offset fat bikes Surly has now will be a thing of the past.

MOBD fat bike rims from Surly- Coming Soon!!

Surly Announces New Fat Bike Rims: 

One of my biggest complaints against Surly fat bike rims was that they were not tubeless ready. Well, that is all about to change here very soon. Just announced at Eurobike, we can expect the "My Other Brother Darryl" rims to be coming out sometime in the near future.

These will be offered as stock on Wednesday bikes, but those will be pinned rim versions and you won't be able to purchase those separately. The aftermarket MOBD rims will be welded seam rims. There is also a difference in cut outs which reflects how the rims can be laced. The hexagonal hole MOBD rims can be offset laced to Pugsleys and Moonlanders. The ones with triangular shaped cut outs are meant for symmetrical fat bikes like Wednedays, ICT's, Mukluks, etc. Finally, you can get them polished or in black anodized finishes. Weights are claimed to be in the sub 700 gram area, but we'll see about that. If so, that is very competitive with the carbon fiber rims out of China. Obviously those carbon rims do not require rim strips, but the Surly ones will. I think a bit of color in the rim strips showing through is cool, so I'm okay with that.

I don't know much else about these now, but the polished ones would be cool on the Snow Dog.That and a good set of tubeless tires and a 1X set up..... That may become a new project bike.

And Finally.....

 I was reminded yesterday of the short time we have on this Earth when I learned of the death of one of my Uncles. Don't waste anymore time and say those things you should say to the ones you love, spend time doing the things that bring you joy, and try to do something nice for someone everyday. You never know when your time is done here.....

Have a great weekend!