I've acquired a couple more components for the custom fat bike build, but pics/info will have to wait until next time.
Stopping is half the fun...
Saturday, January 28
Night Riding in January
It's a quick post this week... just a few pics from yesterday's night ride.
I've acquired a couple more components for the custom fat bike build, but pics/info will have to wait until next time.
Stopping is half the fun...
I've acquired a couple more components for the custom fat bike build, but pics/info will have to wait until next time.
Stopping is half the fun...
Saturday, January 21
The Minnehaha Ice Road
The Minnehaha Creek was completely rideable from Cedar Ave. to Lake Harriet today, and by the looks of it, the frozen creek has become a popular route. Along with the usual footprints and XC ski tracks, I saw several fat bike tracks on the snow-covered creek... Endomorph, Larry, Nate and Husker Du were all well represented.
When I got to the lake, I did a lap on the ice, staying about 50-100 feet from shore. I had thought about doing a second one, but the headwind while finishing up the first lap changed my mind. So I snapped a few pics, and headed back the way I came.
It's hard to say for sure, but I think the 2.1" studded tires were the ticket today. There were a few spots where I broke through a top layer of crusty ice, but it looked like the fat bikes were also having the same issue. The studded tires definitely had the advantage on the freshly frozen sections and under the bridges where there wasn't any snow. The 45Nrth Arcwelders never lost traction for any significant amount of time, but I think the added bite of a DIY tire might be in my future.
One nice surprise during the ride was the Gravity Dropper seatpost. It's on the GED simply because I wasn't using it on any other bikes, but it was unexpectedly handy today, allowing me to ride under a couple low bridges without stopping to lower my seat.
Seeing the Husker Du tracks has got me thinking... the tread looks pretty good. It's knobby but not to the extreme like Nate. Low tread profile like Larry, but it's a bit more aggressive. So now I'm thinking a Husker Du front/Big Fat Larry rear (or maybe even two Husker Dus) might be the way to go on my custom fat bike project. I do like the fact that the Husker Du is relatively light, for a fat tire.
Stopping is half the fun...
When I got to the lake, I did a lap on the ice, staying about 50-100 feet from shore. I had thought about doing a second one, but the headwind while finishing up the first lap changed my mind. So I snapped a few pics, and headed back the way I came.
It's hard to say for sure, but I think the 2.1" studded tires were the ticket today. There were a few spots where I broke through a top layer of crusty ice, but it looked like the fat bikes were also having the same issue. The studded tires definitely had the advantage on the freshly frozen sections and under the bridges where there wasn't any snow. The 45Nrth Arcwelders never lost traction for any significant amount of time, but I think the added bite of a DIY tire might be in my future.
One nice surprise during the ride was the Gravity Dropper seatpost. It's on the GED simply because I wasn't using it on any other bikes, but it was unexpectedly handy today, allowing me to ride under a couple low bridges without stopping to lower my seat.
Seeing the Husker Du tracks has got me thinking... the tread looks pretty good. It's knobby but not to the extreme like Nate. Low tread profile like Larry, but it's a bit more aggressive. So now I'm thinking a Husker Du front/Big Fat Larry rear (or maybe even two Husker Dus) might be the way to go on my custom fat bike project. I do like the fact that the Husker Du is relatively light, for a fat tire.
Stopping is half the fun...
Sunday, January 15
Around Town...
I spent Saturday afternoon riding around South Mpls in the snow. We only got about a 1/4 inch, but it was fun to be out riding while the white stuff was coming down. It actually felt like winter! I rode my KHS Errand Bike, which I am really liking... comfortable riding position, good handling, and plenty of traction in the snow with the knobby 29er tires.
I could see getting a pair of road-worthy studded tires for this bike if I commuted to work on it, but I can't justify the cost of carbide-tipped tires on a bike that only gets used a couple times a week to run errands.
I rode my South Mpls Loop (but in reverse) with a couple stops along the way. First stop was at Hiawatha Cyclery to get another component for the upcoming fat bike build. While I was there I started talking to the guys about the Revelate Designs bags they have been carrying... in particular the Mountain Feed Bag. They even had one in stock, and I couldn't resist.
It turns out the Feed Bag isn't Fargo-friendly... the lower strap that runs to the fork crown is too short to wrap around the fork crown. It's an easy fix though, a bit of webbing and a couple buckles will provide a clean looking extension. This pack should give me a good place to put a small camera when I can't (or don't want to) attach a camera to my belt.
Continuing on my way, I rode up the Mississippi and west on the Midtown Greenway. The river trail was fairly empty... I passed a handful of runners and walkers, and only a few cyclists. And I had the greenway almost to myself.
The park were the locals play bike polo is a short distance off the greenway, so I swung down to watch some sno-polo and have a couple beers.
I was pretty cold after stopping for so long, but I warmed up quickly as I rode home around the lakes and along the creek. After being cooped up everyday during a long work week, it was nice to get outside. Gloomy January days are much, much more enjoyable when they are spent in the saddle.
Stopping is half the fun...
I could see getting a pair of road-worthy studded tires for this bike if I commuted to work on it, but I can't justify the cost of carbide-tipped tires on a bike that only gets used a couple times a week to run errands.
I rode my South Mpls Loop (but in reverse) with a couple stops along the way. First stop was at Hiawatha Cyclery to get another component for the upcoming fat bike build. While I was there I started talking to the guys about the Revelate Designs bags they have been carrying... in particular the Mountain Feed Bag. They even had one in stock, and I couldn't resist.
It turns out the Feed Bag isn't Fargo-friendly... the lower strap that runs to the fork crown is too short to wrap around the fork crown. It's an easy fix though, a bit of webbing and a couple buckles will provide a clean looking extension. This pack should give me a good place to put a small camera when I can't (or don't want to) attach a camera to my belt.
Continuing on my way, I rode up the Mississippi and west on the Midtown Greenway. The river trail was fairly empty... I passed a handful of runners and walkers, and only a few cyclists. And I had the greenway almost to myself.
The park were the locals play bike polo is a short distance off the greenway, so I swung down to watch some sno-polo and have a couple beers.
I was pretty cold after stopping for so long, but I warmed up quickly as I rode home around the lakes and along the creek. After being cooped up everyday during a long work week, it was nice to get outside. Gloomy January days are much, much more enjoyable when they are spent in the saddle.
Stopping is half the fun...
Saturday, January 7
Custom Fat Bike
I've officially started acquiring bike parts for my first framebuilding project. Earlier this week I picked up a Salsa Enabler fork. I decided that the first frame should be a true fat bike... something that can accommodate a 100mm rim and 4.7" tire in the rear. The Poor Man's Pug has served me well over the years, but the limited rear tire clearance is just that, limiting.
The frame will be based around a 100mm bottom bracket shell, a Salsa Enabler fork, and a 170mm rear hub. The wider hub and BB should provide enough room to squeeze in a super fat rear wheel... likely a Surly Clownshoe rim with a Big Fat Larry tire.
I chose the Enabler fork over the Moonlander fork due to its longer length. The Moonlander's axle-to-crown length is only 447mm; pair that with a 260mm steerer tube, and the fork simply won't get my bars high enough without an awkwardly tall stem. Unfortunately the Enabler I received has a 300mm steerer instead of a 350mm steerer as listed on the Salsa site. It should still be tall enough (468mm a-c length plus 300mm steerer). My guess is that Salsa changed the stock length but didn't update their website.
The Enabler fork may not provide as much tire clearance as the Moonlander, but the extra 61mm of overall height is worth the loss of tire clearance. I'm leaning toward a Rolling Darryl front rim anyway... to save on both money and weight. At 2 meters tall, it's nearly impossible to find a production mountain bike that allows the handlebars to be the same height as my seat. Front end height is almost always too low, even on XL sized frames.
I'm excited to continue getting parts, start building the frame, and eventually riding a fat bike built just for me, by me. This will also free up my modified 1x1 frame... with a frame that versatile it will be fun to come up with a new build for it.
Stopping is half the fun...
The frame will be based around a 100mm bottom bracket shell, a Salsa Enabler fork, and a 170mm rear hub. The wider hub and BB should provide enough room to squeeze in a super fat rear wheel... likely a Surly Clownshoe rim with a Big Fat Larry tire.
I chose the Enabler fork over the Moonlander fork due to its longer length. The Moonlander's axle-to-crown length is only 447mm; pair that with a 260mm steerer tube, and the fork simply won't get my bars high enough without an awkwardly tall stem. Unfortunately the Enabler I received has a 300mm steerer instead of a 350mm steerer as listed on the Salsa site. It should still be tall enough (468mm a-c length plus 300mm steerer). My guess is that Salsa changed the stock length but didn't update their website.
The Enabler fork may not provide as much tire clearance as the Moonlander, but the extra 61mm of overall height is worth the loss of tire clearance. I'm leaning toward a Rolling Darryl front rim anyway... to save on both money and weight. At 2 meters tall, it's nearly impossible to find a production mountain bike that allows the handlebars to be the same height as my seat. Front end height is almost always too low, even on XL sized frames.
I'm excited to continue getting parts, start building the frame, and eventually riding a fat bike built just for me, by me. This will also free up my modified 1x1 frame... with a frame that versatile it will be fun to come up with a new build for it.
Stopping is half the fun...
Sunday, January 1
Out With The Old, In With The New...
I've pretty much given up on making big celebration plans for New Year's Eve... they never seem to live up to the expectations. Instead I finished off 2011 with a bike ride along the MN River followed by some wine and a fantastic home-cooked meal with my wife.
Like the majority of days this December, yesterday was unseasonably warm. Winds were from the south and the sky was mostly cloudy, with occasional peaks of sun. The trail had some damp and icy spots, along with the usual stretches of sand, but for the most part it was smooth and fast.
So far, most of the winter here in MN has looked like the photos above. Ironically the year fat bikes gain mainstream popularity (and the year I buy my wife new XC skis, poles and boots for Christmas), we have no snow. Mpls ended up getting a half inch of snow on New Year's Eve... just to tease us. Definitely not the kind of snowfall that justifies a fat bike. I'm beginning to think we'll never get a sufficient snow base this year to make the fat bike the preferred tool for winter riding. At the very least the season will be much shorter than usual.
I ended up riding the fat front Fargo yesterday. I don't use this bike much during the winter in order to keep it away from the salt and slush ever present in a "normal" Minnesota winter, but given the conditions yesterday it was a good choice.
During my ride along the river, a Bandit Cross race was happening on the same trail, and while I am not very good at taking sport photos, here are a couple I like... (granted the second one isn't really a "sport" photo).
All in all, it was a great way to end the year... even if it did feel like the end of October.
And now that 2011 is complete, my thoughts move to what 2012 may offer. Of course I have the perpetual goal of riding more, but along with that I have the goal of building my own frame. The first pieces of 80/20 arrived this week and I was able to get the basic jig structure put together.
I also attached the tapered washers that hold the head tube. Next up will be the parts to hold the bottom bracket shell and the rear dropouts, and some means to attach the jig to a floor stand. One of my first brazing projects this spring will be to make a floor stand for the jig. I just have to figure out a way to easily rotate the jig on the stand.
I'm still trying to decide on the details of the frame, but I'm really looking forward to working on, and completing, this project later in 2012. It should be another fun year. Happy New Year everyone!
Stopping is half the fun...
Like the majority of days this December, yesterday was unseasonably warm. Winds were from the south and the sky was mostly cloudy, with occasional peaks of sun. The trail had some damp and icy spots, along with the usual stretches of sand, but for the most part it was smooth and fast.
So far, most of the winter here in MN has looked like the photos above. Ironically the year fat bikes gain mainstream popularity (and the year I buy my wife new XC skis, poles and boots for Christmas), we have no snow. Mpls ended up getting a half inch of snow on New Year's Eve... just to tease us. Definitely not the kind of snowfall that justifies a fat bike. I'm beginning to think we'll never get a sufficient snow base this year to make the fat bike the preferred tool for winter riding. At the very least the season will be much shorter than usual.
I ended up riding the fat front Fargo yesterday. I don't use this bike much during the winter in order to keep it away from the salt and slush ever present in a "normal" Minnesota winter, but given the conditions yesterday it was a good choice.
During my ride along the river, a Bandit Cross race was happening on the same trail, and while I am not very good at taking sport photos, here are a couple I like... (granted the second one isn't really a "sport" photo).
All in all, it was a great way to end the year... even if it did feel like the end of October.
And now that 2011 is complete, my thoughts move to what 2012 may offer. Of course I have the perpetual goal of riding more, but along with that I have the goal of building my own frame. The first pieces of 80/20 arrived this week and I was able to get the basic jig structure put together.
I also attached the tapered washers that hold the head tube. Next up will be the parts to hold the bottom bracket shell and the rear dropouts, and some means to attach the jig to a floor stand. One of my first brazing projects this spring will be to make a floor stand for the jig. I just have to figure out a way to easily rotate the jig on the stand.
I'm still trying to decide on the details of the frame, but I'm really looking forward to working on, and completing, this project later in 2012. It should be another fun year. Happy New Year everyone!
Stopping is half the fun...
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