Monster, Monsteur, Monstour , 26/29+ and Expedition and Adventure bikes

Think that photo might be private.

Bugger, cheers for the heads up, fixed!

Ooooohhhhh me likey

Very nice...conti x-Kings are my tyre of choice too.....

Thanks guys, I've only had it a month or so but I'm pretty pleased with it so far. It sure isn't light but it rolls over everything!

Novel way of fitting the front guard. Might have to copy that when I put full guards on the Ogre this Winter :-)

Nice ride! I didn't really have a choice with mudguards as the stays are too short to reach the eyelets, but it works I guess.

Something like this needed, I think....

1 Attachment

Salvage some motorcycle fenders!

I'm looking into it ;0)

By the way, they would be 'motorbike mudguards' .....

:0)

Really enjoyed reading through this. Here is my Straggler with flat bar. Had drops on it for ages, for a few light tours etc, but the flat bar really opens her up for winter riding.

1 Attachment

https://www.flickr.com/photos/munakoira/22103138171/ my current rad rider

that is ace. what's the frame?

it is 1996 marin san rafael. Decent frame

It looked even worst when i found it. Covered by chrome burner, moss and bird shit

After some advice on rims.
Looking at ordering a custom build from CRC so choice is limited to what they can offer. Up to 2.5" tyres. Will be riding tarmac (in/out of city), off-road (days out, multiple day tours), really trying to nail an all-terrain fun and travel bike. No suspension.
Now the most limiting part - budget of around £300 give or take for the wheel set (excl. tyres). Hope Pro 2 Evo Disc hubs since need to be SRAM XD compatible. Plus the spokes. Leaves me with choice of rims priced around £30 each... Maybe 40.
Not including my shortlist here atm - but what could you suggest?
Any defaults people go for at this price and riding purposes? Or save up for something decent?
Cheers

Ah ha, snap!

Her is my Fortitude in Commuter mode. Think the 2.15 Big Apples are about max on a 65mm mudguard.

1 Attachment

It's just about to gain these bits too. Slightly flared drops with the Alfine shifter going on the bar extension. Almost got it done this weekend, before>>>>confessions thread.

Also, planning on DIYing some mudguard flaps as the coverage could be better. A method was posted in the mudguard thread utilising bin liners and an iron. Just need to find the time.

1 Attachment

Nice! How do you find the Big Apples? I had some Halo Twin Rails on for a week or so but went back to the X-Kings.
I also kind of had the same plans as you, I managed to pick up some Versa Alfine 11 shifters from the forum and was going to get some Salsa Cowchipper bars, instead I've actually just fitted some Jones H-Bar Bend clones by Humpert, they were super cheap and they feel pretty good:

Great. Roll well, cushion everything and corner on tarmac like nothing else. Perfect on towpaths and solid singletrack, slidy on anything loose as you'd expect however they are so wide that you can drift them over more predictably than any other tyre I've used. They don't just wash out and leave you, you can kinda manage it through the turn which is actually good fun.

Bars wise, thinking the bike may be a touch long now with the extra reach. Think this is the norm on these kind of bikes unless designed with drop bars in mind. Anyway, picking up a shorter stem later this week to see if it helps without hindering handling too much. Will post update with pics.

Sounds good, I'll certainly consider giving them a shot if I get sick of the X-Kings.

Stem wise, you might find a bit of rise also helps, I picked up a shorter stem with a 30deg rise when I was running the flat bars, certainly improved the reach. This is what I bought: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-comp-30-degree-stem/

News bars on and wrapped. Short stem helps the fit and still handles well both on road and off. The slight flare really helps keep things comfy and the shifter position works surprisingly well. Just need to sort out mudguard flaps and the gearing. Spend 90% of my time in 7 and 8. Also need to cut down the shifter cable. It was long on the old flat bars but now looks like I need to lose about a meter.

2 Attachments

Excellent work. Considered doing the same with a Longitude.

great work .. how does it handle?

Handles great, I think. I've not ridden any other similar bikes so not sure what the benchmark is. Off-road, its better with wide flat bars, but I find them uncomfortable on longer flat road slogs. The drop bars are loads better in this respect and also nice to be able to hunch in for a headwind.

That all said, I'm surprised at how much I like riding offroad in the drops, still loads of control, feels secure and strangely racey.

All in, I'm pretty chuffed. Next thing is to put the big knobblies back on at some point and try some propper off road with the new cockpit.

Nice isn't it? Drop bar 29'ers are so good to ride.