Surly Troll

Picking up the frame/forks on Tuesday. Parts bin build to start with the wrong size wheels. This should be a more practical replacement for my old Steamroller, suitable for everyday radventurallroadendurogravelbashing... I mean commuting, getting groceries and hopefully the odd comfortable summer camp out.

Yesterday's rummaging turned up most of the stuff I need...

1 Attachment

Are 700c conversions a thing yet?

1 Attachment

Are 700c conversions a thing yet?

Whoa there... that's not until 2018!

Interestingly there's not really much difference between 700x41c and 27.5x2.4", will check clearance at the back tomorrow.

Plan is to get it built with the 700 wheels for Sunday and a stupid hilly gravel/pave/hommage to Flanders type ride. At some point either 27.5x2.1 ish or maybe just fat 26 balloon tyres... we'll see...

1 Attachment

Looking good!

Built up from parts bin stuff last night, running 1x8 friction at the moment, going to switch to 1x10 for Sunday's ride as it works but feels a little clumsy for off road stuff. Picked up 10s chain from the LBS earlier.

Riding to work was fun, looks and feels like a retro mtb. Need to just tweak contact points a little. Will stick the functional bits (mudguard, rack, wire dynamo etc.) next week. Did find some old polo stickers though!

1 Attachment

Where's that gravel in Manchester? I always find cycleways full of dog walkers or mtb trails full of stones

nm - ignore

Unfortunately it starts after a 40km "transport stage" along the canal to Hebden Bridge :(

Started to feel like i'm coming down with a cold, hopefully can sleep that off tonight...

Or you can just pick a train and arrive fresh ;)

Victoria closed at the moment...

Huge gravel ride did't really happen. Full of cold Friday night/Saturday. Did get out for a shakedown ride on Sunday with LBS owners and their new toy though...

Rode out of Manchester to Marsden on a mix of farm tracks, moorland, grit and cobbles. Other than nearly being caught in a car crash, it was a pretty rad day out.

The front end feels a bit high and the 700c Knards do feel a little too nimble off-road (although it's fun to chuck around town, feels a bit like my old MKE Bruiser polo bike). Might have been running the tyres a little high or it could be the geo. Looking forward to trying out the 650b wheels in it next. 30t front ring is too low, need to pick up a 36 or 38 from the LBS. For the moment I've thrown some Chromoplastics on for commuting. Here's a washed out IG picture...

Leftover mud from Sunday...

Really need to pop the rack on too, commuting with rucksack/messenger bag >>>>>>>>>>>

That tandem is ace. What make is it?

Salsa Powderkeg!

Such burly looking forks. Much want.

That the lass from Keep Pedalling?
Must be one of the friendliest bike shops I've been in, and very knowledgeable.

Looking good! What rear hub are you using, is the spacing 130 or 135 mm? Thanks

It's an old Shimano LX hub, 135 spaced.

Picked up some second hand Jones loops, chopped to a commuter friendly 660mm and fitted over the weekend. Works, very comfortable but a bit of a pain to use with the basket. Going to try and drop the rack some more, or maybe start saving for one of Surly's 24 pack racks... That would mean having to make another bag though...

Took the Troll out this weekend. Managed to put together a 55mile loop out or Manchester to Marple/Whaley Bridge, mostly on farm tracks, tow paths and other bridleways, probably less than 5 miles on tarmac. Steve took a few photos...

Click pics for the rest of the shots :)

From commuting to the upcoming Cairngorms Loop ITT...

Spent Thursday/Friday evenings switching a few bits getting this ready for a trip to Scotland over the bank holiday weekend. A quick lap of some local trails on Saturday revealed what I thought was a loose cassette, trying to fix it in the evening I realised the hubs need a spacer for 10s cassettes, so much for today's planned shakedown ride. Managed to get it sorted this afternoon and get things packed, weather went to shit though so I guess I'll take it out tomorrow evening instead. Hope nothing falls off...

1 Attachment

Cairngorms Loop didn't happen in the end, girlfriend knocked off her bike and on crutches a couple of days before (fine now thankfully!) and then the group start cancelled due to the weather.

Did get out and ride the bike a couple of times with gears and these wheels. Riding fully loaded took a bit of getting used to on roots and steps around some local "trails", then a day riding without the bags in the Pennines was loads of fun, despite grim conditions. Just as manuverable as the 1x1, narrower bars felt fine and it was good to cruise up hills in 30x36 rather than grinding up them...

Since then commuter wheels have been built, Velocity Blunt SS, SP dyno front, Hope Trails at the back. Running 2" Marathon Mondials. Not exactly comfortable, even at 20psi, but I'd be suprised if they're not still rolling in 10 years...

Running 1x6 with an old friction shifter/thumbie, great for cruising round town, 44-28 probably low enough for any local off-road stuff. 65mm SKS Blumels to keep the mud off, need to make some new flaps before winter crawls back round. Swapped the Jones Loops for a H-bar to give better access to the rack. Full photos later, just a little teaser before the rack and stuff went on, only thing left to do now is figure out a way to bodge an Exposure bracket to the rack and wire the dynamo up!

1 Attachment

Getting there... (yet another crappy phone picture).

1 Attachment

Man I really like that. Your trips sound good too when I finally get child free time!
I will look out for this round manchester for a closer look? Im on a gringo or 1x1 if a giant waves at you!