Ritchey Commando 29+

After an incredibly spontaneous purchase, that I'm now post rationalising as a very sensible bid to rationalise my bike collection - I've just purchased a Ritchey Commando frame..

It's a proper fat bike with 170mm rear spacing and 135mm at the front with clearance for 26 x 3.8" tyres. However the riding I do just doesn't warrant the full fat thing, so instead I'm going to go half way and put 27.5+ wheels on with 2.8 tyres. I'm hoping that this shouldn't alter the geometry too much, but as I'm entirely new to the world of mountain bikes I probably wouldn't notice anyway.

Planning something along the lines of this:

or this

Currently all I've got is frame, fork, thomson stem/post and the alpkit jones loop bar knock off.

Planning a 1x10 groupset to keep things simple with a microshift/paul thumbie shifter.

Wheels wise thinking wtb 27.5 i40 rims and then wtb ranger tyres 2.8, unsure on hubs

So outstanding questions are:

• any reasons why I can't build wider fat specific hubs, with non-fat bike rims
  
• is the wider Q factor of fat bikes that noticeable?
  

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Sweet. 27.5+ build-off time!

I have fucked up knees and the Q factor on my fat bike has never bothered me.

I can see any reason why you can't use fat hubs with normal rims. There are lots of people using fat friendly frames with both 29er and fat wheels.

Thanks - good to know.

Does anyone have any 170mm rear / 135mm front hubs they want rid of?

or - any fat bike cranks?

Likely you have solved the above now, but I have some Race Face Next SL G4 with BB available if interested?

I found this thread as I'm thinking of purchasing a Commando myself, out of interest how tall are you and what size did you go for?

Thanks for bumping this, missed it the first time. @plxarc how's progress?

très intéressant

@lmananimal - I've bought a set of Sram X5 fat cranks the other day on ebay, would def. be interested in the raceface cranks but fear they may be beyond my budget.. how much are you after?

I went for the 19", I'm 6'1. However I haven't ridden it yet, so do no know if I've made the right decision..

@russmeyer - There hadn't been much progress for a while until this week, I've now ordered cranks ^ and also getting wheels built up currently by Seabass Cycles, in the end I went for 29+ as I found a good deal on some 35mm Easton ARC Plus rims.

Now trying to decide on:
1) Hydraulic or cable discs? Hydraulics are obviously better at braking, but planning to tour on this, and so cable discs would be easier..
2) what tyres to go for... I have no idea on this front, thinking something between 2.4 - 2.8 - anyone have any thoughts/ ideas? Will mostly be used for bikepacking, needs to be able to tackle the rock strewn dirt roads of yorkshire and similar, more focused on covering distance quickly than getting muddy and gnarly.

Thanks to @lmananimal should be getting paul thumbie mount - so does anyone have a shimano 10 speed rear bar end?

This is freakin' awesome, enjoying following this!

Be aware that 10sp Shimano barcons have a different cable pull to their 10sp mtb mechs. 8/9sp are compatible. SRAM 10sp is the same across road and mtb, but I don't know if a SRAM bar end will fit a thumbie mount.

Also I'd go for hydraulic brakes, they're cheap and extremely reliable. Cables are a ballache

On my cross bike I've got a 9 speed XT rear mech running
10 speed with a 10 speed bar end shifter and that's working well so going to try and find the same one

And on hydraulics. I think you're right. Might as well do it properly

Bits needed:

Anyone got a shimano 10 speed bar end shifter?

And does anyone have a set of hydraulic brakes - thinking deore or xt

I have a Zee 10spd trigger shifter if it's any use?
Are you running drop on this?

Edit: ignore me, just read your first post, after thumbies. Still, if you change yer mind.

Thanks - going to hold out for a band end.

Using the alpkit loop bar, knock off of the jones loop bar

So still hunting for a shimano 9 speed rear mtb rear mech and a 10 speed bar end

Have finally gathered all the parts for this.

Gone for 2.4 maxxis ardents, slx brakes and 1x10 with a Paul thumbie.

Hopefully get it built up over Christmas

Really looking forward to this one!

Yes!

Progress!

Have got the tyres on tubeless. Pretty painless and did them with a cheapo track pump.

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I live a ritchey! This looks like it is going to turn out awesome. I am sure my eyes are playing tricks on me but are your tyres on back to front?

Yes, unfortunately. Easy to tell with maxxis mtb tyres, even without looking at the tread: the maxxis logo always appears both sides, while the name of the tyre is always printed on drivside only.

Cool looking bike though. What are the plans for the rest of it?

Yup. Realised that shortly after taking the photo. Tyres and now the right way round.

Bike is now built up and saw its first outing today, in the snow..

Some iPhone photos from its first day out

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