SOMA Wolverine Winter/Touring/Won't-Be-Reduced-To-Tears-If-I-Crash-It Bike

If you ask your LBS they could surely save you a bit of the next steerer they cut down and then star nuts are like £1? That paul one is sure to be unneccessarily expensive (or let @chak send you one of course)

The build is looking good so far, any reason you didnt want to use the extra space above the front bottle to extend the frame bag along the downtube? Theres a large saddle bag worth of space to be had there!

Thanks! I didn't extend the bag down any further as I wanted easy access to both bottles.

Options for luggage will be front panniers, bar bag, bar bag extension, sweetie bag on top tube by steerer, frame bag, saddle bag. Hopefully enough storage for any terrain.

You can go around the world with that

I am considering a similar setup, minus the top tube bag (the frame bag provides the same easy accessibility) and probably using a bag on the front rack rather than handlebar bag. This setup should provide enough room for two, summertime weather.

Yeah, that sound's great!

I'm just waiting on the wheels for this now and then I can book it in to get built up. Soon...

The wheels are finally here! They took forever coming from Strada because they were out of stock of the rims. Strada were great though, as soon as the rims were in, they built and shipped them that very day and they arrived the next afternoon.

So everything is with The Bicycle Works and will hopefully be built over the weekend.

Will need to take my bags in at some point so we can work out front light placement.

Why the ramblers?

Why not?

They seem like a pretty solid choice for trails, wind farm tracks, etc.

Unless I've missed something?

I have some Maxxis Re-Fuse for more road oriented riding.

Fair do's. That came off a bit strong I suppose. Not disparaging their quality as I've tried them a while and they're decent. Just think there's better and faster out there. G-one's for example are crazy good tyres, well worth the casheesh.

Ah, fair enough!

I wanted something with a bit more tread than the G Ones, they're great looking tyres and if love to try them out though!

Hopefully the Ramblers are big enough/have enough grip for what I intend or I may have to look for something that's 29x2.0 and just run it without mudguards.

Popped in today to check light placement and wiring before any cables are cut.

There's enough room to run my bar bag and fit the front light to the fork crown so I'm well happy with that.
New problem, though; due to the head tube length and spacers, the straps on my Wildcat are too short so will have to lengthen them somehow.

Should be ready on Tuesday and then I've got a 75 mile tour of the Pentlands ready for it's shakedown ride.

I miss the Pentlands.

Plenty photos of the maiden voyage please!

Looks great.

Nice build, I'm tempted by the 66cm Wolverine for n+1, will be interested to hear your feedback.

66cm? Are you the BFG?

Looks corking that

This looks splendiferous

Picked this up this morning and headed off to the Pentlands for a little blast.

Headed from town towards the historic town Colington and then up towards one of the roads that leads to the start of a track. This is looking back over Edinburgh (you can just about make out the shape of the castle in the background).

Aaaannnnddd this is what I was after! Some proper clay like mud to throw the Ramblers in at the deep end.

They were pretty shite in the mud, to be honest. Slipping all over the place with no traction on the rear. They shed mud pretty quickly though but I guess that's down to the tread being not to aggressive. Anyway, onwards and upwards...

Little higher now. There's a farm at the end of the grassy track and then I should start to hit some paths.

It's almost a path.

It's a path.

You'll see the weather isn't too hot.

The Wolverine rides very nicely. It doesn't really feel too heavy. Sure it take a little while to get it rolling but once it's on it's way it feels lovely. Fizik saddle is ok I guess, it's quite comfy on the front when riding normally and I really like it nearer the back when climbing. Should have worn padded shorts though, chefs gooch is no laughing matter. Especially on a new saddle.

That frame bag is perfect for making a whole baguette into a sandwich to take out with you.

I challenge you to find me another reservoir dam with such sick pave.

I rode around for a few miles more. Tried to get up a really steep hill that I could never get up on my SSMTB but couldn't get up even with the encouragement of some hillwalkers.

Shredded it back down to give the brakes a proper test and then punctured. Wouldn't be a shakedown ride without a puncture now, would it?

Weather was getting pretty crap now so I hotfooted it down the hill and to the safety of the Union Canal path. Home for coffee!

Now that's a good fucking idea!

Anyway, TLDR: the Wolverine is great and I like it.

Will go out later to test the lights. Will keep you posted.

Been there done that

Would be behind the seat post be more aero tho? I'm sure @Eamesy will have access to some mega ingredients in his line of work!

Also you should bring the Wolverine back to Wales when its the joint birthday for Stu and Dave (and you?) we can go on a ride!

Well it's funny you should mention that as it is indeed coming back to Swansea with me (from the 10th of May to be exact) and I have a cheeky 500 mile tour of South Wales planned.

Ohh where and when? Are you camping?