A Straggler for all occasions (and 2018 pivot mach 6 carbon)

Replaced the lost bar end plug... and it only cost me 4p!

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Funny when actual money is cheaper to use than plastic. Looks cool too.

sounds like a great trip!

this guy has a nice account of riding rough stuff in high atlas: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=10622&v=Dq

Trip sound amazing, what's your plan for the rack?

Thanks. Interesting trip report- his photos have got me even more excited for the mountain leg of the trip!

I have a design in my head (when I design/ make something, there's very rarely anything on paper) for a set of racks. I dont want to give too much away now, but don't expect anything revolutionary. Just really clean and simple, and made to fit the frame/fork/bag combination exactly. This means no adjustable mounting brackets, which have the potential to come loose, squeak, rattle etc, and are unsightly.
Ive got some 10mm diameter, 1mm wall thickness, hollow round. It's 304 grade stainless, which I think this should be adequate for this design.
I've already made and tested the bending tool (see the bottom of page 2 for a bit about that. I'll take a picture of the finished tool at some point), which was probably far more time consuming than actually making the racks, but haven't started bending anything yet because I want to buy the bags first, to really get a perfect fit/ position with everything togehter. I really want a set of front and rear super c panniers, but am too skint at the moment, and don't want to compromise, so will probably happen in the new year. This gives me time to work on my tig welding too, as it's not something I've done much of, and it's a skill which I'd like to work on. My mate is giving me some lessons, and i'm practising on scrap at the moment.

Can anyone recommend some riser bars with slightly more backsweep than typical mtb bars? Need to be 31.8mm clamp and at least 680mm wide. I don't want loads of backsweep, just a tad more than the answer pro taper 810s, which I'm using now.
Cheers

Gusset Stash?

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/components-c9/handlebars-bar-ends-c75/stash-bar-p13460

That might work. Cheers. I'll order some, and see how they feel.

And humpert something from SJS as well

Humpert are the same but cheaper and come in polished silver. They also have many many more sweep options.

I've had a set of their 'city cruisers' before, but ideally want something with a bit less sweep. What were the bars on your cdf, when you came camping up here, @spotter?

Bontrager have a few cheap options, e.g.

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/components-c9/handlebars-bar-ends-c75/satellite-trekking-riser-handlebar-p14443/s42058

I used to have these

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/black-humpert-trekking-handlebars-318mm-clamp-590mm/

But now I favour these:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/black-humpert-moon-flat-handlebars-23-deg-318mm-clamp-625mm/

However both quite a bit narrower than you requested 680mm

On One OG is 680mm with 25° back sweep

Perfect. Those look just the ticket.

Thanks. Yeah, a little on the narrow side unfortunately. I think I'll try the on one bars, and polish them up to match the rest of the bike

I've just ordered the panniers, the on one handlebars (Thanks @TomvanHalen ), and a set of Terrene Elwood tyres, which look like they should be the business for Morocco. Also ordered a much needed new set of shoes. Looking forward to having the bike set up for this trip.

np! Carradice Super C panniers was it? Let us know how you get on with them

My new mountain bike frame just turned up! I work as a mechanic for pivot factory racing; travelling round with the downhill world cup circuit and some other events throughout the year. I get a frame as part of my deal, and I'd almost forgotten about it, but a very pretty 2018 mach 6 carbon has just turned up. I'm probably going to use the xt/xtr kit from the straggler, and replace that with bb7s and Sram eagle 12 speed (after the tour of morocco). Will also swap the carbon rims onto the trail bike, and get some alloy wtb rims for the straggler.
I've got a renthal carbon bar and stem for it, but need to buy some forks, hubs, cranks and a dropper post to get it built, so it won't happen for a little while, realistically. I'd like to get it finished to take with me on Annelis. It'd be pretty nice to be able to turn up somewhere, assemble the trail bike and go for a shred/ explore.

Much want!

Came back to mum and dad's house for the festivities, and this was waiting. It's like Christmas (the fact that it's actually Christmas is purely coincidental)!

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Took a brief break from Christmas, and spent an hour in dad's shed; hand polishing and fitting the OG bars. Flipped the stem, and initial impression is: they feel great, but the hoses are a little on the short side, due to the backswept angle of the levers requiring a longer loop. It's rideable for now, although the levers have to be angled slightly too far down, to help stop the loop of hose being too tight. I'll have swap the rear hose to the front, and buy a new one for the rear. Will also buy a spare to take to morocco, in case I damage one out there (will be carrying a pretty thorough tool kit, including a bleed kit anyway) It also means I'll be able to swap the new rear to the front, and use the spare as the rear for the mach 6, when i get round to building that up.

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So good with the XTR levers

Black stem with silver bars and headset is a winner