Fuji Jari gnarmac (n-1)

I need to use a pannier bag for commuting, so the rack is mandatory - may as well use it.

Aaah, makes sense :)

Woke up with back pain so riding plans shelved - bit depressing, a lovely ~10°C drizzly morning, maybe the last one before Summer comes on with 3 months of parched 30°C days.

Remade the bag instead with more sensible dimensions and using some light ripstop for the liner instead of heavy cordura which made everything easier - far less faff than the previous iteration. If anyone wants to make something similar, I basically followed this video
, adjusting the corner points to set the tapered shape and adding a basic zipper cover and some loops on the bottom for the webbing to thread through. Bottom is 4.5x13", top is 3.5x11" with a #8 zipper.

On the bike side, switched to to 35mm G-One Speeds and dropped the Roadlink - it was making wheel removal extremely difficult and doesn't seem to be necessary with the 36t cassette anyway.

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Canvas bag waxed and I'm quite happy with it. Went a little overboard with the wax I think, it's stiff as a board but whatever.

The Fuji frame has screws on the top tube for a snack bag, but I couldn't find anything suitable - there's a meh one from Salsa and probably some high dollar boutique stuff. So I made this today, with foam in the sides and a piece of coroplast in the base. Big enough for some bars and nuts. Just need to find or make some large nylon/plastique washers to go inside and out.

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In my experience diy waxed canvas needs a lot of breaking in. And the stiffer they are, the more waterproof they are.

Yes, it's fine. Not like I'm wearing it :)

First two photographs look like Flagstaff and the Flatirons, let me guess - you're 1,500 miles from there?

Spotted! I live in Broomfield now, near Boulder. On that Flagstaff ride I got turned around by the gravel on Gross Dam Road - no good on 25mm tires. Hope to do a full loop with this new bike. I think I read you travel to CO sometimes?

Went for a ride up to Carter Lake today since it's probably the last nice (read: cool) day here until October. Rear bag got a waterproofing test when a thunderstorm rolled off the foothills and pelted me for half an hour. This bike is basically done now apart from the top tube bag and maybe a bike fit.

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Funny how your definition of nice weather differs from ours... Looks great fun though

I wonder if your rack goes any lower? Might give you more space for the tool roll and distribute the weight better when fully loaded.

I've ridden Gross Dam a few times on 25mm tubs - larger tyres would make the descending a bit less stressful. We have offices in the Interlocken business park.

https://www.strava.com/activities/349568657

I just melt in the heat. I miss drizzly old UK :) It's annoying because cycling is pretty much all I have to do outside work. Going to stick to short mtb rides over summer instead. Unfortunately the rack doesn't go lower - I like it otherwise. Yeah it collides with the rather large tool roll.. I'll live with it.

Yeah I guess it can be done. Col Collective moaned a bit but got through. Your loop is pretty much what I was aiming for. I was solo, on road shoes, and the first 100 yards down from the car park back to the road had me sliding pretty badly at a crawl - didn't want to get into trouble over in the next valley without cellphone reception or ability to walk out. I've been heat-affected on a few rides and very wary of getting caught out again. I work near Interlocken, down by the 1st bank centre.

It’s s great loop to do as otherwise Flag is an out and back- good for adding to your collection of mail box photography but rather consigns it to coffee ride status.

Snack bag fitted, happy with that.

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Baptism of fire today for new bike.

Paved climb -> gravel climb -> gravel trail -> SURPRISE BEAR ON TRAIL -> hasty hike-a-bike up slope while keeping an eye out for said bear -> lovely descent and pace back to Boulder for a beer (not bear).

https://www.strava.com/activities/1734583887

Fenders were appreciated while riding through long 6"-deep muddy puddles.