A different Rock Lobster Team Tig 853

Fatal mistake, Team tig 853, not SL

Out with the old - my Orange Clockwork MTB will shortly be up for sale, replaced by this Rock Lobster Team Tig, intended for pretty much the same purpose as the Orange, commuting, bikepacking at some point, but with disk brakes.

In the post are two of these in 2.3:

A narrow wide chainring, some security skewers, and a cargo net for the soon to be installed rack.

THE PLAN:

1. I've ordered mounting bolts for a front rack, which should work once
   with the fork locked out/buy a rigid one. A wald 139 or 137, haven't
   decided yet, up front.
   
2. I'll also need a new seatpost collar because the current one is QR
   and i don't want it getting nicked. Blue hope clamp is the current
   choice to match the headset, but not sure i can justify 18 on one at
   the moment.
   
3. I'm also looking to swap the bars out for a pair of VeloOrange
   klunker bars, or fairweather three piece bars, and at some point
   buying a black stem.
   
   

Other than that there's not much I need to change, perhaps some floating rotors when these ones run out.

At the moment the biggest decision is whether to buy a 137 or 139 basked, and what handlebars to get....

Cheers

That looks lovely. I've lusted after a Rock Lobster since seeing them for sale in the Merin Cycles ad's in MBUK back in the day. I'd be interested to see how they ride compared to modern hardtails.

Awful picture, but here's how it stands currently. Futile attempts to get it looking less blingy with gaffa tape.... i'm going to black out the rims with gaffa tape when i'm up in Manchester.

Red stem, frame and wheels look horrible if i'm honest.

Seatpost collar about to be ordered, as well as perhaps some new bars and ESI grips.

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I'd ditch the red wheels and stem.
ditch the top tube protector.
fit short stem and wide bars.
take the basket off or switch to rigid forks - surly probably

sell it on in the original state and get a bike more suited to the purpose
seems a shame to do that to a nice rock lobster

i've been out on mine most days this jan and they are such a nice mountain bike
handle great, nice geo, light and manoeuvrable, been having a blast on and off road

it looks great in that first photo, should be kept that way really !

yours is such a great bike.

It'll be used as a MTB at some point in the future, if i buy a second wheelset and put the original tyres on. At the moment, whilst being completely anti, it serves its function pretty well

That basket needs to>>>>>

What is happening here

Murderer ;__;

I really cannot understand this.

Reminds me of something like this.

Come now.... y'all being a bit harsh... the man clearly is making the best out of what he bought for his current needs?

It is hella tacky haha no offense... but he's already addressed that all thats been changed is tyres, a one by and a basket?

Personally I'm interested to see where this goes...

basket on sus forks is an interesting choice

@miloas out of curiosity why not a rigid fork?

i'd pop some rigid forks and 650b wheels on a la this

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Every time I look at it I find something that frightens me more. But the way the basket is attached to the lowers and the bars...so that vertical travel is delivering force through the basket and its mount - that's just a dentists bill waiting to happen.

I was operating on the assumption that the forks must be locked out at all times, but maybe that's a generous assumption.

I operate on the assumption that the designer of the fork wasn't a complete idiot and designed in a blow-off valve for the 100% of the population who forget to unlock their forks at the trail head.

The only way to truly rigidize the fork would be to fill the air spring chambers with something incompressible.

Why 650? New non-red non-bling wheels maybe but there is almost no reason to switch from 26"

This thread

the likely end product

Dang you guys are mean. It needs a rigid fork eventually and the removal of some of the excess accessories but it'll be fine after that

I presume all the cash when on the bike itself given it's XT/Crank Bros/Hope/Fox and there's nothing left for rigid forks right now.

... I've gotta agree with Frankenbike... just seems like he's waiting for a rigid fork and some new wheels? With some minor cosmetic changes I think it'll probably be a pretty sweet ride

Just seems like ruining something, imo I wouldn’t use that frame to start with...