The Rat Trail Bikes

Following the success of my Elephant NFE, that now (like the Oaks Cycles that the Cycle in Motions replaces) doesn't fit me well anymore due to the change of saddles.

A new 650b low trail is in the work;

Drop bar with short stem.
Flat mounts disc (160mm F&R)
Thru axles 12x100/142.
Semi-compact geo.
27.5 2.3 max tyres clearance (650b x 48mm standard).
Front porteur rack and low rider only, no rack mount on the rear.
Mudguard mount.
Lots of braze on to attach a full frame bags to.
Paint to be called “dredge out of the Wandle” (use your imagination).
Handle to carry bike when using frame bag.

This is all for now.

Handle to carry bike when using frame bag.

Wild, on top of the top tube?

Kinda, I’m leaving it to the framebuilders, the Rondo Bogan have a tubing between seat tube and seat post to aid this.

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Seems like you could just as easily hold the seatstays

How much for the elephant?

doesn't fit me well anymore due to the change of saddles

eh?

Wouldn't be very dialed though, eh?

why can't you just grab the top tube?

73 degree seat tube is my enemies.

why can't you just grab the top tube?

What top tube?

(Not my bike).

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He'll have a Wizard Works bag bolted to it.

is there literally no room to fit your fingers between the bag and the frame? i've never used a frame bag

i love that. Changes saddle. nEw BiKe TiMe.

You can if the bag has straps (and the bag isn't super full).

With bolts though you probably won't have enough give in the fabric unless the bag is really saggy, you don't support the bag in that corner, or you design the bag/bolts with a deliberate gap.

Meriwether have done it on a couple of 29ers and fat bikes. Think it makes a bit more sense there when it would be more comfortable pushing a heavier bike or in deep snow.

Be cheaper and easier to just get a custom made saddle for your old bikes

;-)

you could use a loop of webbing as a carry handle. i guess the other question is how often do you need to carry it? don't listen to me.

i guess the other question is how often do you need to carry it?

If you live in a flat, probably every time you ride it

i guess the other question is how often do you need to carry it?

More often than you think for off road touring (and living in a flat I guess!).

We take it for granted that we just grab the top tube when carrying the bike and it never cross our mind, until I have a full frames bag and it get annoying, especially with the weight.

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Doesn't everyone stick the nose of their saddle over their shoulder?

Doesn't everyone stick the nose of their saddle over their shoulder?

Have you seen an SMP before?

Perfect for it, wouldn't fall off.

I face the top tube problem myself. In my opinion the problem isn't so much that you can't hold the top tube (I can) but that you can't shoulder the bike. I have solved this by grabbing the chain stay on the other side of the bike.

I'm also puzzled by the "new saddle - bike doesn't fit anymore" rationale :)

I'm also puzzled by the "new saddle - bike doesn't fit anymore" rationale :)

I also don’t need a new bike, but here we are!

"I have an SMP saddle which I will build a bike around. This will be a 'fast' touring bike. Unsure of components but it will have those £5 looking King Ti cages. Winston will build this."

:)

Anyway now that stupid joke is out of the way v interested to see how it turns out. 10/10 thread title