Platypus HQ - Functional Bikes and Trips

That does look absolutely textbook. Nice.

@SILLY_SAVAGE thanks for the link

Looks amazing. I had an unplanned swim near there once - I wiped out on a ford just north of Ulting, heading to the Harwich ferry on tour.

@platypus Do you know the max tyre width you can fit in that lovely Koga by any change? Seen the same frameset for sale and was wandering if it'd fit a 40mm g one? Also, is it 27.2 post? Thanks!

Buy it!
35 + guards fits fine so you could definitely get a 40c in, maybe even guards too.
Not sure about the post as I’ve never removed it...

New biek day! Just about rideable now.
This one has strong pedigree.
First impressions very favourable.

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Wondered what happened to this forum thoroughbred.

Heck of a gravel bike! Is that low trail?

Edit: It's Ed's old biek, of course it's low trail.

Nice one! That’s one of the best bikes on the forum.

Juintech brakes? How'd you find them?

@Silly_Savage @platypus I am thinking about doing something similar to the cotic and thanks for sharing those frame recommendations. Currently without a MTB, can't really afford/justify a full sus and I think I'd be using it more for longer day rides and hopefully more bikepacking. What's the rear spacing on the Cotic and is there any old standards to avoid? Cheers

I'm really not the person to ask about MTB standards, but I think all the info you seek is on that link Landslide posted.

If I get a Solaris it would probably be a Mk 1/2 (discontinued) so that I could use most of the parts from my Vagabond. I think the new, 'max' version has more modern axle standards. If I was buying everything from scratch/rich I'd be going that route.

Rear spacing is 135mm. It’s a perfect frame in part because it doesn’t use any weird modern standards so all the bits you need are available cheap used or new.

Beautiful day for a ride.
Thanks to @Dogs @psg1ben and CC for the company in a hot and dusty Epping.

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I hope @psg1ben didn't snare any squirrels in those cables

cables

Spaghetti.

@platypus cheers

Its only one hose left to chop at this stage!

Can't remember who was asking after a Mk1 Cotic Solaris 29" in Large like mine - but there are two on eBay right now! Rare you see even one for sale...One and two.

Is the NFE a 54? Looks awesome

it's complicated, that's what it is!

first image is the NFE's geo

second image is of tvh's Salsa, which is a position I'd like to match.
I don't know enough about geometry yet to know exactly which parts I need to replicate the salsa's fit. working on it...

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8 months onwards, plus ça change plus c'est le même chose

it's not winter any more, and that means one thing, riding mountain bikes from my home in london on day trips and long bikepacking excursions every weekend. I can't wait.

also, new bike day

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Fuck yes

plus ça change plus c'est le même chose

'la même chose' :)

Nice!