A Straggler to a Rambler - building an All Terrain Tourer

It doesn’t have the black electro plating that Surly / Soma etc have but I’m not too worried. I think it would likely have been ok untreated but also why not give it a go while the frame isn’t built up.

Just picked the frame up from Lewisham Cyclery who fitted the cranks and headset. I’m looking forward to realising I’ve forgotten to buy some tiny adapter which means I can’t finish building the bike.

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Today’s progress, I think next Friday will be my next opportunity to get things finished.

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this is looking great!

forgotten to buy some tiny adapter which means I can’t finish building the bike

Which is inevitable. It's looking good with those chonky tires!

The front mech I was hoping to use (left) doesn’t clear the rear tyre but luckily I have a different one with a smaller cage (right). The downside is that it’s very ugly but maybe I can find a more aesthetic alternative in the future.

It also needs a shim as the clamp diameter is 34.9mm and the seat tube is only 30mm. I’ve ordered one but don’t know when it will be delivered - fingers crossed for Friday.

I also picked up a 2.35” Mezcal for the rear, the 2.6” does fit but chainstay and chain clearance isn’t very mud friendly. The mega chonk 2.6” might have to be spring/summer only.

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Great stuff, following! I'm waiting delivery of a few bits and bobs - chainring, spokes, dynamo wire - for a Rambler of my own (Wilde though, not Stooge) but maybe similar vibe. Fat fenders and a basket at some point are quite likely.

Estimated delivery date on the front derailleur shim is Monday (despite Yodel having it in their system since Sunday). Looks like the inaugural ride will have to be postponed another week.

Maybe I could do a temporary bodge with some inner tube? Or I have some 0.9mm aluminium sheet that I could layer up to make a shim.

Voting for diy approach

What about an Lbs?

You normally get the various shims in packs so I imagine it's the sort of thing they'll have loads of spares of.

Ive just read your thread and feel like Im wasting my life and should go ride around the Andies.

you probably aren't, but yes you should

Yodel came though and the shim arrived just in time to get the last of the evening light.

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I decided the chain/tyre clearance was too tight with the 2.6 on the rear so swapped it out to 2.35. That also meant the nicer looking front derailleur cleared the tyre. I tried it earlier but it had to be positioned very high to clear the chain in big/big gear.

Maybe I’ll try and find something nicer looking that the one on there at the moment but for now it lives!

Going to try a longer stem and maybe some bars with less back sweep in the coming weeks.

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🚨🚨🚨

Very nice

Really, very good.

Looks nice and comfy. Any travel plans already?

Lovely build, did you go with friction thumbies in the end? If so which ones? I am looking to friction shift on my Sram Eagle GX and fancy the microshift (mostly because they are about a third of the UNO price!)

Thanks all, I’m pretty pleased with how it’s come together. Still some fettling to do and a few details to sort but I’m excited to get out and ride it.

Unfortunately there are no travel plans at the moment @kjlem. I’m hoping to get an overnighter in soon but the weather has gone to shit and I hardly have any free weekends in the next month.

@harv4130 yep, microshift 10 speed mtb shifters in friction mode, I took them off my Straggler. I’m not super clued up on SRAM stuff but if it’s a super wide range derailleur/cassette I’m not sure they will work. From my understanding the Uno has loads of cable pull which means you can use it with pretty much any derailleur and cassette combo.

Uno also has a rachet, so i suspect feels a bit more premium. I went with microshift 12 sp as they were cheapest at that time and I was going to use them only in friction anyways. This has handled 11sp to 9sp (up to 46t at largest) drivetrains with no issues.

I’ve had both and recommend both in terms of shifter feel.

so i suspect feels a bit more premium

As a long term friction shifter user, the Uno is without a doubt the best friction shifter I've ever used functionaly and feel wise.

The only reason I'd consider a microshift again is because they're black, and if I'm honest, I don't really like the fact the Uno is silver.

First ride was a great success, feels familiar but also so much more capable on the rough stuff. Grip for days but also nice acceleration and quite fast rolling on tarmac.

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That's a great-looking bike! Good choice of parts too.