Clandestine Carrier

Curiously, 26 x 2.8 WTB Rangers measure around 66-68mm from knob to knob according to Strids, which I'm guessing is based on 45mm WTB rims so probably even wider on a 50mm.

Could it not be narrower on a wider rim at the knobbly but sits flatter whereas on a narrower rim it’ll ‘lightbulb’?

Helpfully, it turns out this is a well-trodden discussion topic! This suggests 2.8" WTB Rangers on 50mm Rabbit Holes measure 67.4mm (2.6") wide and on narrower (35mm) rims, 66mm. Identical to the Extraterrestrials, which are 150g heavier per tyre (who's counting) and likely not as good in slop.

(tyres tend to get wider but shorter on wider rims, but not always)

Fairy nuff.

I have a set of rangers on rabbit holes in the cellar if you'd like a second measurement?

That’d be really helpful and kind, thank you.

You be careful, don't get lost down there.

Actually rode a bike today. Felt like I could’ve ridden forever. Swindon to Bristol via Malmesbury and Bath. Good weather, great company.

Also pressed go on the 26+ wheel build, ordered Surly rim strips and Shwalbe 13F tubes that Strids mentions. Gary at Wheeler’s Retreat in Malmesbury will put them together with a Bitex BX108R and SON 28. Black hubs, silver spokes.

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Lovely day for a ride!

If you don’t mind me asking re. the Big Dummy, I’m interested how the dropper lever works with the Rolling Jackass, as the extra brake lever on mine isn’t great looking, but certainly needs a decent ‘pull’ to flip the stand and I’m not sure my thumbs would have the equivalent push.

Hey Mat, does your RJ have metal discs for feet or are they the polyurethane versions? I find with the metal discs that the dropper doesn’t need pushing all the way as when the discs contact the ground they tend to ‘bite’ so you can motion the BD back a little to engage it fully, if that makes sense? All that said, the dropper is a little more difficult to use than the brake lever, but not so much that I’m tempted to revert back to the brake lever. I bought the cheapest one I could find, a Bontrager inline for about £19.

At about 12psi.

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I’ve got the metal discs, yep. I know what you mean about ‘bite’, maybe I’ll give it a try. I’m using a Jones bar and the angles don’t work well for hosting then reaching the extra brake lever. Thanks!

Thinking about it, another option might be a friction shifter? That might be a more natural position for your thumb to exert pressure than a dropper lever, or maybe I’m overthinking it.

Thanks so much! 66.5mm, lovely. Everything suggests it ought to work with the Carrier, now to decide between Rangers or ETs, am leaning towards Rangers but no rush as the bike itself is a few weeks off yet. Cheers again.

That Mitutoyo vernier is a super subtle flex!

Watermelon cap is good

So good! Don't sleep on the forklift gloves either...

Met @packet yesterday (lush bike or what) to buy this Nitto torsion bar, i.e. the original SimWorks Little Nick, which may find a home on the Carrier: smidge less reach than the VO Curvys it's due to arrive with. Panniers in the queue with @Tijmen but otherwise it's just a waiting game, reckon end of the month or thereabouts for the bike. 26+ wheels might be done by then too.

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Opted for WTBs in the end, they look great! Online commentary suggested ETs might’ve been a smidge too wide. Due to drop the rims off at Wheeler’s Retreat this weekend as the hubs have landed with Gary.

Turns out SON do a 12mm thru axle to QR adaptor for their dynamo hubs, and Bitex have a cheap and cheerful method of switching out the 12x142 axle to make it a 135 QR without tools. That’d make the 26+ wheelset Big Dummy compatible which is brilliant and takes the edge off the ‘you really don’t need two wheelsets’ guilt. That doesn't address the chainrub and fender issues in fitting such wide tyres on the BD, but we'll cross that bridge later.

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As well as envying your bike collection, also got a bit of workshop envy!

About to turn the BD into full-on Land Rover 110” mode!

This looks awesome!! I was very tempted to get these tyres myself and now I'm thinking about it again...

Intrigued to see how you combat the fat tire/fender conundrum! Heck knows I'm having one much the same with tires and guards that are tens of mms narrower 😅

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n626JlFuD2I

Yeh these will need 75mm mudguards, and that ain’t gonna happen without comprises on the BD given just how close the existing 65mm guards are to the chain. So if I do use them on that bike, it’ll be without guards for like a fortnight in the summer!

Zero chance of stuffing a mudguard around these on the Carrier, max clearance on that bike is 650b x 2.6” and thankfully these WTBs measure 67.5mm / 2.6” on the nose.