To all you 29er's out there!

You could always buy a second Lurcher for when the first one explodes in a deadly carbon shower so you wouldn't have to keep swapping bars :-)

...and maybe a third for the Midges!

Most likely will be buying these at some point:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/HBOOFG/on_one_fleegle_handlebar

But the Marys will still be the most-used bars!

If you like the Marys. You should like the Salsa moto pro 17deg sweep bars.

I'm in love with mine at the moment. You need a longer stem to compensate for the big sweep (say 20mm). But for me they offer the best balance between big sweep wrist comfort, and little sweep elbow positioning.
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/salsa-alloy-pro-moto-318-flat-xc-bars-1021-p.asp

....or if you dont want a new stem.

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/salsa-alloy-bend-2-bar-318-2031-p.asp

Honzo is near completion. Just waiting for a CRC code so I can order new rear wheel.
Took it for a spin round the block yesterday and it is so easy to move and flick about. Bars feel wide at 780 but going to give them a little while before I start chopping.
Just wish the weather would improve so I can take it out. I didn't realise Aston Hill was so close so once I buy full face helmet shall take a trip there.

Honzo is near completion.

Looking forward to seeing this one!

I've got the fleegles on my 29er.....they keep the front low, and just feel 'right'.....

I've wrapped them completely, x-lite bar ends and all, in some black cork tape...this gives me millions of hand positions.....I can get right down out of the wind on the flat.

I say near completion, it will be rideable. BB7 will have to stay on for a couple of months so I can save up for some SLX brakes. I will run it singlespeed for time being as well until I work out how to go 6 speed.

Dear Swinley Forest Cyclist

As some of you will know, since September last year there has been ongoing work affecting the trails in Swinley Forest which was initiated by The Crown Estate (the owners of Swinley Forest). Before this happened, a steering group (Swinley Action Group) comprising local riders from Gorrick, BOB MBC, Swinley Facebook Group and other interested parties was formed to try to work with The Crown Estate in developing new cycle trails in the Forest. However, despite its best efforts, the group was unable to influence the design and layout of the new trails in the Forest, as The Crown Estate went forward with the design provided by Back on Track (BOT), who have experience of designing and building trails in South Wales.

A single direction cycle trail loop in Swinley Forest starting and finishing at The Look Out Discovery Centre has been put together now and together with the fire roads will be the only trail available to cyclists from April. We understand that all the other single track trails through the Forest will be stopped up, blocked or grubbed up, as cycling on these routes will no longer be allowed. Forest rangers will be patrolling the Forest to ensure that cyclists keep to the new marked trails at all times.

As a result of these changes The Crown Estate have decided that they do not wish to have a permit scheme for cyclists in the future and that from 1 April 2013 they will manage all aspects of cycling within Swinley Forest. The Swinley Forest Cycling permit scheme will therefore cease to operate after the 31 March 2013.

Swinley Forest Cycling thanks you for your support, and we hope you have enjoyed the trail development work we have achieved over the years.

Swinley Forest Cycling

A one-way loop, nothing else.

Oh well, there goes the neighbourhood.

Fuckers

So after having my trans am 29er for a bit, the airborne Lancaster Ti 26er has been sitting unloved and unused.....I was going to sell it, but I wouldn't get much for the frame,as for whatever reasons, they don't fetch good money. So, I had some spare 29er wheels sitting around after upgrading the trans am's to eastons, and I thought
''....wonder if they'll fit....''
So, I tried to ram em in with the 2.0 tyres on, it they wouldn't......so I put some cyclocross tyres on and tried them.......fucking perfect!

I have stuck the deore discs on, from my TA, and this is the result.....

http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad131/stedlocks/ED47CB2F-F1C6-4988-B1C1-967FC7B14B00-5650-00000702608AEDD7_zpse6ab95d7.jpg

http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad131/stedlocks/20D09BDE-E5F9-4061-8BCB-AB7D340F1D4F-5650-000007026F4B7FF9_zps8d2b72f1.jpg

Is it a 29er? A flat bar CX? Or is it a fucking hybrid?

I don't know, but it flies on canal paths! :0)

Excellent stuff and just the fact that you've made a new ride, rather than taking a big hit on selling a frame, must put a grin on your face. Even better it actually looks pretty good.

Looks like you can get some speed on that. Doesn't look ridiculously out of proportion with the skinnier tyres either.

Cheers :0)

It rides really nicely too....I want to get some more supple tyres next....folding...then try to make it tubeless. It is a bit harsh off road. I'm running 90 psi in the tyres though, so that doesn't help.
I had another 15 mile bimble with my son today....it's very pleasant!

just needs rigid fork!

just needs rigid fork!

I was thinking about that, to be honest......it starts not being a budget bike then though!

So far, it's had no expenditure......they were all bits I had. Apart from the new juicy 7's I've had to buy for my other bike, so I could use the deores on this one!

Just saw a felt 29er with a rear rack, lights and mudguards, oh dear

nice one stedlocks. it really needs drops though. :)

What drops work with shimano shifters and brakes? I want some on one midges, but they are not compatible, apparently?

What drops work with shimano shifters and brakes? I want some on one midges, but they are not compatible, apparently?

If its 9 speed shimano. Just use DA bar end shifters. If you have cable discs, or Vees. Then there are drop levers for that.

I have bars, shifters, and levers. That I'm not using and could sell.

Oooh, ya bugger!
I've got deore hydro brakes though.... I want to keep them.

What's to stop me getting on one Mary's and flipping them?

There's always this option plus the bar end shifters...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c14/rmemann/Newbike3.jpg

I don't think many would call the solution aesthetically pleasing though.

I think I see why they struggle with the drop bar set up......I can't see how to make it look acceptable to my eyes! The cabling is all wrong, as is the angle of the reservoir on the brakes.....and that twist grip looks all kinds of wrong!

Road levers and bar ends look 'right' though.......

I'm not going down that route, so will experiment with other bits and pieces..... Check out the rest of that blokes ^^ photobucket.....he has restored a coffee machine that looks fantastic :0)

Modern Sram stuff can be mixed as it all has the same pull ratio. So you could use standard Sram road levers, and road pull cable discs. Personally I'd stick to bar-ends, and mtb pull cable discs.

When Sram finally bring out hydraulic road levers, I guess you could use them. I would'nt put something so expensive on the front of my MTB though.

The problem with bars like the Midges, is that the widest point that offers the most control is also the lowest. Which is kinda the opposite of a standard set of MTB bars. But for gravel trails through the woods they are awesome.

This looks rather nice.

I like singulars^

Here is my 'drop bar' solution....
http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad131/stedlocks/DDCFBDC3-199B-4449-B6A7-B4D973E0E0EA-148-00000207D187821A_zps24dbf701.jpg
http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad131/stedlocks/2045C116-98D6-4230-9C57-941593D3E6FB-148-00000207DA3B7725_zpsb563663f.jpg
Shit picture, but it's an on one Mary, flipped.

I might no keep it, but it give the position I was after, and looks a bit retro 'cafe racer' ish....opinions?