To all you 29er's out there!

soma is a great steel 29er

lynskey is better

Fat bikes make me grin to look at.......but so do fat birds!

I don't really want a ride on either!
.

I think you're missing out, in either case to be honest.

Seriously though if this is your only MTB. I'm not sure I'd go as far as a fatbike. That Surly is only really half fat though. My rigid 29er has 2.55" tyres, that Surly 3", a standard fat bike tyre is 3.8", and the new Uber fats (BFL, Lou, and Bud) are 4.8". So you're definitly at the more standard end.

Going on how my 2.55" tyres perform on dryish days I'd love to try the fatter rims, and 3" tyres.

I'm building a fat bike at the moment. In summer mode it will have 3.8" XC patterned tyres, and 110mm of front travel. Gonna be a blast.

I'd obviously recommend you bought both a meaty fatbike, with low gearing, as well as a lightweight SS 29er ;)

In the absence of such an option, the Krampus looks like an awsome option. Chuck some 2,4" XC tyres on for the dry stuff, and then when thing get wet and boggy, revert to your 3" mud monsters.

I fail to see were it loses out compared to other rigid 29ers. Unless those rims are overly heavy. They dont look it though.

Thanks for the advice, andmim only joking about both the fat bikes and the birds.....!

I love em both!

The rims are 50mm wide. So only 15mm wider than a velocity P35.

Please stop bigging up the Krampus! I just can't afford any more bikes till 2014 :-(

Please stop bigging up the Krampus! I just can't afford any more bikes till 2014 :-(

You have a nice 29er.

So, by my logic, you can start looking at a fatty hardtail ;)

MTBR user 'Drevil' put together a custom Ti frame, and mod'd Lefty. Pretty much exactly along the lines of what I hope to achieve.

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^ Yes, the Ogre is a lovely bike to ride. It has the ability to either pootle along for long distances, or thrash about playing in the woods. I could always turn it into a half fat version with a new front wheel & tyre anyway :-) Must find a moment to take some decent pics for Current projects.

I think the ( 1st world ) problem that I have is that I currently have 5 different bikes ( technically 4, as one lives on the turbo ) They all fit their specific needs very well. I suppose the idea that I have "enough bikes" is far too horrifying for me to contemplate! Therefore I'm looking for some small riding niche that's missing.

For example

Lightweight race hardtail - ( I don't race! )

Massive monster full suss - ( Could I make the same mistake twice? )

Cargobike - ( I was planning on getting a Surly Bill or Ted trailer for the Ogre )

Some type of lightweight Singlesped/Fixed Cyclocross/Winter trainer/go anywhere thingy - ( Actually this is probably the only real option, as it could replace my Ribble & it's about time that I gave fixed a go )

Ah well ,problem solved. Still, there's always other forumengers money that needs spending ;-)

My vain attempt at bike justification.....

Yuba Mundo cargo bike - For utility cycling, and transporting the kids.
BMC Racemaster road bike - For long geared road rides.
Bob Jackson Vigorrelli fixed gear - For shortish fixed road rides.
Triton fat Ti hardtail - For long geared offroad rides, and winter utility use.
Spotbrand Beltdrive SS 29er - For shortish offroad rides.

Its a fecking weird stable. Yet despite its versatility, I still find myself wanting a CX bike.

Some type of lightweight Singlesped/Fixed Cyclocross/Winter trainer/go anywhere thingy - ( Actually this is probably the only real option, as it could replace my Ribble & it's about time that I gave fixed a go )

I'll just leave this here....

http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/nature_boy1

I still find myself wanting a CX bike.

Same here. thankfully, whilst there are loads of good ones out there. None of them tick all the boxes for me.

Steel, preferably something nice - I must of just reached that age.

Geared or singlespeed - I like versatility. ( Probably another age thing )

Possibly disc - Not really essential, but I'd like 135mm rear spacing.

Moar fixings for racks/mudguards/stuff - A less extreme lightweight version of the Ogre, but drop barred & geared more towards road stuff.

Pretty - Because.

XXL - Because.

It could in theory replace both my Ribble Winter trainer & Surly LHT. The Ogres going to be a keeper & I can't part with my old Cannondale roadie.

A Cross check isn't a million miles offthe description. I just think the headtube is too short for me with drops. It's also lacking that "Something" that makes me want it.

I'm beginning to think it might be time to try something custom. Hmmm? 40th Birthday in about 17 months....

^^ They are nice!

I do like the look of the 2013 Stainless steel Vaya travel too!

It's a definite contender.

My old CX commuter was heavy, based on a £100 alu frame, and had naff commuting wheels and tyres. Yet the geo and handling was pretty aggressive. Made it poor at proper load carrying. But it is definitely why I miss it. Fit and steered very much like my road bike.

So the Vaya would'nt work for me (its a 29er with drops, not a road bike with clearance).

I'd probably be happier with a Kinesis.

I'd probably be fine with the regular Vaya. I don't know why Salsa didn't put alternator dropouts on it? From what I can see, a lot of Salsa's target market like to have the option of single speed.

& I liked the orange.

What drop-outs does the Ti Vaya have. I know they tend to put the rockers on their Ti versions.

The company doing my fatbike did some TI CX-Audax frames recently. Rockers, discs, rack'n'guard mounts, clearance for 38mm knobblys. Twas very tempting.

The Orange is nice though.

Vaya Ti dropouts.

Bah.

EBB Singular?

I don't know about Ti anymore. Many years ago, this was the ultimate dream frame for me.

My tastes appear to have gone a little downmarket since then. Less pretty, more practical.

• Hopesbetterhalfneverreadsthis
  

^^ I do like Singulars. I have a brand new never built Swift in the workshop. I chose the Ogre over it eventually. I felt it would suit me better.

Should sell the Swift really :-(

Should sell the Swift really :-(

I hate selling stuff.

I'll just leave this here....

I'm getting more tempted by that All City Nature Boy again. A lot of those requirements I listed appear to lead towards touring type geometry. I like my trucker, yet it's not "fun" to ride.

I suppose now that I'm fairly settled in Norfolk, it wouldn't hurt to have a dedicated singlespeed :-s

• Goes off to reassess life's priorities.

• Whilst never actually leaving the internet.

I'm getting more tempted by that All City Nature Boy again. A lot of those requirements I listed appear to lead towards touring type geometry. I like my trucker, yet it's not "fun" to ride.

This is exactly my feeling.

The smile factor.

You can still fit guards (has mounts), and use a massive saddle bag. But the geo is geared towards being fast and fun.

^ Yeah, you're right. I do like my bikes to have practical uses. However, I now consider having fun to be extremely practical! ( Stops me becoming a miserable bastard )

Will definitely put the Nature Boy on "the list". Need to check out the geometry. I think a major factor in making me enjoy the Ogre so much is that it fits me.

How tall are you? Come and try the soma juice