Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

@Proper.Application has got some good FBNPNA in his stable. From names and faces thread. (I know you there's a few Rivendell haters here though)

That looks great. Could have maybe been wider at the top

That's what she said.

great looking bike

indeed, really nice

That frame is so nice, also:
"After fitting hundreds of riders to the Monster Cross frames, I came to the conclusion that riders like their bars higher than what might be available off-the-shelf. "

That way he ends up with a lot of good looking builds.

Under £650 (Ex. VAT) delivered to the UK too....

If this is good enough to post... Where is yours?

I'ev only got a crap phone photo to hand.

Deffo at the ugly end of the functional scale, but nice to ride.

You had eyelets put on the Masi forks?
Now I'll go to the basement and install mine. I will run out of spacers.

And yes, those Black Mountain frames are well priced.

I did, so I could use the rack without mega long stays and so makes the rack a bit stiffer.

Nice. Looks very good with 700c and the Rawland rack.
Would like to do that but will use my pizza rack first and see how I like the geometry change and then hassle friends with torches.

Why do so many of these bikes have a massive bag on a front rack
(instead of in the back / like with a regular rack above the back wheel).
Is that just en vogue right now or do people prefer the handling?
I never liked to have much weight in front of the bars, I have never been a professional / long distance / "touring" cyclist or whatever you call that so genuinely curious as to why people seem to prefer this kind of setup.
Here in Berlin people who carry stuff usually have these bags you hang on both sides of the back wheel. Well, actually the majority of people I see just uses backpacks.

Better handling. Weight sitting above the front wheel will slow down your steering a bit (not a problem with a low trail fork) and the rear of your bike won't swing dramatically from side to side when you're outta the saddle. It's soooo much better.

1. bike handles better. Less 'flop' when you're out of the saddle, climbing, or stopped.
   
2. weight is better distributed across the wheels.
   
3. you can get things out of your bag without stopping
   
4. I loath having a sweaty ruck sack on my back, nice cool airflow without it and no bad neck.
   

I have got mad skilled at unraveling my saddle pack and getting shit out whilst still riding, though. #audaxlyf - but fundamentally bar bags are way better.

ha, I always loved your skill at pointing out two pot holes at the same time with the 'pistols point'

Ah ok, thank you both!

Just how a functional build should be ;)

Short rack stays also makes your fork dampen vibrations better too.

btw, is that electrical tape instead of paint? <3

thanks xx

(and no, its paint, but there is a bit of tape just to secure the dynamo cable. )

Tbh IT is those levers that tips the scales. I don't mind the spacers once we get a decaleur on there.
It is gorgeous and tres functional