Surly Ogre

A couple of close ups of the mounting.

oo nice! I've got an Ogre coming and really fancy a Carry Freedom... Looks like some sort of dropping bracket for the mount could be useful to keep the bed level?

^ I did think about that initially, but the angle of the trailer isn't nearly as extreme as it appears in that photo.

The main thing to watch with the carry freedom is that the wheel isn't so far back in the dropouts as to interfere with the mounting bracket. I had to reverse the quick release skewer to avoid this.

For reference, this is the bolt I used to secure the bracket.

http://www.a2stainless.co.uk/M10-x-1-00-x-20mm-Socket-Capscrew-A2_AZOM2.aspx

Cool.....hoping to have mine in time for one of your Epping rides.....should be interesting!

BN - a couple of questions if you don't mind.

1. Disc vs linear pull brakes. Was there anything driving the choice of one over the other?

2. Why singlespeed over the 1x9 option for gearing for the cargo bike?

I'm looking at getting one built up as a dad-bike but would like to also do some off roading at some point again. So basically one bike to fulfill the fuction of both of yours. I am trying to work out the best available options for drivetrain/brakes vs. financial limits of Cyclescheme and was wondering what constraints you were working to.

Sure thing.

1. I much prefer disc brakes for off-road riding. Decent, well set up v brakes offer plenty of stopping power, but the rims can get worn through in no time at all in bad conditions.
   
   

So, for Ogre 1 ( mtb ), I already had a nice pair of Hope hubs taken from a previous bike which I could build some wheels from. The only things I think I had to buy were rims, spokes, tyres and tubes and the BB7's which were going cheap at the time.

For Ogre 2 ( cargo bike ), most components were switched directly from my LHT and out of the spares box(es). I think the only new bits I bought for that were tyres and handlebars.

I also think that V brakes are a less obvious thief magnet than discs. Living somewhere relatively flat and having only about 5 - 6 sets of traffic lights means that I don't really use the brakes much anyway. The Avid Arch Rivals on there pretty powerful should I have to make an emergency stop ( or skid )

1. I'm really enjoying riding singlespeed at the moment, but if I was pulling that trailer up any hills, then I wouldn't hesitate to convert the bike to 1 x 9, or possibly an Alfine 8spd internal hub gear. I have a 11 - 34 cassette + XT 9spd shifter & derailleur on standby for if/when I need some geary assistance.
   
   

So basically my choices were heavily influenced by what components I already had available and the local terrain. It should be a simple task to build an Ogre that fulfils the role of both of mine with nothing but the occasional tyre swap.

I think what heavily influenced my purchase of a second frame was the worry that Surly might decide to stop making the 24" size. Though judging by it's popularity this shouldn't happen anytime soon :-)

Excellent. Thank you very much. That is pretty close to what I was thinking anyway, go for something that can do most everything and swap tyres according to use.

My only concern would getting up the Col do Notting Hill with 9kg of baby and 3kg of baby seat so I think that a 1x9 may be the way to go. I'm not sure that the £400+ notes can be justified for the Alfine, but you never know what a bit of finance can talk you into. ("for only another £13/month you can get the Alfine....")

My only concern would getting up the Col do Notting Hill with 9kg of baby and 3kg of baby seat

Oof! Gears for sure. 1 x 9, or 1 x 10 for that 36t cog on the back.

If I went Alfine, I'd only get the 8spd, rather than the 11spd. I think that can be had for about £150 + shifter and wheel build?

Plus dragging my 95kg carcass as well. I am, as Big Daddy Wayne puts it, one of life's naturally gifted descenders.

£200 for the 8 speed, £400 for the 11 speed is what I'm seeing but that is a lazy look at Wiggle. That may put the 8 speed back into consideration. Hmmmmmmmm

Only 95kg? I'm at least a 100kg of oddly proportioned dead weight by now :-)

From what little I've read, whilst the 11spd has a better range and a nicer feel to it - the 8spd has a more proven track record for reliability.

I'm starting to reach for that credit card again......

I have seen this bike and I confirm that it is in fact a 26"

^ It does appear that way after seeing yesterday's photos :-/

Only 95kg? I'm at least a 100kg of oddly proportioned dead weight by now :-)

From what little I've read, whilst the 11spd has a better range and a nicer feel to it - the 8spd has a more proven track record for reliability.

I'm starting to reach for that credit card again......

The 95kg is a generous rounding error. And it's not spread out over your extended frame.

Will look at both options, but may toy with the front chainring to fine tune rather than spend double for 3 more gears.

^ It does appear that way after seeing yesterday's photos :-/

serious radical air!

serious radical air!

You're thinking of the other guy ;-)

I'll post these here on your behalf..

^ Yeah, who was that guy?

He clearly doesn't have a tiger's face!

And he appears to be riding 26"

Does he even 29?

This is the build so far. Trying out 36 x 19 gearing ( about 55" ) to start with. This allows me to keep the chainstays nice & short.

I don't understand the bit about keeping the chainstays short. They're fixed aren't they?

The frame doesn't change, but when moving the wheel back to tension the chain you increase the effective length of the chainstays and wheelbase.

Using a 36 x 19 combination meant that I didn't have to move the wheel back very far at all :-)

Thanks!

My Ogre should finally turn up on friday.... 11 speed alfine, BB7s, dirt drops...I am excite!

Nice, look forward to seeing it :-)

Did you go for the green or the new black one?