MF's (not actually that) Niche Fleet

Figured it's about time I set up a CP thread to document my tinkering across the bikes I'm lucky enough to have.

The current list is:

1. Pipedream A.L.I.C.E - set up with Jones bars and mudguards for winter commutes and bikepacking
   
2. Surly Pugsley - stock except for Jones bars and a 60mm Pro stem
   
3. Planet X XLS - my CX race bike with a stripped frame
   
4. Ridley Arena 7005 - track bike for blasting around when it's dry and sunny
   
   

Updates to follow and pictures showing the current state of each of them attached.

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That Pipedream is epic. Bought on here?

Yeah, bought the F&F and drivetrain here (https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/335054/?offset=25#comment15236487) and built it up from there, it really is brilliant. If I could only have one, it'd be the Pipedream.

Nice pugsley!

Quite right, what an absolute hoot to ride! Winch it up, bulldoze down, repeat.

First update to the Ridley, since it only arrived a week ago (courtesy of Cycle2Work) has been to remove the awful cheap bartape and put some of my favourite cotton tape on. Bit of a pain to fit, but much better with it on than it was.

Next is a British Cycling issue 47t Blackspire chainring due to arrive soon.

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New chainring arrived and is now on. Annoyingly, using my preferred 47x16 ratio, the wheel sat too far out from the seat tube cut out for my tastes, but dropping to 15 meant I could remove one more link in the chain and get the rear nice and tukt.

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Good morning. Just got myself an ALICE frame and fork from the superbly decent Alan (aka Captain Pipedream). Just wondered tyre size and wheelset wise how you are getting on? It's an XL for me and wanting to run 29 hoops of some description but would be great to get some real life feedback on tyre size and fitment before I plump on some. It's a one bike wonder for me so i will be shod semi slick and up to knobblers at various points! Many thanks. Andy

Awesome! I've never seen another one in the wild so it's cool you're getting one too!

RE clearances, I run 650bx47mm WTB Horizons on wide MTB carbon rims and it's a medium frame. With that setup it has clearance for 52mm mudguards and plenty beyond those too.

For 29ers I know Euan used to run this frame with a 2.35in Magic Magic in the front and a 2.25in Onza Canis in the back, not sure if it can take wider than that.

That's excellent news! The blurb says 2.1 max but I thought the pictures (of presumably when Euan had the bike) looked bigger than that! Pretty excited about getting it all built up. I'll post pictures of her when she arrives! Many thanks Andy

Please do - would love to see some pics, maybe even a projects thread to document the build!

I shall! Strict budget of £1500 (one bike out for that and one bike in!) The rules of family life and new bikes! 1x11 and flared drops. I'll keep you updated when things begin to arrive!

Cool! If you want those tyres mentioned above, just drop me a message - they came with the F&F when I bought it but I don't have a 29er so they're just sat in the garage.

What guards are you using?

That's very decent of you, I shall let you know! In wheel decision turmoil just now. SO: was all set to plump from some Hunt 4 season disc xwide but now thinking that I'd be better doing a hope fortus type thing (the 23 or the 30) but then I thought would I better getting a build done?! As keeping a budget dont really want to spend more than 350ish. Any suggestions as I've been out of the bike game for a while! Best Andy

nice bikes but can I say not 'niche' at all?

niche would be a tandem, cargo bike, brompton, bmx, roadie, fixie, eBike

I am still trying to diversify my bike portfolio

These are VO Zepplins (52mm) chap. Probably a touch too narrow for the Horizons but I really wanted the Zepplin pattern rather than plain ones.

I thought putting Jones bars on anything immediately made you an interesting person?

For what it's worth, i was judging 'niche' compared to the carbon road bike/160mm all mountain bike 'standard' pairing, but granted, maybe not that niche given the present audience!

With that being said, the CX is fairly plain jane. Should singlespeed it to continue the theme really.

PM'd you, I'd be going handbuilt and buy some nice hubs used to save some money.

Took the Pugsley out for a blast today, rediscovering a route from a few years ago, combining a few forest tracks, gravelly rocky climbs around an old quarry and a road slog home.

4 inch rubber is very comfy but not ideal for 10km of tarmac back home from where the gravel ends!

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A great stable! Something for every occasion...

You are almost there, right?

Thanks, I definitely seems to have a scratch for most itches for the timebeing!

Got something exciting from Ross at StraightCut designs in the post today. Bought a half frame bag for the Pugs, as I already have a set of StraightCut bags for the Pipedream and was really impressed.

Fitted pics to come.

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Took the Pugs out for the longest off road ride I've done in ages on Sunday - 45km of open moorland, bridleways and lots of rocky climbs and descents.

I've been 'fat curious' for a few years now but actually buying one came a bit out of the blue (a big thanks to @bjf for that!) and I totally get it. It just handles everything with such sure-footedness it gives a confidence my skills do not deserve!

Anyway, obligatory pictures below:

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