Clandestine Carrier

Super stuff, haven’t seen something like that before!

suitibly long head tube and spacers, sign of a connoisseur

Looking at this, I think my next move is to have Tore from Starfish build me a low trail fork for my Intec to improve the handling with the large wald basket.

@Maj that and a sprinkling of Deore... prime low friction bike meme audience

@MisterMikkel sounds lovely, big fan of Tore.

A couple more pics..

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Knowing Pi's work and ethos I know that he would LOVE to see how much everyone appreciates his unpainted, unfiled raw brazed steel frame.

The luggage colour scheme will be quite wintry, all RX30 and mostly slate grey and bluebell with a couple of alpenglow "accents" (brother, ew). This barrel bag is a good taster; I bought it during WW's moving sale and plan to use it as a saddlebag when the essentials are all that is needed. The aim is to use the Carrier as an off road bike where riding is "the thing" as much as an everyday utility rig, so the idea of paring it back quickly when needed is appealing.

I suspect the lowriders and rear rack/Shazam combo will only see the light of day for occasional (at the moment, about thrice a year) overnighters. The front rack will of course be a permanent feature, wouldn't be a Carrier without it!

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The lengths people will go to to avoid panniers!

@Tijmen dig that combo, and RAL5014 is a great match for Bluebell.
Your panniers will be the finishing touch.

can't relate

It looks fun, but what's the benefit of this over a normal rear rack and panniers? Wouldn't it be nicer to have the weight of the luggage lower?
Great project btw thanks for sharing!

Cheers! There's no tangible benefit to this approach IMO; the Carrier's setup is just one way of doing it (albeit one which Pi has iterated over the years and to his mind works best).

The bike has been design to carry about 70% of the weight up front, spread across the front panniers and rack bag. I dig that approach as I prefer front-loading/pushing weight.

For bike camping I use saddlebags mainly for spare clothes and a sleeping bag so the rear weight, being the same height as a traditional saddlebag setup, is OK. The rear rack legs will have cargo cage mounts so there's that possibility too.

All kinds of swings and roundabouts but I've never liked how any of my bikes except touring bikes handle with a touring load exclusively in the back. Most rear racks don't actually get the weight that low either, certainly not compared to front racks.

All horses for courses depending on your bike, your load, your terrain, what gear guy can borrow and your preference.

In the end unless you're getting paid for your performance the most important factor is do you like it or not.

In the end unless you're getting paid for your performance the most important factor is do you like it or not.

Rep

There's no tangible benefit to this approach IMO; the Carrier's setup is just one way of doing it

In one sentence, why most bike reviews end up being subjective and any conclusions drawn from them are pointless. Be boring if we all liked the exact same bikes and set ups, no?

I've never liked how any of my bikes except touring bikes handle with a touring load exclusively in the back

Same, even with "just" a commuting load on the back of my old Cross Check there was way too much sway when out of the saddle and the front end felt too light for my liking.

@vthejk preach. The older I get, the more open-minded I am about stuff. I wonder if there's an inflection point somewhere down the line!

That said I would love to try one of these rear low riders.

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Classy. Those panniers remind me of Waxwing’s stuff, so nice.

In the meantime, the Carrier is being powder coated and I hope to have it in my hands at some point in November. I originally specced it with 2.4” Wicked Wills without guards but that’s just silly for this time of year so it’ll now come fendered with 2.25s for some grubby back lane bimbles.

When I make my concept album, Grubby Back Lane Bimbles is going to be a track title.
Thanks ♥️

Having plumped for RAL 5014, I'm now seeing it everywhere from these trusty 11-year-old pots (chai szn) to this handsome Rock Lobster on the 'gram. To my mind, it's the blue equivalent of Surly's Shangri-La Green (RAL 6011) which was second in the running.

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While the Carrier is being powdered, I've been doing bits and bobs to the Big Dummy: replacing the unnecessary triple with a 1x from this forum and the chunky kickstand brake lever with a svelte dropper lever.

Next steps involve switching the Stooge Motos and 11cm Sim Works stem for some well-priced swoopy Terminal bars and a shorter non-brand stem off eBay, and probably the tired SKSs with VO ones - justified in my mind by the bike being put to use almost every day and needing to keep hold of it for at least another 4 years.

I have some NOS 26" 50mm wide Rabbit Hole rims and was thinking of building them up for the Big Dummy and shoving a 2.5" Extraterrestial tyre in the back (apparently 70mm actual on such a wide rim) with a 2.8" WTB Ranger in the front but, whilst the front would be fine, it'd cause chain rub issues with appropriately wide (80mm) mudguards out back and this is a bike that needs mudguards, so have binned that idea.

So, what to do with the Rabbit Holes? The idea of a single speed Bridge Club (£585 frameset from Spa) with 26 x 2.8" WTB rangers is quite an appealing idea right now. It's a disease I tell ya...

Bridge Club

Fabulous bike imo

.....yes it is, and there doesn't appear to be a cure

there doesn't appear to be a cure

I find the cure is riding, but its currently 15:42 and getting dark, so scrolling and a cup of tea it is.

That's how it gets in your system, but if I can get infected whilst drinking a hot tasty beverage, bring it on!

These are lovely, now just to repeat the mantra: Don’t build a bike around these rims.

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Thinking about it, these might be a really cool off road wheelset for the Carrier on the basis that:

1. 650b x 2.25 & 26 x 2.8 share the same outer diameter; and
   
2. the Carrier is specced with 650b x 2.25 with guards, but can take up to 2.6 without which mirrors the max 650b capacity of a Beachcomber (which we all know is designed around 26 x 2.8) as confirmed by Strids.
   
   

According to Surly, 2.5 Extraterrestials measure 2.6 (67.5mm actual) on 50mm Rabbit Holes, which would reduce the BB height by a paltry 2.7mm compared to 650b x 2.25s.

Curiously, 26 x 2.8 WTB Rangers measure around 66-68mm from knob to knob according to Strids, which I'm guessing is based on 45mm WTB rims so probably even wider on a 50mm.

All to say I'll probably get these built up for the Carrier but will hold off tyres until I've got my mitts on the bike.