XtraMonkey

So you've seen these bikes before in different forms and set ups, but after much thought I believe I've landed on the best possible set up. Here is a quick journey through where these bikes have done starting here to here to here to... [sorry for the picture quality]


My camera died so here is the best I could do for a time lapse of Saturdays project...










So as most of you know the Surly Karate Monkey is a 29er, big wheeled goodness. The Xtracycle kit that I had purchased a good 2 years ago now was for a 26" wheel. I decided to keep the rear wheel from what was on the Giant frame and so you guessed it kids, I'm running a 69er Xtramonkey as I'm calling it. I'm sure it has been done before but the set up is amazing! I can't believe I put up with such an aggressive position previously. Obviously with the larger front wheel it moves the bar positioning up but it's good, dang good! If you're looking into putting a Free Radical on an older bike running 'traditional' geometry or a completely rigid that doesn't have a suspension corrected fork on it it's the least you should do. Your body will thank you!

I might add that the thrill I'm having at running this as a 69er by no means that I support the confused line of bikes offered by a few companies that come stock in this set up. For the mountain application you cannot beat a 29er.

Check this beast out!

Before we go any further, today's can be fully enjoyed by turning your speakers up [to 11 if yours can handle it] and pressing play below...



Oh yeah! You feel it? I know you do... and for that very reason it gives me great pleasure to present to you the completed Night Monkey project...

Here's what it's outfitted with:

_Frame: Surly Karate Monkey
_ Wheels: Salsa Delgado rims, Front hub: Shimano 600 32H, Rear hub: Shimano Nexus 7-speed internal with drum brake 36H. Built up using DT Competition 2.0 to 1.8 spokes, Tires: WTB Nano Raptors
_ Crank: Race Face Dues XC 175mm with a Rocket 32T chain ring, Crank Brothers Mallet pedals
_ Seat/Seatpost: Honey Brown Brooks B17, Thomson Elite 400mm 27.2
_ Stem/Handlebar: Thomson Elite, 25.4 mustache bar, Salsa bar tape

Now a top view... Can you tell anything that might be problematic with the set-up I'm running?

I highlighted it below so you can see my shifter cable line...

I'm running a teflon coated cable but am only really concerned with the sharp turn right as it hooks up with the hub... But so far it shifts fine with this cable routing...

There are two things that might end up changing as I get some ride time on the bike. One of them might be the front brake to a canti or switch out the brake levers to something that has a bit more 'spring' in it. I'm also considering playing around with a true barend shifter and running it friction and seeing how it goes.

But for now, it's time to put some miles on this beast!

Weekend thoughts.

This weekend was interesting to say the least. Saturday was a mad house at work [a great thing to have but definitely takes the wind out of your sail to say the least] but I was basically running on no sleep and come closing time I was out of it. The idea of an impromptu Saturday Night Ride sounded great but my legs probably would have had nothing to do with it.

Today was definitely a lazy Sunday, but I did make some headway on the Surly 'Night Monkey' project...

I got the handlebars dialed in for now. As you can see I'm rocking the mustache bars which I have been extremely thrilled about doing so, that is until Friday. Friday, I got a hold of the Nexus 7 speed grip shifter I was intending on running with the 7 speed internal. Upon attempting to install it, I found that the mustache bar would have nothing to do with such a shifter. The plan was to set the grip shift on the end of the bar so not to take up much of the usable bar space. I was able to get the clamp to expand to fit the bar but then the interior plastic of the grip shift was interfering. Like any custom project... submission will be mine! Well, let's just say, a hammer and block of wood will break plastic very easily. Not to mention have the ability to break pinkie nails when ones hand slips [I will save you from further explanation on that]. That's why you see the trigger shifter in the picture now. Mounted in the place I wanted to grip shifter to be, but for now I will see how this works before jumping to any other methods.

So I've got the bike nearly complete... all the housing is cut, all that needs to be done now is running and dialing in the shifter and brake cables, which should be tomorrow since I forgot to grab those Saturday from the shop. It's exciting to say the least.

In other news, a little over a year ago I discovered a web-show called 'The Bicyclist'. I've been keeping up with it since then and still highly recommend checking it out. For the last few months they have been taking a break from the webisodes and putting together a full length movie... called 'The Bicyclists'



'Boy meets girl'

'Boy gets the girl'

'Boy loses the girl'

'Boy get's the girl back.'

'A love story on wheels. If it were that simple.'

Brilliant! Now I just have to figure out how to either get my hands on a copy of it or get it to be played in Grand Rapids.

T-minus 1 week...

Project 'Night Monkey' is coming along well. Over the course of my days off I have been able to get both the wheels laced up and also got Shimano to send me some parts of the 7 speed internal hub that I'll be running so it's looking like a completion date of some time next week is in the works for this beast. I'm sure I'll add a few things to it as I get some ride time on, maybe some fenders of some favor [any suggestions?] or switching out the tires from the 29x2.1 Nano Raptors that I've got on their now. But we'll have to wait and see.

Sorry I haven't had much content as of late and more pictures but haven't had a much to rant or rave about, but here are some pictures of the Monkey...

That's right, rocking the mustache bars, only one side wrapped right now as I wait to find a
7 speed internal shifter [probably of the grip shift variety, which will be mounted 'differently' unless someone knows of a way to make a 7 speed barend shifter work]

The rear wheel, I laced this up today with very little issue as opposed to the front.



Both wheels are laced up on Salsa Delgados, the front is a 32H machined side wall and the rear is 36H disc specific that I'll be running a drum brake on. The front was interesting to lace in that I ended up getting to lace it twice because I entered the wrong measurements into the spoke calculator. It's amazing what 5mm long will do.

The 'Next' Project...

Just as one project closes... another always begins and the many others remain unfinished. I've stumbled onto this gem a number of times on Craigslist and honestly. I want it. BADLY.

I mean, really, how many people have a spare rickshaw floating around? I don't know of anyone who does, so why not me to fill that void in the universe.

Think about it. Strip it down to frame, get it repainted, new seat and canape [which is a funny word by the way], hook it up with some sweet Velocity B43's, fix the brake and shoot girl! $4,000 later and that's a hot bike. Cruise around downtown GR and make a buck or two.

Now, I just need to find an investor or a sugar-mama!

Seriously, I did just get my hands a Surly Karate Monkey via a trade with Brent [the Head Wrench at the shop] for a Dahon Folding bike and a few other things a couple of days back.

It's the Coleman green that G-Ted's is... but the goal with this bike is to make it the dream commuter/winter bike. I know, we are far from winter but judging how long it's been taking me to get these projects done, I've given myself JUST enough time to completely before the first snow.

This project will be code named 'Night Monkey' in a throw back to the old night crew at Europa in the days of Carl, Jeff, Bottke and a hand full of others. Unlike other projects, less secrecy on this one...

I'll be lacing up some hoops that I've got floating around, the Salsa Delgados. The rear will have a 7 speed internal hub with drum brake and the front will have an Ultrega hub and using rim brakes. I'm undecided on the crank and might transfer over the Race Face that was on the Ferrous that has been taken back down to frame. I also have a Thomson stem and seatpost with an extra B17 on it... so I'm pretty close.

I'm debating on getting it repainted but not for sure on what color might really make it pop and original. So I guess I'm in the market for a headset and that bike might be up before the dog days of summer hit... stellar? I think so...