Yet more new bikes.

[Fenlason]

There have been many bikes on my radar.. but we were not going to get any this year. I had purchased the Krampus about a year ago.. and am really loving it. I did recently get one for my wife. Her's will be keep the flat bars vs the drops. While loving the drop bars on mine, I have been intrigued with the flat bar version.. really wanted one.

I am not sure what Surly is doing bike wise.. they are running much of their inventory down.. and marking stuff down. They had no Krampus in my size. I have lusted after their Ice Cream Truck since it came out. They were 25% off and I had worked extra at work soooooo…. The Ice Cream Truck is a super fat bike like the Moonlander. 4.8 inch tires on 100mm wide rims. The ICT is not an asymmetrical bike like the Moony and Pugs. It has a much stiffer frame and more modern trail bike geometry. It has through axles, and has suspension compatible geometry. I could also put 29er + wheels like the Krampus. Although I would have to build a new set. for the ICT has much wider hubs than the Krampus.

I just got it built today… and I went for it's first ride this afternoon. It's a pretty sweet bike… I still have a few things to adjust.. fit wise and such. It is yet to be determined if I will keep all 3 fat bikes or not.

 

[Greg M-TNT]

I too was trying to hold out, but then a friend of mine gave me this:

I'm going to need a storage building at this rate.

 

[Fenlason]

I too was trying to hold out, but then a friend of mine gave me this:

I'm going to need a storage building at this rate.

Wow! That is pretty incredible. Nice bike.

My space is getting tight. I am doing serious work on it this year. I have 3 roofs that need replacing.. among lots of other work… and some clean up and organizing.

 

[kirkman-TNT]

 

[Fenlason]

 

[Fenlason]

Laurie's new Krampus on the left.. mine on the right.

 

[Fenlason]

Laurie's is mostly stock [so far anyways]. Her's is a 1x and I switched out the 34 tooth front ring for a 30 wide/ narrow that I had on hand. I also cut her bars a little, although it needs more.

My Krampus… has had much for changes. I have a Woodchipper dropped bar, and a different stem so that fit is better. A lighter more comfortable carbon seat post I had on hand, and a lighter racier seat [also from my stock]. 10sp Dura ace STI levers [off my road bike.. which I upgraded to 11sp]. I switched out the single crank for a double.. and of course added a front derailleur. The rear derailleur needed to be switched out. Newer Shimano mountain derailleurs aren't compatible with the road shift levers. I had an older XTR derailleur that was. I also had to switch out the brake calipers, road and mountain have different cable pulls, so while having to switch I also upgraded to the new TRP calipers.

 

[Fenlason]

I have ordered wheels for my Ice Cream Truck. I want to try 29er+ on it. The 29er+ Wheels from my Krampus won't fit. The ICT uses a 150mm front hub vs the 100 on the Krampus. It also uses a through axle. The rear uses a 197mm through axle vs 135 regular q-release.

The wheels I ordered use DT Swiss. I opted for a WTB rim vs the Surly Rabbit holes.. despite the RH being on sale. The WTB rims set up tubeless much easier.

I was hoping to receive the wheels Friday, but tracking says Monday. [although later Monday] Hopefully I can get them set up before our Monday night ride.
Once I get my wheels I will check their clearance on the Bluto fork. If they fit ok, I suspect I will also get one of those.

 

[cigarsnjeeps]

Cool. Post up when it's complete. Would like to see it.

Sent from my LG-H900 using Tapatalk

 

[mikeschn]

So what are we up to? 50?

Mike...

 

[Fenlason]

Cool. Post up when it's complete. Would like to see it.

Sent from my LG-H900 using Tapatalk

Will do.

 

[Fenlason]

So what are we up to? 50?

Mike...

I don't really know any more...

I do need to get ride of some.

 

[Fenlason]

I finally got my wheels [and such] for my Ice Cream Truck.

 

[cigarsnjeeps]

Nice. I sometimes miss my hardtails, but my back can't handle it. My new Hightower is great except I seem to have more pedal strikes now because of the low bb height. We have alot of rocks around here.

Sent from my LG-H900 using Tapatalk

 

[Fenlason]

I have DT Swiss hubs. WTB i45 Scraper rims, and Maxxis Chronicle tires.. set up tubeless. The main reason I went with these rims vs the Rabbit Holes [that are currently on sale] for their ease in setting up tubeless. I used WTB tape and valves. I first inflated them without sealant.. and they inflated as easily as if they had tubes. I put new brake rotors on these wheels. It will make the seasonal change over easier, but the biggest reason was at the moment I could only get the hubs with center lock rotors vs the 6 bolts set up of the stock hubs. So basically I will just need to switch over the cassette when I switch the wheels out.

I am debating getting a pair of 5" studded Dillinger tires for it, and let this bike become my regular winter bike.

My Pugs is normally my go to snow bike, and when I really need the float.. I use the bigger tired Moonlander. So maybe my ICT for my go to bike.. and when there is a lot of softer snow.. I can ride my Moonlander with Lou and Bud tires, and platform pedals [vs my normal step ins.]

I am not sure If I will try a suspension fork on this or not.

 

[Fenlason]

This bike had a defective brake lever. The piston in one was a little over sized, which caused the brake to stick. It is apparantly a problem they have had [Sram not Surly]. They had no parts for me… My option was to take a lesser brake. November Foxtrot Whiskey!! Or to wait about 3 weeks for the part.

I was thinking about ordering other brakes.. but held off. It's not like I don't have other bikes to ride.

I received the new lever a day before they told me they would receive them. We have been super busy.. and I didn't get to it right away… and sometimes changing out the parts and re-bleeding the brakes can be a pain. Well I did do it yesterday, and it wasn't that bad at all.

I also did order a fork for it yesterday. I was hoping to be able to switch back and forth easily from fork to fork…but that won't be the case. For I needed a different headset for the new one. [I was hoping for just a spare crown race.]

I am hoping the Ice Cream Truck will become my go to snow bike. In the past I used my Pugsly [4" tire on an 82mm rim] and I ran my Moonlander when the snow was softer. [5" tire on a 100mm rim.] I plan to get a set of 5" studded tires… and maybe lighten the bike a little… and use it for most of my winter riding. Then set up the Moonlander with flat pedals and the lou and Bud tires for when it is really tough going. I use step-ins for most of my winter riding, but there are conditions when flats do work better.
The Moonlander always seems slow. It's frame isn't super stiff.. it's fairly heavy.. and the Lou and Bud are super aggressive. While the ICT is the same 5" tires.. it is a little lighter… and much stiffer and efficient. It's handling is also way different. The 5" studded tires are less aggressive.. so hopefully it will work great for the majority of my winter riding.

 

[Fenlason]

I did some further research on the headset issues, and I can just add another crown race. Surly and Cane Creek worked together so this is an easy switch. My order had already been released.. so I still got my headset. It's not really work sending back, I will need another at some point.

I have my fork installed and got a little ride on it so far. I think it's going to be pretty sweet. It might take a little time to get it set up just like I want it. Last night's ride the rebound dampening was a little too fast. In real technical stuff a fork can often be a pain.. but I have to say what I rode last night I liked it.

I have wondered about going back a little shorter on the stem.. and a little wider on the bars.. but last night riding.. it seemed pretty good.

I am not sure what I want for a seat post yet… a lighter weight set back post? A suspension post? .. or a dropper post?