u/lemmycaution217

Rolled out of bed still sick with chest cold but wanted to get out for an over nighter in Harriman. Beautiful day for a ride on Saturday in New York. Took my sweet time and missed the group ride. Rolled in just before sundown and made camp. Rain started earlier than expected on Sunday and never stopped so I took the train back to the city.

This setup feels good but I think I need to find a 38T for the front or else convert to 2x. Climbs like the snail on its seat tube.

New saddle - B17 Flyer Carved New bars - Surly Terminal Bar w/ Inner bar ends New Tires - Slaughter in rear and Mezcal in Front, both 27.5x2.6 New bag- Swift Catalyst (just fits a 6 pack)

Loaded up my Straggler Rando Rig for its first overnighter. Brooklyn to Nyack and back. Set out late and crossed the GWB to the West side of the Hudson and rode up along the Palisades and some dirt trails before cutting over to River Road. Hillier than I anticipated but the Straggler handled it well. I hiked it up some stretches. Might convert to 2x at some point. Hammock camped in my buddy’s yard, next time I’ll skip the thermarest pad and bivy, things a sweat trap.

Next day I rode across the Tappanzee and hopped on the OCA Trail back to the city. It’s a great dirt trail that the Old Croton Aqueduct used to supply water to NYC. Nice rolling grade all the way back to the Bronx. Be like water, roll down hill. 😉 First time out, so I overpacked a bit but I did use everything I brought including a mid trail coffee break and a flat fix about 2 miles from home. Now enjoy these righteous leans.

Brooklyn to Nyack and back.

Loaded the Straggler up to go see a friends new place and camp in his yard. Beautiful days. Rode there on the West side of the Hudson and then crossed river the next morning and came back on the OCA trail. It’s the wooded, dirt trail that the Old Croton Aqueduct used to supply water to New York City. Pretty cool path. Overpacked a bit but actually used everything I brought, including my patch kit and frame pump!

Just wasnt loving the Corner Bars so I de used to try the Granola Moose flipped upside down on my Straggler. By flipping the Granola Moose you get something a little less cruisy and a little more racy, sort of a “performance cruiser” if you will. At first I was a little unsure of the angle but the more I look at it I realize it’s not much different from the angle of the drops or the hoods on the corner bars and the open cockpit gives more options to rest my hands. Plus the wide grips feel really good as leverage for accelerating. It’s along the lines of a flipped north roads or old path racer but less aggressive with the uncut steerer and glorious spacer stack.

Surly Bridge Club

650b x 2.8" Super-Motos

VO Klunker Bars

RaceFace Chester pedals

Ergon GC-1 Grips

Topean Super Tourist Rack

VO Copenhagen Kickstand

Brooks carved B17 Saddle

Be honest

Solved an issue with the rear rack mounting too high or low and got the number of spacers down to a reasonable quantity… without cutting the steerer. 🤨😉 She’s riding high and feeling good. Enjoy these righteous leans.

Getting close now. Feels pretty good.

Still working on this one but really liking how it’s coming together and differentiating itself from my Bridge Club. And yes I’m working on adding more clearance for that tubus rack. The tire just clears with a 41 but I live in fear of a wood chip or rock wedging in the treads and getting stuck in the rack. I think I can extend the midfork connector with a small mending plate and bring the bottom mount forward to the rack boss.

When the world gives you straights, why not curve?

Picked up a Chlorine Dream Straggler that was in sort of rough shape, with a mismatched All-City Fork and MTB brakes and shifter. Everything important is working fine and no frame damage though. I had the black straggler fork already and was searching for the rest of the frame set. Trying to find the right setup now. This corner bar setup seems to hit the spot pretty well. It’s a 58 so I used a short stem and I haven’t cut the steerer yet(should I?)

What do you all think? Is that tall stove pipe of a steerer just silly?

Could ride this boat for days.

Rides great, just need a free weekend to get it out of town.

Class and sophistication

In my never-ending quest to stave off N+1 I ordered one of the last remaining legacy 700c lugged Straggler forks in black. I’m going to put it on my Bridge Club for when I want a leaner road/gravel bike and am running slimmer 700c wheelset/tires. I figure the fork is 1/10 the price of a new bike and takes up less space. I just always wanted a nice lugged fork, you know? The Straggler fork has the same offset as the BC but it’s 20mm shorter axle to crown so the headtube angle will steepen by 1 degree to 72. So It should feel a bit more aggressive and lively. I may also get some shorter 165 or 170 cranks to avoid pedal strikes. And when I want to go back to fatter tires I’ll just pull out the Straggler fork and put the BC fork and 650s back on. Thoughts? Warnings?

Kids wanted to go camping at the park. Who am I to say no? A little shakedown ride on the street stomper.

Picked up some slightly used 27.5x2.8 SuperMoto X tires for $15 each and decided to lighten up my build by taking off fenders and racks and going with the Swift Catalyst bag for my hauling needs. Feels good to be able to pick my bike up without straining.

Has anyone tried putting one of the older Biplane Straggler Forks on a 700C Bridge Club? Both forks have about the same 700C tire clearance and I just like the idea of the black biplane fork for when I put on the 700c wheelset.

https://www.benscycle.com/surly-straggler-fork---700c--qrx100mm--1-1-8--straight-steerer--400mm-axle-to-crown--steel--black-c605-surly-k2284-fk0950/p?idsku=637287&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18392683605&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiJvQBhCYARIsAMjts3KQBZ0n_TqNd8AVkBFtt91pKLY94ts3B2OLOjOQdRccEuliDYMuREwaAlBZEALw_wcB