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Thinking of a bike for cycling the 3 miles to work, messing about on and going for bimbles with the family of a weekend. I’ve been looking at the humuhumu, Z-Klunker and Transition Klunker amongst others. I then thought of looking out for a Stooge frame and fork going used (just love the look of them) and building it up as a singlespeed with cheap used parts. It almost seems like the UK equivalent of those kind of bikes.
What’s the STW forum consensus, good idea, terrible idea? Could I shoehorn guards on to one for winter commuting? Reckon I could build one up pretty cheap?
Why not? If it feels good build it and ride it.
For some reason yr post made me think - whatever happened to the Haro Mary SS (and Redline Monocog)? Seems maybe there wasn't much of a market for a basic, rigid, sensibly priced 29er singlespeed? I always thought that format was an ideal kind of jump-on-and ride, tough, low-maintenance bike yet they seem to have gone the way of the dodo.
Marin Pine Mtn rigid ss seemed like a good idea but they're 900 quids now which seems a lot for the basics. I must be getting v old!
I'd say you'd be a bit over-biked but it'll do that and more - well you'll want to do more on it once you've built it up 🙂 A very capable and adaptable frameset. Providing you don't go for massive tyres there's plenty of room for mudguards.
My wife loves hers, to the point that the Soul doesn't get a look in these days! They are a bit "Marmite", a bit "quirky" in that classic English way, and you either get them or you don't. I know a few Stooge owners, actually some of them have several frames, the fact that it's rigid doesn't seem to hold them back.
@Malvern Rider: Sensibly priced, low maintenance bike? Goes against the "more is better" philosophy doesn't it? Last year when we were in Rovaniemi 90% of the locals' bikes were cheap single speed "grannyfiets". The place is fairly flat and when it hits -20C you don't want to be faffing with anything small and fiddly that might break. They were all very low geared - again the low temps mean that high speeds will just create wind chill - people just pootled around for want of a better phrase.
For my 3 mile commute I have one of these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/vitus-vee-29-city-bike-2018/rp-prod159731
Now £200 (£300 gets you discs & gears, £360 gets you discs & hub gears).
Mine has mud guards, Land Cruisers & a Mary bar. Great at commuting 365 & pootles along the canal.
Seen the Vee, but it just looks boring. I want something a bit quirky and different. Might sound daft I know. Something more leaning towards fun rather than functional is required 😀
Buy a Stooge. Stick some 29ers on it. It will be the best bike you will own and it will take anything you throw at it.
If you want a bimbler, a mile muncher, an ‘NDuro HT thrasher, SS, geared, bike, then a Stooge can be it.
I’ve just built one with boing forks and B+ wheels and 3” rubber. The best bike I’ve ever owned. By far. Andy Stooge is a genius.
Just thought I’d add that the Vee would be great for just commuting and canal rides, but doesn’t meet the messing about criteria. Currently have a Stif Morf as my main bike and just want something kinda quirky as a second ride.
I hear you. My Vee was brought to replace my HumuHumu that got nicked, I'd built that up from a frame I got off CoastKid, I loved it, defo a quirky custom kinda cruiser ride, fun to be on. The Vee is just functional.
That is really shitty qwerty, the humuhumu looks great. I’m also tempted by Stereo bikes Z-Cruiser, but can’t find much info on the company and the bike only comes with a 90 day warranty.