Thanks for the insight, the Stooge is obviously very capable if the Bystickel isn't getting any love.
Or,what am I saying - a fat front
I am going to try OO Marys for a while....Lots of other bars in the shed to try if these ain't to my liking
Running a knard up front and yes they aint the best in mud and wet but pretty good overall....Did me fine round the Highland trail. I will put on a Magic Mary on the front for winter duties.
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I can't help but feel the bike would lose some of its balance and directness with a balloon upfront, but what i really need to do is try it out and find out for myself. I didn't set out to design a semi fat bike, what i wanted was a 29er that railed and took you over the edge
Fair enough!
Just out of curiosity, I decided to weigh my fat front wheel(HuskerDu and 65mm carbon rim), it's a whopping 60g heavier than the Knard/RabitHole 29+ wheel.
I am going to try OO Marys for a while....Lots of other bars in the shed to try if these ain't to my liking
Try them a bit more dropped down - pointed more at your back axle than your saddle.
I did what Brant just recomended to the Mary's on my commuter a few weeks ago & it does indeed work. Feels a little weird at first but I like it. Almost akin to something like Woodcutters.
I did what Brant just recomended to the Mary's on my commuter a few weeks ago & it does indeed work. Feels a little weird at first but I like it. Almost akin to something like Woodcutters.
You sort of "sit into" them a bit more? I'd almost use "hunker down" but it's probably wrong 😉
FutonRC - do you use your knard in your jones much or generally find yourself going back to fat? I'm tempted to get a 29+ wheel built for my jones but struggling to think where I'd prefer it over the Bud given my experience with a knard on my swift.
Also still think these stooges would potentially benefit from a stiffer fork given the length and profile with the massive caveat that I haven't ridden one. Swift vs jones and I can't think of a single scenario where I prefer the flexier swift fork when generally dicking around and chasing mates on full sus bikes. Sure, the flex in the swift fork has its place but for me it doesn't tie in with design ethos of the stooge which kind of matches the reason why I bought my jones; great fun to ride on any trail without the hassle of shock servicing etc. Even the guy at field bikes made a truss for his 29er. Downside is increased cost and whacky aesthetics I guess.
Gotama - fat every time!
I've just put the 29+ wheel back on, just to see how it compares to my new carbon setup, which is only 60g heavier. A quick spin around the garden shows that the 29+ wheel still has a slight advantage for acceleration - due to rolling resistance I guess (though the new grippyer 29+ tyres may not have this advantage). I've not had this wheel on for ages - a year maybe, I pretty much dropped it when conditions got wet, so it will be interesting to see how it goes.
So yeah - I hardly ever use the 29+ and with my new 65mm carbon rim, I son't see that changing!
Thanks for the tip Brant.....I will drop them tomorrow.
Took her on a maiden voyage tonight..15 miles of mixed singletrack and fire-road.
The bike just blew all expectations! Just instant love...felt like an old friend. Listening to Andrew(designer) I kept a good stack height under the stem. Front end just pops up on demand. The short stays make it feel really nimble on the ST.Felt very comfy and I cant wait to try it on some big miles and also some steeper terrain.
Anyhow...great job mt stooge!
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FRC - that's interesting and kind of what I expected so I' ill stick with tubeless bud given what I use the bike for. Thanks, you've just saved me the best part of 300 quid on a front wheel........but then again the carbon rim sounds interesting 🙂
Brant,
What are the differences between the O-One Mary and OG bars? I'm looking at the alloy ones as a possibility on my Krampus.
Cheers
Paceman
Gotama - go carbon 😉 the HUDU/carbon wheel is 900g lighter than the Bud wheel it replaced. It really does just feel so much more lively, I won,t need the Bud until it gets really muddy. Still, it's nice to have 3 different wheels to choose from. I've got a 35mm carbon rim in the back as well, so roughly 24lb with a fat front.
I seem to have acquired a SS Stooge which I'll build up just as soon as I can get a headset and will once and for all answer the question 6' 4" yes or no.
Is the Stooge nationally recognised in the biking community now?
Everywhere the bike goes I get interest and comments.
It's like bees round a honey pot
How do you find the big front tyre, it's really comfortable isn't it, I'm thinking of getting one, it's not that expensive is it etc
Only yesterday I called on a mate for a ride and as we came out of his place a couple on cross bikes over the road called over How long you had you had your Stooge mate??
He ended up having a quick spin round on it and said he was going to buy one
Martinh - look forward to seeing your feedback - my mate is 6'4" and is chomping on the bit for a Stooge
MartinH, it was good to meet you yesterday (SSUK14), following our chat/ride it raised a smile when you won the frame. Be really interested to hear how you get on, especially as you already own a Jones. Comparisons would be really cool. cheers.
So, as Mr Stooge has started the Jones/Stooge discussion, let's grasp the nettle 🙂
What are the differences, and as I understand things the Stooge is a progression forward over the Jones
I know Stooges CS's are shorter and the front end is different, in what exact way I would like to find out
Great to meet jonestown @ SSUK - and 3 other Stooges! What is the collective noun?
Stoogi 😉
Oh and I must stop looking at this thread! I've only had my Cotic a couple of months!!
What are the differences, and as I understand things the Stooge is a progression forward over the Jones.
The Stooge is a progressive design but not necessarily an improvement over the Jones in my opinion. The Stooge is a different and interesting take on rigid trail bike design, whilst both have their place in the current market (but neither in my shed unfortunately 🙁 )
Great to meet you Andy and I enjoyed our conversation and my mini test ride. I'd have probably remained Stooge curious without this amazing opportunity to build and play with one.
Somehow missed my chance to finally meet Clink, unless we chatted and I didn't realise it was you.
Soon as I have the headset I'll build it and borrow my Jones's wheels - what better way to compare
Andy, thanks for the brief chat yesterday also, great to meet you.
(Pre-ride, by your car, shifty looking chap on green Niner...
Sorry I didn't manage to get to try one of your Stooges out, had to head off early.
Everything you said totally made sense & is what I'm looking for in a bike.
The bikes looked lovely in the flesh. Angles wise they look spot on.
Now to work on the acquisitions committee... 😉
Somehow missed my chance to finally meet Clink, unless we chatted and I didn't realise it was you.
😯 I saw you but didn't realise who you were until I got home - shonky!
SSUK15?
I've now had a couple of rides on my Stooge - Dartmoor and SSUK. I prefer it over the Jones I had. In my mind is equally good going down but a better climber (ss).
I swung my leg over a couple of those Stoogees (the plural has a double ee - it's an irregular name / bike).
Liked it, particularly with the 29x3" front end. It felt stable, vaguely unstoppable but still manoeuvrable.
Nice.
Sam's Puffins seemed to be the other bike of interest over the weekend.
Also nice.
forgive my ignorance, im not very good at understanding the intricacies of slightly differing geometry. ive got a singular gryphon with ragly luxy bars. can the stooge be built up using these bars or would that be silly and cancel out how its sposed to ride?
what would be the difference between the two bikes (frames) if i bought a stooge frame and stuck all the gryphon kit onto it?
Definitely very Stooge-curious after spending a weekend sleeping near one! (Hi Clink, I was the one with the "normal" bike)
Sorry, what's "normal" at SSUK exactly?
Well I had an inbred with exotic carbon forks and 650b wheels squeezed in, but the guys I came with had a handmade carbon full suss and a canti-braked sharpied karate monkey!
inbred with exotic carbon forks and 650b wheels squeezed in
Deviant. You'll be riding gears next.
Shhh, I might get...
Booed
Sadexpunk, i've built a stooge with woodchipper bars, because i could, i guess, and i use it as my down the shops and round the block hack, it rides well but doesn't even come close to how my main bike rides off-road. Because the Gryphon is designed for drops it will probably have a shorter top tube to take the forward reach of the drops into account. If you're a tall gent then the Stooge would probably feel very similar, if you're shorter then you'd have to run a short stem to take the above into account. Anything goes, i say.
How tall are you, and what size Gryphon do you ride?
Stooges were a bit common at SSUK14, they were even giving them away 😉
Nice looking frame, awful blue colour
Nice looking frame, awful blue colour
Nicer colour than your swift 😉
Sadexpunk, i've built a stooge with woodchipper bars, because i could, i guess, and i use it as my down the shops and round the block hack, it rides well but doesn't even come close to how my main bike rides off-road. Because the Gryphon is designed for drops it will probably have a shorter top tube to take the forward reach of the drops into account. If you're a tall gent then the Stooge would probably feel very similar, if you're shorter then you'd have to run a short stem to take the above into account. Anything goes, i say.How tall are you, and what size Gryphon do you ride?
im 5'10 and a medium gryphon. i like the luxy bars and just wondered whether id feel more 'upright' on a stooge than a gryphon, or whether id need normal risers to go with it.
also, how do they compare weight-wise? the stooge seems to be considered as quite heavy, but everybody loves riding it, so im interested in whether thats the same for the gryphon.
thanks
the size would be perfect for you. I think the stooge will be longer in th toptube and slightly taller at the front, you'd have no problem emulating your current set-up. The best way to describe the stooge is that it's a 6" trail bike without the suspension, and by that i'm referring to the riding position. It will ride better off road with a flat bar, but if you're a fan of dirt drops and like/are used to the lower position, then go for it i say.
I had a set of luxys once and really enjoyed them until i hit a boulder and caned myself. went back to flats after that 🙂
A good bar for you on the stooge would be the jones bend bar, lots of sweep and a very happy riding position.
re weight, my demo bike was built up just shy of 26lbs, so no heavyweight. Once i fitted dually rims and knard the weight went up substantially. Having said that it rides very well with the Big.
Nice looking frame, awful blue colour
Nicer colour than your swift
Equally bad, I hate blue
Sorry it's a bit of a general question but how do you think the Stooge would compare to my Solaris with 120 mm forks ?
Every time this thread pops up I can’t help thinking they look like fun !
I could easily get away without suspension but I would probably only be using a large-ish standard tyre up front with a 30 mm Lite Bicycle rim.
I run mine with a 2.4 Ardent front, 2.3 Ground Control rear, Flow rims. I have got a Knard but not put it on yet, haven't felt the need tbh. It's a great trail bike, but I consider it more of an all-rounder. But it's still a rigid bike. I would echo Andy's comments - works best for me with a nice wide, flat bar.
Are the t-shirts for sale or only for owners?
t-shirts are for sale, £15 with free postage, M, L, XL. Haven't got round to putting them on the website yet, if you fancy one let me know.
What size does the medium measure up at? I'm a racing snake!
Clink - You say you've ridden your Stooge on Dartmoor... Does this mean you live on or near Dartmoor?
I'm thinking if you do, I'd love to meet up to obtain a test ride...
A few miles under my belt on the Stooge and I have to say..its superb.
Very nimble,super comfy and ridiculous fun!
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Clink - You say you've ridden your Stooge on Dartmoor... Does this mean you live on or near Dartmoor?
I'm thinking if you do, I'd love to meet up to obtain a test ride...
Somerset. Where are you?
