Forum menu
I used to do a lot of riding before my kids came along and now have very limited time due to work and family commitments. Over the last three years I’ve gone through a fair number of bikes and I think it’s about time I realised that a mountain bike just isn’t going to get used like it should anymore.
I tried an NS RAG last year, but it was a bit too much like a road bike for my liking. Great bit of kit, just not for me. When I went out exploring I’d find something that looked like fun to ride if I had a burly bike (or more skill), but wasn’t enjoyable for me on the RAG.
I bought another MTB a few months ago believing I’d make the time to ride it. This isn’t happening though. Funk Jr is finally starting to show an interest in bikes, so I’m thinking of something I could use just to go out with him and arse about on (thinking Transition Klunker, Kona Humuhumu). I’d also want a bike that’s a jack of all trades for commuting, riding from the door and exploring. Hopefully this would include some rough stuff.
So, if you’ve managed to sit through my ramblings, what would you suggest? I’ve been thinking Vagabond, Stooge or Karate Monkey (older one). Hit me with suggestions for a messing about bike and one that can do a bit of everything.
You've deffo got an itch, FMP!
From vintage cruiser to neo-klunker to monster-cross!
Try quizzing yrself?
1. What geo? Long and slack, midway or short and sprightly?
2 Rigid or hardtail?
3. What bars? Drops, flared drops, klunker/BMX-y risers or flats?
4. SS? 1X? 2X? hub gears?
5. Wheelsize?
6. Mud clearance/max tyre width?
7. Frame material?
8. How many top tubes? 😉
9. How much quids?
PS I bought a Vagabond bought as a hopeful do it all bike, didnt ride for ages owing to injury, yet now regaining some ability I find that self instinctively reaching for and messing about way more on the P7 (26er) singlespeed, or even the Batavus Personal Bike. Vagabond I found is strictly best for touring, gravel and commuting. And it is a really nice bike. Simple too. But for messing about, IMO you can't beat a singlespeed or hub gear. Thinking of renovating my old Raleigh Sirocco (Reynolds 500) roadie and fitting a 2-speed kickshift or auto hub. So many styles of bike are great for messing about on but simplicity in the gearage rules IME
My brother had an older karate monkey which I thought was brilliant for local rides, messing around on, on/off road exploring (obviously going to be slow on road especially with bigger tyres) and most things. Could obviously do most things on it albeit slower if you fancied something more challenging.
i bought a cube nuroad for the same reasons.
want to ride offroad, but dont want to ride anything hard or tech. so the cube is proving pretty good.
put 1000 miles on it in 2 month, which as all been good
Stooge would do everything you want brilliantly and put a grin on your face 🙂
You’ve deffo got an itch, FMP!
From vintage cruiser to neo-klunker to monster-cross!
😁 definitely! Have a Stif Morf at the moment and it just seems like a waste. Taken it out properly three times and it was brilliant. A bit overkill for commuting, exploring and messing about with the kids though.
Single speed for the mess about bike should do it. Something a bit daft, so probably with Moto style bars and at least two top tubes. I emailed Charge about the Cleaver, but it’s not due until October.
Main bike would definitely need gears. Not too fussed on handlebar type to be honest. Thinking big wheels and clearance for MTB tyres should I manage to get some off road done. Rigid and probably steel. Minimum one top tube and able to run mudguards for winter commuting. Budget around £1k new or used.
Your family commitments sound not too dissimilar to my own. I've gone through some high end machinery to justify me getting out a pedal around 12 hour shifts, commute, family and renovating a house. What have I now? Flat bar 29er SS. Bloody love it. Crappiest bike I've ever had . I treat it like a ginger step child. It needs something, it'll get it when it finally breaks. After a horrid day I just go out and beast myself on it and throw it back in the garage afterwards unloved. I cycle with the kids on it. When I know I'm working late in the house, I come in from work and don't even change clothes, straight out to ride. No water bottle, puncture repair kit or a care in the world. Like being 10 again . Just on your bike for the sake of it and I feel great afterwards. Tackle flooring a loft or whatever mundane tasks lie before me with a smile on my face. I would say I'm fitter because of the SS aspect and my bike handling skills are sharp as I have a go at anything now . No mechanical excuses to be made to cover lack of talent. Who cares if the bike takes a few knocks . I'm sure one day I'll get my good bikes back, but for now it is more important to be a cyclist and getting out in the fresh air than it is to have the latest and greatest fad . Just get a bike that gets you out and enjoying that time . Surly Straggler BTW .
Ahhh two bikes! Sorry misread.
Maybe something like this as a start, upgrade the cranks etc? See if you like it cheap and cheerful?
Main bike I'd go rigid 29er. Barely-used Vagabond possibly and cheekily for sale here if you're an interested medium type. Can't see me doing longer rides for a few years yet, so restricted to messing about until injuries get sorted. Dang it. Messing around on a bike is the best fun tho 🙂
We obviously think along similar lines as I have a Transition Klunker, a Vagabond, and a Krampus (nearly bought a KM, but was intrigued by the 29+ thing).
The Klunker is great, pulls a trailer ok, and is fun for a mess about, but I'd not want to do many miles on it.
The Vagabond eats up the miles in either monster cross or road guise (Ive got 2 sets of wheels), but gets out of it's depth on more techy stuff quite quickly.
The Krampus is just a silly amount if fun. Geared or SS it's great for messing around on, handles techy single-track with aplomb, and happily eats up the miles on big days out.
When our kids were younger and work was being demanding, it felt very difficult to get out.
Over time, I've adapted my riding so that I make the most of the opportunities. I remember reading a Singletrack magazine feature on parenting and how it affects the time available. One of the quotes that stuck with me was: "you have to lean on the soft bits" (i.e. times you'd not normally have cycled before).
What I now do is:
- Mandatory cycling *everywhere* it's possible to do so. E.g. right now, I'm on a train to London for 2 days to work, but have a Brompton with me for c.20 miles of cycling over 2 days. A bike always goes on holidays and often business trips.
- 100% of commutes to work are by bike. I have extended my standard 20km round trip into a variety of 40km and 60km road routes.
- Day-long and multi-day trips are planned well in advance, as in 6 months or so. This weekend, I'm cycling in Northern Ireland with a friend and then doing Bristol BikeFest the weekend afterwards. Long planned!
- If I fancy road cycling and "need" to do a c.3 hour ride, then I try to start at 6am - so that I'm back for family weekend breakfast / general duties, without complaints.
- Any time that the trails are dry, I do loops of the local MTB trails. Many are out-and-back in under an hour - often during lunch breaks if working from home or, more usually, during summer evenings.
I've had "jack of all trades" bikes (including a Stooge, various Surly etc), when I was also feeling like my riding didn't justify something more specialist - but by making the changes above I'm now in a position where I've expanded my collection again. I now have a light, racy 29er (for those quick, local MTB loops), a steel "all road" bike (for wetter days, commuting and touring), a light roadie (dry, fast commutes) and a Brompton (work trips and pub).
Our kids are now 6 & 8 - and along the way we've also all enjoyed bike trailers, Tagalongs etc.
I'm actually doing as much - if not more - riding than ever before. I was fortunate in that the local trails in Bristol were upgraded into man-made loops when our first child was 2ish - but MTB is about 20% of my riding now. Gone (for now) are the long, care-free days of MTB'ing in the wilderness... but it's great to realise just how much riding I can get in with a bit of planning and opportunism.
Hopefully I can do similar when the kids are older. One is four and the other seven months old. Unfortunately Funk Jr (four year old) is an early riser and is up and running at about 05:30 most days. I think pootling, bimbling and messing about are in my future for the next few years. It’s an excuse to get a silly bike too!