Tripster ATR finally built up – lush!

Sneaky peak of my build, just waiting for my Mason X Hunt wheels to arrive before completing it….

Your workshop is a bit cleaner than my garage 🙂

I just sort of threw bits at the frame till they stuck in vaguely the right places.

Should I try and sell it? Would anyone buy it? Is it wroth getting repaired? What to do with it

I’ve no idea, but if you’re 100% honest in selling, the buyer views and accepts the risk, I don’t see why you shouldn’t sell it and move on. I wouldn’t expect a fortune for it, but the fork alone is probably worth £100??

I might be interested in the forks if you are selling them

Id be interested in the frameset what you looking for it ? pm please

cheers

dc

@cloudnine … yep the forks are for sale. just email me.

@dmc … just email me to

Hi James, what’s your email? It’s not in your profile.

Hi James cant find an email mines in my profile

cheers

Dc

How are you all finding the ‘feel’ of the bike and the steering?

Looking at the geometry figures of the Tripster atr:

The 70.5 head angle, and a 45mm rake fork produces a bike with a high trail figure. This should mean that it should be stable at speed but slow steering maybe with a bit of wheel flop???

Couple that with an ultra low bb drop will mean you have a very planted bike. Great off road but what about on road?

What’s it like compared to a full road bike (if you have both)??

Cheers

Rik, hard to do a direct comparison as I sold my Giant OCR to part fund the Tripster – it’s taking 2 bikes roles in 1 for me.

I’m also riding with 32mm cross tyres rather than road rubber at the moment.

Biggest difference in feel is the CowBells – drops feel a lot more usable with them on than normal road drops. You may not agree.
It’s my utility bike so is often accompanying a single speeding / scootering 4 year old.. don’t have any issues with the steering at his pace or trying to catch his older brothers.

Interested in seeing how it performs in ‘roadie’ guise (25mm tyres, lighter road pedals) but having a bit too much fun on the CX setup at the moment 🙂

I’ve got 4Season 28c on my road bike and 35c Marathon Supremes on my touring bike – the difference between the two are not that much for everyday use. The supremes are so much faster than a normal marathon.

Cowbells on the touring bike and 3T bars on the road bike. Both are comfy, but i don’t ride on the drops ever, 99% on the hoods.

Just wondering if it feels slow and sluggish in comparison to a road bike or even cross bike which will have steeper geometry. Or if it doesn’t feel slow and sluggish but planted and stable in a good way???

Or if it doesn’t feel slow and sluggish but planted and stable in a good way???

The latter. It is a great bike to ride.

Finally got round to taking pics. Just uploading them to photobucket

What’s it like compared to a full road bike (if you have both)??

My initial thought when I got on it for the first shakedown was ‘Holy crap. Have I done the right thing?’. I had been riding an old Time race frame as a commuter after my Kaffenback snapped, and that had a 73.5° HTA. In comparison, the Tripster felt very odd to start with. After 2 months, I don’t even notice any more. Even swapping back and forth onto my current race bike (73° HTA) I don’t notice as much.

Thanks Matts that’s good to know the 70.5degree head angle does seem slack

Yeah. I was really questioning whether I had bought the right frame for a couple of days. I wanted something that would handle OK for some off road bikepacking and playing about in the woods, but in reality, 95% of the miles I do on it are commuting and training. Happily, now I’m adjusted to it, I like how it handles.

Just wondering if it feels slow and sluggish in comparison to a road bike or even cross bike which will have steeper geometry. Or if it doesn’t feel slow and sluggish but planted and stable in a good way???

I thought that at first coming from a 2012 Croix de fer, then I got used to the stable steering versus the quick steering of the CDF, so instead of darting around I now ‘power-out’ of turns, working against the stability of the steering.

And for longer rides the stability is good as you aren’t concentrating on keep the steering straight, and can just concentrate on slogging on.

But the bike felt a lot less sluggish with 40c tyres on and feels ‘right’ now. And the WTB Nanos are pretty fast on the tarmac as well.

It seems like the rear brake caliper faces on my frame are too rounded – I can’t align the TRP Hy/Rd properly against the disc. As soon as I tighten the bolts it angles inward slightly and goes out of alignment, resulting in fairly bad pad/disc rub.

Has anyone else had this, and if so did you use shims, or get the frame-caliper mount area faced? I’m also considering getting the Avid bolt kit which has the angled washers, but I’m not sure whether that will raise the height of the caliper too much, or if that must might not be the best option 🙁

… or I just might be doing something wrong, but I’ve spent several days checking things and the disc itself appears to be spinning perfectly true. I’ve also checked a new spare disc, just in case I was missing anything. The wheel itself was built by a reputable local builder and also looks perfectly true.

I’ve also checked for debris anywhere on the caliper and frame – everything I’ve looked at has been perfectly clean. The Hy/Rd mounting surface is flat, but the frame mounting area isn’t.

The front caliper is perfect. I’ve also swaped the front & back, with the same result – front is still perfect, rear still has this problem.

Very excited to receive my Mason X Hunt 4seasons wheelset today, rotors and cassette fitted at lunch, tubes and tyres now fitted. Won’t be long before I’m on the road now!

Re-shod with some 41mm Surly Knards on Saturday and went for a blast round Epping Forest on Sunday. Damn, this bike is fantastic!

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any trouble with pedal strike on roots and rocks, etc, when riding off road, due to the large bottom bracket drop?

Cheers.

Have been riding mine off road for the last couple of weeks. Haven’t clipped a pedal yet. Not done any really uneven rocky stuff though.

Has anyone ran one of these with a flat bar set up?

I am edging towards one but something is calling me towards a flat bar with bar end type set up.

I never ride on the drops, the vast majority of my time on the roadie is spent on the hoods.

Most of the time I would be running 28mm GPs for road riding but fancy hitting up field edges etc on occasion.

Thoughts please… not sure how i’d go about sizing either??

Feel free to explain what a stupid idea it is!

Thanks

Thanks for info on bottom bracket drop off road. I think it will be ok.

Mbnut: I haven’t tried a flat bar on this frame but the usual problem is the top tube is too short as it is designed for drops – It might be a bit upright and squashed, or you can run a very long stem, but then the steering will be ponderous with the 70.5 degree head angle.

I have a sizing question for anybody out there. Sorry.

I’m 6’1″. Folk law would say a 57, but I will be riding off road a lot and really want a 56cm top tube. Anybody of my height out there riding a 55.5cm tripster? I have found one in that size at a good price. I often find bikes that are meant to fit me a little long.

Cheers.

http://www.profile-design.com/product/base-bars/t2-wing/

This sort of thing is what I am thinking.

Then I could run the standard brake/shifter set up I think and it would deal with the sizing to some degree.

I am scrolling through but if anyone has pictures of this kind of set up that would help.

Thanks

I have a Jones bar set up on mine, from page 42 onwards.

Root, instinct is that a 55.5 might be too small. That size fits me perfectly for off-road riding and I’m 5’10. I ride a 56 top tube road bike. Maybe you’d be ok but you’ll be right on the limit I reckon.

Curto80: Thanks for the input. Do you ride with a long or short stem? I suspect the 57 would be better if I’m honest. Pity it’s not in stock at the price I’ve seen.

The bike could handle the endless dried-out hoof terrain around Lewes but I couldn’t. Totally shagged.

Bridle ways can be the worst trails to ride on in many conditions. Bit smelly too.

Just thinking about sizing and the reach measurement on the 55.5 and 57 is almost identical. The only difference seems to be the stack height – obviously higher on the 57. So maybe the 55.5 would fit…

Not sure where you’re based but if you happen to be passing Winchester you’re welcome to come and take mine for a spin.

FYI there is a fully built up Tripster for sale (new) in Prologue in Harrogate.

OK. Loving my Tripster on the few occassions i get out to ride at present. It’s got me thinking as I’m never using the drops and never in the big ring so……………

Flat bar conversion with Titec J Bars (i love them)
1×11 XT groupo with discs. (when released and saved up for)
36t up front on a narrow wide doofy thing
11×40 at the back.

Am I missing anything other than making the bike more about me and my riding than about general aesthetics?

Flame, suggest, recommend, etc :O)
Cheers
Tim

Hi all

Sad times for me I’m afraid… But might be good for someone waiting for a Tripster?!

I know this is the Tripster ATR tribute/tech/support/admiration/enthusiast (of which I’m one!) thread (which I’ve followed for ages in considering/waiting for my bike) and not a For Sale thread as such, but I’ve only just decided tonight that due to a ‘financial shortfall’ I’m going to have to put her up for sale and figured she should go on here first before I even think about posting/selling elsewhere. I’ve got a house that needs serious work doing to it and my Tripster is unfortunately my best (and most prized!) asset and something I simply can’t afford to keep in my current situation.

The bike is as new and can’t even be classed as being used – she has only been ridden ten minutes to work twice on the road – and there is absolutely no wear, tear or marks whatsoever (I would upload pictures but on my tablet it either asks for a url or crashes!). She is essentially a brand new, very high spec, unique, custom bike with an outstanding high quality parts list, as you can see below:

Kinesis Tripster ATR Titanium Frameset – Size 54
Kinesis Crosslight CX Wheelset (Campagnolo Freehub)
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 28mm Tyres
New for 2015 Campagnolo Chorus Groupset:
Campagnolo Chorus Carbon Chainset (a real work of art!)
Campagnolo Chorus Carbon Rear Dérailleur (another work of art!)
Campagnolo Chorus Front Dérailleur
Campagnolo Chorus Carbon Ergopower Levers
Campagnolo Chorus Cassette
Campagnolo Chorus Chain
Campagnolo Super Record Bottom Bracket
TRP Carbon Crosstop Secondary Brake Levers
TRP Carbon SLC Front and Rear Disc Brakes and Rotors
Thomson Elite X4 110mm zero rise Stem
Ritchey WCS Carbon LogicCurve Compact Handlebars
Ritchey Bartape
Ritchey SuperLogic Carbon One-Bolt Seatpost
Ritchey Carbon Bottlecage
Brooks Cambium C15 Limited Edition Slate Grey Saddle (no. 205)
XTR SPD Pedals
SKS Chromoplastics Mudguards (with custom bolts for better more uniform fit)

As you can see from the spec, there’s no way I would have built the bike up, waiting over months and months for the frame to arrive and to subsequently (lovingly?!) select and purchase all the parts (finally getting her assembled at my brilliant LBS who also provided the frame and most parts and are an official Kinesis dealer) with any intention of selling, and I’m gutted to be typing this out. I’ve spent an absolute fortune on this bike (around 4k all in) and know I won’t get that back but will consider any offers of 3k+ for the complete bike, which I think is very reasonable indeed for what is essentially a very high spec, high grade materials, as new, warranted, ’boutique’, iconic bike. If need be, I’m prepared to keep the saddle and pedals if you already have your own in mind.

It will also mean that you can grab a new ATR that’s ready to ride rather than waiting for one (I understand the current backorder time is still 4 weeks plus), and as I’m sure you can see the spec is outstanding (and rare too with 2015 Campy Chorus which, like all parts on this bike is a joy to behold!). I stand by this bike, it’s a genuine, reluctant sale and believe me, if I could afford to keep her I would, but needs must 🙁

The bike is available for collection from the West Midlands, and I hope you can appreciate why I have posted initially on this thread.

Emails, photographs, a cup of tea and biscuits etc aren’t a problem, and it’s important that the new owner is happy, which I know you will be once you see her. My loss is someone’s gain so to speak 🙂 I’ll miss her.

Shit! 😥 , sorry to hear that grizzly, A very individual and tripsterish build you’ve done with the campagnolo – they may be a mass produced (in the best sense) frame set but it has the the ability to accommodate individual build quirks (see my build on page 42 for example) ……….just keep the thought in mind that once your over this financial crisis and back in the black you’ll come back to this thread with a new build.

Cheers Soma, much appreciated, I absolutely love the build (and your several incarnations along the way too!) and the way that the bike has worked out (wish I could post some pictures up but it seems impossible unless I can mail them someone first or something?!) and its crushing to have had to have clicked “Send Post”, but sometimes reality bites doesn’t it 🙁
Still, if it goes some way to resolving things, there’ll be another happy Tripster owner somewhere, and I know she’ll get looked after having gained a cult following: like me, initially inspired by – and best recorded on – this thread 🙂

Thanks buddy

Mail them to me (email in profile) and I’ll post them, be a pleasure to show it off

Smarr :

Has anyone else had this, or get the frame-caliper mount area faced?

I faced head tube, bb, brake mount before I built my frame up. Seat tube was slightly oversized but my Lynskey ti seat post with carbon paste hasn’t slipped. After the debacle with my cove hummer (sans facing) a few years ago I treat every build from a grounds up first perspective.

Curto80: Thanks for the offer of the ride. I’m in South London so a bit of a journey, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

Curto80: I’ve just had a thought about measurements. Could I ask how high you have your saddle? I run mine at 75cm, which I think is quite low for someone of my height. Be interesting to compare.

Cheers,
Sam