Glad it’s not just me then .. I spent out on a 12 speed xt groupset just after lockdown as it was the only one I could find at the time – I just don’t like it, much prefer my 1 x 11 set up – the chain line look gopping no matter what I do. And as for micro spline ….don’t get me started

I have found the Chris King version on bike 24 so have ordered that ….I think I am going out for a ride to contemplate my lack of commitment to the gnar and failing to act on impulse and just get the hacksaw out !

Well, if I want to sell it later, that’s my only thought ? I am just being a 😸

Hi Sanny

Mmm I had been thinking about better rims, so that might be a better option – I have a set of blutos in the bike shed somewhere that might be in need of a service, so might get those out – and the Jones H bars I have on my Fargo, love them !

Best

Hi All

Interesting, it’s not just me then ! I am based in Leicester and I have tried to google relevant charities but nothing obvious comes up – I might just Gumtree them, but it feels a bit mean spirited when someone might profit from having them 🤷🏻‍♂️

Well I did manage to get out over the Chase and passed a few other nutters…most of the it is pretty crap as I expected, not helped by heavy logging in places …but hey, it’s the first time I have gotten out for ages.

Ordered a spin bike, sick of the rain and mud now 🙁

Lee

I have a new fat bike that needs to be christened….so I am off out over the Chase irrespective of what the weather is going …if you see a bright pink Ice Cream Truck, give us a wave 😉

Lee

Sooo – yes, in the end I did take a bike, the fat bike went out and terrorised the good people of the mumbles for a few days. I was generally greeted with ‘what the f@@k is that’ and ‘where’s the engine?’ – I mostly cycled along the cycle lane, but lost count of the amount of times I had to circumvent pedestrian’s of a certain age who felt the need to chuck themselves in front of me. The place we rented wasn’t very bike friendly, so when the rain arrived for most of the week, I binned off the biking and walked instead. Didn’t find any really good off road loops, and the roads around there were nuts!

But still, fat bike got some love 🙂

Thanks IdleJon – I’d be interested in the gravel riding potential around Gower, do you have any good links for that type of stuff ?

Best

Lee

Sorry, when I meant flat I was talking in the comparison to the two stinking 20% climbs I did on that moor-to-sea ride 😂 I liked Ravenscar, the little visitors centre was also a nice little spot to stop at – making me want to go back now !

Lee

I was up there about a month ago, took the Fugio with me – cinder track is fairly tame, mostly flat with some nice little draggy climbs – I also did the moor to coast route which touched the edge of Dalby forest, that was but there were three very interesting climbs😂

I had a similar problem, and mine would drop slowly the longer I rode – I found the hip pack pro was much better and more secure, and the waist band is soooo much more comfortable …it’s more expensive, yes, but less annoying !! I have kept the other one for walking adventures

Lee

Thanks for the replies folks – I have been running both 29er+ and 27.5+ tires on the Fargo, I actually did the gravel dash on the 29er plus chronicles…but I wanted to try to keep the ti Fargo a bit more lightweight and racer🤷🏻‍♂️ Maybe I could try some 2.4s or 2.6s instead

Lee

There is also the offering from Manitou, but I appear to be looking for hen’s teeth !!

Oh no, I have been dared …oh well, that’s it then ….😂

Okay, so I think (as I am going for the camaraderie and not being a ‘dick’) it’s going to be the Fargo with monster tires on …although now you mention fat bike, the ICT might come …

Hopefully I will see some of you there !

Lee

Scud, what tires are you (ab)using for the ride ? I’d hate to turn up in a matching outfit 🙂 I am still leaning more towards the salsa, but the gradient would look resplendent as I fly over the handlebars on Dorset gravel 😂

Lee

I stupidly also bought a ti Fargo – then the wife got made redundant …soooo !

To be honest, I have ridden it a max of 10 miles, it’s such a waste – it’s a beautiful bike and rides like a dream – the frame is something I would happily hang on the wall, as well as being super versatile

Lee

A shameless plug – but I am currently selling a 57 2018 sram force gradient 😉

Lee

Awww typical – I am usually out early doors on Xmas morning to see who else is out and about – but this year I have the pleasure of dinner with the in-laws 🤯

Lee

I have booked to do the 100 more for a challenge than anything else – we have booked up to stay in Swanage for the week after the event, so I will be hanging out at the Red Lion to support fellow riders in drinking beer after the 50:50 as well – can’t be bothered with getting all the bike packing kit out 😂

Lee

I was just thinking of an informal tabletop sale – we have access to a local church hall, and any proceeds from the table pitches would go straight to the church and charity – just bring a table, your associated bike stuff and we could also organise some cakes and refreshments 👍 I thought about some time in Feb to avoid the post-Xmas depression and inevitable credit card bills….and maybe we’d all be ready to make some extra pennies ready for spring bike messing ?

Lee

Thanks for the feedback – I am contemplating a 1 x apex build as I already have apex hydro’s lying around – be a nice compliment to my Fargo I think 😉

Lee

Right – thanks for the advice all – HT with thunder burts it is 😉 !

Now, no one pray for any more rain between now and end of May please !

Lee

I might be a bit biased because I love genesis bikes – but the Tarn is a great bike – versatile and bomb proof !

Lee

GiantLee – have we made any inroads towards organising the ‘Dune Fission’ ride out?
Anyone else up for a mass fat bimble this year?

I was going to post to see if anyone was around next weekend for a Dune-tastic day around the Chase ??? Meet somewhere like Marquis Drive and have a play around the fire trails for a bit then back for coffee, cake and chatting about our magnificent steeds ?

On the subject of tires – I am looking for minions but can seem to find anyone with any in stock at the moment – nextday have the front but not the rear. I the alternative is JJ’s but I am not convinced for Chase related work ….do the 4.8 JJs definitely fit the Dune frame? Bloody hate choosing tires !

Lee

@lowcogger – 170mm cranks from Wiggle + Bottom Bracket – they seem spot on ! Will test more on Saturday and see how they fair.

If we did a meet up + bimble how about we pick a saturday or sunday towards the end of the month?

Lee

We have to try it don’t we – I can just imaging the looks 🙂 I am sure they’d be able to spot us from space….what is the collective noun for a group of fat bikers on Dunes? 🙂

Lee

All

Following my experimentation with the ride fat crank I can safely say it works and from what I can tell the q-factor is virtually the same as the original cranks.Running the race face 100mm BB as well with one spacer non-drive and two drive side – 32 up front at the moment which I know won’t be the easiest but for now it will do – chain line is pretty much bob on with the 10 speed cassette as well.

Test ride around Rutland Water this Saturday and then hopefully the Chase in a few weekends. It would be good to see if we can get a STW Dune Owners bimble organised over the Chase as there seems to be a few of us over that way 🙂

Lee

Hi NW
My intention was to go single 1 x 10 with the ride fat cranks – the option for 32t was the old ‘it’s what I have in the shed’ scenario BUT now I have been looking at ratios you might have a point – although I can’t say I ever make life simple for myself !

So maybe I need a little bit of a rethink !

Any reason not to go down the Aeffect crank route? Just being that’s its a known quantity is all

Mmm well apart from sheer bloody-mindedness and the fact I couldn’t find one place that had the right Aeffect crank in stock – I have done any number of searches but couldn’t find the one that matched the ones being used by others on here (you’re going to go straight to one now aren’t you !:))

Worst case scenario is I just return the ride fat and find the cinch Aeffecf ones !

Best

Lee

so after my bleating on Friday of last week I bit the bullet and I am now part of the Dune Fat Club. I have already changed the brakes over, but this BB/crank thing is doing my conkers. I have a 10 spd xt 11-32 cassette and xt rear mech. Just ordered the standard (!) race face ride fat 100mm crank (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/race-face-ride-fat-bike-cranks-with-bb/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360657435&kpid=5360657435&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Components&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid%7CswSHTGkvz_dc%7Cpcrid%7C67090789142%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cprd%7C5360657435uk) in 100 x 175 mm – going to pair this with a works 32t narrow wide – I can’t find any further information to help me work out the q-factor – I am sure someone else has used this set up but can for life of me find it in the 51 pages of this threat….someone pat my head and tell me it will be fine before I cancel my wiggle order 🙂

Lee

I have to stop reading this thread!! I went from 29er to 29er plus then 27.5 plus in the form of a genesis tarn …. but I still have the yearning for a fatty …it’s probably one of the few bikes I have never tried. I spend a lot of time over the Chase as my folks still live over there and it’s where I grew up and see the fat bike boys smiling like kids – I often feel like asking to have a quick try but never do because I know where it will lead 😉 I have been looking at the Caribou for a while (because I can get a good deal on one) but not sure what to do – sell the tarn and go full fat for Chase duties (I have a 29er tarn built up for other times)?

If anyone is about over the Chase this weekend and wants to let me play on their fat bike let me know – the wife will love you ! 🙂

Lee

Otherwise the Kinesis Tripster fork RRP £169.99 (£152.99 from us for STW folk) looks like a good alternative.

I looked at this one but I am sure the rake for the old genesis fork is 50, and the tripster fork is 45 – is the difference going to make a noticeable change in the ride feel ? I love the tripster fork as I have one on my my ATR already !

Thanks for the help chaps

Lee

I know this might be a bit of a stretch and technically it’s still part of one of the trails on the chase – albeit the blue route, but the climb out of the valley from the stepping stones to the trig point is nearly three miles of gradual climbing ….finished off by a bit more 🙂 I have past a few people in tears going up that one ! Old kitbag is still one of my favs for a warm up too

Lee

Think I am running a 90 on a 57 inch frame – feels just about right for me 🙂

Does anyone have any clear details of the version 2 frame – all I can find is rumours and no definitive answers ?

Lee

I wouldn’t say there is anything ‘wrong’ with them other than it can be a PITA moving from a bike with STIs to my vaggy – I suppose it’s a matter of preference for me (and it will stop be trying to shift with static brake levers !) – just curious to see what others have tried

Hi all

I have had my vagabond since they first hit the shops back in spring – it’s my go to bike for generally messing around or when I get bored with the more ‘serious’ bikes + I love it when I can cruise past a group of roadies on pretty beefy tires 🙂

I am just wondering what others have done with the bar end shifters – I love the whole bike apart from these tools of Satan – I was looking to go down the STI route, hydraulic brakes but have heard mixed results with road shifters and mtb gearing – what is everyone else using? I want to try to keep the original gear ratio, just change over to sti (prepared to swap the group set out if necessary !) anyone using a sram set up on theirs ?

Best
Lee

If it is any help I ordered a 57cm from Freeborn yesterday after a quick call to check stock – and it has just arrived !! 🙂

Lee