Been pretty rubbish here too – Berkshire/Surrey border. Too warm in September and now too wet. Hopefully some more normal autumn weather will give them a chance. If we skip that and head straight to frosts then I’ll be waiting for next year.

I’ll add the DHR2 into the mix. Love this tyre.

In “The size of Wales”, Wales is always a two dimensional object. How can I count the number of two dimensional Waleses in a three dimensional universe?

I know how popular bikes hanging on log piles are, so here’s my Stooge on a log pile

Clink, while I like the stiff b&b of the Stooge for climbing I still prefer the weight of my Ti Jones

I don’t find the rear harsh or bouncy, smooth and planted are the words I’d use.

Agree with the conclusion though. I find it a great bike for thrashing around in the woods but not as good an all rounder as my Jones. It did fine on my 17 mile, 4500ft climbing and descending loop yesterday but there where times on theclimb I was wishing for the Jones, but never on the descent.

Just put an ikon 2.35 in the back of mine on a blunt P35, it just fits. Hope it doesn’t get muddy.

While it would be good to have had more rear tyre clearance I’m becoming tempted to try a narrower rear as the rear of the bike seems so comfortable. Heard good things about Ardent Races on wide rims so interested in trying one of those.

Anyone else struggling to stop the seatpost slipping?

It’s only when cornering I look to weight the outside edge. When it’s dry and loose failure to do so leads to disaster.

I think its a combination of the huge Jones head tube and relatively narrow Jones bars vs the shorter head tube (even with spacers) and wide bars on the Stooge. I did remove the one spacer I had under the Jones stem when I installed the Knard but there’s no more adjustment unless I get a -ve rise stem. The 24″ Jones has a even longer head tube than the 23″.

The Renthal carbon bar on the Stooge is much more comfortable than the Alu it replaced.

I’ll try my Light Bicycle 35mm wheel + Ardent upfront next ride.

Ride 1 completed. Wheels and drive chain borrowed from the Jones for convenience.

My initial impression was that the Stooge delivered the same playful/chuckable feel that I had from my previous Paradox and Yelli but with a classic steel smoothness. With a Thomson layback post, a 70mm stem, 2″ of spacers and a low riser bar the fit was fine. I’m guessing the ETT with this setup is around my usual 24.5. If you’re 6′ 4″ and are happy with a shorter, more upright ride you should be OK.

The Stooge with Knard up front rides really well. I like the Knard on my Jones but it raises the front and BB just enough to compromise the handling making it harder to keep the front weighted. It seemed perfect on the Stooge.

I think why it climbs well is the stiffness of the bottom bracket. It feels like the is no flex at all. The front fork is stiff too, tracking well through the high speed bumps. This stiffness comes at a cost. In comparison to a Ti Jones I could really feel the weight difference. But then I feel that whenever I switch to another bike (except for the Yelli). Over some surfaces I did feel more vibration through the pedals too. On the plus side the extra weight gives the bike a more planted feeling, something I expect steel Jones’s have too.

For ride two I’ll definately change the bar. I liked the 745 riser but it was too stiff. I’ll try my Renthal next time.

By the way, who won the raffle? I had to leave early you see.

Me :D

Yes, based around weights – body weight, dumbbells, kettle bells depending on the workout you get. As akak said, they are there to strengthen and improve mobility to help your riding. Ideal for those winter months when its not always easy to find the time or motivation to ride

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

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.

weeks since I ordered a QR, emailed last week – nothing

Was a bit style over content. Required too much suspension of disbelief too

Hope part 2 is better

It’s on their website http://store.trekbikes.com/product/bontrager+chupacabra+tire.do#

Looks like a similar pattern to the Knard with slightly taller knobblies

Niner SIR9

Hasn’t it been cancelled yet?

Good looking build ska. When are you planning on bring it over to Swinley? I’d love to take a closer look

Dually over P35 Blunts. Blunts are narrower and not as stiff. Stans Hugos coming soon

Ardent on a flow was fine for me too, just the blunt that caused some rub. Maybe the tyre’s stretched with age. Anyway DHR II is my favourite SS rear these days. The sidewalls have magic properties.

Any photos?

I can’t run an Ardent on a 35mm Blunt in the back of my Jones, but a 2.35 Ikon fits. The Ardent is just a huge 2.4

Rachel and Gee both seem to be struggling with their bikes. Just didn’t look smooth at the last couple of races. So unless the bike is sorted, Manon

I’m not even sure why I have the 29er any more.

So, explain the Stooge

Good until it bursts, which is a common problem. I decided not to get another after checking the feedback scattered across the web. Seem to have serious quality control issues

5″ drop is a good reason

A bike pump should be sufficient to re-inflate for the next film

Everyone looked like it was hard work on the last climb. Everyone except Nibali. Does make you wonder, which is a shame ‘cos his ride over the cobbles was superb.

Stand and stomp is good regardless of whether you clipped or on flats. Probably better on flats because more of your foot is in contact with the pedal

Guessing that was the old DHR. DHR2s are superb

I was at the same concert philby – leeds uni, jan 26th my birthday. I then went back to my university in Lancaster and watched them again!

Still remember seeing them in all their raw glory at Leeds poly in 1977 supported by label mates Talking Heads

Sad that they’re all gone now. Great band during my formative years

On the plus side they won’t be doing any reunion concerts. Would have hated to see 60 something Ramones trying to rock it out.

What tyres are those prototypes?

Only just cut the steerer down on my brand new pikes. I thought I had got them at a good price. If only I’d waited two weeks

Molgrips gets a speeding ticket and the thread runs for 6 fn pages!

Just built up a pair of 35mm 29ers too. About 1650g the pair which is a pretty good

Not got tyres on them yet so can’t comment on the ride

Thought the last 16 games were good, well the ones I saw. But the quarters have been very poor

Games like that make you wonder about spot betting and money exchanging hands. No yellow cards in the first half? FFS