Did someone say it was photogenic?
Soiled Stooge by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Stooge Commute by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

http://barnabynutt.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/stooge-cycles-progressive-29er/

BillOddie and I will be there and I’ll be hoping that not everyone is riding with ludicrous lights and will actually realise that night has fallen.
I’ll be riding this*:
Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

*that WAS a tenuous reason to post another Stooge picture…

Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

That’s all really…

I rode up it one day in July 2000 on a Marin hardtail.
There seemed to be some kind of event happening that day. We met lots of people on the way up including a smelly man in a devil costume and some drunken orange people.

Other people on bikes were riding up that day too, including two fellas that I got this picture of. I’m not sure why they were riding together as they didn’t seem to like each other very much…
i was there by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Soiled Stooge by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

All about that Stooge ‘n that… http://yeahyeahyeahyeah-yeah.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/stooge-cycles-progressive-29er.html

That’s bad news Clink. I have a 2.4″ X-King that comes up big on a Dually (39mm) on mine and it has at least 1/4″ in all directions.
Doesn’t help you, but proves that 2.4 can fit…

10psi was too low for me with Dually rim and a tube – up to about 12-13 (although that’s based on a shonky little gauge on my track pump)

More Stooge by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Stooge build day (3) by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Built.
Stooge build day (5) by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Purple Hope, XT/Zee and Thomson bits (the stem hasn’t arrived yet so has a Crank Bros temporarily fitted) with Velocity Dually rims. I still need to shorten hoses, but maybe not if I fit the Jones bars.

Plenty more pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/placid_casual/sets/72157644970654521

When I bought my sliding drop-out frame from On-One (May ’06), I tried only about a month later to buy this part from them.
I was told a story of why that would be the only run of that design and it was suggested I called Orange and ask them for the part.
I did, bought one, chucked it in the shed and it has been there ever since…

I’ve quite fancied a Swift for a couple of years, but recently rode the Stooge demo bike around Llandegla – not technical, but very fast and loads of fun. I rode it directly after a lap on my El Mariachi SS* and they felt very different despite both being rigid 29ers.
The spring of the triple (count ’em) butted KungFu tubing on the ElMar makes it the smoothest rigid bike you could wish to ride, but the geometry makes for a racier, position.
The Stooge achieves its speed in a different way. The angles are more relaxed, meaning that the rider is too as his position is less racy. Once it’s heading downhill, it’s about holding tight and enjoying the ride. The high front-end lets you ride with less weight over the front when things do get technical.

As for the colours…
Stooge in Plum Crazy by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Suffice to say, I came home with a new frame.

*I know this post doesn’t answer the question!

I’m off up to Sideways tomorrow to collect my bits. A collection of purple Hope (hubs, headset) Thomson (post, stem) and XT (brakes, mech, cranks) with Dually rims and a Knard up front. My frame, which has been mantelpiece art for the last six weeks will finally get built.

Expect this thread and my Flickr album[/url] to be inundated with photos…
Mantelpiece art. #newframe #stoogecycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

The ‘inspirational’ Stooge…

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/brants-new-frame-but-he-wont-say-what-it-is-yet

Placid – I guess that was you then on the orange big wheeled single speed?

Yep.
Mountain bikes everywhere last night…

Was it you that I passed as you were coming up the short, sharp one in Woodhouse Eaves last night?

Now with forks and a bit of Hope purple…

Stooge by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Any built up pictures yet? Come on folks, your audience is waiting…

Does anyone know how the new white ones compare to those older frames? Despite the fact I’m less keen on the colour…

Chainstays are shorter on the 2014 (white singlespeed) version meaning it’ll feel slightly more exciting. That feeling isn’t to everyone’s taste however. I prefer a wheel behind me rather than the unicycle effect of it being below.

As for getting one second hand, if anyone sells one that they have then they’re stupid.

Placid casual’s photos of his el mar got me wanting one.

If you could maybe mention that to Salsa and I’ll wait for the kick-backs…

Cane Creak (sic) Z44

I rode an Inbred 26er for years (it’s still in the shed) before a Scandal 29er (as an early-adopter), an On-One Race 29er (beautiful to look at until it broke) and now have an Salsa ElMar singlespeed:

Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Not only is it stunning to look at, but it rides so much better than the others. The triple (count ’em) butted tubing makes for a springier, livelier feel that when coupled with big wheels means that you’ll not miss any added bounce (read weight and complication/cost).
It isn’t as light as it looks but the weight has never affected how it rides, especially with a singlespeed when climbing = standing up regardless.

Despite my new soon-to-be-built-Stooge frame, I have the feeling that the Salsa will remain my favourite to ride…

Stooge in Plum Crazy by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Both colours look fantastic – I bet there’s a few who can’t decide!

On Sunday I had one of each in either hand for quite a while…

Love a Surly, but there are alternatives…
Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Stooge in Plum Crazy by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

For those folks that have been waiting to see the purple frame, lock up your credit cards and
click here[/url].

The colour is actually ‘Plum Crazy’ and was liberated from a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner. Raises the question though of what colour components to fit…

You know what? I didn’t.

I went for ‘Plum Crazy‘. I’m a sucker for a back-story and loved Andy’s explaination of how he came to order his bikes in purple.

It cries out for gold components…

I went across to see Andy at Llandegla this weekend to get a test ride on his prototype. I rode a lap on my Salsa El Mariachi singlespeed and then half a lap (I was knackered) on the Stooge.

How was it? Suffice to say, I came away with a new frame!

Despite the comparisons above, they ride very differently. The tighter back-end and higher front-end of the Stooge make for a really fun ride. The ElMar is probably quicker, but the Stooge is much more fun.
The production version of the frame is slightly different to the prototype shown below with additional bracing on the top-tubes and the addition of an EBB, but the finish is exceptional.

The toughest decision wasn’t whether or not to buy one, but what the colour to get !

Bring on the gratuitous photos…

Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Stooge Cycles by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Another El Mariachi vote here. Mine is a 2013 singlespeed (in limited Golden Child orange). No braze-ons etc.

Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

So, who’s gonna be first posting a picture of theirs built up?

Hey folks – was searching for Welsh trail information and came across this thread!
I’ll keep an eye on what you guys are up to and maybe join you on one of your rides out of Woodhouse (I live in Cropston)

One of your choices is quite pretty…
[/url]
Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed[/url] by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

More pics[/url]

so where are the photos?

Since you asked, here’s mine:
[/url]
Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed[/url] by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

More here[/url].

Pick a route down…
[/url]
Choose a Way Down[/url] by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

No I have the black frame in charlie’s post.

I was wondering how many of the 300 worldwide, 2013 singlespeeds had ended up in the UK?

The only downside is how low the front end is. So i have to run about 50mm spacers.

About 30mm here. More than I’d like

Loving that el mariachi SS, are they available?

Yep. Speak with Charlie [/url]or Tim [/url] depending on how far north you are.
If you do get one, let me know where and when you’ll be riding it as I’d hate to meet another on the trail…

Thought you were gonna say ‘…bike nicked from the camp site?’

Lock it up good if you go.

El Mariachi SS here too (and this looks like another opportunity for a gratuitous picture).
It is great to ride and beautiful to look at. Proper SS too, no spare braze-ons.
Do you have the same Shep?
[/url]
Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed[/url] by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

More pics here

[/url]
Salsa El Mariachi Singlespeed[/url] by placid casual[/url], on Flickr

Sorry, thought you said Salsa…