[Sleeveless]

I have dug through all the old monstercross threads and am lusting for more info. I want anything you've got monstercross (less than 2.0 tires and drop bars) related.

Favorite monstercross gear would be great. Photos and ride reports would be even better. Show me your rigs, tell me your tales, give me something to read while I should be working.

I'll seriously take whatever you've got on the subject, and if you own one of these beasts and live near Nashville, I'd love to hit you up for a test ride. :thumbsup:

 

[ink1373]

It'll never be enough monstercross. I'll post some photos from my collection when I'm feeling less lazy. I have an embarrassingly large number of saved photos of drop barred 29er/cross bikes.

 

[Nat]

Did you run across my old pics? Here are some in case you didn't:

 

[Nat]

More:

 

[Sleeveless]

Nat, you are my HERO!!!!!!

Is that at dt swiss 240 single speed hub with some gears on it. I posted about a week ago about wanting to run that on a Surly Cross Check. You have just about the exact bike I want.

Let's see, I want the same:
Frame
Fork
Bars
Brake Levers
Hubs

But I do want some bonty 1.8s for some more cush (coming from front suspension). And about that rear hub, I wanted to run a disc brake version so I could affix a fixie cog for a rear wheel that could serve fixie, single speed, and geared versions. What do you think, as I see you've done at least two of the three combos.

Oh, and do you live close enough for me to test ride that rig? Wishful thinking I guess.

 

[Nat]

Nat, you are my HERO!!!!!!

Is that at dt swiss 240 single speed hub with some gears on it. I posted about a week ago about wanting to run that on a Surly Cross Check. You have just about the exact bike I want.

Let's see, I want the same:
Frame
Fork
Bars
Brake Levers
Hubs

But I do want some bonty 1.8s for some more cush (coming from front suspension). And about that rear hub, I wanted to run a disc brake version so I could affix a fixie cog for a rear wheel that could serve fixie, single speed, and geared versions. What do you think, as I see you've done at least two of the three combos.

Oh, and do you live close enough for me to test ride that rig? Wishful thinking I guess.

Rock out with your c0ck out! I heart this bike. That is a DT ss hub with a 5 cog cluster. I ran it SS a bit this summer but eventually switched it back to the 10 speed setup. Mostly I like using the old school down tube shifters on friction mode. It's geared 32-36 up front and 12-14-16-18-20 in the back.

I also have a set of fatter tires (Mythos CX I think) that were nice but the problem there was the front cantis couldn't open wide enough to remove the front wheel. I had to deflate/inflate the tire every time I wanted to take the wheel off, and that got to be too much of a nuisance.

I don't ride fixed , so I can't comment on that configuration.

We live a long way from one another but if you were here I'd let you ride it. I bet you won't be disappointed when you build yours up similarly.

Edit: The Mythos CX tires are what's shown in the above pics. Note the front tire width and how the cantis won't open widely enough. I now have skinnier-yet-cushioney WTB All Terrainosaurus tires on it. 700c x 35 maybe?

 

[Sleeveless]

Is 5 cogs the limit you think?

 

[Nat]

Is 5 cogs the limit you think?

If I remember right, 5 cogs took up the entire freehub width. I combined a triplet of cogs from a 9-speed cassette and a doublet from an 8-speed cassette (or was it vice-versa?).

Sorry my answers are so vague. I built this bike up last winter and I've forgotten the details since I don't really dwell on equipment once I get a bike set up. I can go look at any specific detail you'd like but not now...it's night time...and the garage is dark and cold...and I'm getting sleepy.

I had a mountain rack with pannier for a bit. I forgot why I took the rack off, but it was pretty great.

I know I really like riding it. My wife also likes riding it too. She probably uses it more than I do in commuting to her work.

 

[Sleeveless]

number one: your description above the avatar seems to be a little misleading considering this past post

number two: thanks for the quick answers so far and i look forward to talking to you more about it. i have some questions about sizing and the fact that you aren't running a "super riser" stem.

 

[Nat]

number one: your description above the avatar seems to be a little misleading considering this past post

number two: thanks for the quick answers so far and i look forward to talking to you more about it. i have some questions about sizing and the fact that you aren't running a "super riser" stem.

What, "29 and single?" I just use that because every once in awhile I catch someone who actually thinks I'm 29 years old and am looking for a date. I ride other bikes including 26ers, road bikes, and gearies (oh the horror!). I know. I know.

Right now I can't even recall which size frame it is. I found that stem at JensonUSA (or was it Cambriabike?). Could I be more useless? Jeez!

 

[AllRounder]

Is 5 cogs the limit you think?

I recently asked the helpful guys at Speedgoat this question. This was the response:

The hub has a 15mm wide freehub body on it. DT Swiss said that dependent upon
what cogs and spacers are used you can fit between 4 and 5 cogs.

Thanks!
Speedgoat Tech

 

[Go Kart Motzart]

Nat, that's a really cool bike.

 

[Nat]

Nat, that's a really cool bike.

Hey thanks. Did you guys note the tennis racquet grip?

 

[MMcG]

Nat - what size is that? Lots of headset spacers, but perhaps that is a fact of life with the Surly Crosscheck sizing options.

 

[Swami Scott]

Hey thanks. Did you guys note the tennis racquet grip?

I did ! I was just getting ready to ask. Do you have to buy 2 grips worth? Any harder to wrap or finish?

 

[ncj01]

I ...... am lusting for more info. I want anything you've got monstercross (less than 2.0 tires and drop bars) related.

I'll seriously take whatever you've got on the subject,

Well, this is 2.0 size tire, not <2.0, but it's as good an opportunity as any to fly Old Glory.

Giddy up.


<img border=2 src="https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/IMG_0952.JPG">

 

[Nat]

Nat - what size is that? Lots of headset spacers, but perhaps that is a fact of life with the Surly Crosscheck sizing options.

I can't recall. I'll try to look it up later today. I seem to like my bars higher than most so I needed more spacers. The final version has a higher rise stem and fewer spacers than what you see in these pics.

 

[Nat]

I did ! I was just getting ready to ask. Do you have to buy 2 grips worth? Any harder to wrap or finish?

Two grips worth just barely fits if I stretch it. I ended up using four grips worth and transitioned beneath the hoods.

I found it about the same as bike tape to put on.

 

[Nater]

Check out the Lalonde brother's blogs...they both just got their custom monstercross bikes from Bob Brown Bicycles.

www.creepyfriendly.typepad.com
killthedarkness.typepad.com

 

[tamjam]

Hey thanks. Did you guys note the tennis racquet grip?

Seriously? I like that.

That is a nice looking CC Nat.