[First Flight]

Paul built up this Nontrager for me and it was set up for 100mm fork. It has been set up with a suspension fork and then had a Pugsley wheel on the front. The latest iteration is a 69er with drop bars. I have actually never ridden drop off-road before so this will be all new. The IRD rigid 29 fork is reasonably close to the 100mm 26" suspension fork so hopefully it will work out OK. Still needs some tweaks on the parts and the white tape was just something that came off of a customers bikes. Heading out for the first ride so I will post a ride report soon.

 

[Jak0zilla]

Cool, so what's the stem?

I've had my eyes on the Ritchey 30deg Pro stems. I'd need to shim down to 1", but that's nothing new in 2010. Your Nontrager is 1-1/8"?

 

[laffeaux]

Nice, Jeff. Hopefully you'll like the bars, and the big front tire.

 

[StanleyButterfly]

Looking forward to your ride report!

 

[djmuff]

Cool bike. I dig the disco WTB seat.

 

[SHADES]

Jeff, are those Woodchippers?

 

[First Flight]

Jeff, are those Woodchippers?

Yep 25.4, 46cm

 

[First Flight]

Cool, so what's the stem?

I've had my eyes on the Ritchey 30deg Pro stems. I'd need to shim down to 1", but that's nothing new in 2010. Your Nontrager is 1-1/8"?

Just a Dimension stem 25 degree 110mm, and it is 1 1/8"

 

[First Flight]

OK, ride report time. We rode last night and did 12 or so miles as a combination of road, greenway and trail. It was hard to separate each component of the bike: the 26"/29", rigid fork and drop bars. I hadn't ridden a fully rigid bike for awhile and it really wasn't a big deal. Stung a little bit through the hands on some of the roots but an extra layer of bar tape would probably help. The 26"/29" thing seemed pretty normal and wasn't any problem. Had the nice rolling characteristics of the 29" front wheel which was nice. The drop bar thing will take a little getting used to. Started out using the brake hoods position which really takes the weight off of the front wheel and makes the steering really quick. Moving the hands down to the drops really balanced the bike better but wasn't a great climbing position.

The Woodchipper bars are the 46 cm wide ones and really are tight on some of the narrow trees. Bounced the bars off of a couple of trees.

Really need to take it down to the state park where the trails are a little more wide open to get a better idea of how it works.