[martinsillo]

ok guys...please turn off half of your commuter minds and put some mtb passion there.

some of you already know that I'm becoming a year round full time commuter (and I´m liking it), some of you also know that I have a 09 Trek 4500 commuter/mtb and that I'm building a Surly Pugsley.

I'll try to make this short so....the things I already bought for the pugs are:
- Surly 18" Pugsley Frameset
- Shimano XT M770-GS Rear Derailleur
- Shimano FD-M660-E Front Derailleur
- Shimano HG80 9spd 11-34t Cassette
- Paul Components Thumbies
- Shimano SL-BS77 Bar End Shift Levers
- JP Weigles Frame Saver Aerosol Can
- SRAM 2009 PC-991 Cross Step Chain
- Cane Creek Direct Curve Linear Pull Levers
- Ergon GP1 Superlight Grips
- Avid BB7 Disc Brakes (Front and Rear)
- Three (3) Surly tubes
- Jagwire Ripcord DIY Brake Kit

yesterday on my way home I had this flash picture in my head...see the list...what if you take out all the red things and then add a LHT Frame?...what do you see??..OMG! What am I thinking?? :crazy:

The thing is that yesterday I was looking our finance, and you know, If I don't cut some things like the rent, eating and that trivial stuff I'll be finishing the Pugs project in July!...5 months from now! (and I started it back in October!) but if I swap the frames at this very precise moment I could be riding a new bike in 3 months! (probably less If I sell the red things and forget about that build :cryin: )

The wife just got her bike all pimped out and well...she expect to ride more now....and I can still join her on the 4500 right?...well either way I have to.... the pugs won't be done until July!

I'm like a kid right now...I want both rides so bad. :bluefrown:

but what If we talk about facts...60% of my 2009 miles were from commuting...and my plan for 2010 is to commute more...so wouldn't be wise to have a nice ride for the one you ride more?

(I just wanted to share the pain...any thoughts will just make it more painful...do it!)

 

[BigE610]

I feel you. I want so many different bikes I just am about to pay off my gf rig next month and im already thinking of the next bike hehe.

 

[CommuterBoy]

I can so totally relate to this kind of delimma. I'm 1/2 way through gathering parts for my 3rd bike...a hardtail 29er, and I could easilly sell the full suspension MTB (Kona Dawg) to get the parts I need for the 29er...but I want both so bad! I'm trying to be patient... in the mean time, I'm wanting to make some changes to the commuter...it's brutal. I've never been a 3 bike guy (only been a two bike guy for a few years) and I really want to have 3 complete bikes, but I could have two sweet ones next month if I dumped one of them.

Trying to take an outsider's view of your situation...as cool as a pugsley is, you dont really need one down there. It would be more novelty than function. a LHT would be a SWEET commuter for you...super functional, the kind of bike you'd ride for years and years.
You could make your Trek more mountain friendly and have a great bike to play on with the wife.

If you haven't used or messed with the Pugsley frame, I wonder if you could ship it back and basically swap it for the LHT?

Anyway, I think you're thinking in a good direction in terms of how much use you'd get of of what you're building. Make the bike you're going to be on EVERY SINGLE DAY a really nice/functional bike, then build a play bike.

 

[[email protected]]

heh ... I am a 5 bike guy wanting to be a 1 bike guy.

 

[aljee]

i have a long term plan to get all the bike flavors i want (but i want everything NOW). you can drive yourself mad trying to rush it (like i did with my pug build).
some people really like having a pimp ride for the commute since it's, you know, everyday.
sounds like you wouldn't be riding the pug as much because you would commute on your current bike?
i have been riding in my pugs on the dry days so that i can finish getting it all dialed in just right and it is feeling SWEET. so sweet, in fact, that i am considering selling the LHT to fund some 29er wheels for the pugs, outfit it for touring, and make it my main ride (the alfine drivetrain makes this a costly endeavor)! it might just be cause its new though and feels refreshingly different. i would hate to miss the LHT, which i definitely would. so yeah, i am in the same boat, can't decide.

you would like the LHT, but it's no mtb.

 

[HardyWeinberg]

Would it be easier to swap frames, or to get an offset 29er wheelset for the pug frame you have? And would an offset 29er wheelset be much cheaper than a LM wheelset (although 29er tires and tubes would definitely be cheaper than endos + endo tubes). You could keep saving for the LMs/Endos while riding on the 29ers...

I don't dispute that the LHT seems more logical as a main bike.

 

[HardyWeinberg]

d'oh!

 

[aljee]

Would it be easier to swap frames, or to get an offset 29er wheelset for the pug frame you have?

funny that i didn't think about actually suggesting this!:crazy:

 

[martinsillo]

@HardyWeinberg
well...that's another option...hehe thanks!! :madman:...seriously...I don´t think that is a catchy option though...riding a bike that I know is not as It was meant to be or that is half way will put me in the same situation that I'm right now with the 4500 using it as a commuter... just won't be happy with it.

@CommuterBoy
I had to leave the box in US soil when I brought it here. The pugs frame is not new but not used at all....it is like in open box condition but without the box...hehe

@aljee
the plan for the pugs was (oh oh) is to be the weekend rig, the one to hit our trails and mountains...the one to explore on the longer mtb rides I want to do someday with the proper rig........my commute is 100% asphalt, so I can't see the pugs doing it for me...and I know it can be done...but I'm just that kind of guy that always want the proper tool to have a job done. (sometimes good sometimes bad)

The commuter job for the LHT will be a piece of cake...besides its cargo capability...its able to run up to 2.1 26" tires with fenders which I love because the streets here are the worst and I don't feel comfortable with skinny tires.

If I make the decision...the 4500 will be the full time mtb until another one replace it someday...I knew from the beginning that this ride wasn't a keeper for me.

 

[mtymxdh]

Martinsillo, what do you want the pugsley for?

you're here in Monterrey also Am I right?

where do you plan to use it?


remember # of bikes = current bikes +1

 

[martinsillo]

hey mtymxdh...my plan pretty much is to do anything but DH with it..hehe...I'm dreaming of doing El Vuelton with it someday...that kind of stuff.

there is always the reason: "I just want one!!"

In case someone misunderstand me...although the "I just want one" is a huge factor :lol:...when I was taking the decision of getting one I did my research...I wasn't going to buy one If I thought for a second I wasn't going to use it.

 

[aljee]

well...that's another option...hehe thanks!! ...seriously...I don´t think that is a catchy option though...riding a bike that I know is not as It was meant to be or that is half way will put me in the same situation that I'm right now with the 4500 using it as a commuter... just won't be happy with it.

you might also consider the karate monkey frame. you could have a set of road wheels and a set of offroad wheels for quick changes. you also get disc brakes with the KM, which, in my opinion, they make cantis feel like squishy poo. i think i am starting to convince myself more and more about selling the LHT.
based on my experience with it, it's a great bike for loaded touring or loaded anything, but as a daily commuter you might feel more excited about riding something a bit zippier. i wouldn't discount the cross check frame from the list either.

 

[martinsillo]

I knew this was going to be painful...two more options, seriusly? hehehe.....

ok....the KM is off the list...first I want to avoid changing things...and if I decide to keep the build mtb specific then I think I'll stay with the pugs.

the CC, well...that will take us to the LHT vs CC dilemma....

 

[aljee]

yeah, it's never easy to decide. i feel your pain. waiting a few months for the pugs won't be too bad. you will probably find a way to get it sooner, if you are like me. BUT if it's not the right tool, that's a whole different story.
the lines between dirt and road are very blurry these days. the KM would be excellent on the road, if that is all you would use it for. truth is, ALL of these bikes would be excellent choices. they will all inspire you to keep riding, which ultimately is the most important thing they do. the LHT can do it all on the road and it can carry stuff and is a more upright geometry. the CC can go a bit faster and can carry less stuff, but it can also fit larger tires in 700c (not an advantage if you are on a 26in wheel LHT frame).
thanks for pointing me to that debate. i forget to check the surly forum, even though i have three of them now.
right now i want to add two CC's over the next few years - one fixed/ss and one with a 'full' drivetrain, brifters, and slicks for my roadie (and have a set of wheels for fat offroad tires). then my empire will be complete.

 

[HardyWeinberg]

then my empire will be complete.

uh huh

 

[martinsillo]

on the LHT vs CC dilemma I have to say that I like the LHT cause it hauling capacity and that is also the tool for a bike tour...the CC on the other hand it will also be a good commuter and as you said has the ss capability that I'll love try someday...but I'm leaned to have a future tourer at home more than a future ss road bike

 

[aljee]

uh huh

you sound like my wife. and my boss.

bikes are so fun!

 

[martinsillo]

where do you leave having a 26 off road ss? or a pacer instead of CC with 'full' drivetrain and slicks??...where do you leave the KM to try 29rs?...I think you have a problem narrowing your empire that way :lol:

heheh I agree with mtymxdh....# of bikes (to own)= current bikes +1 :lol:

 

[mtymxdh]

martinsillo, the pic in the other thread, the one of Teh Wife, near the water canal, that's in McAllen?


-*/-****
the "I just want one" is one of the most important reasons to get a bike...

when I told Teh GF, that I wanted to buy an Eastern Ace of Spades, she told me why do you want another bike

my answer was the same " I just want one" I would like to remember the old times when I was on the bmx street...


are you going to race the Higueras Marathon?

 

[aljee]

yeah, yeah, i know, i know, i never really mean it when i say that. i am sure by then i will change my mind a million times.
save for the 26in, the rest of those would be redundant in the aforementioned fleet imo. i love the pacer, but i like having the choice to run fatties more. the pugs will be my 29er, but yeah, there is something to be said for not having to swap wheels or tires, etc. i have also considered getting an SS 29er wheel for the pugs in addition to the fixed/alfine 29er set. then my pugs empire would be complete, at least.

"nothing exceeds like excess" - Sheldon