Karate Monkey in the sun. I was not able to get a good pic last night for the record, so this one works better. Last night I took the KM back to a regular rigid single speed for goofing off. I also repurposed the Maddux 29er disc wheelset which will be going on a different bike soon.
29er is just fancy marketing for 700c. The CX tires are Conti Speed Kings. These hoops will hopefully soon be on a really sweet CX bike.
The Karate Monkey is being repurposed again. I started tearing it down to a frame and cleaning her up. The next iteration will be a rigid single speed 29er.
Why? you may ask. Because I can, I’ll answer.
Today was the maiden voyage with the @ruckuscomponent Chain Guard. The best thing one could say is the they didn’t notice the fancy new bike component on their bike. The reason this is a great comment is that it means the system is working as designed and they could focus on other things like getting lost in the woods or out-running honey badgers.
This is one of those items. I didn’t notice I had it on. Meaning my front ring is SOLID now. No tossing the chain to the inside and now no tossing the chain to the outside! I would have a chain mishap once every offroad ride with the 1x9 setup on the Karate Monkey. Now nothing. I didn’t even think about the issue at all today. That piece of mind is priceless in my book.
Adding the Ruckus carbon chain guard to the Karate Monkey today to make 1x9 mode that much more fun. I received some money for Xmas from my mother-in-law and decided to get something I have been wanting for a long time. This keeps the chain from falling off to the outside, the inside is protected via an N-Gear jump stop. There are a ton of different ways to accomplish this task, but hey this works for me.
One of the things I am really pumped for is that the guys made it big enough that I can upgrade to a bigger chain ring later on. The Salsa ring on there right now is a 32T, and has seen better days. I think the next ring will be a 36T or 38T. I can now put the XTR front derailer and shifter in the bike box. I still have some work to do on the bike, but am excited to get her out again. I hear the woods of Endor calling me.
The iPhone doesn’t capture the color well. It is a Metallic Pearl White which looks wild.
Seems wrong, yet very beautiful.
OK, I admit it. I did think about doing something like this to my Karate Monkey and making it a pit bike for cyclocross.
Source: 111bikes.it
Changed the config on my Karate monkey again. Went back to a carbon riser bar and a 10 deg stem. It really changes the feel of the bike and makes it more fun decending.
“Some answers to just about any bike forum post I’ve ever read”
Graciously Stolen without harm from the Surly Bikes Blog
If you think your bike looks good, it does.
If you like the way your bike rides, it’s an awesome bike.
You don’t need to spend a million dollars to have a great bike, but if you do spend a million dollars and know what you want you’ll probably also have a great bike.
Yes, you can tour on your bike – whatever it is.
Yes, you can race on your bike – whatever it is.
Yes, you can commute on your bike – whatever it is.
26” wheels or 29” or 650b or 700c or 24” or 20” or whatever – yes, that wheel size is rad and you’ll probably get where you’re going.
Disc brakes, cantis, v-brakes, and road calipers all do a great job of stopping a bike when they’re working and adjusted.
No paint job makes everyone happy.
Yes, you can put a rack on that. Get some p-clamps if there are no mounts.
Steel is a great material for making bike frames - so is aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium.
You can have your saddle at whatever angle makes you happy.
Your handlebars can be lower than your saddle, even with your saddle, or higher than your saddle. Whichever way you like it is right.
Being shuttled up a downhill run does not make you a weak person, nor does choosing not to fly off of a 10 foot drop.
Bike frames made overseas can be super cool. Bike frames made in the USA can be super cool.
Hey, tattooed and pierced long shorts wearin flat brim hat red bull drinkin white Oakley sportin rad person on your full suspension big hit bike – nice work out there.
Hey, little round glasses pocket protector collared shirt skid lid rear view mirror sandal wearing schwalbe marathon running pletscher two-leg kickstand tourist – good job.
Hey, shaved leg skinny as hell super duper tan line hear rate monitor checking power tap train in the basement all winter super loud lycra kit million dollar wheels racer – keep it up.
The more you ride your bike, the less your ass will hurt.
The following short answers are good answers, but not the only ones for the question asked – 29”, Brooks, lugged, disc brake, steel, Campagnolo, helmet, custom, Rohloff, NJS, carbon, 31.8, clipless, porteur.
No bike does everything perfectly. In fact, no bike does anything until someone gets on it to ride.
Sometimes, recumbent bikes are ok.
Your bikeshop is not trying to screw you. They’re trying to stay open.
Buying things off of the internet is great, except when it sucks.
Some people know more about bikes than you do. Other people know less.
Maybe the person you waved at while you were out riding didn’t see you wave at them.
It sucks to be harassed by assholes in cars while you’re on a bike. It also sucks to drive behind assholes on bikes.
Did you build that yourself? Awesome. Did you buy that? Cool.
Wheelies are the best trick ever invented. That’s just a fact.
Which is better, riding long miles, or hanging out under a bridge doing tricks? Yes.
Yes, you can break your collar bone riding a bike like that.
Stopping at stop signs is probably a good idea.
Driving with your bikes on top of your car to get to a dirt trail isn’t ideal, but for most people it’s necessary.
If your bike has couplers, or if you have a spendy bike case, or if you pay a shop to pack your bike, or if you have a folding bike, shipping a bike is still a pain in the ass for everyone involved.
That dent in your frame is probably ok, but maybe it’s not. You should get it looked at.
Touch up paint always looks like shit. Often it looks worse than the scratch.
A pristine bike free of dirt, scratches, and wear marks makes me sort of sad.
A bike that’s been chained to the same tree for three years caked with rust and missing parts makes me sad too.
Bikes purchased at Wal-mart, Target, Costco, or K-mart are generally not the best bang for your buck.
Toe overlap is not the end of the world, unless you crash and die – then it is.
Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.
Yes, you can buy a bike without riding it first. It would be nice to ride it first, but it’s not a deal breaker not to.
Ownership of a truing stand does not a wheel builder make.
32 spokes, 48 spokes, 24 spokes, three spokes? Sure.
Single speed bikes are rad. Bikes with derailleurs and cassettes are sexy. Belt drive internal gear bikes work great too.
Columbus, TruTemper, Reynolds, Ishiwata, or no brand? I’d ride it.
Tubeless tires are pretty cool. So are tubes.
The moral of RAGBRAI is that families and drunken boobs can have fun on the same route, just maybe at different times of day.
Riding by yourself kicks ass. You might also try riding with a group.
Really fast people are frustrating, but they make you faster. When you get faster, you might frustrate someone else.
Stopping can be as much fun as riding.
Lots of people worked their asses off to build whatever you’re riding on. You should thank them.
Just go ride <- I added that last part, Jeremy
[Note: I had to ZIP-tie Skip up to a pole and leave him in the basement while stealing this, someone may want to check on him.]
Snow on Endor, or why do ewoks have fur?
Why do Ewoks have so much fur? Does it snow on Endor? I say yes.
Today I took the Karate Monkey out to Tillamook State Forrest to ride. It snowed previously on the coastal range and has not had a chance to melt off yet. Usually this place reminds me of The Forrest moon of Endor from Return of the Jedi. I usually ride on the Northside of HWY 6, but felt like hanging on the Southside today. The snow that was there (which I was not expecting, err hoping wasn’t there) was between 3-6 inches deep at times. Not enough to stop me from riding, but enough to make this only a quick ride. I ended up stopping a lot and taking pictures. Once the feet got cold I turned it back to the car.
The thing I like most about Winter riding is the slow methodical pace. Just the wilderness and I, no need to race it. I think I found the perfect setup for the Karate Monkey. Yesterday I took the rigid fork off and put the suspension fork back on. I kept the high rise stem and the flat handle bar and bar ends. I’ve also kept it as a single speed. This enables my to take it easy and enjoy the ride. And that is exactly what I did today.
Jeremy
Snowy trail head
Snowy bridges
Where is the trail?
Fat tires and snow
[Panaracer Rampage 2.35 - Great tire!]
Action Shot!
Across the bridge
the rocky trail
Other pics:
Mountain Biking on the forest moon of Endor
Sometimes when I ride in the coastal mountains I feel like I am riding on the Forest Moon of Endor.
This weekend I took the newly converted Karate Monkey to test out the winter build. Single speed, Rigid, with Panaracer Rampages (2.35). The difference between this build and the usual Single speed version is a flat bar with bar ends and a higher rise stem.
Switching from suspension to a steel fork always takes a bit of work. I normally use the suspenion to help get over obstacles and a rigid fork quickly reminds one not to to do that ;). The rigid fork also forces one to “Flow Like Water” over roots and other obstacles. Whereas I usually just ride over the bumps suspension, with a rigid fork I find I look for the easiest fastest route.
Unfortunately the pictures really didn’t turn out to well since the weather was rainy and cloud covered. The ride ended up being more fun than the pictures detail. Oh well.
J
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Bike Geek, Cancer Survivor, and geeky dad. Writes about cycling, two wheeled culture, and the bicycle industry.
