Old Man Mountain Sherpa Mukluk/Fat Bike Retrofit for the Surly Ogre

This is something that I am really excited about.  I was pleased to find out that Old Man Mountain racks made a specific rack for my 2011/12 Salsa Mukluk, aka, The Panzer.  I like it when things are purpose built and don't require a lot of manipulation, another word for bending. 

As the winter came to a close I decided it was time to break out the Ogre for commuting.  I love the Panzer it is everything you would want in a bike......except speed.  I loved having a rack and panniers on it.  It made packing simple.  I could take uniform, boots, running shoes, running clothes, lunch, and extra layering for winter stuff.  The Surly Ogre was purpose built to accept just about any accessory made for a bike so finding a rack that would fit was not an issue.  The issue is that I hate to spend a bunch of money on duplicate items.  As a side note, I would have it necessary.
 

In comes Old Man Mountain.  I e-mailed Channing to ask him what the best solution was: to use longer bolts for my Mukluk Sherpa or just by a Cold Springs rack.  He could have easily said buy a new one, but he didn't.  For $21 he made me a new lower fit kit that had a spacer welded on and sent longer bolts.  All I need was to take off the Mukluk fit kit and put on the Ogre specific kit.

Old Man Mountain Fat Bike Edition

The lower fit kit had spacers to make up for the fat rear end of the Panzer

 

 Old Man Mountain Sherpa rack for the Mukluk with a fit kit to fit a Surly Ogre with Panniers on

 From the side

From the front with panniers

Amazing, it required no manipulation.  Maybe a little wider than necessary but hey, it gets the job done.    In the fall I will swap fit kits and throw it on the Salsa Mukluk. 

Off Road Ride with the Tsunami

The other day I took the Chick and Digga to Sunderbruch Park for a little off road action.  As stated before, I would like to do at least three times the mileage however it is essential that they enjoy life.    The kids were playing with their friends so I figured my suggestion would meet a little resistance.  Digga was in from the get go.  He got a new bike and he loves it.  As soon as the Chick found out it was going to be on dirt she quickly agreed.  

The weather was perfect and the trail conditions were great for this time of year.  I think that overall the trails at Sunderbruch are better for a beginner.  There are less bizarre hazards like random bricks and rebar protruding from the ground. 

  The only thing I don’t like is that there is a little more to the climbs, including big roots on steep ascents.  This is a big challenge for little legs.  Not much more climbing (on the green trails) but more than Sylvan Island.

Vance is a motor.....he took off and just kept cranking.

 The Chick struggled a little, though most of it was mechanical.

Her chain was rubbing and skipping which caused her a lot of frustration.  This is completely understandable.  Also, I purposely purchased a bike that was a little big for her, knowing she would grow into it so her ability to throw it around is limited.  I am toying with the idea of putting on lower profile tires and switching her bike to a 1x9.

Getting them to understand gears and shifting is an ongoing process.  I always talk to them in advance and emphasize that this is supposed to be a fun activity and to work as hard as possible.  I reiterate that even the best have to get off and push sometimes.  I also have to remind them that they need to give the person in front some space.  This is important for two reasons, one is that if the other person falls down you don’t crash into them.  Two is that if the other person struggles up a hill or obstacle you don’t lose momentum and do the same.  These all pretty much fall upon deaf ears.  They will learn…..or crash into each other. 

I think Summer is Here

Until last week, when I walked outside, I assumed that it would be cold and windy.  That has been the trend all spring, give us a really nice day than drop to a high in the 40s and low in the 30s for the rest of the week.  Miserable.  Psychological torture is the best way to describe this. We have managed to get some occasional nice days in before the drops in temperatures.

As far as my riding, I had all sorts of goals to ride.  In my mind it would be hundreds of miles per week.  Yeah......that worked.  The kid's activity schedule has picked up with piano, band, swim team and swim meets.  House Hold 6 is the PTA president and has meetings and activities planned in addition to the kids stuff.  Of course I have work requirements in addition to supporting all of the above listed things.  As a result my mileage has suffered.  So goes life.

In Irish Tsunami regalia.....years from now the Chick will regret her sock choice!

Considering the few days we had this spring, I decided that instead of me taking off and leaving everyone, I would take kids.  I have really enjoyed this even though it means slow and short rides.  I love spending time with them.  They certainly enrich my life.  

On a good note, Nater learned to ride without training wheels.  House Hold 6 wanted me to make sure everyone know that she taught him to ride.

FREEEEDDDOOOMMMMM!!!!

I taught him the "freedom" victory cry.  In the past we have had problems going a couple of miles.  We do three or more routinely with no issues whatsoever.  He is a motor.  Anytime I ask if he wants to ride, there is no hesitation.  The hard part is keeping track of him.

Digga got a new bike for his birthday and he loves it.  I spend a little more on their bikes.  I teach them to take care of their equipment.  It is worth it in the long run.  We have one Giant kids bike that will easily make it through three kids.  Unfortunately for the younger kids they don't get a new bike.  Oh well, so far no one has complained.

 He was very happy with his birthday present.  

 Taking a break by the Mississippi.

 Duck Creek Parkway....Good Old Reliable

Rock Island Arsenal...a hidden gem in the Mississippi.  Nater running free.

I am truly grateful that I have the opportunity to get out and ride with the kids.  Life goes by pretty quickly so I try to capture these moments whenever possible.

Failure

I feel defeated.  Maybe frustrated is a better word, however, defeated keeps coming to mind.  Part of it was due to an unexpected flat the other part is due to my failure to prepare.  This resulted in me having to call home for a ride.  I failed to ride 20 miles on the first really nice day of the year.

Yesterday, I was riding home from work and I noticed that my rear tire was feeling a little squirrelly.  I am trying to get as many miles in before a century this weekend so I was taking the long way home.  I don't know what caused it to leak in the first place, no punctures or debri stickng out of it.   I put this together a month or so ago and it is been holding air, so I am not sure what caused it to start leaking air.  I guess it resulted in the seal breaking along the bead.

I stopped by a gas station and was happy that I put a presta to schrader adapter in my bag.  I dropped a quarter in the slot (no free air these days) and added a bunch of air but found that the bead was not sealing.  I found myself on the extreme opposite side of town examining my wonderful tubeless tire watching sealant bubble around the rim.  I sat for a few and watched sealant bubble in numerous spots on the tire/rim.  I contemplated just breaking the bead, putting in a tube and riding home.  I checked my stuff and realized that I didn't have a tube so I figured I would tough it out.  I headed back to the bike path and checked it again, I was loosing air.

So I called home, sat in the shade and waited for a ride.  I played with it last night, got up this morning and there is still little bubbles.  There is only a finite amount of time in life. Subtract sick time and work (in this case I can count years that I have lived behind wire and concrete....not prison) the amount of time that a person can get out an enjoy life is pretty limited.  I like to maximize my free time and enjoy it as much as possible.  While the eternal optimist may find something great about sitting on the road by a casino......I could not.

Even today I am really frustrated.  I spent a lot of time and effort getting those tires to seal, so I could sit next to a casino and watch bus loads of old people arrive so they can blow their social security checks.  I will always carry a tube from now on and I will probably just revert back to the good old inner tube for that wheel.  Man...I feel defeated.       

Can we get to summer?

Today a friend of mine asked me why I haven't been riding lately.  I told him it was because the weather is nasty.  He pointed out that I rode all winter in 30 mph blizzards and 15 below temps, how is 40 degrees and rainy bad?  He called me names and questioned my manhood.

This is what I told him:


Cold and Snow=Simple.   When it is really cold the key to riding is temperature control.  Really cold in the morning and cold at night are easy.  Dress so that it is a little chilly when you start the ride and layer.  I like to bring some extra base layer clothing in the event stuff doesn't dry and it takes up little space.

Warm/hot weather=easy.  Sure really hot can be uncomfortable but you can only take so much off.  A long sleeve shirt goes a long way in cool weather.

Cold/wet morning and warm afternoon=not easy.  It is really hard to manage temperature with out carrying a bunch of stuff in the evening.  Most water proof clothing translates to "water doesn't get in and sweat doesn't get out."  This means potential overheating.  Breathable and water resistant can mean "wet and cold" if there is too much moisture.  Then at the end of the day you have to carry the extra stuff home since it is warmer.

I like to keep is simple, light, and on the bike.  I don't like to carry stuff on my back but I will do it if I have too.  If I don't want to carry stuff on my back I have to use bigger bags and not my Porcelain Rocket bags.  I don't like panniers per se and in the summer it is easy to use bike packing gear like Porcelain Rocket because I carry less running stuff to work.

Tonight rain/snow mix.  It is mid-April.   I am ready for summer.  I need BOB to warm this part of the earth.  I have been shamed into riding again thanks to my friend.  Tonight I will pack panniers and tomorrow I will sweat on the way home.  Sad, I know, but we are ready for summer.

That is all.

To Convert to Tubless or Not to Convert to Tubeless: That is the Question

Way to much stuff.  Better to have an not need than need and not have.

Admittedly, I am lagging far behind in the world of tubeless tires, this is my first interaction with the magical world of tubeless tires.  The technology, maybe technique is a better word, has been around for a while.  I typically don't spend much time or resources on something unless I am convinced it is worth it.  Although I drank the cool aid (or should I say "latex sealant") I am still not convinced that they are worth it for me or the average rider.  They have been around a while and people still complain about getting their beads to seat and tires to seal.  The interweb is full of discussion on tips and tricks to get past stubborn setups, even for those specifically designed to be tubeless.  There is so much written about tubeless and countless youtube demonstrations, setting up tubeless tires should not be a mystery or an exercise on patience and/or futility, even though that is exactly what it turns into.

I spent the better part of the week trying to convert some wheels to a tubeless set up.  I spent $100 on stems, yellow tape, rim strips w/stems built in, and sealant.  I did the research and followed manufacturer's instructions.  In the end I prevailed but spent a day plus trying to get these bad boys to seat and seal.  In the end I returned the Stan's rim strips after I successfully did it for pennies on the dollar with Gorilla tape and Stan's stems.  

Pros:
Weight--This does not matter to me because I am big and don't race.  I will still carry a spare inner tube just in case, but that is two less.
Flat protection--I will be using these for commuting to work.  This is key for me as I have often flatted on little pieces of glass or metal.  Could be beneficial in areas with small cacti or thorny things.  Could be beneficial in a race, which I don't do.
Traction--Riding at lower pressure to get better traction with out risking pinch flats.  I kind of care about this as I usually run 30 psi.

Cons:
Challenge to Set Up--I am convinced this is why they are not the mainstream.  They can be messy if they don't seat right away.  They pretty much require an air compressor which most people don't have.  I don't have a ton of time to spend horsing around with wheels, I would rather be riding.
Require Routine Maintenance--The sealant drys up and must be replaced annually if not sooner.
Not Guaranteed to Hold Air--There are some cool videos showing a bike rolling over boards covered with nails.  There are no cool videos showing air burping out and tires separating from rims.  Spare inner tube should be carried just in case.
$$$$$--Wow.....I spent a ton of money on a few products.  Tubeless ready tires cost more than the equivalent tubed tire.  Stems and yellow tape add up.  Sealant is not cheap and I threw at least 8 ounces out from failed attempts.  

Results:

Salsa Semi 29er rims with Tubeless ready Continental Race Kings--Disclaimer--I set up a set of Salsa Semi 29er rims which have a sticker located on the stem hole that specifically states they are not to be set up tubeless.  I also have stood on the top of a ladder that states the top is not a step....and I lived.  So far they have worked very well.  I have great insurance and take full responsibility for my actions!  These are wider rims and need an air compressor.  I used Stan's yellow tape (the wide stuff) and a stem.  I could not get the bead out of the deep groove in this rim so I used a couple wraps of Gorilla tape to fill it in.  It seated nicely but required manipulation and the extra tape.



Giant PX 29er rims with not tubeless ready Tioga Psycho Genius tires--These rims are listed by Stan's as compatible with their systems.  These were a challenge to get seated even for older tires that have been stretched and ridden with tubes.  Really tough actually.  Again, I used Gorilla tape and I had to use levers to work the bead.  The people at the neighborhood gas station probably got tired of occupying their air compressor.

The jury is still out for me though when considering cost and time spent making them work.  I could have bought a lot of inner tubes and patch kits.  Yes it is a pain to pump up a tire on the trail but I don't ever recall hours to change a flat and get rolling.

 Of the four tires/wheels I set up no two had the same setup procedure and each required a lot of manipulation.  I can understand different rims/tire combos, but each one?  Mystery.  I could understand if a professional racer has them for weight savings and protection, they have a lot on the line if they flat.  For the average Joe, I would say it would be based on the environment and vegetation.

They Hold Air!  For the the mountain bike tinkerer.....they are a dream.

To Frame Save or Not To Frame Save: That is the Question?

I put a lot of miles on my Ogre last year and it needed a little overhaul.  I am not sure why, but the Ogre has become one of my favorites.  I suppose it is the combination of a number of things from fit, how it rides, and the fact that I feel like I can bang it around a little and don't worry about it's huge cost or chipping the beautiful Olive Drab paint.   I have stated before my only real complaint was that I am not real fond of some of the areas that collect water and show some surface rust.  So I decided to bite the bullet and treat the inside of the frame for piece of mind.  While it is not an "expensive" bike by today's standards, I do like to make things last as long as I can, especially if it is something I like.

To Frame Save or Not To Frame Save:  That is the question?

Holy Cow, I did not realize that this was such a controversial issue in the bicycling world.  There is a lot of discussion on the topic and not always friendly.  Surly Bikes has a FAQ on taking care of a steel frame.  They list a number of treatment options and even though I keep my bikes indoors but I figured I would do it to be safe.  I turned to the interweb to find both product and tips where I quickly found that there are three schools of thought when it comes to treating the inside of a bike frame.  

1.  "Do it"
2.  "Don't do it, it is Voodoo.  You are stupid and waste your money if you do it!"
3.  "Meh, I don't know if it works but it is cheap so why not!"

Oddly enough the second was the most passionate and many responses were borderline hostile.  After spending some time reading on it I went with option number 3.

The Secret Sauce! 

There are several options that I would have settled for:
1.  Boiled Linseed Oil 
2.  Boeshield T-9
3.  J.P. Weigle Frame Saver
4.  AMSOIL HDMP

I wasn't looking for a "pepto bismol" solution that only coats.  If I was going to spend some time I wanted something that fought rust too.  Besides, I don't even know what boiled linseed oil is.  I decided that I was going to use J.P. Weigle Frame Saver, heck for all I know all that is boiled linseed oil.  I went to my favorite LBS and they said it was currently out of stock at the distributer.  That seems to be a trend.  I tried a number of online sources before I changed my course.  I heard that AMSOIL Heavy Duty Metal Protector was essentially the same thing and a number of people said you could get it at any auto part store so I spent a day trying to get that to no avail.

Then I read where Boeshield T-9 which I use on my chain seals is great for metal protection.  I read a great article where it was the best for protecting metal surfaces on table saws and related woodworking equipment.  So I began the search for a spray can of T-9.......with equal results as before.  I walked into a bike shop to look for some T-9 when I saw a can of Frame Saver.  I spent days trying to find a suitable product and there is was.    

Treating the Frame:

This is not rocket surgery by any means but the last thing I want to do is clean up a huge mess.  I taped off all of the holes with a low tack masking tape and shoved some paper towel into the bottom bracket to absorb run off from the down tube.  The fumes from Frame Saver are pretty strong so I did it out in my garage.

Now it is a party!

Down Tube and Top Tube:  I sprayed frame saver into the Top Tube and Down Tube from the head tube openings.  Then I wadded up some paper towel, inserted it into the head tube and taped it off.  I left the Head Set cups in.  

Chain Stays:  I sprayed the Frame Saver into the chain stays through the bottom bracket holes.  Then I wadded up some paper towel and shoved it into the BB and taped it off.

Seat Stays:  This is where I had some problems.  Because the Seat Tube extends far above the point where the seat stays are welded on I could not get to them with the included straw.  This meant that I would have to spray it into the gas vent holes which the instructions very clearly state you should not as pressure and gas from the can cause Frame Saver to spray back out of the holes.  At this point I donned safety glasses!  Sure enough when I pulled the straw out, Frame Saver sprayed back out a bit.  This was a little messy.  Then I taped over the hole.

Seat Tube:  Sprayed then I put a little paper towel at the top and taped it off.


This thing:  This is the source of a lot of my rust.  Water sprays up there and little rusty orange rivers come out. I soaked this in Frame Saver and then taped it off.

Once I had every thing taped off I rotated the frame around every hour or so.  The next day I pulled the tape off and sprayed it again the same way.

After the second application I brought it into the house (still taped up) and the next day I pulled the tape off to let it dry completely.  This is where I ran into some trouble.  I had a 6:30 a.m. meeting and I wanted to take the tape off before I left for the day.  When I pulled the tape off of the seat stay hole Frame Saver shot out and sprayed all over my face and t-shirt.  It was 4:30 in the morning and I didn't have time to lose my eyesight.  I ran my face under the kitchen faucet for a while but my skin was irritated through out the day.  I don't even understand what would cause that.  It didn't spray back out when I pulled the straw out and it took a few seconds to to put tape over it so gas or pressure should have escaped.  Lesson learned.....wear eye pro!

Clean Up:  Over spray and leaks cleaned up easily with WD-40.  If I didn't plan on disassembling the bike I probably wouldn't do it.  If it is a brand new naked frame I would do it.  Meh!  We will see, if the little orange rivers stop than it was worth it.