I got out with some buds and camped on Mt Tam this weekend. The next morning we rode some new dirt into Fairfax. It was the first camping trip for the new bike and it worked out pretty well. I changed the crankset to a 165mm to try and ameliorate my pedal strike problem, and it mostly worked out. In fact, the toughest climb which has some integrated stairs (Miwok from Tenn Valley) was not an issue on the pedal strike front and the bike felt better than others I've tried up the same hill. I suppose it could have just been that awesome burrito tho...
Gear set up was a little funky. I tried tying a stuff sack to the bars which cluttered up the top bar grip positions a bit. Still I dig seeing how others are figuring this stuff out and my set up is ever evolving. I'd need more storage if I was going for any longer; for this trip I carried no cooking gear.
What a beautiful place to ride. Looks like you have tons of room for a frame bag in the main triangle, should you go that route. If you need another fabrication project to tackle, a sewing machine is cheaper than a welder.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not breaking any ice around here, but that would be a huge framebag!
ReplyDeleteBike looks awesome. I am dealing with some pedal strike issues at the moment as well. More higher bottom brackets in my future, for sure.
Yeah a frame bag might be in order, and my buddy who makes Heavy bags might make be able to make something custom to fit...tba. Great review of the ECR by the way!
DeleteRock Springs is such a fun road. Yeah, the low BB on my Atlantis has always really irked me, but it's more of a dirt-road-bike than a trail touring bike anyway.
ReplyDeleteYour new frame looks rad!
Gabe
The funny thing about the bb height problem is that I knew I wanted a higher bb when making the frame! Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of other rigid 650b dirt touring bike references to compare it to. I realized only after the frame was assembled that I hadn't put any thought into bb HEIGHT only bb DROP. The drop number is very useful at the frame drawing stage but height is the only important thing once the bike is assembled, and it's the only way to compare other built bikes. I guess that's what bike cad is for... or a really big piece of paper for the drawing. Next time I'm getting hecka high!
DeleteWhat front rack is that? Looks like an awesome ride! Ive done a similar one from sf, camping at hawk hill camp in Gerbode Valley then a ride to Green Valley and Stinson and back. I always go up Coastal instead of Miwok.. Brutal.
ReplyDeleteThe rack is an old VO that I modified to work. Dig back a couple(?) of posts and there are better pics. And yeah, Miwok is always a tough climb!
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