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Also more frame saver spray than I’ll use in a lifetime…

A lightning fast wheel build from Arkane - destickered DT Swiss 350 hubs on XM 481 rims.

Going from 40mm to 2.6” will be quite the step up. I think I’ve achieved the desired level of cush that I was dreaming off through Latin America.

After seeing full framebags that friend's have I think it's going to be great, will allow me to go light if needed or add small rear panniers for longer trips.

I'm hoping to make my own roll top frame bag from waxed cotton - current thinking is dark green/olive but I'm open to other colour suggestions.

Not boost and I have some DT 350/481 wheels from Arkane coming.

The Hope wheels Martin built for me previously were flawless so wanted to get the new wheelset from him. I have moved jobs and no longer get a deal on Hope so thought I’d try DT Swiss - I never had any problems with the Hope pawls but a star ratchet feels like a better design approach.

I went to Run and Become by Victoria station, recommended to me by a friend who runs a lot and I was happy with the service.

Seemed very knowledgeable on which brands would fit my feet best and also seemed to know what level of support/cushioning I needed.

While I wait for a can of Frame Saver to be delivered I got the Straggler ready to move from inside the flat to a Cyclehoop hanger round the corner. I don’t like the small pedals so will keep an eye out for some cheap mtb pedals. I’ll be gutted if it gets stolen but at least the financial hit won’t sting quite so much now all the nice parts have come off.

The new basket should cover most of my #carryshitolympics needs.

Maybe, I’m not drawn to the cross bar design and don’t think I need the rise but I’ll have a think over the next few days.

I’m undecided on bars at the moment, at first I’ll put on the knock off Jones loop bars from the Straggler but they aren’t perfect. I don’t really use the loop part and it interferes with bags.

I like the back sweep but could probably get on just as well with something 30 degrees.

I’ve never felt the need to go wider than 720mm but maybe I should give it a go (after I’ve worked out how to fit 800mm bars up my staircase).

I might have missed it, but what's the use case for this?

Mainly trying to fill the void that comes with not being on a perma-holiday and having to subject myself to the world of work.

Other than that off-road routes like the Pictish Trail, chill New Forest over nighters and maybe the Great Divide MBR in a few years time.

Pretty much starting from scratch - I've de-blinged the Surly to make it more London/lockable friendly and will be re-using the headset and bb. Most other parts aren't compatible with the new frame so have either been sold or stashed in my parts box.

This is the Surly in full touring mode, ratbike commuter mode is coming soon...

The moodboard:

• swept back alt bars
  
• 27.5+ tyres
  
• desperately trying not to look like a mtb while also being a mtb
  
• 2x10, long live the double
  
• friction shift thumbies
  
• frame bag + fab's chest + mini rear panniers
  
• riding gravel bridleways with 2.6" tyres while everyone else talks about the virtues of being under biked
  

My Straggler has been my commuter and tourer for almost 10 years but the time has come for a reshuffle and a new bike.

When I bought the Straggler 40mm clearances seemed massive and the ‘fatties fit fine’ decal gave filled me with confidence that my horizons for wide, plush rubber were endless. Now it’s 2024 and 700x40mm isn’t cutting it anymore.

Even though the Surly marketing blurb suggests the Straggler is good for  "credit card touring rather than full-blown touring" I rode it 24,000km across the Americas and even as we moved away from riding roads and took to more gravel and off-road the bike kept on trucking. It was good enough on double track and put in an honourable effort on sand and occasional rocky descents. It wasn’t all plain sailing though and after one too many pinch flats and a few sketchy moments on the rough stuff I was dreaming of a new ATT (All Terrain Tourer) dressed with rubber far beyond the Stragglers meagre clearances.

The Crust Evasion seemed like a match for my desired blend of retro-grouch aesthetics but with massive tyre clearances and somewhat modern standards but the price of getting one in the UK is silly money. No amount of day-dreaming would allow me to justify £1500+ on a Maxway frame.

An All-City Gorilla Monsoon was next on the list but the idea of one wasn't sparking joy. The current paint schemes are terrible and I think I'd always think of it as a poor imitation of the Evasion.

Then I landed on the Stooge Rambler - suitabley different to the Crust that I wouldn't be forever comparing them to each other, all the tyre clearance I could ever want and more importantly for a price that a steel frame should be from a brand who seem to care about what they are doing. I'm not the biggest fan of the split top tube but you can't have it all and this frame was ticking more boxes than anything else I could find.

The Rambler frame just arrived and I've almost got all the parts to build it up over the next few weeks.

Isn’t it a Tailfin? Possibly with the longer version of the top stays.

I thought that had to be the case, thanks for confirming.

Will a long stem with swept back bars handle the same as a short stem with straight bars?

A friend has achieved an upright position by using an adjustable stem at near vertical. I rode the bike and the steering was very twitchy. Would positioning the stem more horizontal then adding some swept back risers (to achieve roughly the same hand position) change the feel of the steering?

Nice one, thanks Beagle

Anyone south have a torque wrench (that can hit 50nm) and 8mm hex bit I can borrow to install a pair of cranks in a few weeks time?

Has anyone made bike bags from waxed cotton? I think Carradice use 18oz canvas but think I could get away with something lighter weight for a framebag.

Great colour!

A friend was also at We Out Here and he got got too. Hope you get over it quickly DJ.

Which parts would you reroute to avoid the worst bushwhacking? @MrBaklava and I are heading over that way this weekend for an overnighter.

The smallest part of the gap is around 2-3mm.

2 turns of the barrel adjuster on the mech has improved things no end.

I thought the cable was pulling the cage over to the full range of motion before but I must have been mistaken.

Thanks all

I’ll give it a go, as you said easy to try without effort or expense.

I don’t remember having the issue last time I was running this chainset so maybe it is an easy fix.

I don’t think it’s the limit screw, if I extend the range it throws the chain off (and the mech rubs the crank arm).

I’m having difficulties changing in to the big ring, the chain takes a while to catch and engage with the chainring.

Is it because the chainring teeth are worn out?