Dirty Monkey

Almost 50 degrees out and puddles everywhere. It hasn't been this nice out since November. I needed to get out. My first thought was which bike is easiest to clean. The Karate Monkey was the bike for the job. One speed, which is slow, and not much to wipe down.

I headed over to Nokomis and rode up to the parkway. Took that over to the other two lakes and then up to the Greenway. Hoped off the Greenway and headed downtown to see how the work on the 35W bride was going. I proceeded to take the river road down to Minnehaha Falls and then took 50th back to Nokomis.

Not the longest trip but a nice way to spend a few hours on the bike. The puddles were fun but my chain hates me now. My ass was soaked and the HAWG I got for Christmas held my goods and kept them dry. Nice day for a ride.

Greetings from the frozen north!

All~

Greetings from the frozen north! Since I saw the last post, I know I've been longingly looking out the windows at the sun shining and realizing that I'd freeze my ass off if I tried to do any sort of a ride. Thankfully this past weekend, the biking gods were willing to grant me a quick reprieve and some unseasonably warm weather so I took full advantage of it. So here we go ...

I figured the only reliable place this time of year was running out to the end of Park Point, if you've ever been to Duluth I'm sure you've made the trip over the lift bridge and taken a stroll in the sand. So... Sand and this type of terrain calls for what type of bike class?


Well, yes, a Pugsley would be the correct answer... but not this man... I'm rockin the Monkey!


I do enjoy taking fun pictures while I'm out, so I'm always keeping my eyes open for stuff like this...


But come on now... would it be a ride without a little 'break'...


And what was the choice?? MMMMmmmm .... Yes... Yes I do have a Big Butt. (and yes, I did place that strategically)


Overall it was a good ride, Hell it was a GREAT ride considering I've been on the trainer for the past month or so. Ugh... we all know what that feels like. Too bad mother nature has backed her ass back up and shifted the mercury back down where it belongs. 41 degrees at about 1 pm sunday... and now tuesday... -12 and still dropping. Crap... Well back to the trainer I guess. Hope everyone else got out and enjoyed the nice weather... and I definitely hope it comes back soon.

DH

Karate Monkey Build

Picked up a Surly Karate Monkey frame the other day and will be building it up. Wheels, tires, and tubes are on their way. Also some Avid BB7 brakes, and tensioner. I plan on keeping this post updated with the build as it progresses. Stay tuned!

Pictures:




:::UPDATE #1:::11.02.2007:::

I got my Chris King headset from Hiawatha Cyclery this afternoon and they popped it into the frame for me while I waited. The pictures don't do the green headset justice. It looks rad. Thanks Jim and company!





Also the Santa in the brown truck brought me my wheelset, tubes, and a tire. Why just one tire? The second one was back ordered. No big deal, can't ride it yet anyway.







So I put the tire and tube on the rear wheel and put a little air in it. I had to toss it on the frame to see what it looks like. I also threw a stem on there just to keep the fork in place, that one isn't a keeper on this frame.




:::UPDATE #2:::11.05.2007:::


Received in the mail a nice Chris King Cog Set. So nice and shiny! Loaded it up on the XT hub to see what it will look like but didn't tighten the lock ring down yet since I don't know what the chain line is going to be. Took some pictures anyway, enjoy!





I can't wait to ride this thing!


:::UPDATE #3:::11.06.2007:::


Getting closer! Got the Salsa Pro Moto XC Riser Bars, Moto Ace S.U.L. Stem, and the Lip-Lock seat collar. The stem had a different stack height than the temporary Bontrager I had on there so I needed to get some different spaces. Scott came to my rescue. He had a 1cm spaces all ready to go for me, I stopped over and he was kind enough to give me that and some other nice items that will help with the build. Gotta love Phil Wood.

Here are a few pics:










:::UPDATE #4:::11.08.2007:::


So because I am a moron and don't know my new zip code my cranks and seat post didn't arrive when I thought they were going to. So a day later they found me. Then I put them on the bike. Boy you really have to tighten that crank bolt down, they aren't kidding.

Pictures:










:::UPDATE #5:::11.12.2007:::


The bike is ridable but not 100% complete. I was able to put on the front tire, the levers and grips pretty quick. Then I mounted the disc rotors, threw on the flat pedals. Added the chain and the Surly Tuggnut tensioner, it was starting to look more like a bike and less like a project. Mounted the BB7 brake calipers and ran the cables to them. Used the rubber band trick to get them adjusted and then gave it a test ride up and down 25th Ave. She is a fine bike. Still waiting on a few little touches like skewers and grips since I stole the ODI Yetis off my Stumpjumper FSR.

Enjoy some pictures:











:::UPDATE #6:::11.27.2007:::

I finished 'er up a while ago with some nice Salsa Flip-Off Skewers and took it off road at the River Bottoms to test it out with MikeyB. It is awesome. I will update this at least once more with info about where I got everything and how the service was. See you out there!



-pete