Winter Cycling - My new winter bike...Minnesota

I've been through about 3 different ideas of what bike I'd ride this winter. First I was going to get new studded tires for my old beat up MTB that has served as my winter bike the last few years. Then I thought it was time for a new ride and was going to build up a Surly 1X1 with Alfine and dynohub/light.

Then I was seduced by the darkside (http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/darth-pugsley/) and I went over the edge for this (http://www.bowcycle.com/bikes/blogs/viks-picks/2008/12/01/minnesota-my-new-surly-pugsley/):....:thumb:



I ended up with an Alfine on the back. Just waiting on my cranks to show up so I can finish her off.



Ironically this bad boy's first real ride will be Moab followed by a month in Baja so it will have to wait a bit to get a true taste of winter.

Super cool. I would love to have one. I am building up a Karate Monkey right now, but yours makes mine look like a toy.

jim

Thanks...here is some KM love for you...:love: - definitely NOT a toy...:thumb:



Eric's Boliva adventures:

- Dirt Rag article (http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=1141&category=features)
- photos from his trip (http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php/cat/873)
- more details on his trip (http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=199473)

I'd like to build up a KM with 26" rims and 2.35" XRs...:love:

Nice picture. have to love the way a war-torn bike looks in its element. Mine is still spanking-clean up on the rack.

First ride...:thumb:

Amazing winter build Vik.

Thanks! Ironically I'm taking it to Baja for a month of holidays so it will be a desert rat for quite a while before I come back and put it through its paces in the Great White North!

I'd imagine that would handle slush and snow a lot better than my Marathon Winters at 700X35C, =)

This weekend, I was struggling away through some snow/ice pack on a trail and was passed by a couple of these bikes. A young couple dressed in pretty light gear too. They seemed to fly through the soft snow while I was trying to slow down to stop fishtailing.:cry:

Nice looking ride.
You definitely got the beef.. :D

Word.

Nice axe.

This weekend, I was struggling away through some snow/ice pack on a trail and was passed by a couple of these bikes. A young couple dressed in pretty light gear too. They seemed to fly through the soft snow while I was trying to slow down to stop fishtailing.:cry:

Yeah looking forward to having the whole city to myself during a snow storm. That time between the snow being too deep to ride/walk in and when it gets plowed/melts is all mine...:thumb:

That thing kicks a**, seriously

could we get a list of parts on that bad boy/

could we get a list of parts on that bad boy/

Sure I posted the build info here (http://www.bowcycle.com/bikes/blogs/viks-picks/2008/12/08/my-pugsley-build/) and here (http://www.bowcycle.com/bikes/blogs/viks-picks/2008/12/04/i-love-a-fatty/).

Although I wouldn't say it was a difficult build just about nothing is standard about this bike so you need to really think things through when buying parts.

I've got Avid BB7s on there now, but I'll replace those with Shimano SLX hydraulic discs when I get everything in.

I'll be throwing a 21T Surly track cog on the front "rear" wheel when it comes it. I had one on there and realized it was too wide for the 9 speed chain I'm running.

Damn. I need one of those. Convincing my wife is another matter.

Question: How do the big honkin' tires compare to a 2" studded tire on snowy streets?

Damn. I need one of those. Convincing my wife is another matter.

Question: How do the big honkin' tires compare to a 2" studded tire on snowy streets?

I still new to the Pugsley game so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. For snow/slush I think a 3.7" low pressure tire is going to give you more traction than a 2" studded tire. The studs won't really help in snow and so you are left with a 2" tire vs. a 3.7" tire. The 3.7" endomorphs look a lot bigger than just double the size of the 2" Marathon XRs on my Big Dummy.

On ice it's no contest the studded tire will have more traction as the studs can dig into the ice.

BTW - if you want justification for buying a Pugsley you can run a second set of "normal" 29er rims (http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/darth-pugsley/) on it and use it as a MTB or commuter bike in the summer so it's not just a specialty rig.

I just posted a review on my blog here for anyone interested in a Pugsley (http://www.bowcycle.com/bikes/blogs/viks-picks/2009/01/26/surly-pugsley-review/).

I've been loving the Pugsley this winter...so much fun! However, winter has got me down and I'm heading south to ride narrow 2.35" rubber in UT and AZ!

Can you put fenders on these?

Can you put fenders on these?

Sure.....fairly easy to make DIY fenders or you can get some custom made fenders....I've seen both options.

So far I've just used two of those crud deflectors they sell for $5 each and that seems to work okay. When I get motivated I'm going to build a set of fenders out of coroplast...:thumb:

I was thinking a gutter guy could do 'em. About the same size.

That bike is awesome!. But here in Central Ohio, we have a short snow season with lots of cold riding temps. I've said before. I'd love to have a Pugsley, just because it would definitly turn some heads here. But I've been ridin' on Hakka 294's all winter. And those things have done everything for me. And I still get folks turning there heads just seeing me out there riding in this rotten weather. To me, it's not just the ride. It's the will to be out there doin' it. Winter Riders, no matter where you're at, are tough son of a guns. Cagers are *******!

i envy you and your monster truck bicycle

:Edit:

if only those tires were on 29 inch rims, than we'd be on to something

I was thinking a gutter guy could do 'em. About the same size.

that guy who makes custom wood fenders will make a set for the pugsley

http://www.woodysfenders.com/store/

Damn!

i envy you and your monster truck bicycle

:Edit:

if only those tires were on 29 inch rims, than we'd be on to something

A 60 pound bike? ;)

A 60 pound bike? ;)

nothing exceeds like excess, my friend

I just got put together

I always wondered what winter cycling "porn" was like, and I think I found it here on this Pugsley thread....

Thanks for all info about the pugsley. I ordered my frame several weeks ago, and I am so excited to start building.

Damn!

I say god damn!!

I would have killed for one of these yesterday afternoon.

topeak defenders, 3.5-3.7", work well on a pug, they're not full-coverage by any means but they feel like it compared to riding 'naked' endos through a puddle... wow that will get you wet. I strung one of those crudguards down below where the fender ends so get a reasonable amount of coverage on the front of the bike. The rear fender I have threaded between the rack and the tire, works to keep the stripe off my back anyway. And again, endos make one w-i-d-e stripe.