Wildwood 

Spudly - the fork is Forte Axis Pro sold by Performance from about 2004. As best I can learn from searching, it was most likely produced by Kinesis and was their Saber model. Blades are aero shaped. The axle-to-crown is 370mm and the uncut carbon steerer is 300mm. I do not know the fork rake. I never converted the Calfee because this fork is not painted to match the yellow frame - and I just never got a round tuit. Axis Pro is easy to find in a search.

Gray Jay - Thanks for the Macalu info about models back into the 90s. AK folks need snow bikes I bet.

dddd

Having taken my first, short ride on a fat bike last weekend, I would be interested in seeing any pictures of your creation you may have.

GrayJay

Here is a shot of my fattened-up Macalu;



Album of more detailed pictures of the build is at;
https://picasaweb.google.com/1102452...eat=directlink

I consider it a quazi-vintage fatbike, most all of it except the tires can be made using old parts that were available 20 years ago. Cantilever brakes, old manitou suspension fork, 94mm square taper deore LX crank. Ive thought maybe I should send Excel sports a photo, let them know that their brand now includes a fatbike.

inkandsilver

Very, very cool. Are those rims made for the fatbike tires, or is that an adaptation too?

GrayJay

Rims I used are 44mm wide snowcats Snowcat Rims
They were originally deisigned to spread out the widest available 26" tires (about 2.5") before Surly came out with their first real 3.8" wide fat tire and even wider 65mm rims. When 3.8" fat tires are used with snowcat rims, they dont have quite as much volume and width as with wider rims, but it still works pretty well and provides about 2x the tire volume of any standard (non-fat) tire. For fat riding on surfaces like dirt where the additional floatation is not critical, fat tires and narrow rims make a more rounded tire shape that hadles a bit better and they can save a bit of weight compared to ultra-wide fat rims.

gioscinelli 

Here's mine:



Don't cut the steering shaft too short, leave enough room for any future threadless head set replacement. you can alway's put spacers in between the head set and handle bar stem to compensate for the length.

KonAaron Snake 

I'm not jealous - not at all. I wouldn't even want a ti spectrum!

zukahn1 

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+1 Leave the steering shaft a little longer I probably wouldn't cut it at all on run some spacers, will give you the option to raise lower or run a diffierent stem in the future if deseried. Aslo yes buy this frame if the price is somwhat resonable the 1inch isn't a big deal there are a lot of nice threaded and threadless options readily availbe and the original fork is just fine.

gioscinelli 

I have a Merlin TI Spectrum designed by TK and Co. I've had several TI bikes and this one is great! By the way Aaron, I visited your Photobucket site and you have an outstanding collection including a TK, Merlin, and Lightspeed! Ride fast and ride safe, Mike

lfiguli

I have a 1994 macalu litespeed from excel in boulder. I am looking at buying a carbon bike as i no longer like riding without a flat bar. I have riden hybirds for years but with 2 knee replacements 5 years ago i know i need a lighter bike.my dilema is should i try to refit my litespeed or buy a new bike. I'm sure the shimano gears have come a long way in 23 years. Is it possible to put a flat bar on that bike. Thanks for your input.

bwilli88 

Yes, you can put a flat bar on your bike, change it how you like.