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Sorry if I have missed a reply but just a bump for the Stooge owners to ask if any of you have ridden or owned a Solaris and how would they compare?
My Solaris is my first 29er and I really like it but there is just something about the Stooge that looks like its a lot of fun to me !
unfortunately I'm in the wrong part of the country to make a test ride easily accessible.
Cheers for any reply's 😀
very early days yet, but i'm working on a fork and bars at the moment
Decent width (like 740mm) very swept (like Jones) that don't cost a millionty pounds please!
Decent width (like 740mm) very swept (like Jones) that don't cost a millionty pounds please!
you got it.
be a little while, but not so long.
re Ti frame, working on the drawings now.
Will the bars be a 45deg sweep? Hope so!!!
you got it.
Tremendous!
Finally some proper wide bars with big sweep??? Cool.
Will the new frames be 29+ front and back?
Will the new frames be 29+ front and back?
i'm toying with it, but in a way i prefer shorter stays and lighter rear wheels/tyres. I'm thinking more 29+ front, 650+ rear to keep it handling the way it does now. I worked hard to make the Stooge handle like it does and feel that something could well be lost, but then again, that's what the steel Stooge is for, why not add something into the mix.
The Stooge was motivated by not being able to find the frame i wanted to ride on the market (at a good price, at least). It's the same with the bars, i've found my own hole and need to fill it. Everything is either wrong width/sweep/rise or a combination of the three, there are some great bars but i just want something a little more 'right' for the Stooge.
That's a very Jones-like approach. Love it.
Some interesting reports coming through re 650+, particularly that it seems to be noticeably smaller in diameter than something like a 2.4 ardent on a dually. If that is the case then would a bike designed with 650+ rear and 29+ front be really weird given the front end will be so much higher than the rear?
Another person interested in your bars.
Care to share more thoughts re the fork you mentioned? Wider to take fat or stiffer like a truss?
would a bike designed with 650+ rear and 29+ front be really weird given the front end will be so much higher than the rear?
Surely that depends on the frame geometry?
I love the sound of the bars. Please can they be shiny silver? 😀
My Stooge continues to amaze me. Riding rigid always meant a certain amount of compromise for me before in terms of downhill speed and caution on technical stuff. The Stooge, especially with a 29+ front, is as capable and confidence-inspiring as many bikes with front (and rear) suspension. I'm hitting jumps and gnarly stuff that I'd have thought twice about on previous rigid bikes.
Surely that depends on the frame geometry?
Yes, ignore me. I was thinking of the clearance to the crown on my Jones and thinking the fork couldn't be any shorter so it would have to be a mini headtube to stop it being like a chopper but the stooge is different re fork length.
The tread on the Trailblazer is quite narrow 60mm, with the casing at 70 mm, heavy 948g - can't say I really like the look of it. Does look big though!
thread here orums.mtbr.com/29er-components/what-29-27-5-a-909580-6.html#post11149810
No ride reports yet!
Frame has arrived and really is very lovely. Hopefully get it built tonight.
This is my first frame with an eccentric bb. What torque for pinch bolts?
glad it got there all okay. Not very tight for the bolts - 4nm, which without a torque wrench, is not much more than hand tight. Don't crank it, all that will happen is that the BB shell will flex.
Enjoy the build.
The more I've ridden mine, the less I think 29+ rear end would be a good idea. Would be very interested to try 650+ rear though.
Trialling some bargain American Classic wide lightning wheels on mine (32mm wide). Very light, but still holds the tyres in reasonable shape.
Don't know about 29+ in the rear, I would have been happy if my 2.35 Ikon fitted.
Just put an ikon 2.35 in the back of mine on a blunt P35, it just fits. Hope it doesn't get muddy.
While it would be good to have had more rear tyre clearance I'm becoming tempted to try a narrower rear as the rear of the bike seems so comfortable. Heard good things about Ardent Races on wide rims so interested in trying one of those.
Anyone else struggling to stop the seatpost slipping?
Thomson seatpost fine here (and same post slipped all the time in my old Jones).
Used a Thompson and now a Kent ERiksen ti. All good
Used a Thompson and now a Kent ERiksen ti. All good
Jealous. 
Setback or straight? I fancy one but worry setback is too much (compared to Thomson).
Yeah, it's KE's layback Sweetpost.
Used it on two bikes now and have been happy
It seems to suit the Stooge well
I love the sound of the bars. Please can they be shiny silver?
Yep +1 for those bars and polished please Mr Stooge.
I'm liking my On One OG's but they need to be wider.... And polished yeah deffo polished. Polished would be good..
Whilst we're making bars requests, black or white for me pleases 🙂
American Classic wide lightenings + Knard tubeless is a mission.
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^^ That looks lovely!
Interested to understand why people want to fit fatter tyres in the rear. I'm using a Smorgasbord, which fits with plenty of clearance and provides all the grip I need (ie it's good for climbing and slides through corners like it should). I don't feel the need for more squish at the rear but is that what people are after?
Interested to understand why people want to fit fatter tyres in the rear. I'm using a Smorgasbord, which fits with plenty of clearance and provides all the grip I need (ie it's good for climbing and slides through corners like it should). I don't feel the need for more squish at the rear but is that what people are after?
No matter what tyre clearance you spec, people always want to go up one.
I just wanted to be able to run my current rear tyre, the 2.35 ikon with a bit of clearance. It's not like I'm moaning that I can't fit a 3" tyre in there.
Fair enough. Just (genuinely) interested 🙂
Guitar hero, what rim are you using? I run a dually 45mm with a 2.5 rear tyre with no probs, a friend runs regular rims with 2.4 Ardents, again no problems. I'm assuming the Ikon is a big 2.35.
When i designed the frame it was around a regular 29er tyre up to about 2.3, the tyre also had to fit within the confines of the top tube/rear stay. Unfortunately there seem to be a few tyres that don't fit, but a lot that do. I will look at widening this slightly on the next run, however the tooling costs for the top tubes were very expensive. I love the way the bike rides with a regular rear tyre, especially on long haul Welsh mountain rides, but it IS a shame some don't make the squeeze.
I have a fair few miles on my Stooge and I am running a knard on front and an OO Smogasboard/flow ex on the rear with plenty room.I feel that a 29+ on the rear would not be that benificial to bike as its so comfy and nimble as it is.
This bike is just super fun.
Just got a custom gold PDW Bird water bottle holder 😆
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@ jonestown
Regarding 29+ vs 650B + in the back of any new Stooge design;
I am lucky to have both Stooge and Krampus now to compare. If you set up Krampus (large=63cm tt) with sufficient high front ( 2" spacers plus rizer) and set-back seatpost (keep your weight back) it is very playfull bike with light front end, even with that longer chainstay. Having a 3" Knard in the back surely makes a big difference in both comfort and grip. Rolling resistance of a 1bar Knard is probably even less than a 2.4 nobby tire at 1.8bar. Grip on loose surface is superior by far (but offcourse not as good as 3.8 fatbike tires)
So it does make sense to use a wider rim/tire combo, but the availability of 27.5 wide rims and tires is very limited (close to zero ?) I would suggest to stay with 29+ in the back to give owners the opportunity to switch between 2.4 and 3" in the back, move toward sliding drop-outs to adapt chainstay and skip exentric BB for a new design. You will have all the benefits of the original Stooge geo plus the extra opportunity to go semi or full 29+ with upcoming availability of new rims (f.e. Notubes) and 29+ tires.
Just my thoughts.
^^^ Plus a fat fork 😉
...then I'd be even more tempted than I already am!
^
All that would make it a different bike IMO. It works brilliantly as it is - I think, other than a few tweaks (ti 😀 ), it should stay as it is. If you want a 29+ bike that would be a different model.
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Here ya go .. for 650+ comparisons. 1 fits an average 29er rear, the other won't. The smaller tyre (Trailblazer) has a tread width a little narrower than an Ardent 2.4.
I agree; Stooge 29+ is a different model.....but regarding costs/business it could replace the "original" and get more people buying. Changing towards a two-size Stooge 2.0 concept probably sells more than keep Stooge 1.0 running next to a new one-size Stooge 29+ .
Titanium...great.....but how many people want to buy a high cost 29er frameset vs a full 29+ ?
Just my thoughts, I am not a marketeer.
Just my thoughts, I am not a marketeer.
Nor am I. Going to a 29+ only though would compromise the performance of the current model. Likely to be heavier, longer chainstays.
Not everybody wants 29+ ....
Here ya go .. for 650+ comparisons. 1 fits an average 29er rear, the other won't. The smaller tyre (Trailblazer) has a tread width a little narrower than an Ardent 2.4
How do they ride?!
I think that you could keep exactly the same geometrie with sliding dropouts (short chainstay) and slide them backwards to get a 29+ in at just a little weight penalty (sliding dropout construction vs excentric bb plus wider chainstays to match with 3" tires) .
Stooge has not been designed to use 29+ in the front.....but still several owners have tried and it seems to work well. I have tried it and personally like it better with 2.4 upfront, but it's nice to have the option.
Similar to this I think the 29+ option in the back could have more people interested, lifting with the fatbike-hype and newcoming 29+ bikes (Singular, Jones, Genesis, Niner) . If people don't want to use it, sliding dropouts still make a nice singlespeed set-up and gives extra possibility of tuning chainstays anayway. Buy a light narrow wheelset and a second set with wide rims and you could make it any bike you want within 15 minutes.
Could be a nice Stooge 2.0 concept for the next series ?
Stooge has not been designed to use 29+ in the front....
I thought it had... 😕
Grrr.
I'm sure Jonestown (love that name!) - has stated on this thread that the Stooge is optimised for 29+ 3" Knard and was specifically designed for this tyre.
However - what we're talking about now is a new frame design and what we want for it. Obviously Jonestown, much like Jones himself, will make the bike THEY want to make.
Personally - I want a frame that will: take a 4.8" tyre on the front and a 4" ( for the type of riding I do, I don't see the need for a massive rear tyre or rim) tyre on the back and all options in between 650+ 29+ I think probably swing type dropouts or sliders is the way to go- and handle like a Jones or Stooge. I don't see this happening anytime soon though - so I may have to go custom.
Takisawa, you're right, it was designed with a view to running a 29+ front. The other night I did an epic night ride with a damn long, very rocky descent and this set up came into its own, no pain at all at very high speeds. My friend on the other hand runs his stooge with a regular front tire, the bike feels a little livelier in the steering dept, he loves it like that, and a tad harsher up front. Different strokes I guess.
Borrowed the demo from Keep Pedalling in Manchester for the weekend. Will report when I finished riding it even more. NIce 80km spin home from Barnsley today 🙂
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Went today into keep on pedalling to have a look, now know where it went.....looks good and need the review now
I'm just hoping a Ti version and a smaller size will be available for my 50th next year. Sizing wise I guess I could ride the current model but I'd be right at one end of the sizing giving limited choice of set ups.
Have you ridden one? The steel feels great. Not sure whether Ti would bring allot to the party. I know I could save the weight difference 🙂 If you're anywhere need W Wales you're welcome to try mine.
Mal-ec I,m 55kg, I can't lose any more without being blown over by a gentle breeze! Any extra weight on the bike for me has quite a significant effect on my power to weight ratio. I have a heavy steel rigid bike now with a Rohloff and that rides really well but I also like the the ride of my carbon framed 1x9 set up which is obviously very different.
I'd quite like the idea of running the Stooge with the Rohloff,at least in the winter, so anything that can help lighten the overall bike would be nice.
And thanks for the kind offer of the test ride, I'm a bit far away on the South Downs but it's always encouraging when someone says come and try my bike, makes you sure they think they've found something a bit special.
Should have the review done this evening - need to just twiddle some photos 🙂
Ok, so my views on the Stooge: [url= http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=2491 ]Stooge "review"[/url].
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In short - beautiful looking bike, but the back end's too short for my liking.
Interesting. I think it was designed, as you put it, as a 'go have some fun in the woods for an hour and a pint bike', not as a bikepacking rig. So according to your review, it's spot-on for what it is designed for!
I find the back end good, and not harsh at all. I rode mine again last weekend on some rocky trails, probably faster than my other bikes. With the slacker front a longer rear would make it too ponderous IMO.
With the slacker front a longer rear would make it too ponderous
You're right, Clink, the bike is designed to pivot around the rear axle, the result being you can switch lines in an instant. I'm hitting huge, rocky descents and the same short rear end makes the front glide and skip over obstacles. With my weight towards the rear of the bike i find it all very 'predictable' 🙂
I did near 100 miles on mine over the weekend and find the rear very sweet and not harsh. Infact,for myself I find the bike is extremly comfortable on long runs and has much better handling on the technical singletrack and downward trails than my El Mariachi. It also rips on singletrack..it's now my go-to bike.I will be doing lots more long rides in the coming winter months and fully intend to take the Stooge round the Highland Trail 2015! The most unpredictable thing on the bike is the Knard on the front!
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I don't find the rear harsh or bouncy, smooth and planted are the words I'd use.
Agree with the conclusion though. I find it a great bike for thrashing around in the woods but not as good an all rounder as my Jones. It did fine on my 17 mile, 4500ft climbing and descending loop yesterday but there where times on theclimb I was wishing for the Jones, but never on the descent.
but there where times on theclimb I was wishing for the Jones,
Just to be difficult, I find the Stooge a [u]much[/u] better climber than the Jones! 😆
Kbrembo
You've won the...
Best Stooge thread pic
And also best mtb pic ive seen for a very long time
Best Stooge thread picAnd also best mtb pic ive seen for a very long time
Is a very photogenic bike!
Ta 😀
Agreed.
My experience of the bike is very different from GM's. IME Back end feels really comfortable, does what you ask it to and allows for great handling. I ride allot of different terrain including rocky techy stuff which it handles brilliantly. Its not a skill compensator, not a ploddy neutral ride. Think it's improved my bike handling loads.
Krembo, what ratio are you running?
The most unpredictable thing on the bike is the Knard on the front!
Have you tried the Knard on a wider rim ?
Just about to build a Dually up for my rigid SIR.9 to run a Knard up front.
The wheel will [i]hopefully[/i] migrate to a Stooge eventually. 😉
I struggle with long sentences. But. You have seen the new Jones+ geoemtry yeah?
I struggle with long sentences. But... You have seen the new Jones+ geometry yeah?
Go on - give us an explanation! 🙂
The most unpredictable thing on the bike is the Knard on the front!
... on a Stan's Flow Rim. You won't unlock the potential of a 29+ tyre without using wider rims. Surly Knards were designed to be used with 50mm rims! (or at least something close to that) 😉
Stooge is super light on its front so does need weighting in some instances to avoid washing out
After completely destroying a/some Knard(s) I think I'll just wait for my Chronicle before returning to '29+'!
Roll on October!
Clink, while I like the stiff b&b of the Stooge for climbing I still prefer the weight of my Ti Jones
Clink, while I like the stiff b&b of the Stooge for climbing I still prefer the weight of my Ti Jones
You'll be wanting a ti Stooge then! 😉
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I struggle with long sentences. But. You have seen the new Jones+ geoemtry yeah?
eeeeeeeurgh. The old truss/diamond frames were so pretty aswell.
That is not a looker
The other image on the Jones site looks a lot [s]better[/s] less worse
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I think it's the seattube bend that does it. if that was straight it would look alright. maybe
i like it a lot, looks like a big stable beast. Touring bike geometry on steroids. And i'm not taking the piss here, but lateral thinking has just caused me to witness something very strange - a path-racer with 29+ wheels, now that would be a bike, wouldn't it?
a path-racer with 29+ wheels, now that would be a bike, wouldn't it?
You are epicyclo and i claim my £5.
🙂
it was supposed to be a secret 🙁
[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15234992377_13941ed4aa_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15234992377_13941ed4aa_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pdgjsn ]Stooge Cycles[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/78164632@N00/ ]placid casual[/url], on Flickr
That's all really...
placid_casual can you do a mini review of the jones and salsa bars on the stooge.
Jones Geometry – check the figures. Check the date.
Jones Plus Geometry - different figures. Different date.
Thread closed :O)