Well, it's official, the check is in the mail, and there's another monkey in the house! After getting the 2003 'Campstove Green' Surly Karate Monkey SS 29'er last Thursday and test riding it at Seneca Creek State Park, the Frederick Watershed (two days), and Gambrill State Park Mic decided to lay down the change for a birthday present to himself!
The Creaky Monkey (pictured above), Mic's 26" SS conversion, took the news okay and they both primates have had a few days together in the same room to get acquainted. However, the 2008 FS Trek Fuel EX 8 is not so pleased about any of it and continues to rebel by getting pinch flats, snapping chain links, and jumping from gear-to-gear (even after being constantly adjusted)! This hardcore protesting is obviously due to Mic's almost exclusive move to singlespeeding, no doubt!
Oh, well! It was bound to happen sooner or later! Anywho, the KM 29'er now has a 32x20 Surly gearing (rear cog) setup as opposed to the 32x18 Chris King setup it came with and I already went to a new WTB Devo Thinline saddle, and OURY Lock-On grips. The Titec H-Bar that was sitting around the house would not fit (too small in diameter) the larger BBB stem that came with the bike so I replaced the stem with a new Thompson "Elite" Mountain Stem, as well as a Chris King NoThreadSet™. Also changed the tires to Panaracer Rampage 29er/2.35's, as well as added a new set of Shimano PD M-520 SPD pedals (Black), and a new Race Face bash ring! I am waiting on the shipment of a new 32t Surly Stainless Steel chainring to replace the existing aluminum one.
Hope the weather holds out a while longer today so a ride will be possible! (It did, great ride ― more on this later!)
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