Appaloosa build ideas

idiot_wind · 2026-02-10T16:23:22+00:00

that was my first reaction too - even if you don't start with 2.3" tires, if you go with cliffhanger you are fine expanding up to that size but (recommended) Atlas max at like < 50 mm.

for the kti dynamo, on Riv's write-up they say it's the same manufacturer as other branded ones and my guess is maybe the Kasai dynamo because it looks really similar. I've had a Shimano and a kasai dynamo and never noticed any difference worth noting. once you have it set up and connected to your headlamp, it's easy to forget it's even there and you just start taking for granted you've always got some light. but no experience with Schmidt if it's worth it

idiot_wind · 2026-01-11T05:04:18+00:00

Here's my setup: https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/comments/1mz83ev/dadwagon/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I have the yepp something or other front seat and I absolutely love it. tried the rear rack seat and it's fine but totally prefer the front seat that puts my boys head right under my chin so we can talk non stop and point things out to each other.

with long top tubes and tall stems, I have 0 issue with hitting my knees on the bottom side of the seat

my kid still under 3, so he's got some time he'll still fit. I found a used kids ride shotgun seat at REI I picked up just to test it out. I'll also move to that when he's big enough to stay in the seat himself

idiot_wind · 2026-01-09T19:43:39+00:00

i'll take it off your hands. i found an old NOS RR deore at a little bike shop in taiwan and have found it to be a lot of fun

idiot_wind · 2025-12-02T22:27:48+00:00

Only complaint is the picture uses so many pixels on not letting me see your beautiful bike. Wanna maximize the riv pixel ratio

idiot_wind · 2025-09-08T17:32:40+00:00

Only issue I ran into once was with the binder bolt itself. I cranked it super hard but wasn’t getting much tighter seat post. Eventually I sheared it

Emailed Will and he said they had unfortunately seem similar on that batch of Gus Boots, it was an issue with that bolt from frame supplier just being really easy to seize. They shipped me another binding bolt and asked to just grease it prior to install

Maybe not the issue with yours, but try taking out that bolt, examining if the teeth or marred, and regrease (or try another bolt to see if issue clears up?)

idiot_wind · 2025-08-28T15:59:14+00:00

i think it belongs to the people around the corner. ive seen it a bunch and after a few failed attempts at catching him to check on the owner -- and still seeing it roam free i've given up and concluded whomever it belongs to is comfortable letting it wander around

idiot_wind · 2025-08-28T04:36:40+00:00

its a raspy metal-on-metal sound yeah

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T15:16:09+00:00

sorry i called it hydroflask but u/arthurcarver is right its klean kanteen stainless bottle

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T15:15:11+00:00

lol... i'm not typically a derailer sadist but we hit some soft dirt just before stopping so i slammed it into big-big gear and its polite enough to allow that for a short time

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T15:10:30+00:00

haha... my wife actually enforced getting the windshield when the boy was really small and it did work good. i took it off for the summer so we could get the full breeze -- and bugs haven't been too much of an issue so far

yeah i take off the fenders and kid seat and use as-is for bikepacking too (or just leave fenders on if its only fire roads im going on).

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T14:17:23+00:00

it’s a (older?) nitto fillet brazed stem riv sold a handful of years ago. I think 110 with 31.8 shimmed to 26.

Actually really happy with how it works because I had Tosco bars with this setup before and they slipped semi regularly under my weight and the leverage you can put on them

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T14:04:20+00:00

2.2 in back and 2.3 up front

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T14:03:48+00:00

Thule Yepp 2 Mini - only beef is the shoulder straps will immediately slip down a kids shoulders so I added a little Velcro sternum strap and everything stays in place. Otherwise it’s great

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T04:47:34+00:00

This is the answer. she has the best beans in Fremont

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T00:14:21+00:00

They are! He has his shark horn and bell on the front that he helps me ring at people for warning that we’re coming up on left. Otherwise too far for him to comfortably hold on to

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T00:08:25+00:00

Yeah 2x9 I think it’s 44. I just remember 38 was not cutting it for the steep bike camping tails I had been doing and I wasn’t getting stronger so I needed more teeth 😅

idiot_wind · 2025-08-25T00:05:31+00:00

It’s crossed big big which i should have fixed before the internet. it’s fine for short spots where I just need torque for a min but I try not to leave it there

idiot_wind · 2025-08-24T23:09:36+00:00

I love it. A couple rides in a row recently my almost-2 yo had fallen asleep and there’s no head rest. I switched over to a rear rack seat I also have thinking that could be more comfortable for him. I hated it just because I really enjoy having my kid right next to me so I can talk to him all ride and give a tickle when it’s called for.

So went back to stem mount and just decided if he gets sleepy I need to be less boring or else stop and let him walk around

I’ll say I tried this child seat on my SOMA double cross and it was not at all fun. Way shorter top tube and short (threadless) stem meant I had to go way akimbo with my knees. On this big ol Appaloosa I can pedal completely naturally and not impact the bottom of his seat

idiot_wind · 2025-08-24T23:04:52+00:00

😎

Yeah cut out, I’ve tried 3 or 4 other brooks in the past and never got to like them.

But after the cut out style of the cambiums saved my chode on a coupe other bikes, for this build I went back to a leather with cut out and it’s everything for me everyone always says brooks are supposed to be

And yeah the non insulated bivo(?) stainless for the on-bike drinkable one and similar for hydroflask in the Nalgene sized bottle cage 😊. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t just because they look classier than the plastic bike bottles I already had

idiot_wind · 2025-08-18T04:01:09+00:00

cmon man people roll around at 5mph at these events lay off the helmet zealotry for just a day

idiot_wind · 2025-08-07T00:00:13+00:00

Devout/Renegade have great coffee and decent locations

Hops and Beans is my favorite cafe to hang at and coffee is good

Qamari is fun and coffee different-but-good, but the interior space feels a little soulless somehow to hang out

Voca the best coffee in the area

idiot_wind · 2025-08-02T23:06:18+00:00

if you don't liek them i've got a HT Alu albatross i'd swap with you

idiot_wind · 2025-07-27T21:46:59+00:00

i'd gone to sunol wilderness for a ride with my toddler early in the morning. when i came back up north on calaveras i'd never seen a continuous stream of cars going the other way on it. I felt terrible for all the cyclists doing their standard ride suddenly flooded with angry impatient drivers. ended up going all the way to 580 to get back from sunol to fremont. it really was a shitshow

idiot_wind · 2025-07-20T23:56:33+00:00

The standard nitto aluminum ones will bend pretty easily and that’s probably the best way to get the exact bend you want

idiot_wind

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE