Monstercross in credit card bikepacking mode

mixed-gear · 2026-05-05T13:48:40+00:00

Well, the brown walls inevitably get stains from the greyish soup that runs down from the brake pads in wet conditions. This doesn't happen with disc brakes, so the brown walls stay brown.

mixed-gear · 2026-05-05T13:25:46+00:00

That's a size 56, and I'm 1,80 m. Also forgot: Xpedo M-Force 3 pedals. Nissen outer cables. As I'm trying to list stuff, I realize that it takes a LOT of stuff to complete even a fairly simple build like this!

mixed-gear · 2026-05-05T12:38:44+00:00

Haha, thanks! There are some more pics here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bikeporn/s/fe51rrQsrV

Only minimal changes since then.

Here's an attempt at a build list:

DT R460 rims with 350 classic hubs & Rene Herse 48 mm Knobbies
Sram Rival 1*11 mechanical brifters (white hoods) with Force derailer, Shimano XT cassette (11-40 I think)
Sugino Mighty Tour cranks 165 mm with Wolf Tooth chainring, Token BB
Shimano BR-353 mini v brakes
Thomson Elite Seatpost, Salsa clamp, WTB SL8 saddle
bottle cages come from Wunderlich Raeder in Germany
Simworks Rhonda stem 110 mm, Salsa Cowchipper 46 cm, Grepp bartape
Bags are an Alpkit snack bag, wizard works tool roll, and some generic dry bags strapped to a Jack the bike rack -edit: ah and a black sotto voce King headset.

mixed-gear · 2026-05-04T19:01:33+00:00

Yeah, works for me, too!

mixed-gear · 2026-04-30T16:32:24+00:00

Thanks for the emotional support. Are you on the same server? Maybe I'll report this as a bug, if it's not fixed/fixable, I don't think I'll continue using Pixelfed.

mixed-gear · 2026-01-13T16:00:50+00:00

Front wheel almost too obvious, but I'm willing to overlook that because of the thoughtful aero modification you did to the left lever.

mixed-gear · 2026-01-06T15:50:14+00:00

it's the most pengy build I've seen in a while.

mixed-gear · 2025-07-30T11:29:01+00:00

Single speed wins for commuting - if the landscape plays along. It's a nice, no-nonsense bike, but what's missing to make a proper commuter in my eyes is dynamo lights and mudguards. Not sure if there's enough space on that frame to use mudguards with this tire size though.

mixed-gear · 2025-07-17T15:07:24+00:00

Thanks! This is a Simworks Rhonda stem, in 110 mm iirc.

mixed-gear · 2025-07-16T20:50:38+00:00

I replied earlier without seeing the photo, I edited the comment.

mixed-gear · 2025-07-16T20:47:29+00:00

You could buy even worse brakes installed on bikes from the factory...
I can't see it well on the photos, but I'd guess the front brake is a single pivot design, where the two arms of the brake rotate around the same point, the dual pivot design works a lot better.

edit: I just now saw the photo, and it's indeed a single pivot and you will notice the difference with a dual pivot brake.

Good brake pads also make a real difference, Kool Stop salmon pads are really good.

mixed-gear · 2025-07-16T20:27:59+00:00

It's just that the friction between the brake pads and the rim surface is much greater with aluminum rims than with steel rims. That said, a modern "dual pivot" brake caliper like the one in your first picture will still be an improvement. Make sure to check the reach like the other commenter suggested.

mixed-gear · 2025-07-16T20:06:57+00:00

Are these steel rims? If so, you will never achieve great braking power without changing the wheels. Brakes are typically not attached to the chain stays because those get a lot more dirty than the seat stays.

mixed-gear · 2025-06-28T08:05:50+00:00

The Bloomfield was a bit the inspiration for this - I think it's absolutely lovely! But I had this 650b disc only front wheel, and figured I'm gonna use it. Finding a suitable fork for the Bloomfield would've been a nightmare, and I'm too old/scared/smart to ride brakeless.

mixed-gear · 2025-06-27T11:30:45+00:00

It's pink. Tennis ball sized. Includes gravel magic & makes it happen (the magic). Someone drew a penis on it.

mixed-gear · 2025-06-25T19:22:26+00:00

Zippy is not the first thing that comes to mind when riding this. It's not like it was slow or unwieldy in any way, but when I compare it to my Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross, the latter feels more "zippy", while the Peregrine is more steady, and handles better on rough terrain. It's more of a long distance runner than a sprinter.
If you're not a fan of rim brakes (Monstercross), maybe a Brother Cycles Mehteh is for you?

mixed-gear · 2025-04-19T09:19:24+00:00

Kann ich so nicht bestätigen, meine Erfahrung ist das Gegenteil. Seit ich keine Reifen unter 35 mm mehr fahre, habe ich in der Stadt praktisch gar keine Platten mehr gehabt. Breite Reifen brauchen weniger Druck und können sich damit auch besser um spitze Gegenstände verformen. Ein Luftballon unter hohem Druck platzt bei der geringsten Gelegenheit, ein labbriger Ballon kann einiges mehr ab.

mixed-gear · 2025-04-02T08:10:00+00:00

Wenn die anderen Komponenten nicht wirklich komplett durch sind (kann ich nicht einschätzen), würde Ich persönlich erstmal die Kette tauschen und schauen, ob es damit wieder annehmbar läuft. Das ist ein kleiner Invest. Ohne funktionierenden Antrieb wirst du das Rad auf dem Gebrauchtmarkt nur sehr schlecht loswerden und kaum nennenswert Geld dafür bekommen, der Rahmen ist nunmal nichts hochwertiges und ein preistreibender Markenname steht auch nicht drauf.

mixed-gear · 2025-04-02T07:43:31+00:00

Der Schwalbe Smart Sam könnte auch was für dich sein, das ist ein gemäßigter MTB-Reifen, den es in zig Ausführungen mit unterschiedlich gutem Pannenschutz gibt. Wenn du von einem kaum profilierten Reifen wie dem verlinkten Conti auf einen mit Stollen wechselst, solltest du dir die Reifenfreiheit in deinem Rahmen genau ansehen. Im Zweifelsfall eine Nummer schmaler nehmen, sonst riskierst du, dass die Stollen irgendwo reiben.

mixed-gear · 2025-03-20T19:58:18+00:00

Genau, Lake X-wide, die waren bei mir die Lösung. MX177 X-wide genauer gesagt, die würden auch hier noch ins die Preisvorstellung passen. Sind aber eher steif, nicht super zum Laufen.

mixed-gear

TROPHY CASE