Me and the Moonlander!

[Gear]

Surly's Nice Rack Installed - January 23, 2012

With my rides increasing in length. I started researching a way to carry some extra gear. If you get a chance to look at a Moonlander up close you soon realize that the rear triangle is no were near normal. This makes installation of a rear rack some what challenging. So I opted to try and get away with something on the front. Here is what I did after some helpful idea's from the internet. This is Surly's Nice Rack(rear) installed on the front. A couple of simple tweaks and it should work out well for my application. The above photograph shows where I bent the upper bar closest to the handlebar forward. This gives me the clearance from the rack to the frame that I need. On a positive note, while using the rack today, I think I am going to like having it in front. This allows me to keep watch of what every I put on the rack with just a simple glance downward.

Looks kind of like a brush guard for a bike.

 

[bucketosudz]

Jealous! I really wanted a Moonlander when Surly announced them in August, but in the end I wanted to get riding before they "landed" so I got Pugsley instead. LBS owner has one and got to check it out after meeting on the snowy trails in December, full on Cool they are.

 

[Bullsnake]

Love the Moonlander!

Our local Surly dealer is a big time roadie guy and try as I might I absolutely could not get him to order me one (Said he would check into it every time I was in and then never did!) so I ended up ordering a Fatback Ti SL about a week ago. Should be in sometime in the next few weeks and I can't wait to get out and log some miles on it!

Keep the posts coming - it is great to see one of these out in the wild and I love to see your setup ideas. What is your thoughts on how it rides compared to a traditional hard tail with suspension up front? do you notice quite a bit more rolling resistance while riding slow, or is it more of a "float" feeling?

Thanks!

 

[Bullsnake]

Totally off topic, but is there any way to order a Surly Moonlander online? Did some brief checking on it a while back, and from what I could come up with Surly is very committed to dealer only purchases. I am a FIRM believer in LBS support, but when you live in the middle of Iowa and there isn't great dealer support my options are kinda limited...

 

[sven]

Totally off topic, but is there any way to order a Surly Moonlander online? Did some brief checking on it a while back, and from what I could come up with Surly is very committed to dealer only purchases. I am a FIRM believer in LBS support, but when you live in the middle of Iowa and there isn't great dealer support my options are kinda limited...

Universal can get them: http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=47545&category=3296

 

[Bullsnake]

Sven-

Thanks for the link, but as it states at the bottom of the page (unfortunately like I have found with every other online site carrying Surly):

"Although this product may be ordered online, it must be picked up in our Local Portland, Oregon Store. We are unable to ship Surly complete bicycles per our dealer agreement."


Wish I could just get them to ship it...

 

[Christophe Noel]

Great bike, and really fun images.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

We must be pretty close to neighbors! Im off Alga. Ive seen fatbike tracks down at Pontos, possibly yours.

Hows your drivetrain doing? Ive been considering a pugsley for the beach, but i might modify it for a belt drive internal hub. But thats aways off.

-Chris

 

[Gear]

Love the Moonlander!

Keep the posts coming - it is great to see one of these out in the wild and I love to see your setup ideas. What is your thoughts on how it rides compared to a traditional hard tail with suspension up front? do you notice quite a bit more rolling resistance while riding slow, or is it more of a "float" feeling?

Thanks!

Hello Bullsnake,

There is definitely more rolling resistance at times. Usually because of the tire pressure being to low. What I find interesting is how the Moonlander seems to make up for this resistance in other ways. The extreme traction allows me to ride longer on the steep/loose terrain. I end up making up time in these areas only to lose time in other areas. One of the main reasons I purchased this bike was simple to go at my own speed. I use to feel with my other mountain bike that it was always a race to the top with others on the trail. Now folks see the Moonlander and laugh, usually making a comment about how fat it is! I like this, as it eases the tension to one up each other. With that said I have caught more people in the hills(off tarmack) then on the road. On another note I am pretty impressed by how many riders are in the know about Surly and the fat bikes in general.

Totally off topic, but is there any way to order a Surly Moonlander online? Did some brief checking on it a while back, and from what I could come up with Surly is very committed to dealer only purchases. I am a FIRM believer in LBS support, but when you live in the middle of Iowa and there isn't great dealer support my options are kinda limited...

Middle of Iowa, try getting one in San Diego! You might try this. Step one, find a Surly dealer that has the bike. They can usually build up the bike and then repackage it to ship it to you. There is an added cost to this but if you want the bike this might just be your only choice.

This shop seemed willing to do the repackaging for me.
http://www.northcentralcyclery.com/

Hope this helps!

 

[Gear]

Great bike, and really fun images.

Thanks, I was pretty inspired by other's pictures and video's regarding the Fat Bike Experience. I'm hoping to pass it along.

We must be pretty close to neighbors! Im off Alga. Ive seen fatbike tracks down at Pontos, possibly yours.

Hows your drivetrain doing? Ive been considering a pugsley for the beach, but i might modify it for a belt drive internal hub. But thats aways off.

-Chris

Hi Chris,

I'm in SEH. Send me a PM if you wanted to try it out. Time will tell on the drivetrain. I rinse it off after going on the beach. Pacific Coast Cycles has a white Pug 18" in stock!!!

 

[Gear]

Elfin Forest Loop - January 25, 2012

I decided to run some errands in San Marcos, but chose to take the long way around. This is a section of Questhaven road that is closed to vehicles. Beautiful Oak tree's canopy a majority of the road.

Next I rode a new section of single track on the south side of the river flowing thru Elfin Forest. I found these tracks while looking for a place to cross the river. Looks like Raccoon?

Lastly a photograph of the river running thru Elfin Forest. I ended up biking out to Nordahl Road, then west into San Marcos and back around the hills of San Elijo.

Distance 23.4 miles
Elevation 1636 feet
Moving Average 9.6 mph

 

[Sloan]

icargobike.com has a 2010 Pugsley in stock for $1400, just saying and they'll ship it. I think they are in San Clemente.

 

[Gear]

South Ponto to Pacific Coast Cycles - January 26, 2012

Rode up the coast to Pacific Coast Cycles. Timing was not right on the tides!

Distance 20.3 miles
Elevation 784 feet
Moving Average 9.9 mph

 

[Gear]

La Costa Preserve - January 27, 2012

Ended up doing two loops at La Costa Preserve. One with my neighbor Dave. Beautiful clear skies!

I also started using my GoPro. This shot was from the first loop.

On the second loop I ditched the bag on the front rack.

Distance 18.4 miles
Elevation 2471
Moving Average 6.9 mph

 

[Fresno]

Count me in for the floatilla. I love my Moonlander. The 4.7 inch tires work great on beach sand. Im out of Huntington Beach.