karate monkey frame

"Joseph S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to put together a hybrid sort of bike for my wife. The karate monkey frame by Surly
looks interesting but I'm curious about the straight blade fork. Is this of any consequence
regarding handling or are the

curves

Quoted message said:

just a visual thing. Thanks Joe S.

Don't worry about the fork - it's pretty damn robust. However, the frame is designed for a 29"
singlespeed mountain bike, not a hybrid bike. Just so you're aware. Seems like overkill to me,
unless she plans on using it for some singletrack cruisin' too. As its a singlespeed, she might
prefer something with some gears for general road + path riding.

Also, IIRC, there's a pretty long wait to get the frameset - they're in really high demand.

Jon Bond

"Joseph S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to put together a hybrid sort of bike for my wife. The karate monkey frame by Surly
looks interesting but I'm curious about the straight blade fork. Is this of any consequence
regarding handling or are the curves just a visual thing.

The handling is affected by the location of the wheel relative to the steering axis, and by the
distance from the axle to the crown. Doesn't really matter if the fork is straight or curved.

David

Joseph S. said:

I'm looking to put together a hybrid sort of bike for my wife. The karate monkey frame by Surly
looks interesting but I'm curious about the straight blade fork. Is this of any consequence
regarding handling or are the curves just a visual thing.

It is, indeed butt-ugly, but has no effect on the handling.

Sheldon "Likes Straight Frame Tubes, But Curved Fork Blades" Brown
+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Le beau est aussi utile que l'utile --Victor Hugo | (The beautiful is as useful as the useful) |
+-------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗ sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗

Jon Bond said:

"Joseph S." <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to put together a hybrid sort of bike for my wife. The karate monkey frame by Surly
looks interesting

However, the frame is designed for a 29" singlespeed mountain bike, not a hybrid bike. Just so
you're aware. Seems like overkill to me, unless she plans on using it for some singletrack
cruisin' too. As its a singlespeed, she might prefer something with some gears for general road +
path riding.

Being able to fit 2"+ knobby tires means being able to fit 2"+ street slicks, or being able to fit
700x47 tires with fenders. That doesn't seem like overkill, just choices.

The Karate Monkey has horizontal rear fork ends but with a deraiileur hanger. Meaning it can be run
single-speed, fixed, gearhub, or derailleur equipped. It's way more versatile than a regular hybrid,
no matter the intended use.

Chalo Colina

"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Don't worry about the fork - it's pretty damn robust. However, the frame is designed for a 29"
singlespeed mountain bike, not a hybrid bike. Just so you're aware. Seems like overkill to me,
unless she plans on using it for some singletrack cruisin' too.

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Jeff

Quoted message said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Urgh... check this out:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla road.htmlOpen ↗

Is it me, or is this incredibly, incredibly gay?

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Urgh... check this out:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla road.htmlOpen ↗

Is it me, or is this incredibly, incredibly gay?

Alittle gay, but this vanillabicycles.comroad18.jpgOpen ↗ is incredibly gay.

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to put together a hybrid sort of bike for my wife. The karate monkey frame by Surly
looks interesting but I'm curious about the straight blade fork. Is this of any consequence
regarding handling or are the curves just a visual thing.

Looks.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

Robin Hubert said:

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Urgh... check this out:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla road.htmlOpen ↗

Is it me, or is this incredibly, incredibly gay?

Alittle gay, but this vanillabicycles.comroad18.jpgOpen ↗ is incredibly gay.

This one makes up for the others though:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla commuter.htmlOpen ↗

--
Scott Johnson "Always with the excuses for small legs. People like you are why they only open the
top half of caskets." -Tommy Bowen

Quoted message said:

Robin Hubert said:

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 21 May 2003 21:20:59 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:

>
> That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗
>

Urgh... check this out:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla road.htmlOpen ↗

Is it me, or is this incredibly, incredibly gay?

Alittle gay, but this vanillabicycles.comroad18.jpgOpen ↗ is incredibly gay.

This one makes up for the others though:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla commuter.htmlOpen ↗

Does anyone know if their frames are any good?

Jeff Wills said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Speaking of overkill, that bike has both horizontal fork-ends (with adjustment screws) and an
eccentric in the bottom bracket, to really allow fine adjusments in chain tension, I guess....

--

David L. Johnson

__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but _`\(,_ | what canst thou say?
-- George Fox. (_)/ (_) |

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeff Wills said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Speaking of overkill, that bike has both horizontal fork-ends (with adjustment screws) and an
eccentric in the bottom bracket, to really allow fine adjusments in chain tension, I guess....

--

David L. Johnson

__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but _`\(,_ | what canst thou
say? -- George Fox. (_)/ (_) |

Might want to check your monitor. The silver bike has an EBB, the gold one has horizontal fork ends.

Jon Bond

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Urgh... check this out: vanillabicycles.comvanilla road.htmlOpen ↗ Is it me, or is this
incredibly, incredibly gay?

"Robin Hubert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alittle gay, but this vanillabicycles.comroad18.jpgOpen ↗ is incredibly gay.

Well, I suppose you guys would be experts on that.

--
Andrew Muzi, who would have use d the word "lame", offending the cripples instead
yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Speaking of overkill, that bike has both horizontal fork-ends (with adjustment screws) and an
eccentric in the bottom bracket, to really allow fine adjusments in chain tension, I guess....

Quoted message said:

Might want to check your monitor. The silver bike has an EBB, the gold one has horizontal
fork ends.

What could be a legitimate reason for an eccentric bottom bracket? I've never seen one before.

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> That's not overkill. THIS is overkill: vanillabicycles.comvanilla mountain.htmlOpen ↗

Speaking of overkill, that bike has both horizontal fork-ends (with adjustment screws) and an
eccentric in the bottom bracket, to really

allow

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fine adjusments in chain tension, I guess....

Quoted message said:

Might want to check your monitor. The silver bike has an EBB, the gold

one

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

has horizontal fork ends.

What could be a legitimate reason for an eccentric bottom bracket? I've never seen one before.

Singlespeed bikes. It allows you to run the bike without another chain tensioner, as you've got the
difference in BB-dropout lengths to play with. While it is heavier and a little more complicated
than horizontal dropouts, it also lets you use disc brakes with absolutely no fuss, and even if
you're using rim brakes, if you change gear ratios, you don't have to readjust your brakes at the
same time.

They're a little heavier, but not too much, surprisingly. If I got a SS, that'd probably be the
way I went.

Jon Bond

-snip vanilla-

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What could be a legitimate reason for an eccentric bottom bracket? I've never seen one before.

Of late, normal horizontal ends have become suddenly unfashionable. Unfortunatley single speed
setups have also suddenly become fashionable.

What's that you say? Just braze in new ends for about $85? Sorry, steel isn't fashionable, aluminum
is. So there is a nascent industry to serve the market with eccentric BBshells, eccentric hub axles
and Rube Goldberg-esque chain tensioners (spoiling the clean aesthetic of a single speed, IMHO) all
to serve those who eschew normal horizontal ends.

The last couple of years it was all mid-1908s Japanese sport bike frames from thrift stores with new
fixed rear wheels. Total bike build budget $200~$250 Now it's hundreds of dollars of gee-gaws to get
the same result. Technically, nothing wrong with that, and one might argue that a vertical end with
eccentric is even superior in some aspects. It just all seems foreign to me.
--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Quoted message said:

The last couple of years it was all mid-1908s Japanese sport bike frames from thrift stores with
new fixed rear wheels. Total bike build budget $200~$250 Now it's hundreds of dollars of gee-gaws
to get the same result. Technically, nothing wrong with that, and one might argue that a vertical
end with eccentric is even superior in some aspects. It just all seems foreign to me.
--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗

Andy, to be really cool and quite up to date one must have a disc brake, which is simpler with a
vertical dropout. Yes I recognize the lunacy of a rear disc on a bike which is a fixie.

If horizontal is what it must be, then if the slot opens at the front rather than the rear life will
be easier. My latest project sports two left Campy 1010s. Works a treat (thanks Sheldon). I have a
pic if anyone is curious.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

"Otto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>... <snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This one makes up for the others though:

vanillabicycles.comvanilla commuter.htmlOpen ↗

Does anyone know if their frames are any good?

I refuse to answer due to the fact that I may compromise my status as an irrefutable font of
wisdom. :-)

Besides, Sacha White's (dba Vanilla) a cool dude and shares shop space with a couple of friends who
are off the deep end in terms of cycle design: terracycle.comterracycle.comOpen ↗ and
stitesdesign.comstitesdesign.comOpen ↗ .

Jeff

Ted Bennett <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

If horizontal is what it must be, then if the slot opens at the front rather than the rear life
will be easier. My latest project sports two left Campy 1010s. Works a treat (thanks Sheldon). I
have a pic if anyone is curious.

i am curious. dont dropouts come pre-bent generally, to get the tabs leaving the dropout at the
generally right angle? instead of buying two lefts, i ground the eyelets, derailleur tab, etc off my
own pair when i still thoguht i was going to need 'em. (five minutes with a bench grinder and a good
file). pic at pantheon.yale.edudropouts.jpgOpen ↗

if i bought two lefts, i would have some serious and ugly rebending to do to get these dropouts into
the correct orientation. these are forged horizontals from the QBP.

anthony