Velorution bike built up

I've got the frameset built up. I went for a build that would be best for around-the-town utility, while still having the ability to do some light mountain biking. I've been finding myself doing alot of hauling around of children, groceries, and the like. I thought this might fill a gap in my stable of bikes well. I can't say that I have any good reason to go with tires quite as wide as I have, but I must say they have been fun to ride around on. The main reason I ended up with them was in order to test them out before using them on another project for my lady, who happens to be skinny-tire shy. But more on that project later. It's been a fun bike to pedal around on, but I didn't get to appreciate the joy of this bike until I went on a manure run with it yesterday. Having done that I am now in love with this bike.

There is an equestrian center in our neighborhood from which I usually pick up manure with a bike trailer. Between the manure and the leaves from our oak tree I have been cooking up a pretty good compost. I have been making the trip on my road bikes, most recently on my Trek. It set up rather typically for a road bike with 700x25c tires and a 34/28 low gear. The run is doable thanks to a fairly flat terrain, but I knew I was using a less than ideal setup.

With the new Velorution setup the trip was much easier. The wide Uff Da tires (2.3") by Pasela have proven to be great tires. They are marketed towards folks doing urban jumping and other such bicycle trickery. The also do a great job cruising down coarse gravel roads. It also been a while since I've ridden a bike with mountain bike gearing. I put on an XT crankset that I got as a hand-me-down from my neighbor. Its got a 44-32-22 setup and I got a cassette that ranges from about 13-34t. The lowest gear feels ridiculously low, but I have ridden it up a big hill with a load yet. On monday I will be taking my daughter (in a Burley trailer) to one of our local farms. We've been going a couple of week now and I usually have to get off and push the bike/trailer up the larger hills. Hopefully the new setup on this bike will let me roll up them instead.

The bike as pictured is almost complete. I'm going to order some handlebar grips that match the paint job, a Wald basket for the front, and possibly a sprung Brooks saddle to smooth out the bumps. If I do get a Brooks saddle I am definately getting one of the delux ones with the hammered flat brass rivets. Honestly I don't know why the don't make those standard issue. There's nothing worse than having a bunch of rivets rubbing away at your ass.

Well more to come on this project later. If anyone happens to read this, please post a simple comment. I'd be curious to know if anyone is actually reading it. Happy trails!

Rhubarb