You don't get $$ back. You get a visa debit card. Which is sort of like getting $$ back. But they don't credit you the $$ back direct.

Really like my Krampus. Currently 2.35" running 45nrth studded tires on the rabbit holes. Really like the Knard for a bikepacking tire (mixed dirt road / trail) setup split tube tubeless. Can't wait to try a maxxis chronicle when they become available.

The ECR is more touring than MTB (although likely just as capable in the right situations). It has a lower BB compared to the Krampus - so if you want to run 2.4s you will be lower to the ground - might make a difference in techniCal terrain.

Sand? Knards on rabbit holes do ok on the packed stuff. Not anywhere neat the float of the Nates or the bigger 5" tires.


Lunch ride. Calm before the snowstorm. by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Love it as a bikepacking machine.


Krampus in its Element by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Just built a Rohloff wheel for it.

Here she is running some 2.35 45nrth studded tires. Versatility is built in.


IMG_4050 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Krampus isn't really fat. I have a pugs that I'd call fat. Several locals have Ice Cream Trucks which I consider obese. The krampus is chubby.

Love it so far. The wheels and tires roll really well on dirt and singletrack, and the bike is just fun.

I looked at ECR but coming from the Fargo I wanted more MTB and less touring bike.

The Rohloff tensioner?

The Rohloff Chain tensioner is easy to install, it simply mounts to the existing derailleur hanger of the frame. Spacers are used for lateral adjustability. For the quick wheel removal the Rohloff Chain tensioner swings back when pulling the wheel out of the dropouts. The Rohloff Chain tensioner has a tensioning capacity of 10 chain links which is sufficiant even for long travel rear suspensions.

Read that link I posted.

They say it can handle 10 links - so that should be plenty for the rings.

You could probably make that work but you'd need a chain tensioner. You could likely use a Paul Melvin or Rohloff's own:

http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/chain_tensioner/

Mike, I'm stoked you're doing TD! It will be cool to meet you!
I'm looking into my dynamo setup and I'm thinking a SP PL-8x (if it ever comes back in stock, or PD-8x with 6 bolt to Centerlock adapter), a Revo Exposure, and a Plug 3. I too want a switch and think that stem mounted switch is cool! Did you print it yourself? I don't know where a 3D printer is I can use! (50USD + shipping is a lot for a piece of plastic on the kLite site). Is it hard wiring together the switch, charger, light setup? For someone who works with his hands on electronics all day I am sort of intimidated by dynamos!

I'm not in for 2015. Just jumped into this thread to comment on the dyno stuff. Was hoping for 2012 but kids and my business got in the way.

Once I get my switch running I will likely make the housing available. Maybe even the whole wiring harness. But I can probably supply housings in 2 designs (bar and steerer tube mount) for about 20$ shipped US postal. I have a local guy who can 3d print - still haven't field tested the housing - my exposure revo had to go back for warranty so I'm behind on wiring and testing. Once that gets back in the next couple of weeks I'll post an update.

http://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/974315-hands-review-garmin-touring-plus.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/955735-garmin-edge-touring-charging-while-riding-anyone-have-any-luck.html

More there if you poke around.

imHo I would get an etrex 30. (I have the 20) - you can do the same thing - plug it in and run from the dyno - but you have the AAs riding inside all the time. So you never need to prioritize lights or charging.

Which is sort of what you do with the cache battery. Except if the cache battery goes (I'm using a limefuel) - you can still pop in AAs.

My setup is Shimano dyno, exposure Revo headlight on bars, exposure Diablo or Fenix Uc40UE on head (both USB rechargeable), and a limefuel battery with pass through. Using the USBWerk to deal with the power to USB conversion. I am building a switch in a 3d printed housing to switch from light to charge or off.

Yup!
Trying to suss out the bivy spots of the fast boys and girls was part of my prep before I had to abandon my plans back in 12.

Someday though....

This is great work, seabiscuit.  Love the data-geekery.

bmike-vt : On every rider's individual map you can find tent icons for locations where they stopped for 4 hours or more.  It's not perfect (since SPOT data isn't perfect) but the data is there.  Seeing a plot of scratch locations would be interesting.

I also noticed that Jefe was missing from the data for some reason.

We do have a few other active/unknown loose ends to clean up on the tracker.

ScottM - thats what I've done... would be cool to see all sleep / rest stops on 1 map, instead of going to each rider.

curious, can you overlay on a map where folks dropped based on last SPOT data?
would be interested in seeing that spread.

also something i've done by hand (tedious) is to look at sleep / rest locations. not sure if you can pull that from the SPOT data - say, downtime of 4 or more hours and drop points on a map.

very cool stuff. kind of hard to read some of the charts, but once you get into it a bit its not bad.

having ability to go 29+ is what led me to the krampus. i was looking at going to a 29+ front on my fargo... and the krampus came up for a good price. i looked at the ECR too, which would be more fargo like, but i wanted the higher BB as my fargo was my main MTB.

You like those Jones much better?

Love the jones. But I don't have a Fargo any more. Moved to a Krampus and put a Rohloff on it. Dyno up front.

bmike, thanks for the response, and the photos.  I have the stock woodchipper bars. i like where you have the gps, forward on the stem, I'll try it.  No spot at this point, but not too concerned about it at this time.

I had the woodchipper on my Fargo. I used a problem solvers mount to get my light up above my stuff sack and harness.


cockpit on the fargo by mbeganyi, on Flickr

I carry a stubby craftsman 15mm wrench. Have had it since I built up a fixed gear CrossCheck, and then a Soma Juice SS / FG. Used bolt on hubs for both.
I could get something lighter, or more 'bike' specific, like the PDW one, etc.
But this works.

gotchile - i have a shimano dyno - was on my fargo now on my krampus. i have the usbwerk for charging a lime fuel battery or my exposure diablo light, as well as topping off the iPhone or running the garmin.

my exposure revo light is on its way back from the UK for warranty repair, when it gets back i'll be building a switch setup that diverts current from the light to the usbwerk (or all off) using this 3d printed housing that fits on my steerer tube.

for me, GPS rides on the stem, light on the jones loop. i may or may not run aero bars... have mounted them but just don't need them for 90% of my local riding (they will go on for a TD attempt at some point in the future...) - but i plan on making a bridge that connects the 2 aero arms and putting the gps or light up there.

Dyno Switch Housing v1 (minuteman sent me the wrong switch so I'm hoping they ship out new ones ASAP) by mbeganyi, on Flickr

dynoswitchschematic by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Untitled by mbeganyi, on Flickr

current cockpit (without the charging switch mounted up)

IMG_3867 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

(spot will ride elsewhere, put it on the bars temporarily)

That's a nice looking Fargo.

I sold mine (pictured above) so I could fund a Krampus.


Krampus in its Element by mbeganyi, on Flickr

I've since added a Rohloff.

Loving mine so far.

IMG_4022 by mbeganyi, on Flickr