Hey all, looking to get a custom frame with Marino built up. This is inspired by the Surly Ogre, which I love. Bike would primarily be used for dirt roads with occasional singletrack. Dirt roads everywhere from really easy to chunky jeep/atv roads. Same stuff my Ogre saw with no issues.
A couple things that differ from the Ogre are larger tire clearance, 2x routing just in case I ever want another chainring, the seattube gusset will be long enough to use as a handle (wondering if I should eliminate the gusset entirely and have a taller top tube for a larger framebag, how necesasary is it if I won't have much seatpost exposed?), longer chainstays for additional clearance and a more comfortable ride (also debating this, he said I can go 440-455mm and still have 3" clearance. Its currently 455-470mm, I've never ridden that long of a chainstay), 1° slacker headtube.
Is anything very obvious that I need to change? Ive asked Marino a few of these questions but I think they are mostly there to build what you want and don't really answer questions that can vary by rider preferences. They've been very responsive about the build overall.
Thanks for any help!
by algu3632
1 Comment
So,
1. Re: the top tube height vs. the gusset, your intended usage is what probably matters the most. If you’re not planning to run a dropper post and do MTB trails when you’re not loaded up with bags, I don’t see much benefit to the lower top tube (but is the one on the Ogre really ‘low’? Ehhh). I think an inch or two higher and no gusset would be a really valuable addition of frame bag volume.
2. Re: chainstay length, I’m repeating theory more than speaking from experience here, but I have fooled around with a 445mm chainstay 29er side by side with a 460mm chainstay fat bike and it confirmed the theory, so: the shorter you can get it, the more you’ll be able to pick up the front end of the bike preemptively for obstacles, do the occasional manual to show off, and otherwise take weight off the front end for technical riding purposes. The longer you make it, the worse it is at all of that, but it will feel more stable (but, slightly worse traction than short chainstay on REALLY loose stuff) for climbing, and the ‘teeter-totter’ing of the bike will absorb impacts to the rear tire better than with a shorter chainstay. I’d go long if you want a more stable off-pavement touring platform, as short as fits if you want a more capable-feeling trail bike which happens to be able to carry all your stuff with you on the trail (and the road to the trail, and the road to that road, etc.).
3. I don’t see anything to change.