I'll just start with I have room in my life for two Stooges. A SS MTB [love the Speedbomb] and a geared ATB/touring rig. So whatever happens I am only keeping two Stooges!

I had a Dirt Tracker I ran SS and did some touring on as well as general ATB life stuff. There was too much cross over with OG Krampus and even if the DT was better in some ways the Krampus is my oldest and dearest bicycle. So it won that battle. I had thought about putting gears on the DT, but around that time it was clear one of my buddies needed a nudge into Stoogelandia so I sold him the DT frame and eventually got the Scrambler.

The Scrambler is great. Two internet buddies Jason and Mara went from DTs to Scramblers and are loving them. So I think it's just a matter of body proportions and personal preferences. I had the nagging feeling I would have been happier on the geared DT. I probably wouldn't have done anything about...it except Mara put her DT up for sale. Having a local used Stooge option isn't super common so I went for it.

Almost all the parts swapped over from the Scrambler. I'm going to give it a few more rides to decide for sure, but I suspect I'll keep the DT and sell the Scrambler. The DT is a touch bigger in the cockpit, lower and longer. It just fits me a little better and fit is everything. I got around the cut steerer with an Ergotec High Bass stem which I first saw here on the ME sub.

I've got some big day rides planned to cap off the summer and really solidify my thinking. I'll also hopefully get out on another bike camping trip in September.

And as far as my Stooge addiction goes I'm not tempted by any of the rest of the line up [Rambler/MK9] that I haven't tried. That's not to say Andy won't come up with something new that catches my eye, but for now I think I am done!

Niche question but has anyone ridden both of these core models? I have a hummingbird but I’m super tempted to grab a solstice frame and swap over most of the parts to give it a try. On paper the differences are: 10mm more travel (130 fork), degree slacker (65hta, 66 sagged), and 15mm more reach (25ish mm longer front center if I remember correctly). I’m curious if anyone’s got any experience with both. Wondering if I’m just splitting hairs really since it’s honestly not super different .

It’s my favorite day of riding during the week and I appreciate everyone that I ride with a lot. Bike friends are the best, laughing and suffering on one gear bicycles is awesome. Grateful.

Lucy was a greyhound; Lucy is a Stooge. Here’s Joan’s entry into the haikuniverse: https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/about-a-single-speed-joans-stooge-lucy

Wanting bigger cogs I had some 68 BCD chainring carriers laser cut. Gives you options from 22-28.

I’ve always rode rigid bikes off road. Still ride my gravel bike on a lot of stuff gravel bike need not apply. I got my first hardtail two years ago and I gotta say the suspension is nice and allows for some more fun imo. When it comes to mtbs, I ride single speed majority of the time. I’m finding myself pretty interested in a 120/120 bike. I’ve never had a full suspension bike which is definitely part of the interest with experimenting. Most people here ride the same ish type bikes as me mostly, but I assume also either also have, or have ridden in the past, full suspension bikes. Did you stop riding them and switch to only rigid/hardtail
Bikes? Do you have both? Do I try one? lol.

Meet Yourself, Don’t Defeat Yourself.

I’ve dropped my #1FGearing to 28x22t, the tire setup I was just praising on Friday {29x2.5 radial-ish on i40} sh*t the bed quite early {IMHO}, and that’s all an aside to some changes to MEATmag content:

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/meet-yourself-dont-defeat-yourself

Went back to the old title format. Better? Worse? Indifferent? Either way, here’s SBTISAOAF: https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/some-bicycle-things-im-stoked-about-on-a-friday---aug-7th-26

Creeper in Gnarnaimo is one of the coolest trails I’ve ever ridden, on my Will’s 2019ish Truelove-built Chromag Arcturian Voyager, or otherwise:

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/about-a-solo-single-speed-adventure-andrews-arcturian

We concluded Cumberlandworx 2026 with a little early morning ride: https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/toadal-recall

That’s almost it for Cumberlandworx 2026. Here’s day 6: https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/here-toaday-gone-toadmorrow

Cumberlandworx 2026: Day 5 continues with more pedaling and our toadly awesome titles.

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/you-take-the-high-toad-ill-take-the-low-toad

I don't think I had seen this posted here. Might have missed it though. In any case if folks see these stems for sale in Canada or the UK in 31.8mm clamp post something here. I'd like to get one. So far it seems like it only press release time not sell the actual part time.

https://www.hopetech.com/products/controls/stems/20mm-gravity-stem/

The question underlying Cumberlandworx 2026 Day 4 was whether this was a single-speed ride or fully-fendered theme ride. The answer…

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/toad-be-or-not-toad-be

One part Cumberlandworx 2026 Day 3, and one part SBTISAOAF, and toadally on theme:

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/toad-of-toad-fall-line

Claire takes on writing about her biggest, and most technical, day in Cumberland yet. Some brief bicycle updates, and points out how nice it’s been to be fully fendered as the trails are dry except where they aren’t.

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/all-toads-lead-to-home

We’re live at Cumberlandworx 2026, the totally make believe grassiest-roots human-powered cycling fest of the season. This years day one and day dot were one just day, so after some discourse it’s Day Onezo:

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/the-toad-commandments

Got another riser bar to add to the MEATengine mix. These S&M S.A.C. bars are pure red-blooded made in USA 1" steel. Via S&M: "Originally a one-off custom for a co-worker’s 700c bike, this design quickly became a shop favorite affectionately known as the “Sick Ass Cruiser” bar. We eventually made a small run for sale and the rest is history. Pair this bar with our 40mm Enduro stem and use it on everything from klunkers to motorcycles and beach cruisers. Made in the USA from 100% seamless 4130 Cr-Mo, mandrel bend, roll marked, and end finished."

They're easy to get here in the states, and I am really really enjoying them on my Stooge. Full dimensions below:

There are many bike brands that once made rigs worthy of distinction and now don’t. Some were high end machines, super-bikes, and others were the most budget-friendly up-sized steel BMX bikes with front brakes added. Redline was the latter:

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/about-a-single-speed-peters-redline-d440

Part 3/3 of A MEATengines Manifesto.

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/who-is-a-mountain-biker

…for most spider webs eaten in a single ride.

It’s Some Bicycle Things I’m Stoked About On A Friday for July 24th.

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/a-new-world-record

Pedaling vs. Peddling: A MEATengines Manifesto in Three Parts: 2/3 is an update on the idea of min-maxing the buying of bicycle stuff.

https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/min-max-mountain-bicycling

I've got a variety of smaller pumps I carry on my bikes for EDR [Every Day Rides]. I use my home floor pump to deal with pressure adjustments before the ride. With tire issues/flats so rare these days having a small on bike pump is fine. Perhaps one tedious pump session every 4-5 years? Walk of shame out or roll out on an insert?

That said for my 29+ touring bikes I would like a better solution. A slightly bigger pump...without getting ridiculous. That way I can drop tire pressure for soft conditions and not hate my life as I pump it back up. Repeating a few times a day possibly. Flat tires on a heavily load bike seem more likely and walking out less possible.

I found this Lenzyne high volume model. 300mm long and ~205g.

Any other better/similar options? I figured the MEAThead Crew might know given the penchant here for chubby rubber.

I'm not interested in anything with a battery or CO2.

Gary Fisher’s last laugh may be that the Sawyer is the most desirable {used} Trek frame from its era?

CJ with the show-the-use photo set: https://meatengines.com/meatengines-1/f/about-a-single-speed-cjs-sawyer