Earlier this past winter I picked up a Trek Farley 7. I was fully expecting to replace my Trek Rail 7 Gen 2 EMTB as a “quiver killer” or “N” bike (I get confused by the TERMINOLOGY). Basically I was expecting that the Farley Fat Bike, with the addition of a 2 ADDITIONAL sets of wheels (29+ MTB wheels/tires and some skinny gravel wheels/tires) as well as the ridgid fork with both of the available front and rear racks, I could have one bike that could serve all my purposes.
in theory, this was a great idea. After riding this all winter, I realized the REALITY. I am not equipped to be able to keep up with my riding partners in the new england woods. I have gotten stronger, although I still suffer from mild asthma which kicks in on INTENSE climbs. Although, the biggest issue was the back pain from the lack of rear suspension. Once I got back onto my full-suspension bike, I REALIZED I simply COULDN’T go back to a hardtail for woods riding. I had to rethink my strategy…
I was going about this all wrong. I needed to consider two bikes. One for the rocky, root-infested new england woods, and another for longer smooth-surface rides, with the ability to do mild off road tracks as well.
The Trek Farley went to live with it’s new happy owner in Massachusetts, and I purchased this All-City Gorilla Monsoon Apex build in size 49cm. As with any new bike, there is always some things to be done. I IMMEDIATELY installed a widefoot liter-cage to hold my large stainless water bottle. To ease my wrist pain, I also installed a Shockstop stem (ugly but useful). As expected, the bike was converted from tubes to tubeless. It came with a 50mm dropper post (hilariously short throw) which I deemed useless. I saw that Thomson had the Covert Dropper on sale so I got one in 100mm drop. The 100mm travel is/was the perfect amount of travel for me with the post seated all the way down in the frame while using the stock saddle. I also installed the raceface Atlas pedals I had on the Trek fat-bike.
I made the mistake of riding a friends gravel bike with a well broken-in Brooks leather saddle, and I couldn’t go back. I found that Brooks made a limited-editon dark-Green saddle about 10 years ago. I obviously was unable to find one available anywhere, but if theres one thing I learned in life is that if you are patient enough, you’ll find what you are looking for. All winter I kept an eye on facebook marketplace, and eventually one popped up in Maryland: a B17 Special Editon in dark green, new with a cover as well. All this, Shipped to me for half the price of a new one. I am happy it found me…
This is how the bike stands now. Unlike my Trek Rail electric MTB, I don’t see this as an appliance but as an ever evolving item. I think of this bike similarly to my Red-Wing leather boots: tough and uncomfortable at first, but the more miles that are racked up, the more It will change and adjust.
The taller saddle requires me to drop the dropper post about 10mm or so to be comfy. Since I am only 5’7″ I have been wanting to go with short cranks, and transitioning from a 170mm to a 160mm crank will most likely be a fun experiment, as well as solve the taller seat issue. A new dropper lever from Paul will solve my hatred of the stock unit digging into my left thumb.
Mountain biking has been a social event for me mostly: getting TOGETHER with the group I ride with, riding mostly the same places every week which I really enjoy. Usually one night a week we loop into a ride to a brewery. Riding this has been a DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE: A process of leaving from my house, alone, and wandering down local desolate roads and trails, Stopping for pictures and checking things out (similr to how I ride my motorcycle). I can’t wait to rack up many more miles wandering around aimlessly on this all summer.
Thanks for being here…
Tim Guertin 