Duran Duran

.....not the band, or doctor, but the bike.  Its pretty retro, even for a 29er, what with the curved stays, the down tube cable routing, the steep head angle, and 9 speed thumb shifters.  Hence the name.  This is the latest incarnation of the bike I first built with slightly updated geometry and some futuristic features like a tapered head tube and a direct mount front derailleur.  The plan is to make this into a new bike packer and add some load carrying ability, a super retro handlebar and fork, racks, a frame bag....you get the idea.  This one climbs like a space ship and for heavy biking that's the idea....Something that will find a line and keep the wheels planted as long as you can keep the pedals turning.  The BB is high to keep the pedals from clipping and the gearing is low to keep the legs spinning.  High and Tight.  Like a lot of my earlier bikes.

I like the horizontal dropouts for the adjustable wheel base with a load and for the ability to make a single speed if you wreck your derailleur in the middle of nowhere.  The low mount disc keeps rack mounting easy though I assure you fabricating and brazing that custom disc mount and compound bend chainstay is anything but.

The rack bosses are 6mm and are drilled clear through the stays and brazed on both sides for maximum thread contact.

I look forward to the evolution of this bicycle.  The first rides were great and this one is sure to see many miles.  Thanks for reading....

"......hungry like the wolf....."