The Karate Monkey is one of my oldest bikes, and has seen many incarnations. This version is set up fully rigid and single speed, with O.G. quad-piston XT disc brakes and Titec Jones H-Bars.
Housed at my mom's place in Vermont, this is the ultimate back country road bike. There's not really any singletrack in my mom's neck of the woods, but there are plenty of roads that go from paved to dirt to a rocky, muddy mess, and these paths are the favorite of the Karate Monkey. Twenty-nine inch wheels roll through disgusting mud puddles and over large boulders, while the single speed drivetrain cares little for all the grime that comes along with springtime in Vermont. This bike is a lot more fun going up than going down, and I can really use my limited trials skills to slowly pick my way up treacherous roads.
Gearing right now is a comfortable 32x20. This can make flat areas pretty frustrating as it is easy to spin out on this gear, but there really are not too many flat spots around here. There are a couple of roads I would like to tackle that are too steep and messy to tackle in even this gear, but the simplicity and reliability more than make up for the limitations of the single speed.
This bike encourages a mindful riding style: calm, present, and patient. Perfect for the beautiful backcountry of southern Vermont!
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