Klunker spare parts build

BartRidesEternal · Feb 7, 2023

Hey guys,

I have a mountainbike tour ride coming up. Its near my home (45min. drive) and will probably have around 500 -1500 riders, so pretty full/busy at the track.
There is a 35 kilometre ride and a 55 kilometre ride.

This track features quite some climbs for Dutch standards and fast, hard, stumpy, rooty descents that will take about 500 metres to a kilometre.

I am thinking about taking this bike, but to be honest never tried long fast descents with a coasterbrake only. Not scared to do so, but since the track is quite full with regular mountainbikers, that makes me a tad bit nervous. Coasterbrake only klunkers are not well known here. I'll be sure to take some space from other riders.
Anyone with tips and/or experience? :crazy2:

MattiThundrrr · Feb 7, 2023

BartRidesEternal said:
I am thinking about taking this bike, but to be honest never tried long fast descents with a coasterbrake only. Not scared to do so, but since the track is quite full with regular mountainbikers, that makes me a tad bit nervous. Coasterbrake only klunkers are not well known here. I'll be sure to take some space from other riders.
Anyone with tips and/or experience

You need to practice with the brakes. Take some time to learn to modulate, it's pretty easy to lock up a coaster and then you have less control. Plus, skidding on the trail caused wear and erosion that will get you in trouble with the locals. Another thing to think about is foot position. There's a thought process with the coasters, you need to get your feet in the right position before you get to an obstacle, there's no back pedaling to set em up

BartRidesEternal · Feb 7, 2023

MattiThundrrr said:
You need to practice with the brakes. Take some time to learn to modulate, it's pretty easy to lock up a coaster and then you have less control. Plus, skidding on the trail caused wear and erosion that will get you in trouble with the locals. Another thing to think about is foot position. There's a thought process with the coasters, you need to get your feet in the right position before you get to an obstacle, there's no back pedaling to set em up

Thanks Matti,
Luckily I already have quite some experience with these hubs on singletracks.
I just read Paul's 'Coaster Brake Challenge' experience page. I read 4 mile descents on there :crazy2:

That is soothing to read.
Link to Paul's page

JA331 · Feb 8, 2023

Really nice build. I have an Electra first year Ratrod with the same frame. Great riding bike spoiled by the springer. I plan to swap it with a rigid fork fork soon.

Decent high temp grease will improve the performance of your coaster brake a little.

BartRidesEternal · Feb 8, 2023

JA331 said:
Really nice build. I have an Electra first year Ratrod with the same frame. Great riding bike spoiled by the springer. I plan to swap it with a rigid fork fork soon.

Decent high temp grease will improve the performance of your coaster brake a little.

Thanks JA, that is what I did in preparation.
I added a spare rear axle nut, tensioned the chain and added a large washer. She's done.

BartRidesEternal · Feb 12, 2023

I ordered a spare tube and some green bar end plugs to finish the bike before the Mountainbike Event today.
I chose the 35 kilometre (22 miles) route.
This was a lot of fun!!
It was actually on the limit on climbing. Many mountainbikers had to dismount with 1x12 gearing and there I passed with my singlespeed

Climbing was not steep, but long and there were many climbs, so at the end, after 18 long climbing sessions my legs became like porridge and did not want more. I succeeded the last four without dismounting/walking and finished with an average time in the field of about 1000 riders.

There were some technical issues. After 5 kilometre, my new chain stretched and fell off at a shaky/rooty section.
And I had to tighten the headtube/fork twice. I came loose after all that rooty shaking bits.

The best parts were the 'clean' downhill sections. There was one piece where you go down really hard, a piece without roots or bumps but with waves of elevation changes, a real rollercoaster. Speed was about 55km/h there.

Awesome ride, bike and people were very interested in the bike.