For those of you who read "The postman's been" thread will know that I am now the proud owner of a Charge Cooker, the weight of which went up after transfering components from my 69er. Well yesterday I had ( ) to buy a new stem to get the bars at the right height/reach, then today my new 12/36 cassette turned up. Whilst fitting the new cassette I measured the chain and guess what, it needed replacing. Whilst I was at it I checked the BB bearings and yes, they needed replacing too. After fitting everything I went for a short road ride (all i'm going to manage until after the weekend due to having to go to London ) and I like it. Weight now, back to 29.8lbs but as Stu say's "don't worry about the weight, enjoy the ride". (Still want a lighter rear wheel though but that will have to wait).
As well as a shorter/lower stem I had to flip the Mary bars (feel more comfy now I reckon) to get the height I wanted, along with the Ergon grips and skinny straight tubes the bike ends up with a great retro look.

Are you going to put any pics up?? :D

Oh all right then. Here we go.

retro cooker 005 by youngray50, on Flickr

retro cooker 004 by youngray50, on Flickr

retro cooker 003 by youngray50, on Flickr

Are those bar-ends for assuming an aero-tuck

looks good ray! i reckon marys flipped are a nicer shape, just ended up too low on my 26er. I taped mine and you sort of get a position in the hooks

Have to say Ray, within the space of 24 hours your new bike has developed the 'I'm built for bikepacking' look really nicely

Wow very nice in deed + 1 on the marybars.

Looks ace, really tidy. What height is that fork? Looks even taller than the original Swift fork, I'm not surprised you needed a negative rise stem! I think I sold another 29er tonight...a rigid singlespeed 26er mate of mine borrowed my 29er up a sketchy climb...he couldn't believe how easily it got up there. The secret is out :D

pedalhead wrote: What height is that fork?

Axle to top of fork crown is 51cm. The medium (the one I have) and large frames are designed to take a 100mm travel fork if you should wish to fit one. Small frames 80mm.

Ray Young wrote:

pedalhead wrote: What height is that fork?

Axle to top of fork crown is 51cm. The medium (the one I have) and large frames are designed to take a 100mm travel fork if you should wish to fit one. Small frames 80mm.

Yeah quite tall for a rigid...original Swift fork was 485mm I think, the Niners I'm using are 470mm & it's fairly racey (which is my taste). Yours should make it nice & stable/comfy for bikepacking.

Looks very cool. Loving the upturned Mary bars. 8-)

hmmm maybe I should try a 29er front wheel in the inbred again