Sitting here with family just after Christmas talking about bike stuff and my Twin is watching. He was thinking about a Surly Ogre and now I think you have him convinced it's the bike for him.
It is a cracker. A couple of years in I'm still really pleased with it and always happy to take it out. Its my adventure bike and my primary mode of transport so I make it work hard too! Only thing I've changed since I made this video is adding an extra tooth to the rear sprocket and adding an adjustable stem because I like riding upright. Happy to (try and) answer specific questions if you have any. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
Hi Jethro! Have to put you in my list mate ... You are officially one of my inspirations. Along with others ive watched since just before lockdown. I used to be a 100% road bike fanatic. I did a couple of good long rides from London to Rome for charity 5 years ago now. Both rides were fully supported and it made me look into doing my own unsupported rides. Watching you and others on TH-cam gave me all the info i needed to start myself. So. i bought myself a Salsa Blackborow 1 fat bike. Full 4 pannier setup and now ive bought most of my gear. 3 weeks ago i did my first bike tour from West London down to Cornwall over a long weekend. Camped in the new forest and on Dartmoor and loved every minute of it. Now ive just finished planning a route on a lap of the UK on coast roads and bike paths. I wanted to say thankyou for you videos and thereby your inspiration to get into this new (for me) type of riding. Actually thinking of selling the road bike now!!
Wow! I honestly could not ask for a better comment than that. I'm always pleased to hear of people going off on bike adventures and if my rambling videos had any part in helping you along the way then I am incredibly chuffed! I'm sure road cycling has its good points but for me - especially here in the UK - there seems to be so much more to gain from getting off the beaten track, smelling the forest after the rain, sitting by your tent with a coffee and watching the morning. I love that life and really hope you continue to love it too! Keep me posted of any trips you plan so I can follow along. Are you on strava or instagram?
@@JethroJessop Yep im on both, Not used Instagram much at all since ive been on it but ill stick some photos up tonight of that Cornwall ride. Im on facebook as well .. That first ride ive just done really has completely changed my view on riding now. I actually had no interest in camping WHATSOEVER! id never camped anywhere ever in my life until 3 weeks ago!!! Ill be 50 in Feb! If im honest i was a little scared of diving into the New Forest and wildcamping. But i slept like a log. I didnt even get up that early the next day! Then day 3 down to Dartmoor really opened my eyes on how this type of riding is completely different than roadbiking. I was on disused railways. Gravel paths leading straight into farms in the middle of nowhere. I even rode some off road around the top of Dartmoor on a river bank from Dunsford to Chagford off the advice of a guy i met who loved the fat bike. Then met another guy who walked up to me when i was setting up camp on Dartmoor saying he was just about to set off on his first tour in Wales on his fat bike and that i was an inspiration to HIM hahaha! . Then all the little country roads and trails through Cornwall to St Austell. Honestly i came back home to London and just started planning the next trip! Its a very long story but i actually should be off around the world as i write this but obviously Corona virus has killed that little dream for the foreseeable. But yep, like i say, You are one of id say 5 different people ive viewed a lot of last and this year and i can honestly say hand on heart if i hadn't have watched any videos of you guys doing this i wouldnt have gone myself. So thanks again mate, looking forward to seeing more vids!
@@mickclaridge2784 Well, I'm genuinely happy to hear that. I followed you on Instagram and will look out for pics. I'd say one of the things that I love most about bikepacking is that it allows you to explore your own country in a really detailed way. You can go almost anywhere you could on foot but also cover some real distance. Much as it is amazing to travel the world and see exotic foreign places, you can have just as great an adventure at home if you have the right perspective. You said you were in London? I can highly recommend South Wales for short trips - easy to get to by train and bloody amazing riding.
Thank you, I'm very happy it was helpful. The bike is still going strong and I am still loving it. Still dreaming of future rides and planning little adventures.
Awesome review and now I’m leaning to the Rohloff on my surly Ogre build ! I am 62 and have been riding bike most of my life and had never herd of Rohloff but now its on great video and informative keep them coming and happy trails….
Glad you enjoyed it. I'm still loving the Rohloff I have to say. It might be heavy and expensive but the simplicity and low maintenance is great. I've done two oil changes and swapped the sprocket and beyond that it just does its job. I just got a new set of cables as the housing on mine has taken a beating. I'm riding the Badger Divide in May from Inverness to Glasgow so I'm starting to get all my hardware in order ahead of that 😉
We built the same bike! I have a black ogre with rohloff, same bars, same bags... nice rig! I love mine and have done a few thousand miles on it in the Sierra Nevada in the last few years.
It is a beautiful beast isn't it! I love mine and I regret none of my choices. Its a super comfy ride, the Rohloff is fantastic and the Molokos are great. I'm happy that it will be the last bike i buy for a good long time. Happy riding to you and thanks for watching
I'm very happy with it. Wish I could spend more time living on it ;) That spike was nuts. I still have it in a jar on my desk and it remains the only time I've had a puncture since I started running tubeless which is pretty good going
@@JethroJessop yeah, I'd keep a hold of that thing for sure. I got a flat once that took a core sample out of my rear tire, which was a very stout flat proof tire. Whatever it was stuck in my tire and slapped into my rear triangle a few rotations before finally coming out. I never could find it, but it left a 5mm hole in my tire and tube! I decided I'm buying an Ogre myself after watching a few videos, particularly yours. Good fortune to you!
@@BeSatori Wow, mystery flat :) A biggy too! You won't regret the Ogre I don't think, it's a great bike and very comfy to ride. Hope it will take you on some grand adventures. Cheers for watching. Really pleased that you have found the videos useful.
@@davidp7414 I was lucky and got all my building done a few months before the world fell apart. The only compromise I made was getting the black frame when I'd quite liked the look of the old red one. I'm actually glad now though - I like the black :)
It's a great bike! I absolutely love it. I actually went back to my old Lapierre Zesty for a weekend at a trail centre recently and it felt so twitchy and delicate after the Ogre. I'm sold on the big, comfy tractor :)
Subscribed the first time I watched one of your postings. You really are great on the camera. Fun to listen to and great reviews and comments. Well done!
Very kind of you to say so, thank you. There are definitely folk out there with more experience and deeper knowledge of these subjects than me but I try to be honest and not to take it all too seriously. It is after all something we all do for fun. Really glad you enjoy the vids and I very much appreciate the support. New vids coming soon which I hope you also enjoy.
"Well, that's groovy". I love it. I was headed toward very similar Ogre layout, from Roloff to 27.5, for high plains drifting in US. My dedicated winter bike is an 80's MTB with an 8 speed internal, so I have already there in conversion away from derailleurs. Current drifter won't make the leap so it is 2022 for the project.
You gotta have projects lined up, that's what is all about! I'm only able to have a single bike as I have no space to keep any more. The Ogre is only ride and I love it in every situation. Good luck with yours hope it all comes together just how you want it 🙂
@Michael H A year later from my comment, and I have gone all in on my BC for dirt touring. And Surly did slim their line-up a bit and came out with a drop bar. Daughter bought a Troll (2019) frame she wants Dad to build out.
I only knew about them because I met a German chap years and years ago who had one on a mountain bike. After that the name slipped from my mind for years until I started frequenting bikepacking.com. It's surprising how unknown they are outside a certain subset of tourers - I suppose just because they are fairly heavy and fairly expensive so only a fit for situations. I love it though :)
Thank you! I'm really glad that you enjoy the videos and I appreciate the kind words very much. Hopefully I'll upload more soon. I have a few video ideas in the back of my head. Really though I just want to get out on another long tour though I'm not sure if it will happen for a while yet. We shall see.
I enjoyed it, ...nice bike and forest. You have great mechanic skills. Interesting rear hub choice. I'm gravitating towards single speeds to minimized the BS you described. Cheers from the US.
Numpty is a great word 😉 I Googled it and the etymology is unclear, probably Scottish. Glad you liked the vid, hopefully it was useful in some way and yeah, I bloody love the Rohloff, I won't be switching back any time soon
@@JethroJessop I’m actually taking a very hard look at the priority 600 which features a pinion gear box w a 800% gear range. I popped for a brooks c17 and spent five days on it during a recent trip. Love it. No saddle soreness whatsoever.
@@craiglycke6170 I met a chap in Denmark who was touring with a pinion and he raced about it. It had taken over a fair few mountains from he told me. I'd love to try one but don't think I'd have the courage to pull the trigger on one without getting a fair few miles in on it first. Let me know how you get on 😉
Your support is very much appreciated thank you. And if you have any gold nuggets that you don't need... you know, just kicking around, then I'll happily accept them too ;)
Great review. I’m planning to build up an Ogre this spring with an Alfine 11 and a dynamo. Quite excited and was happy to find someone with a very similar setup and positive reaction. Cheers from Minnesota!
Hey thanks, glad you liked video. I don't think you'll regret the choice of an Ogre. Even after the best part of a year I still jump on mine and have a little moment when I realise all over again what a nice bike it is to ride. Good luck with the build, I hope brings you many happy miles :)
Have you been hacking into my Video Ideas files?? I had a whole series of Reviews of Cereal Crops planned. Ah well, the element of surprise is lost now so I guess I'll ditch that. More bike videos it is I suppose. Cheers for watching, I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video. I'll try to keep churning them out
Really enjoyed that, thanks. Taking delivery of my Ogre in May, will adapt and change it over time, live in Snowdonia, so first thing is to change the rear cassette, will be looking at Rohloff in the future. Cheers
Snowdonia is the perfect environment for an Ogre! I've done a few rides in South Wales but haven't really ridden much further north. It's on my list though - some amazing country round there, you are lucky. Hope the bike arrives on time and I'm glad you enjoyed the vid :)
LBW. Great review. As you said I think you nailed it. Great bike. I can see why you are pleased with it. I have a Troll with Rolloff hub. Do the 3" tyres roll quite well on tarmac? I guess they come into their own on trails off road. I have thought about trying the Moloko bars but have never got round to it. One thing you might consider to make life even easier for you and your bike is a Hebie Chainglider to keep the chain totally clean and increase longevity. They're about £30-35 from SJS or Rose Bikes or Bike24. You need the Rohloff one. It keeps the chain very clean and crud off it. Re : tools. You must need a spanner for the Rohloff and OEM2 torque bar nut and bolt to undo them to get the Rohloff hub out if you have a puncture or adjust chain tension? I carry a small adjustable spanner and a small 8/10mm spanner plus chain link pliers, multi-tool and tyre levers, that's all. Me too dreaming of all those tours I could do, but CV has put a stop to unfettered cycle touring. I might be able to stretch standing you some McNuggets but sadly not gold nuggets. Thanks for making.
@@JethroJessop I just edited my post above you might want to re-read it or not ... Yes a longer tour before the summer is out. I am thinking maybe the Pennine Cycle Way and Great North Trail.
@@alexmorgan3435 Pennine Way is on my list as well. One day... The 3" tyres are fine on tarmac as long as the pressure is kept up otherwise they do start to sing a bit. They are not the best tyres I've ever ridden but they are fine for now. I have been recommended the Chainglider before but have never really checked it out properly - I'll look into it. Always interested in new gear :) Tools-wise the Rohloff just needs a 10mm (I think - maybe 15??) spanner. The torque nut is attached to the frame and slots into the hub arm so need to touch it when removing the wheel. As long as you remember to line it up when you put it back on. No worries about the gold nuggets. I'll just have to keep working for a living like everyone else :)
Glad you liked it. I'm just editing a revisit of the bike after a couple of years and the few things that have changed since this first review. Keep your eyes peeled on the channel in the next few days! Spoiler alert, I still love this bike and if you did get one you would not regret it :)
Thank you for your detailed and a little bit emotional review. Honestly you saying absolutely truly and logically things about every aspect of your bike and I'm agreed with almost all of your thoughts. It's just like me thinking on my own how's proper bike and proper bike setup has to be. Your review very different than others, you have real experience and sharing it in a calm manner. Thank you for your video. It was lucky to find it.
Thank you, I'm glad you liked the vid. I'm not an expert in all aspects of bikes so all I have is my personal opinion and experience. Hopefully that is useful to someone! Thanks for watching.
That's great! I'm very pleased to hear that. If I can have a hand in anyone enjoying an adventure then that makes me happy. What have you been up to? Let's hope next year brings many more.
@@JethroJessop We've explored a lot of Epping Forest with our teenage sons. One of them has also joined a local cycle club and we're planning and training for a tour from London to Cornwall in the next couple of years.
@@heatherw4100 sounds great. I actually rode in Epping forest just before lockdown with a friend who lives round there. I was really surprised by how wild it feels and how easy it was to get there from proper town. A really great place to be close to.
I'm thinking of building an ogre and I have thought about the same hub set up ! So good to hear and I learned a bit , I didn't know that the rollof hub needed a specific crank set for the chain line
It doesn't need a specific one as much as it needs one that has the correct chain line. There are options but not every set will work. I've heard of people using a single ring from certain 3X sets and also there are spacers that will help. In my case I got a bit overwhelmed trying to work out which sets would work and then I came across the middleburn stuff. Made in the UK, specifically designed to do the job, well reviewed. I'd be interested to hear what you go for in the end. Hope your build works out, keep me posted!
Love the setup with the rohloff. I would also match it up with a gates carbon belt drive, but the surly frame won’t allow as I understand. Would like feedback on this please if someone knows.
I've not looked deeply into belt drive. I know some swear by them but it all seemed a bit daunting to me. As you say, it also limits your choice of frames as you need a splitter to install the belt (I think). I heard of people who had split frames themselves to do this but I can't imagine fully trusting it afterwards. I've never really found running a chain drive to be a problem and they are pretty easy to maintain and fix so I'll most likely stick with it.
Just subscribed to your channel & am enjoying the ride! I don't like derailleurs & hydraulic brakes either. Really appreciated hearing your thoughts, thanks.
End of 2019? Well They did the updates to the frame in 2017 and new version was called the 2018 model. So 2018 and forward I don't think there were major changes to the frame. Spec is often changing and I wouldn't worry with the FOMO (fear of missing out). Besides, you're Ogrehoffed with a dynamo! Ogre still lives on while Troll, Pugsley, and ECR which had the same dropouts were discontinued. Have you tried Gravelking SK's for tires? They come in 27.5 TRP Spykes with bigger rotors and a higher grade pad are a perfect match. Alpha Cycling have an Ex Plus grade of brake pad that is copper + resin. Quiet and strong. It's on the ali ex shopping site. Surly forks are great, you can usually thread Dynamo wiring into the fork blade and bring it out inside the crown and up to a USB stem adapter or other.
Some top tips to look into there, thank you! I've taken notes and will be investigating. I'm set for tyres for a while but I need new brake pads pretty soon so thanks for the heads up 😀
Great review--funny and informative. Just ordered a Surly Krampus. Wish I had the scratch for a Rohloff, but the 1 X 12 will have to do. Keep the faith!
Cheers buddy, glad you liked it. The Rohloff is great but it cost the same as my whole previous bike and did take a while to get the courage to pull the trigger. I also looked at the krampus for a bit but settled on the ogre and am very happy. Hope yours works out for you, do you have to wait ages for it to arrive?
Also. The Paul Klampers mechanical disc brakes are king. Couldn’t put on rear of my Trek 1120. Front fit fine. I will find a bike that will run both and a Rohloff hub one day !
Not come across them. I will check them out. The Spykes are great but not without their downsides so if I were to redo the brakes I'd be shopping around to see what else is out there for sure
Curious why you were looking for a bike with horizontal dropouts, they give me the uneasy feeling that the rear wheel is gonna fly off at any minute. Regardless, can't wait for my ogre frame to arrive and just ogling at other peoples' till it shows up. Also who manufactured the cargo cages that you're using?
The horizontal dropouts were for the Rohloff and keeping chain tension. I was pretty uneasy about it as well at first having never experienced it before but its fine and hasn't caused me any problems so far. The cargo cages were the old Salsa design and they were rubbish. All the welds cracked and they fell apart completely. I finished my Pennine Bridleway ride with them just held in place by voile straps. That design has been retired now and the new one is apparently solid but I use Tailfin mounting plates now. The Ogre is great though, I love it and I hope you enjoy yours just as much :)
Have you considered the surly bridge club? I'm considering a rig like yours, but I'm kind of split between the ogre and the bridge club. Do you have any input?
I'm afraid not. I looked at the troll and the ogre but beyond them I was considering other brands - Bombtrack, Tumbleweed etc And I'm really not good at getting caught up in the small details of frame geometry and all that. There were several small reasons for me choosing the ogre (many of which i can no longer remember) but it was also in a large part just me getting bored with shopping and that being the one that was in my hands at the time 😉 Sorry, I'm rubbish with questions about gear if it isn't gear I actually own.
I have a bridge club, it looks fairly similar to this ogre but not sure it can go up to 3" tyres. I use mine mainly for shopping, large loads in the panniers and its awesome at that, on or off road. It's been round some trail centres and some really dicy Welsh trails made from gravel, huge slippery rocks at crazy gradients . It's responsive, has a high bottom bracket to belp not smack pedals off things and is pretty much bomb proof. In general it's a fun bike and can handle anything my fairly limited cycling skill would want to attempt.
Interesting that you choose a Surly, which is known for its heaviness and powered paint method. I wondered if you considered a Pinion Gearbox. And if you did, why you opted for the Rohloff.
I've never been much of a one for worrying about weight. I was looking for comfort, simplicity, reliability and lots of options for attaching bags and the Surly delivers on all those points. I briefly looked at Pinion after meeting a few people with them when I rode in Denmark but it just seemed like you limit yourself to small subset of frames where the Rohloff can be built into pretty much anything. I could have spent the rest of my life researching bike components but after a while I just had to make a decision and I'm super happy with how it turned out 😁
Thank you! Glad you liked it. I just finished a hard week riding the Pennine Bridleway so have really given the bike a beating. Still bloody love it. The breaks do need more attention than hydraulics but I'm very happy with all my choices
Get maxxis dhf for front and rear. Great tires. The Ogre is the only bike I regret parting with. Built mine from frame. Sad I sold it. I have Jones LWB plus and Trek 1120. Both good bikes. $6000 into Trek 1120 build but it’s not the ultimate bikepacker !
Cheers for the tyre recs, I'll look into them. Will need a new set for the summer possibly so all suggestions gratefully received. I'd be sad to see my Ogre go. I can't think what I'd replace it with that would be better.
I'm seriously considering the Ogre as my next bike. I currently ride an HPV Gekko 26 recumbent trike around Southern California, mainly due to the comfortable ride..even without suspension. But since I'm losing weight and getting stronger I'm now considering adding a 2nd bike...mainly because it's easier to travel with on the train, plane or bus when needed. Trikes are difficult to travel with on public transit....you have to break it down to the frame then put everything into the largest cardboard box allowed to ship it which is expensive. I've signed up to take a 12 week bike maintenance course this fall so I will have the knowledge to maintain my bikes. Should I just buy the stock bike and ride it till parts break or just get the frame & fork and then buy the parts i want to make it fit my needs...hate to waste parts and money.
I watched two chaps trying to get trikes onto a train in Sweden only recently and it did indeed look like a lot of hassle compared to a standard bike. I think building your own setup from parts is a great learning experience but unless you have some very specific requirements that you are already sure of then it might not gain you very much else. I think the Ogre comes fairly well specced if you buy it off the shelf so I doubt you'll miss out on much. I only built my own because I knew I wanted the Rohloff hub and some non standard bars so it made sense. I guess if you get into your maintenance course and really enjoy it then a from-scratch build would be a great way to follow up on it and solidify the skills you pick up.
I am a fellow tubeless rider. I have struggled though to find some durable touring tires that last through mixed surfaces of gravel and tarmac. Have gone through Bontrager xr1 which just shed its rubber on the road it seems. Then I went on to Scwhalbe Allround tires and they were great but I seriously doubt that they are truly tubeless even though it says tubeless easy on the box. Went through 3 tires in a few weeks where the sealant just seeped through without sealing anything, and the holes were best described as microfissures. Rolled fantastic but needed work on the tubeless aspect. Tried 4 different types of sealants on them, but none worked effectively. Now I am running Continental Race Kings and they are truly tubeless and comfy to ride on but they do not roll as well as the schwalbe tires did, but I would sacrifice that for the tubeless system. I do notice however that they are not very durable. Would like to see them get past the 1500 km mark. It would be great to see touring tire, which is truly tubeless that rivals the durability of the Schwalbe Supremes but comes in a 29"x2.2" and is meant for mixed surfaces.
These Chronicles seem good from a durability point of view (though I've not done vast distances on them yet) and they roll well enough on tarmac at higher pressure but are just not great for traction in the wet. On my old (standard tube) bike I had Schwalbe Marathon Mondials and they were brilliant but I don't know if they come tubeless ready. It seems to be some kind of ironic comment on modern, capitalist life that the choice of tyres out there is now so big that it is almost impossible to find what you want :)
@@JethroJessop yep the choices for that size come mainly from mtb tires, the problem is figuring out which are durable and roll well on tarmac and gravel without shedding half the rubber on the road. It is also an indication on how the market thrives. Never invent a product that has a super long shelf life as you want repeat customers. Better to make a tire that lasts at most a 1000km and have the customer buy it again repeatedly instead of making a tire that lasts a lot longer.
Although they are Enduro tires, the Vittoria Martellos have been quite capable tires. Sturdy and long-wearing, surprisingly decent on the tarmac, and the reenforced sidewalls allow you to run lower pressures safely and/or add additional dampening on the rougher bits. Running a Vittoria Mezcal 2.6 (trail XC tire) on the back or front too has been gaining in popularity too. Faster rolling yet sturdy enough for bikepacking duty as long as it's dry or relatively dry; not the greatest for mud... Getting these tires might be an issue considering supply-chain issues; my bike-shop said I'd have to wait on a watch-list and Maybe I'd have a shot at some new Vittorias but, they are a legit tire worth the wait (!).
I enjoy the honesty expressed for your component selection. My bike is a little different but there's a similar pragmatism about it - not least because it's the bike I already have. It's a hardtail - about 11 years old now but a bit of a Trigger's broom which has seen it evolve from a decent-enough MTB into a comfy tourer. Similar to yours, mine's tough enough, and has proven reliability over the years, but perhaps the most important thing is that I understand how it all works so I'm comfortable supporting it when away from home. I note your friend Alan has a MTB. I wonder whether you could get him to express his opinions about his bike and component choice? Everyone loves a gear review.
I am in the process of trying to convince Alan that he should have his own channel! He has a few bikes, and is always putting new ones together as little projects. Messages like this are all nudges in the right direction so I'll pass on your request 😉
Probably nothing as conclusive as you are hoping for ;) Previously I was riding a more cross country type hardtail - flat bars, 26" wheels. I didn't buy it for any reason other than to potter about on and it was certainly never intended to take me on any multi day trips. I talk about this in the Biggest Danger of Bikepacking video - and how that bike lasted me ten years and thousands of miles in the end. Eventually though I realised that I wanted to be off road as much as possible, I wanted a more relaxed geometry and more mounting points for bags. I didn't really know much about bikes (still don't) and so I was doing a lot or reading and plus size tyres where pretty "in" at the time. I liked the sound of it and so I went 27.5 because that would let me run 3" tyres on the Ogre, which the frame I'd decided on for similarly hazy reasons. The whole build was as much luck as judgement but it turned out great and I love it!
@@JethroJessop thanks- great info - ya im rideing my hard tail MT bike on 26 inch rim - its hard work and a bit slow - love my bike but need to up grade soon
@@MrTullyblue there are plenty of folk out there far more qualified than me to talk about the specifics of wheel size and frame geometry. Also plenty of folks with strong opinions they can't back up though 😉 This is why I admit ignorance and just try to enjoy the ride.
Not seriously. I met a chap riding with one when i was in Sweden the year prior to my new bike and he raved about it but I wanted the Ogre and didn't want to custom split the frame. I've never found chain drive to be a problem so I didn't see the need to dive a world of limited frame choice and specialist parts for no great reason. I'd love to try one out but doubt I'd take the plunge without a lengthy trial first
Hi Jethro! Great video, im also looking to get into this bike packing stuff, Ive never had a proper bike before, and im looking at a similar bike, the Salsa Fargo (maybe you've heard of it) - ive also looked at many reviews etc.. About the rolloff hub you installed.. Did you do it yourself? how did you find it to install was it difficult? or did you just pay someone to install it? All the best, Daniel
I have heard of the Fargo but know nothing about it except that folk speak highly of them. The trickiest part of the Rohloff install was working out which one to get to fit my frame. I got mine through SJS Cycles who were absolutely fantastic. Really patient, helpful and knowledgeable. They set me up with the right model then I got a local wheel builder to build it up with the rims I'd chosen. The rest is just attaching cables and is easy to do yourself
Interesting, and looks a nice build. I always fancied the Rolhoff, but couldn't quite bring myself to spend the money.... I've recently sold both my 'project' bikes made largely of spare parts, and bought a completely off the peg Trek 520 instead which I'm really quite liking. None of the things I've built have been fantastic if I'm honest! The only thing I'm changing on the 520, is to fit larger and more rugged tyres for my next trip, and a Brooks saddle which I'm slowly getting to grips with. I've gone with panniers instead of bike packing stuff, not for any particular reason - only what I'm used to I suppose!
I went full bikepacking bags but very quickly went back to running a couple of small panniers at the back. There are a lot of benefits to softbags sit the ease of use with panniers is hard to lose once you are used to it. Or I found it to be anyway. I'm still loving this bike. The Rohloff is great and the whole thing is so comfy to ride! It's pretty heavy and won't win me any races but then I'm not entering any so that's not a problem 😉
I'm about 180 I think and I went for a large. I bought pretty blind as I couldn't find anywhere that would do me a test ride so I went solely based on this :surlybikes.com/uploads/downloads/15924_SUR_Bike_Sizing_Chart_OL_VF.pdf This would put you in the MD category but it's a scary business if you can't actually try it out for size.
Any updates after a couple years with your Ogre/Rohloff setup? I’m seriously considering a setup similar to yours and there just isn’t much info out there from long term owners.
I love it still. I added an extra tooth to my rear sprocket to help climbing but other than that I'm on the same spec as when I filmed this. It isn't a lightweight build but it is really comfy to ride and it eats anything I throw at it. It is my adventure bike and primary mode of transport as well. Oh I actually added an adjustable stem as well just because I like to ride in a really upright position. It's really personal and I'm not hugely experienced with lots of other bikes but I am really pleased with this one. No complaints at all. Hope that helps. If you have specific questions I'm happy to try and answer
Just finished my first video of yours on the Big Agnes HV UL1 Copper Spur. Great video. Checking out your TH-cam sight abd surprise ! Surly Ogre! I'm riding a 2017 Ogre. Looking at the BG to go on my Ogre.
Ah, an Ogre brother. Good to meet you 😀 I love it I have to say, such a great rig. Did you get to do any big rides this summer? Any planned for the future?
The Ogre has a solid rear triangle and Gates belts need a splitter in it right? You'd have to either chop the frame or use a split belt like the Veer ones. I very briefly looked into this but the rewards never seemed great enough to pursue it further. Are you using belt drive already or looking to switch?
@@JethroJessop Thank you for your reply. Planning to build Touring Bike and my liking is to use Rohloff together with Gates Carbon Belt. Was looking for a Frame that is compatible that is Budget friendly though.
@@nelsonmalabanan7407 I've not looked into it deeply but I know you can have belt splitters added to most frames if the stiffness can be maintained. Neither Rohloff nor belt drive systems are super budget friendly though so if you are shelling out for those it would be a pity to skimp on the frame. I'd be interested to know what you end up with though. Keep me posted 🙂
I was wondering about this. Really like so many of the choices on this bike. Though seems like missing a great trick to not have a belt drive if using hub gears? You've got to stay involved in cleaning (esp. off-road), lubing, repairing etc the chain when you hardly have to think about it with a belt! (Though any counter-arguments would be interesting). Soma Jawbone B-type has a similar price frameset as well as a split frame for belt drive. Just takes slightly narrower tyres (27.5 x 2.6 max). Great vids though - always engaging and plenty to think about!
I know basically nothing about gravel bikes I'm afraid. I assume the frame and forks will be rated with a maximum tyre size they can accept but it probably differs from model to model. If you go up in size by much your likely looking at new rims as well.
Interesting Tbh I’m just riding a vaguely modded Scott Aspect for “bike pack” and I bought it second hand, it works, it’s fine but then I take not much. One downside is the full hydraulics which I don’t ... I was going to say trust but that’s not true ... more, if they are knackered so am I really. Mine even has 26” wheels but changed tyres ... €270 .... 1500 km so far second hand with one hydraulic thing It’ll still do Half way down the Chemin de st Jacques (road style) on a €650 triban RC 500 ... which I love. Tailfin pack cost half as much as the bike ... but is good if you don’t need a lot. Cheers
I'm a big fan of 'the bike you have is the right bike'. I've crossed paths with people riding all kinds of things from the super expensive, custom builds to crappy old clankers. To be honest, I could have carried on riding the old Cannondale for years to come but I finally decided what type of riding I like to do and was fortunate enough to have the budget to buy the right bike so I treated myself. Hopefully this one will last me into my ripe old age :)
I did consider a few different frames but the BC wasn't on the list. It all seems a long time ago now and a lot of my thinking on the subject has been forgotten but I wanted plus size tyres, horizontal dropouts for the Rohloff and I liked the doubled up mountings on the forks that let you run bottles and bags at the same time. I'm trying to remember what else I was considering - I think maybe a Bombtrack? The Tumbleweed Prospector looked good but was way too expensive in the end.
Have you got around to doing the bags video? This is where I have got to in my setup and I’m thinking of leaving the back rack on and having a big bag on top of it rather than a giant seat torpedo. Dithering. What is the bottle cage for the Koran Kanteen and those metal ones up front? Appreciate everything you post.
I haven't done bags yet because I'm still not 100% decided on my own set up or how to pack them. I'm pretty sure I will always run a rack on the back. I really don't like seat packs and the easy access and large volume of panniers is too good to give up. I'll keep the panniers small but they will always be there. The bottle cage is Velo Orange Mojave bikepacking.com/index/oversized-bottle-cages-for-bike-touring/ and its great. Holds a Kleen Kanteen really tight. The bottle cages up on the forks are just cheap no-brand jobs. On the forks in this video I have Salsa v1 cages that fell apart on my recent PBW ride. I have since swapped them out for some Tailfin mounts to which I attach Restrap fork bags which I love. On the bars I have a Revelate Designs Sweetroll and Egress Pocket. The framebag is Surly branded Revelate Designs to fit the Ogre. I will get a bag/packlist video out one day but I'm still getting it dialled in my own head so don't really feel like I can advise anyone else on it yet ;)
Hi Jethro, interesting hearing you talk about the Maxxis tyres sliding about. I've got a Bombtrack Beyond+ ADV, which comes with WTB Ranger 29" x 3" tubeless tyres and I've got the same problem, fine in the dry but they do slip and slide around in damper conditions. I'm starting to think that maybe it's common with the wider footprint of the tyre. Other than that I love the plus size tyres. Love your vids, by the way! 👍
Maybe you are right, I don't have enough experience to say but I was kind of surprised by how minimal the tread on the chronicles is. I figured the lower running pressure would make up for it but it doesn't seem to so maybe it is width thing. I live the plus sizes as well though and wouldn't swap back. How do you like the bombtrack? I met a guy riding one when I was in Sweden last year and they were on my shortlist before I settled on the surly.
@@JethroJessop Funnily enough I nearly went for the Ogre, but I didn't like the horizontal rear dropouts, just a personal preference thing. Settled on the Bombtrack and have been really impressed with it. It was supposed to be my offroad bikepacking bike but it is now my go-to steed of choice!
@@jonedge80 Horizontal drop outs are a bit weird but I chose them for the Rohloff. I got a Snugnut (or maybe a Tugnut, can never remember) to help with the positioning and I'm kinda down with it now. Glad the Bombtrack is delivering - here's to many great adventures in the future!
@@JethroJessop Fat tires are known for their gripping ability, so I think you've just run into the one environment that the Chronicles aren't optimal for. This is a problem with any tire that's built for multi-surface. Surly Knards get a lot of the same criticism. Any time you have a tightly packed, low profile knobs, its going to be really good on hard surfaces. But, for the same reasons, does a bit poorly on loam and in soup. I'm a bit jealous, Chronicles have a bit of an epic reputation here in the southwest US. But, it seems they no longer make them. Options for 27.5x3 are slimming, it seems.
@@cjohnson3836 Think you're right. In the dry they are great and they roll well on rough and paved. It is just when they hit the slick stuff that the fail really. You can't have it all though so I'm not going to complain too much.
Mine is a Large. I'm about 6 foot tall and fits me well. The official Surly size chart on their website is pretty trustworthy if you aren't able to try before you buy
Love your review, cause we see you are a real adventurer with your cycle, and your priority is not to see it shining in the middle of your living room, washing it after each 10 miles. But just to ride. It is dirty as a cycle should be.
That's is probably too true 😉 A bicycle should be dirty but I should probably look after mine better, I'm just a lazy fellow who is good at procrastination. Glad you are enjoying the videos though, thanks for watching 😀
I love it. Really capable, really comfy to ride. It is my adventure bike but also my primary mode of transport day to day. I'd be sort of interested to try a slimmer tyre but purely for scientific reasons. I enjoy the 3s on and off road. I might add some bar ends or an angled stem just because I like an upright riding position. Basically, no complaints, it's a great bike 😉
@@JethroJessop I have a had my Surly Ogre for a while now & I find it's a lot nicer ride than my Thorn Nomad , I use 29" wheels with 2.25" Vittoria tyres & get extra comfort from a Cane Creek seat post & a Redshift stem , I covers tarmac at a decent pace & rides off road really well . Can I ask what make of water bottle holder you use underneath your down tube ? as I'm looking for something reliable to hold my tool bottle . Happy new year & thanks for the inspirational videos.
@@kevindean9613 How do you find the suspension seat post? I'm always toying with the idea of getting one but I know what I'm like - I'll talk myself into the most expensive one out there without even trying it out first ;) The bottle holder I use is a Velo Orange Mojave. Its great, really tough and has held up well. Never had to use additional straps or had anything shake loose from it. I can definitely recommend.
@@JethroJessop Thanks for that ,I have the Cane creek thud buster but I also got a Cane creek eesilk from Bikester in a sale it has a carbon stem ,both are great ,The eesilk is more easily adjustable ,I really like them great on long rides & when you hit the odd unexpected pothole filled with water .
@@kevindean9613 So worth having then? Whenever I ride with Alan he waxes lyrical about how much he loves his. Maybe its time I joined the club - these bones aren't getting any younger ;)
Ok, I'll look into them. The chronicles are still sound and I won't sack them off till they wear out or get slashed but I'll definitely want to have an alternative lines up ready for when they go.
That is a remarkable tubeless repair. If being able to ride with something like that in your tire isn't a testament to the capabilities of a tubeless setup, I am not sure what is.
I don't know what I can offer really. If you are in the UK then I'd say talk to SJSCycles, they were amazing at helping me get the right parts. They spoke to Surly, got the recommendation for the axle and were just very helpful and friendly. I went with the Middleburn cranks purely because they are made for a Rohloff setup and I got fed up trying to work out which other options would have the correct chain line. This is the one I have activesport.co/Middleburn-RS8-X-Type-Rohloff-4arm-Chainset-With-Hardcoat-Ring 38T/175MM Mostly though I'd say just read a lot. Decide on your frame first then read up on the spec for that frame, search for other who have done similar builds and written about it. Read the docs on the Rohloff site and watch their instructional videos. bikepacking.com/bikes/ has a lot of good articles as well especially if they happen to have reviewed your chosen frame. If you haven't got a frame in mind then they are a great place to start as they have loads of really good, in depth reviews. Just take your time is the most important thing. It took me months to get an idea of what I needed and then probably the same again to source it all and put it together. At the time I felt like I was learning loads but I seem to have forgotten most of it now ;)
@@JethroJessop thanks buddy, I have an Ogre and would like to change to Rohloff hub just like yours. A straight chainline is what I need. Thanks for tall the info and time spend replying my queries. Appreciate your help. Thanks again.
@@yiezhe No problem, sorry I can't be more help. I learned a lot from the Bikepacking.com Ogre review, well worth a read though you may be beyond that if you already have the frame. I believe the standard chain line is 54mm and a lot of people manage to achieve this using the middle ring of 3x setup and spacers as needed. In my case I was lazy and went for the Rohloff specific middleburn but there are plenty of other options. Good luck with it!
Just checked them out. They look decent and I would definitely look at other options when the chronicles have done their duty. The ETs are only 2.5 though and I am enjoying the 3.0 girth on the current ones :)
The solid threaded one. I'll be honest, I got pretty confused when I was trying to work out which model I needed and in the end I phoned SJSCycles and just told them what frame I had and they sorted me out :) The threaded axle fits the Ogre dropouts with a little spacer ring and the OEM2 axle plate.
I guess they might cause a bit of wear and tear but they aren't too snug fitting and that bag holds really solid in place - hardly moves at all. I'm gonna check the fabric now though, you got me worrying :) But yeah, it is a great bike. I'm really pleased with it and am just hoping that this year I'll be able to take it on a few good adventures!
Great build. I have a 2017 ogre and want to get your wheel set for trail riding. Did you look at cheaper options for the rear hub? Shimano seems to have some good stuff.
I did a little bit but I'd got my heart set on a Rohloff and in the back of my head I always knew that was what I'd end up with. They are expensive but this was my first new bike in 10 years and I figured I may as well push the boat out. I don't have a car and spend a lot of time on my bike so it didn't seem such an extravagance really. (I'm also really pleased with the wheel set - works for all kinds of riding)
I use a Topeak Explorer but really that is only because that is what I've always had. I'm on my second one now but panniers seem to be becoming less frowned upon by bikepackers now so there are other options appearing on the market. At some point I'll probably look into something a bit more minimal and lighter.
Finding this video has thrown a little curveball into my plans. First a bit of background, I’m 60 year young this year and a returning cyclist after an interruption of many years of hill walking. I am definitely not a Licra clad speed merchant. At the moment I have an e-bike which is a beast that I love but it limits my more adventures plans, ie Hadrians Wall, Alfreds Way and so on. I had been looking at steel bikes that would cope with these sort of trips loaded up with panniers and a tent, for example the Genesis Tour De Fer, which is in my budget area. Then you rock up with a Surly Ogre which has a different geometry (It’s a nice word but don’t really understand it). So onto the question, does this handle like a Morris Minor / Tank on the roads? The romantic in me wants to be able to plough off down a random rooty path at a whim, but the reality is most of my trips will be on NCN cycle paths, I’m not 23 anymore. Any advice greatly appreciated.
I'll be honest, I'm not someone who pays a lot of attention to handling. The Ogre is heavy and when it is loaded up with bar roll/bottle/fork bags I notice the weight in the front when steering but not in a negative way. The most important factor for me is that it is very comfy, a pleasure to ride. With fat, soft tyres it almost feels like a full-sus, with tyres pumped up hard it rolls really nicely on tarmac. I've ridden tarmac, gravel mud, steep rooty descents through the woods and I have no complaints. I'll be honest though, I'm not an expert on bike geometry, I'm just a guy with an opinion. Always happy to answer questions if I can though! I will say that if the King Alfred's Way is on your list then you will want something that can deal with a fair range of surfaces. I did the ridgeway section recently in bad weather and the surface up there was pretty challenging. There is a video of it if you haven't seen it already th-cam.com/video/JJ4yYIVo_VU/w-d-xo.html
Well one Tour de Fer purchase and another year has gone, I have had quite a few adventures on it but find the tyre size a bit limiting so I’m on the hunt for my N+1, I don’t think I’ll ever part with the Genesis which I have a soft spot for, but bigger tyres are called for as horizons have grown and the bumps have become bigger. I have recorded our Hadrians Wall route in you are interested, not the most riveting viewing but it is a record at least. th-cam.com/play/PL3cRX3tY5pVq6EZeQreysNonNi7HTjGE5.html
Thank you kindly my friend, I appreciate the encouragement very much. I've been a bit slack recently but there are more videos coming soon which I hope you find just as enjoyable
Hi, nice bike setup like the big fatty wheels. To get more traction you could go very low on pressure that would give much more grip.. I had a rohloff hub shifting and such are great but I hated the twist shifter as the rubber on it disolved in a bout 3 months (twice a week 1 /2 hour ride) from my sweaty hands. And there was no good solution for replacing only the rubber thing. I recently seen a solution to use trigger shifters but seem complex. I dissolve a lot of rubbery things during rides ... Maybe I should not drink/eat so much acidic stuff. I subscribed and liked ;-)
Wow, acid sweat. As super powers go it's not great but it's better than nothing 😉 I've had my shifter on for a couple of years now and it's seen pretty heavy use and is still in good condition. My only fault with it is that I'd like it to be more grippy as I sometimes slip on it when its wet. Generally though I really like it. Simple and effective. Cheers for watching, and for the sub. Hope you find some other vids to entertain you here as well
Another inspirational video Jethro, just wondered if you have had to make any gear compromises with this new set up compared to the old 4 pannier set up. Cheers and keep the vids coming!
Glad it was enjoyable, it felt a little directionless when I filmed it so I'm pleased. A few sacrifices in terms of space and ease of packing. I'm quite lazy and pack messy which isn't as easy now. I'll hopefully do a video on this exact subject though. Stay tuned 😉
It really is 🙂 I'm incredibly pleased with it. Just need to get some long rides planned now. Hopefully next year will be an easier year than this one has been
Hi, can you help me with sizing? I'm 178cm with 82 cm inseam. The surly site says I'm in between size M and L. My road bike is 56cm and normally categorized as M, wonder what your size is. Thanks
I'm no expert in this area. I'm 185cm and my frame is L which I find very comfy. I couldn't find anywhere near me that I could go and do a test ride so I based my purchase on the surly size chart here: surlybikes.com/uploads/downloads/15924_SUR_Bike_Sizing_Chart_OL_VF.pdf If you are 178cm that would put you M range based on this.
@@JethroJessop Thanks, got my Ogre yesterday and the size (M) fits great. the 2021 Ogre don't come with H bar anymore, is yours Jones H bar or it seems like aero bar like or or it it add on.
@@kl-ke9ec my bar is the surly Moloko. Not sure if it comes as standard on any models as I built mine up from parts but it is really comfy. Glad you are happy with yours though, I hope you wil get some great rides in on it soon!
I used to own an ogre... Fantastic frame... Made outta lead n filled with lead 🙂... I regret selling it... I now run a Genesis Vagabond steel gravel bike fitted with trekking bars... And a steel Stooge cycles speedball... Which is out there
It surely isn't the lightest bike in the world and I have never been one to pack minimal either so I won't be winning any races. But then, I won't be entering any so all good. I just find it very comfy for trundling along which is how I like to ride ;) The speedball looks awesome! Never seen one in the flesh but I love the look of it!
@@JethroJessop speedball ball is quite something with truss forks ... Shame I can't add a photo here. I'm looking to sell all my bikes and just make one bike to rule them all... Lol
@@norseman1137 I only have the one bike. The Ogre isn't really an all rounder but I make it work. It is my hobby, my exercise and my primary mode of transport so I get my money's worth. What will this One Bike be? Do you have anything in mind?
@@JethroJessop well I confess... The surly ecr attracted me.... I also like the bombtrack beyond +... And the on one boot zipper also looks good... Primarily bike packing n mincing around in UK... Gravel bit of tame dirt n roads... Camping kit and I'm 100kg.. So nothing technical or crazy... It will doubtless have standard derailleur gears 11x1... Budget around 1500-1800... Main thing in all honest is short medium ride camp out n return... Bit long in the tooth for your fantastic rides 😉
@@norseman1137 Every ride is good ride, doesn't matter how far you go :) I had the Bombtrack Beyond on my list alongside the Ogre. I met a chap in Denmark who was riding one and he was well pleased with it. I can't even remember what swayed me to the Ogre in the end
I sympathise. I'd never done it before either. I watched a few videos about how roadies tape around their brakes on drop bars and followed that approach. There is a certain pattern that you wind so it leaves no gaps. Beyond that, go slow, keep tension in the tape while you go and have some gorrilla tape or similar on hand incase the stuff they supply to hold the ends down is crap - it was on mine. I think I actually did mess up a few times but you can sort of undo a few winds and go again. You have to do it to learn how to do it I guess.
@@NigelPond Always a good strategy. Have a google around for some of the more complex winding patterns you can do with multiple colours and such. I was quite up for trying that approach but then decide to go understated in an attempt to make my bike look less stealable.
You should see it now! I just cut it last night. Sat between two mirrors hacking at it with a set of electric clippers. I'm just going to pretend that tufty, asymmetric hair styles are the future ;)
Greeting bike sibling :) I can't remember where I got it but it is a Velo Orange Mojave and the bottle is a 40oz classic Kleen Kanteen. If you are after oversize or unusual bottle cages this is a good page (its where I found mine) bikepacking.com/index/oversized-bottle-cages-for-bike-touring/
It's Surly branded but made by Revelate Designs. Surly have a full set of RD bags to fit all their frames and I went with it just because I was sure it would be a good fit. It seems like a good bag - not 100% waterproof but pretty spacious and well made
Just got my Ogre 2020. Lol what a massive shank! That could kill anyone. Gotta read up on setting up tubeless, still on the stock tubes. Also plan to put a Rohloff hub onto mine, as well the TRP Spyke brakes. Did you install the Rohloff yourself?
Its a great bike, you will love it! Definitely worth going tubeless. Think the video that helped me the most was on the GMBN channel. It's not really hard but if you are like me then order an extra roll of rim tape incase you mess up the first application :) I am also still very happy with the Spykes. They do require some tweaking now and again but it's a very easy process and can be done whilst out and about. With the Rohloff I got someone else to build the wheel but I did the cabling and set up the shifter and all that. Again it's pretty straight forward if a little fiddly but there are some great guides on the Rohloff channel that I followed. Worth using a wheelbuilder you trust and giving them the relevant pages from the Rohloff manual as there are some Rohloff specific factors to take into account around lacing patterns and spoke tension. I dunno if you are in the UK but if you are I can very highly recommend SJS Cycles for all things Rohloff - in fact all things cycle touring. They were fantastic when helping me get mine sorted out.
@@JethroJessop Hi again, been riding my Ogre successfully, even with 2,5x29 inch wheels its an off-road beast, although no major tour yet, I updated the handlebar to the Koga Denham bar which is great. Now I am researching the Rohloff... definitely gonna order a complete wheel, but I am a total newb so I have no idea what crankset and bb would be good for the chainline, my stock 2020 build has the cheapo sram NX cranks with 32T ring which could be used (I wouldn't mind the low gear) but I think my chainline is 50mm so I guess that's a nono since I need 54mm or 55mm depending the sprocket on the hub. You think once I have that wheel with me I can find something in my local bike shops that would fit? What kind of crankset/bb do you have (or had) that worked with your 38/16 setup on the 2019 Ogre (which should be pretty much the same as mine)? Also what about the chain tension, do you use a Surly Tugnut or something else or nothing? I am using the monkey nutz 3.0, one on the drive side, currently, since I've had my TS axle slip when I pedalled in from standstill on a high gear by accident freshly after I got the bike, maybe that can be used, dunno, what about the semi vertical dump out slot on the surly bike with gnot boost, do you use that to take out the Rohloff wheel if you don't use any chain tensioning hardware? Thanks!
@@JohnKrakatoa Glad you are liking the Ogre. My BB is a Shimano XTR BB93 HollowTech II and the crankset is a Middleburn RS8 X which is made specifically for the Rohloff. I use a Surly Snugnut to keep the alignment and chain tension - I actually have one on both sides just because it makes fine adjustment really easy. In terms of chainline though I'd assume that you can get the wheel built and then hit up your local shop for a BB and crank set that will give you right chainline. I know lots of people use the middle ring of a 3x crank but I just got so confused trying to work out which ones would fit and what spacers I'd need that I shelled out for the Middleburn. There are definitely other ways to do it and if you have a decent LBS they will be able to sort you out I'm sure. I recently swapped my 16t sprocket for a 17t one as well. Didn't think it would make a lot of difference but it does seem to. I was always wishing for a lower gear and was rarely in 14 so that little extra for climbing is nice. I assume you'll get the same Rohloff as me with the splined carrier for the sprocket so it is really easy to swap out the sprockets with just a pair of needle nosed pliers. Incase it is helpful, the advice I got from SJS cycles (which they got from Surly) was that that "the Ogre needs a TS EX Rohloff hub which has the solid axel not a quick release with an OEM 2 plate"
@@JethroJessop Thanks for the quick answers, I'll have a look at that BB and middleburn crank thank you. Yes I know I need the TS DB EOM2 one. I think the splined carrier is standard now. About the Snuggnut, you have the 10/12 washers for the Rohloff so you can use it in the Gnot boost I guess? So that is Snuggnut compatible then? What I am reading in the FAQ at Surly for these two is pretty confusing.
@@JohnKrakatoa yeah, the Rohloff uses the spacers to fit the frame then the snugnut sits on the outside between the frame and the bolt. All seems to fit fine with no tinkering but I know what you mean. Sometimes it feels like the more you read up on a subject the less you know about it.
Great vid and I love all the British words “malarkey”, “guff” lol. Subscribed! By the way, what size is your Ogre and how tall are you? I always have a hell of a time finding the correct frame fit and now that nobody has anything in stock, I don’t see that improving anytime soon. Lol
I do love a good British-ism :) I'm about 6' or maybe 6' 1" and I have a large frame. That choice was made based entirely on Surly's size guide : surlybikes.com/uploads/downloads/15924_SUR_Bike_Sizing_Chart_OL_VF.pdf I consider myself very lucky to have put this all together pre-world-falling-apart. I'm hearing so many people say their build projects are being put on hold due to lack of components. Hope you find something soon. Any questions, just shout 'em out and I'll answer if I can. Thanks for the sub and cheers for watching!
Jethro - I just deleted my previous comment querying which saddle you're using and your opinion on it, apologies! I saw your response though. I'm wondering, have you ever tried a Brooks? I've been on my Brooks for about 1500 miles now and I just can't get comfortable! I'm wondering if the Selle SMP would be worth a try. Also, do you ride with bibs/chamois shorts or just with normal underwear? Thanks!
I've never tried the Brooks. People who love them seem to really love them but it also seems to be about a 50/50 split with people who hate them. I just could never see the reasoning behind spending a load of money on a saddle that might not be any good but you won't know for sure for 500 miles or whatever. I also never got my head around the idea of a touring saddle that doesn't like getting wet. I see people wrapping their saddles in plastic bags overnight and I just couldn't be arsed with it. Add to that, the only people I've ever known who tried them all gave up in the end because they couldn't get comfy. What makes a good saddle is really personal though. I rode for ages on one that was way too narrow because I just never bothered to measure my arse. Caused myself a lot of discomfort before getting the Selle and realising what I'd been missing all those years. It probably isn't any better than any other saddle in the grand scheme of things but it works really well for me. In the summer I just ride with normal underwear and shorts. In the winter I wear tights, some padded and some not. It's another thing that I never really put a lot of thought into and am only now starting to consider.
@@JethroJessop thanks for responding. Ive ordered myself a Selle SMP TRK and after the first ride, I can see it has a lot of potential! Noticed some chafing at the back of my thigh/under my arse cheeks so I'm going to have to play with the fit.
@@ryanchadd3472 it's such a specific thing to each rider and the smallest changes can make such a big difference. I hope you manage to get something that works for you though
Not on proper fast and furious, trail center single-track. I've hit some wild single track but always with bags on. It seems good though it can sometimes be a little twitchy. There is a decent trail center near me and I keep meaning to go and do a loop around there to really test it. Could make a good future video so watch this space!
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Sitting here with family just after Christmas talking about bike stuff and my Twin is watching. He was thinking about a Surly Ogre and now I think you have him convinced it's the bike for him.
It is a cracker. A couple of years in I'm still really pleased with it and always happy to take it out. Its my adventure bike and my primary mode of transport so I make it work hard too!
Only thing I've changed since I made this video is adding an extra tooth to the rear sprocket and adding an adjustable stem because I like riding upright.
Happy to (try and) answer specific questions if you have any.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
your on the right path with twists and turns which makes it all worth it
The twists and turns make the adventure sweeter 😀
Long may the path continue!
Hi Jethro!
Have to put you in my list mate ...
You are officially one of my inspirations. Along with others ive watched since just before lockdown.
I used to be a 100% road bike fanatic. I did a couple of good long rides from London to Rome for charity 5 years ago now. Both rides were fully supported and it made me look into doing my own unsupported rides. Watching you and others on TH-cam gave me all the info i needed to start myself. So. i bought myself a Salsa Blackborow 1 fat bike. Full 4 pannier setup and now ive bought most of my gear. 3 weeks ago i did my first bike tour from West London down to Cornwall over a long weekend. Camped in the new forest and on Dartmoor and loved every minute of it. Now ive just finished planning a route on a lap of the UK on coast roads and bike paths. I wanted to say thankyou for you videos and thereby your inspiration to get into this new (for me) type of riding.
Actually thinking of selling the road bike now!!
Wow! I honestly could not ask for a better comment than that.
I'm always pleased to hear of people going off on bike adventures and if my rambling videos had any part in helping you along the way then I am incredibly chuffed!
I'm sure road cycling has its good points but for me - especially here in the UK - there seems to be so much more to gain from getting off the beaten track, smelling the forest after the rain, sitting by your tent with a coffee and watching the morning. I love that life and really hope you continue to love it too!
Keep me posted of any trips you plan so I can follow along. Are you on strava or instagram?
@@JethroJessop Yep im on both, Not used Instagram much at all since ive been on it but ill stick some photos up tonight of that Cornwall ride. Im on facebook as well ..
That first ride ive just done really has completely changed my view on riding now. I actually had no interest in camping WHATSOEVER! id never camped anywhere ever in my life until 3 weeks ago!!! Ill be 50 in Feb! If im honest i was a little scared of diving into the New Forest and wildcamping. But i slept like a log. I didnt even get up that early the next day! Then day 3 down to Dartmoor really opened my eyes on how this type of riding is completely different than roadbiking. I was on disused railways. Gravel paths leading straight into farms in the middle of nowhere. I even rode some off road around the top of Dartmoor on a river bank from Dunsford to Chagford off the advice of a guy i met who loved the fat bike. Then met another guy who walked up to me when i was setting up camp on Dartmoor saying he was just about to set off on his first tour in Wales on his fat bike and that i was an inspiration to HIM hahaha! . Then all the little country roads and trails through Cornwall to St Austell. Honestly i came back home to London and just started planning the next trip! Its a very long story but i actually should be off around the world as i write this but obviously Corona virus has killed that little dream for the foreseeable. But yep, like i say, You are one of id say 5 different people ive viewed a lot of last and this year and i can honestly say hand on heart if i hadn't have watched any videos of you guys doing this i wouldnt have gone myself. So thanks again mate, looking forward to seeing more vids!
@@mickclaridge2784 Well, I'm genuinely happy to hear that. I followed you on Instagram and will look out for pics.
I'd say one of the things that I love most about bikepacking is that it allows you to explore your own country in a really detailed way. You can go almost anywhere you could on foot but also cover some real distance. Much as it is amazing to travel the world and see exotic foreign places, you can have just as great an adventure at home if you have the right perspective.
You said you were in London? I can highly recommend South Wales for short trips - easy to get to by train and bloody amazing riding.
Onya cobba , ride on my friend
AWESOME bike review and video. Thanks again for another great video.
Mark from Maryland
Thank you, I'm very happy it was helpful.
The bike is still going strong and I am still loving it. Still dreaming of future rides and planning little adventures.
Awesome review and now I’m leaning to the Rohloff on my surly Ogre build ! I am 62 and have been riding bike most of my life and had never herd of Rohloff but now its on great video and informative keep them coming and happy trails….
Glad you enjoyed it.
I'm still loving the Rohloff I have to say. It might be heavy and expensive but the simplicity and low maintenance is great.
I've done two oil changes and swapped the sprocket and beyond that it just does its job.
I just got a new set of cables as the housing on mine has taken a beating. I'm riding the Badger Divide in May from Inverness to Glasgow so I'm starting to get all my hardware in order ahead of that 😉
Love the philosophy of the saddle
Thank you. I enjoy spouting it too 😉
that orge is the best hardcore bikepacking bike ive ever seen!!! really nice setup!!!
It is a beast. I absolutely love it and only wish I could do more, longer rides on it. Really hoping to get up to Scotland this summer!
Thanks for sharing this information Brother. 👍✌️😎
No worries, I hope something in there was useful.
Shout if you have specific questions and I'll try to answer if I can
We built the same bike! I have a black ogre with rohloff, same bars, same bags... nice rig!
I love mine and have done a few thousand miles on it in the Sierra Nevada in the last few years.
It is a beautiful beast isn't it!
I love mine and I regret none of my choices. Its a super comfy ride, the Rohloff is fantastic and the Molokos are great.
I'm happy that it will be the last bike i buy for a good long time.
Happy riding to you and thanks for watching
Great review and love the simplicity of purpose.
Thanks. It is a fantastic bike. Not gonna win any races but then, I won't ever be trying to ;)
Sweet bike Brother, glad you're happy with it. That spike was insane!!!
I'm very happy with it. Wish I could spend more time living on it ;)
That spike was nuts. I still have it in a jar on my desk and it remains the only time I've had a puncture since I started running tubeless which is pretty good going
@@JethroJessop yeah, I'd keep a hold of that thing for sure.
I got a flat once that took a core sample out of my rear tire, which was a very stout flat proof tire. Whatever it was stuck in my tire and slapped into my rear triangle a few rotations before finally coming out. I never could find it, but it left a 5mm hole in my tire and tube!
I decided I'm buying an Ogre myself after watching a few videos, particularly yours. Good fortune to you!
@@BeSatori Wow, mystery flat :) A biggy too!
You won't regret the Ogre I don't think, it's a great bike and very comfy to ride. Hope it will take you on some grand adventures.
Cheers for watching. Really pleased that you have found the videos useful.
Great video. So cool to hear your logic on the choices. Wish we could do a custom build now. Nothing seems to be available
@@davidp7414 I was lucky and got all my building done a few months before the world fell apart. The only compromise I made was getting the black frame when I'd quite liked the look of the old red one.
I'm actually glad now though - I like the black :)
Nice videos. Always cool to see someone else riding my bike. Not many people youtubing their Ogres.
It's a great bike! I absolutely love it.
I actually went back to my old Lapierre Zesty for a weekend at a trail centre recently and it felt so twitchy and delicate after the Ogre.
I'm sold on the big, comfy tractor :)
Refreshingly honesty’s, great review
Thanks a lot. It's just my opinion but it's an honest one. Glad it was helpful to you
Great vid. Thank you Jethro
Welcome, thanks for watching :)
Brilliant mate .
Thank you kindly :)
Subscribed the first time I watched one of your postings. You really are great on the camera. Fun to listen to and great reviews and comments. Well done!
Very kind of you to say so, thank you.
There are definitely folk out there with more experience and deeper knowledge of these subjects than me but I try to be honest and not to take it all too seriously. It is after all something we all do for fun.
Really glad you enjoy the vids and I very much appreciate the support.
New vids coming soon which I hope you also enjoy.
"Well, that's groovy". I love it. I was headed toward very similar Ogre layout, from Roloff to 27.5, for high plains drifting in US. My dedicated winter bike is an 80's MTB with an 8 speed internal, so I have already there in conversion away from derailleurs. Current drifter won't make the leap so it is 2022 for the project.
You gotta have projects lined up, that's what is all about!
I'm only able to have a single bike as I have no space to keep any more. The Ogre is only ride and I love it in every situation.
Good luck with yours hope it all comes together just how you want it 🙂
@Michael H A year later from my comment, and I have gone all in on my BC for dirt touring. And Surly did slim their line-up a bit and came out with a drop bar. Daughter bought a Troll (2019) frame she wants Dad to build out.
Enjoyable review overall. Glad to hear the Surley Ogre is serving you well. Embarrassed to say I’d never heard of Rohloff. I’m quite intrigued.
I only knew about them because I met a German chap years and years ago who had one on a mountain bike. After that the name slipped from my mind for years until I started frequenting bikepacking.com.
It's surprising how unknown they are outside a certain subset of tourers - I suppose just because they are fairly heavy and fairly expensive so only a fit for situations. I love it though :)
You share a wealth of information about your bike and touring! This is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing your insight!!!
Thank you! I'm really glad that you enjoy the videos and I appreciate the kind words very much.
Hopefully I'll upload more soon. I have a few video ideas in the back of my head. Really though I just want to get out on another long tour though I'm not sure if it will happen for a while yet. We shall see.
I enjoyed it, ...nice bike and forest. You have great mechanic skills. Interesting rear hub choice. I'm gravitating towards single speeds to minimized the BS you described. Cheers from the US.
Thank you kindly, I hope you'll come back for more in the future :)
Numpty is a new one for me. Great review. Glad you like the roloff.
Numpty is a great word 😉
I Googled it and the etymology is unclear, probably Scottish.
Glad you liked the vid, hopefully it was useful in some way and yeah, I bloody love the Rohloff, I won't be switching back any time soon
@@JethroJessop I’m actually taking a very hard look at the priority 600 which features a pinion gear box w a 800% gear range. I popped for a brooks c17 and spent five days on it during a recent trip. Love it. No saddle soreness whatsoever.
@@craiglycke6170 I met a chap in Denmark who was touring with a pinion and he raced about it. It had taken over a fair few mountains from he told me.
I'd love to try one but don't think I'd have the courage to pull the trigger on one without getting a fair few miles in on it first.
Let me know how you get on 😉
Had to subscribe after the “gold nuggets” request. Beautiful!
Your support is very much appreciated thank you.
And if you have any gold nuggets that you don't need... you know, just kicking around, then I'll happily accept them too ;)
Great review. I’m planning to build up an Ogre this spring with an Alfine 11 and a dynamo. Quite excited and was happy to find someone with a very similar setup and positive reaction. Cheers from Minnesota!
Hey thanks, glad you liked video. I don't think you'll regret the choice of an Ogre. Even after the best part of a year I still jump on mine and have a little moment when I realise all over again what a nice bike it is to ride. Good luck with the build, I hope brings you many happy miles :)
same situation brotherr....youth is limited...lots of ride plans....wanna ride the trails out there..but have to work @ a desk...😊
Damn those desks. Mine is always in the way and I can't seem to get round it.
One day, one day...
Great video! Love your insight.
Well thank you :) Glad you enjoyed it!
I think you could review a kernel of corn and make it interesting. I was absorbed with this. Very excellent.
Have you been hacking into my Video Ideas files??
I had a whole series of Reviews of Cereal Crops planned. Ah well, the element of surprise is lost now so I guess I'll ditch that.
More bike videos it is I suppose.
Cheers for watching, I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video. I'll try to keep churning them out
Really enjoyed that, thanks. Taking delivery of my Ogre in May, will adapt and change it over time, live in Snowdonia, so first thing is to change the rear cassette, will be looking at Rohloff in the future. Cheers
Snowdonia is the perfect environment for an Ogre!
I've done a few rides in South Wales but haven't really ridden much further north. It's on my list though - some amazing country round there, you are lucky.
Hope the bike arrives on time and I'm glad you enjoyed the vid :)
LBW.
Great review. As you said I think you nailed it. Great bike. I can see why you are pleased with it. I have a Troll with Rolloff hub.
Do the 3" tyres roll quite well on tarmac? I guess they come into their own on trails off road.
I have thought about trying the Moloko bars but have never got round to it.
One thing you might consider to make life even easier for you and your bike is a Hebie Chainglider to keep the chain totally clean and increase longevity. They're about £30-35 from SJS or Rose Bikes or Bike24. You need the Rohloff one. It keeps the chain very clean and crud off it.
Re : tools. You must need a spanner for the Rohloff and OEM2 torque bar nut and bolt to undo them to get the Rohloff hub out if you have a puncture or adjust chain tension? I carry a small adjustable spanner and a small 8/10mm spanner plus chain link pliers, multi-tool and tyre levers, that's all.
Me too dreaming of all those tours I could do, but CV has put a stop to unfettered cycle touring.
I might be able to stretch standing you some McNuggets but sadly not gold nuggets.
Thanks for making.
Cheers.
I absolutely love it. Just need to get it out for something longer than an overnighter now!
@@JethroJessop I just edited my post above you might want to re-read it or not ...
Yes a longer tour before the summer is out.
I am thinking maybe the Pennine Cycle Way and Great North Trail.
@@alexmorgan3435 Pennine Way is on my list as well. One day...
The 3" tyres are fine on tarmac as long as the pressure is kept up otherwise they do start to sing a bit. They are not the best tyres I've ever ridden but they are fine for now.
I have been recommended the Chainglider before but have never really checked it out properly - I'll look into it. Always interested in new gear :)
Tools-wise the Rohloff just needs a 10mm (I think - maybe 15??) spanner. The torque nut is attached to the frame and slots into the hub arm so need to touch it when removing the wheel. As long as you remember to line it up when you put it back on.
No worries about the gold nuggets. I'll just have to keep working for a living like everyone else :)
greatt review, ill buy ogre too. thanks
Glad you liked it. I'm just editing a revisit of the bike after a couple of years and the few things that have changed since this first review. Keep your eyes peeled on the channel in the next few days!
Spoiler alert, I still love this bike and if you did get one you would not regret it :)
Thank you for your detailed and a little bit emotional review. Honestly you saying absolutely truly and logically things about every aspect of your bike and I'm agreed with almost all of your thoughts. It's just like me thinking on my own how's proper bike and proper bike setup has to be. Your review very different than others, you have real experience and sharing it in a calm manner. Thank you for your video. It was lucky to find it.
Thank you, I'm glad you liked the vid.
I'm not an expert in all aspects of bikes so all I have is my personal opinion and experience. Hopefully that is useful to someone!
Thanks for watching.
Enjoyed that, thanx.
Regards,
Gen l 2007 KM owner.
Thanks, glad it was useful. Happy riding 😀
Great video man, very informative and inspiring! happy trails and love the bike.
Thanks. I love it too 😉
Glad you enjoyed the video, happy riding and thanks for watching
Great stuff - thanks for all your ride updates this year - you have inspired our whole family!
That's great! I'm very pleased to hear that. If I can have a hand in anyone enjoying an adventure then that makes me happy. What have you been up to?
Let's hope next year brings many more.
@@JethroJessop We've explored a lot of Epping Forest with our teenage sons. One of them has also joined a local cycle club and we're planning and training for a tour from London to Cornwall in the next couple of years.
@@heatherw4100 sounds great. I actually rode in Epping forest just before lockdown with a friend who lives round there.
I was really surprised by how wild it feels and how easy it was to get there from proper town. A really great place to be close to.
I'm thinking of building an ogre and I have thought about the same hub set up ! So good to hear and I learned a bit , I didn't know that the rollof hub needed a specific crank set for the chain line
It doesn't need a specific one as much as it needs one that has the correct chain line.
There are options but not every set will work. I've heard of people using a single ring from certain 3X sets and also there are spacers that will help.
In my case I got a bit overwhelmed trying to work out which sets would work and then I came across the middleburn stuff.
Made in the UK, specifically designed to do the job, well reviewed.
I'd be interested to hear what you go for in the end. Hope your build works out, keep me posted!
Love the setup with the rohloff. I would also match it up with a gates carbon belt drive, but the surly frame won’t allow as I understand. Would like feedback on this please if someone knows.
I've not looked deeply into belt drive. I know some swear by them but it all seemed a bit daunting to me.
As you say, it also limits your choice of frames as you need a splitter to install the belt (I think). I heard of people who had split frames themselves to do this but I can't imagine fully trusting it afterwards.
I've never really found running a chain drive to be a problem and they are pretty easy to maintain and fix so I'll most likely stick with it.
Sweet ride. Those tyres are chunky!
They are. I am all about the chunk these days.
Just subscribed to your channel & am enjoying the ride! I don't like derailleurs & hydraulic brakes either. Really appreciated hearing your thoughts, thanks.
Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying it. I hope my thought continue to entertain even though they do tend to wander sometimes I notice 😀
@@JethroJessop Haha I hadn't noticed
End of 2019? Well They did the updates to the frame in 2017 and new version was called the 2018 model. So 2018 and forward I don't think there were major changes to the frame. Spec is often changing and I wouldn't worry with the FOMO (fear of missing out). Besides, you're Ogrehoffed with a dynamo! Ogre still lives on while Troll, Pugsley, and ECR which had the same dropouts were discontinued. Have you tried Gravelking SK's for tires? They come in 27.5
TRP Spykes with bigger rotors and a higher grade pad are a perfect match. Alpha Cycling have an Ex Plus grade of brake pad that is copper + resin. Quiet and strong. It's on the ali ex shopping site.
Surly forks are great, you can usually thread Dynamo wiring into the fork blade and bring it out inside the crown and up to a USB stem adapter or other.
Some top tips to look into there, thank you!
I've taken notes and will be investigating. I'm set for tyres for a while but I need new brake pads pretty soon so thanks for the heads up 😀
Great review--funny and informative. Just ordered a Surly Krampus. Wish I had the scratch for a Rohloff, but the 1 X 12 will have to do. Keep the faith!
Cheers buddy, glad you liked it.
The Rohloff is great but it cost the same as my whole previous bike and did take a while to get the courage to pull the trigger.
I also looked at the krampus for a bit but settled on the ogre and am very happy. Hope yours works out for you, do you have to wait ages for it to arrive?
@@JethroJessop A shop in the middle of the country had one. Should ship next week. We'll see!
@@ScottandJodi Good stuff. You'll be out on the trails in no time then :)
Also. The Paul Klampers mechanical disc brakes are king. Couldn’t put on rear of my Trek 1120. Front fit fine. I will find a bike that will run both and a Rohloff hub one day !
Not come across them. I will check them out. The Spykes are great but not without their downsides so if I were to redo the brakes I'd be shopping around to see what else is out there for sure
Thank you.
My pleasure. I'm glad it was enjoyable/useful
Curious why you were looking for a bike with horizontal dropouts, they give me the uneasy feeling that the rear wheel is gonna fly off at any minute. Regardless, can't wait for my ogre frame to arrive and just ogling at other peoples' till it shows up. Also who manufactured the cargo cages that you're using?
The horizontal dropouts were for the Rohloff and keeping chain tension. I was pretty uneasy about it as well at first having never experienced it before but its fine and hasn't caused me any problems so far.
The cargo cages were the old Salsa design and they were rubbish. All the welds cracked and they fell apart completely. I finished my Pennine Bridleway ride with them just held in place by voile straps. That design has been retired now and the new one is apparently solid but I use Tailfin mounting plates now.
The Ogre is great though, I love it and I hope you enjoy yours just as much :)
Have you considered the surly bridge club? I'm considering a rig like yours, but I'm kind of split between the ogre and the bridge club. Do you have any input?
I'm afraid not. I looked at the troll and the ogre but beyond them I was considering other brands - Bombtrack, Tumbleweed etc
And I'm really not good at getting caught up in the small details of frame geometry and all that. There were several small reasons for me choosing the ogre (many of which i can no longer remember) but it was also in a large part just me getting bored with shopping and that being the one that was in my hands at the time 😉
Sorry, I'm rubbish with questions about gear if it isn't gear I actually own.
@@JethroJessop thank you for the honest answer, even if it wasn't what I was hoping for.
@@phinhager6509 Sorry I couldn't be more helpful :(
I have a bridge club, it looks fairly similar to this ogre but not sure it can go up to 3" tyres. I use mine mainly for shopping, large loads in the panniers and its awesome at that, on or off road. It's been round some trail centres and some really dicy Welsh trails made from gravel, huge slippery rocks at crazy gradients . It's responsive, has a high bottom bracket to belp not smack pedals off things and is pretty much bomb proof. In general it's a fun bike and can handle anything my fairly limited cycling skill would want to attempt.
Interesting that you choose a Surly, which is known for its heaviness and powered paint method. I wondered if you considered a Pinion Gearbox. And if you did, why you opted for the Rohloff.
I've never been much of a one for worrying about weight. I was looking for comfort, simplicity, reliability and lots of options for attaching bags and the Surly delivers on all those points.
I briefly looked at Pinion after meeting a few people with them when I rode in Denmark but it just seemed like you limit yourself to small subset of frames where the Rohloff can be built into pretty much anything.
I could have spent the rest of my life researching bike components but after a while I just had to make a decision and I'm super happy with how it turned out 😁
Fantastic review bro. You've a great voice.
Thank you! Glad you liked it. I just finished a hard week riding the Pennine Bridleway so have really given the bike a beating.
Still bloody love it. The breaks do need more attention than hydraulics but I'm very happy with all my choices
Get maxxis dhf for front and rear. Great tires. The Ogre is the only bike I regret parting with. Built mine from frame. Sad I sold it. I have Jones LWB plus and Trek 1120. Both good bikes. $6000 into Trek 1120 build but it’s not the ultimate bikepacker !
Cheers for the tyre recs, I'll look into them. Will need a new set for the summer possibly so all suggestions gratefully received.
I'd be sad to see my Ogre go. I can't think what I'd replace it with that would be better.
I'm seriously considering the Ogre as my next bike. I currently ride an HPV Gekko 26 recumbent trike around Southern California, mainly due to the comfortable ride..even without suspension. But since I'm losing weight and getting stronger I'm now considering adding a 2nd bike...mainly because it's easier to travel with on the train, plane or bus when needed. Trikes are difficult to travel with on public transit....you have to break it down to the frame then put everything into the largest cardboard box allowed to ship it which is expensive. I've signed up to take a 12 week bike maintenance course this fall so I will have the knowledge to maintain my bikes. Should I just buy the stock bike and ride it till parts break or just get the frame & fork and then buy the parts i want to make it fit my needs...hate to waste parts and money.
I watched two chaps trying to get trikes onto a train in Sweden only recently and it did indeed look like a lot of hassle compared to a standard bike.
I think building your own setup from parts is a great learning experience but unless you have some very specific requirements that you are already sure of then it might not gain you very much else.
I think the Ogre comes fairly well specced if you buy it off the shelf so I doubt you'll miss out on much. I only built my own because I knew I wanted the Rohloff hub and some non standard bars so it made sense.
I guess if you get into your maintenance course and really enjoy it then a from-scratch build would be a great way to follow up on it and solidify the skills you pick up.
I am a fellow tubeless rider. I have struggled though to find some durable touring tires that last through mixed surfaces of gravel and tarmac. Have gone through Bontrager xr1 which just shed its rubber on the road it seems. Then I went on to Scwhalbe Allround tires and they were great but I seriously doubt that they are truly tubeless even though it says tubeless easy on the box. Went through 3 tires in a few weeks where the sealant just seeped through without sealing anything, and the holes were best described as microfissures. Rolled fantastic but needed work on the tubeless aspect. Tried 4 different types of sealants on them, but none worked effectively. Now I am running Continental Race Kings and they are truly tubeless and comfy to ride on but they do not roll as well as the schwalbe tires did, but I would sacrifice that for the tubeless system. I do notice however that they are not very durable. Would like to see them get past the 1500 km mark.
It would be great to see touring tire, which is truly tubeless that rivals the durability of the Schwalbe Supremes but comes in a 29"x2.2" and is meant for mixed surfaces.
These Chronicles seem good from a durability point of view (though I've not done vast distances on them yet) and they roll well enough on tarmac at higher pressure but are just not great for traction in the wet. On my old (standard tube) bike I had Schwalbe Marathon Mondials and they were brilliant but I don't know if they come tubeless ready.
It seems to be some kind of ironic comment on modern, capitalist life that the choice of tyres out there is now so big that it is almost impossible to find what you want :)
@@JethroJessop yep the choices for that size come mainly from mtb tires, the problem is figuring out which are durable and roll well on tarmac and gravel without shedding half the rubber on the road. It is also an indication on how the market thrives. Never invent a product that has a super long shelf life as you want repeat customers. Better to make a tire that lasts at most a 1000km and have the customer buy it again repeatedly instead of making a tire that lasts a lot longer.
Although they are Enduro tires, the Vittoria Martellos have been quite capable tires. Sturdy and long-wearing, surprisingly decent on the tarmac, and the reenforced sidewalls allow you to run lower pressures safely and/or add additional dampening on the rougher bits. Running a Vittoria Mezcal 2.6 (trail XC tire) on the back or front too has been gaining in popularity too. Faster rolling yet sturdy enough for bikepacking duty as long as it's dry or relatively dry; not the greatest for mud... Getting these tires might be an issue considering supply-chain issues; my bike-shop said I'd have to wait on a watch-list and Maybe I'd have a shot at some new Vittorias but, they are a legit tire worth the wait (!).
I enjoy the honesty expressed for your component selection. My bike is a little different but there's a similar pragmatism about it - not least because it's the bike I already have. It's a hardtail - about 11 years old now but a bit of a Trigger's broom which has seen it evolve from a decent-enough MTB into a comfy tourer. Similar to yours, mine's tough enough, and has proven reliability over the years, but perhaps the most important thing is that I understand how it all works so I'm comfortable supporting it when away from home.
I note your friend Alan has a MTB. I wonder whether you could get him to express his opinions about his bike and component choice? Everyone loves a gear review.
I am in the process of trying to convince Alan that he should have his own channel!
He has a few bikes, and is always putting new ones together as little projects. Messages like this are all nudges in the right direction so I'll pass on your request 😉
Hi Jethro - really love all your videos - and love your surly Ogre - i do have one question? what made you choose 27.5 over 29s ?
Probably nothing as conclusive as you are hoping for ;)
Previously I was riding a more cross country type hardtail - flat bars, 26" wheels. I didn't buy it for any reason other than to potter about on and it was certainly never intended to take me on any multi day trips.
I talk about this in the Biggest Danger of Bikepacking video - and how that bike lasted me ten years and thousands of miles in the end.
Eventually though I realised that I wanted to be off road as much as possible, I wanted a more relaxed geometry and more mounting points for bags. I didn't really know much about bikes (still don't) and so I was doing a lot or reading and plus size tyres where pretty "in" at the time. I liked the sound of it and so I went 27.5 because that would let me run 3" tyres on the Ogre, which the frame I'd decided on for similarly hazy reasons.
The whole build was as much luck as judgement but it turned out great and I love it!
@@JethroJessop thanks- great info - ya im rideing my hard tail MT bike on 26 inch rim - its hard work and a bit slow - love my bike but need to up grade soon
@@MrTullyblue there are plenty of folk out there far more qualified than me to talk about the specifics of wheel size and frame geometry.
Also plenty of folks with strong opinions they can't back up though 😉
This is why I admit ignorance and just try to enjoy the ride.
Did you consider a Gates Carbon Belt over a chain?
Not seriously. I met a chap riding with one when i was in Sweden the year prior to my new bike and he raved about it but I wanted the Ogre and didn't want to custom split the frame.
I've never found chain drive to be a problem so I didn't see the need to dive a world of limited frame choice and specialist parts for no great reason.
I'd love to try one out but doubt I'd take the plunge without a lengthy trial first
Hi Jethro! Great video, im also looking to get into this bike packing stuff, Ive never had a proper bike before, and im looking at a similar bike, the Salsa Fargo (maybe you've heard of it) - ive also looked at many reviews etc.. About the rolloff hub you installed.. Did you do it yourself? how did you find it to install was it difficult? or did you just pay someone to install it?
All the best, Daniel
I have heard of the Fargo but know nothing about it except that folk speak highly of them.
The trickiest part of the Rohloff install was working out which one to get to fit my frame.
I got mine through SJS Cycles who were absolutely fantastic. Really patient, helpful and knowledgeable. They set me up with the right model then I got a local wheel builder to build it up with the rims I'd chosen.
The rest is just attaching cables and is easy to do yourself
Interesting, and looks a nice build. I always fancied the Rolhoff, but couldn't quite bring myself to spend the money.... I've recently sold both my 'project' bikes made largely of spare parts, and bought a completely off the peg Trek 520 instead which I'm really quite liking. None of the things I've built have been fantastic if I'm honest! The only thing I'm changing on the 520, is to fit larger and more rugged tyres for my next trip, and a Brooks saddle which I'm slowly getting to grips with. I've gone with panniers instead of bike packing stuff, not for any particular reason - only what I'm used to I suppose!
I went full bikepacking bags but very quickly went back to running a couple of small panniers at the back.
There are a lot of benefits to softbags sit the ease of use with panniers is hard to lose once you are used to it. Or I found it to be anyway.
I'm still loving this bike. The Rohloff is great and the whole thing is so comfy to ride! It's pretty heavy and won't win me any races but then I'm not entering any so that's not a problem 😉
What size frame did you get? And what's your size? I'm 173cm and on the fence between the small and medium..
I'm about 180 I think and I went for a large.
I bought pretty blind as I couldn't find anywhere that would do me a test ride so I went solely based on this :surlybikes.com/uploads/downloads/15924_SUR_Bike_Sizing_Chart_OL_VF.pdf
This would put you in the MD category but it's a scary business if you can't actually try it out for size.
@@JethroJessop appreciate it. I found an S to try and it was a tad too small so I just ordered a medium! Cheers
@@bigpimpinbig1 great, I hope it is the perfect fit. it's a great bike, you'll love it 😀
Any updates after a couple years with your Ogre/Rohloff setup? I’m seriously considering a setup similar to yours and there just isn’t much info out there from long term owners.
I love it still.
I added an extra tooth to my rear sprocket to help climbing but other than that I'm on the same spec as when I filmed this.
It isn't a lightweight build but it is really comfy to ride and it eats anything I throw at it. It is my adventure bike and primary mode of transport as well.
Oh I actually added an adjustable stem as well just because I like to ride in a really upright position.
It's really personal and I'm not hugely experienced with lots of other bikes but I am really pleased with this one. No complaints at all.
Hope that helps. If you have specific questions I'm happy to try and answer
Just finished my first video of yours on the Big Agnes HV UL1 Copper Spur. Great video. Checking out your TH-cam sight abd surprise ! Surly Ogre! I'm riding a 2017 Ogre. Looking at the BG to go on my Ogre.
Ah, an Ogre brother. Good to meet you 😀
I love it I have to say, such a great rig. Did you get to do any big rides this summer? Any planned for the future?
Hi Jethro
Is your Ogre frame compatible also with Gates Carbon Belt being you’re using Rohloff hub without using conversion kit?
Thanks
The Ogre has a solid rear triangle and Gates belts need a splitter in it right?
You'd have to either chop the frame or use a split belt like the Veer ones.
I very briefly looked into this but the rewards never seemed great enough to pursue it further.
Are you using belt drive already or looking to switch?
@@JethroJessop Thank you for your reply. Planning to build Touring Bike and my liking is to use Rohloff together with Gates Carbon Belt. Was looking for a Frame that is compatible that is Budget friendly though.
@@nelsonmalabanan7407 I've not looked into it deeply but I know you can have belt splitters added to most frames if the stiffness can be maintained.
Neither Rohloff nor belt drive systems are super budget friendly though so if you are shelling out for those it would be a pity to skimp on the frame.
I'd be interested to know what you end up with though. Keep me posted 🙂
@@JethroJessop thanks Jethro for your valuable input, i will let you know.
I was wondering about this. Really like so many of the choices on this bike. Though seems like missing a great trick to not have a belt drive if using hub gears? You've got to stay involved in cleaning (esp. off-road), lubing, repairing etc the chain when you hardly have to think about it with a belt! (Though any counter-arguments would be interesting). Soma Jawbone B-type has a similar price frameset as well as a split frame for belt drive. Just takes slightly narrower tyres (27.5 x 2.6 max). Great vids though - always engaging and plenty to think about!
Nice video pal. Regarding your 3 inch tires, can you use mtb tires on a gravel bike to prevent the slipping and sliding?
I know basically nothing about gravel bikes I'm afraid.
I assume the frame and forks will be rated with a maximum tyre size they can accept but it probably differs from model to model.
If you go up in size by much your likely looking at new rims as well.
Interesting
Tbh I’m just riding a vaguely modded Scott Aspect for “bike pack” and I bought it second hand, it works, it’s fine but then I take not much.
One downside is the full hydraulics which I don’t ... I was going to say trust but that’s not true ... more, if they are knackered so am I really.
Mine even has 26” wheels but changed tyres ... €270 .... 1500 km so far second hand with one hydraulic thing
It’ll still do
Half way down the Chemin de st Jacques (road style) on a €650 triban RC 500 ... which I love. Tailfin pack cost half as much as the bike ... but is good if you don’t need a lot.
Cheers
I'm a big fan of 'the bike you have is the right bike'. I've crossed paths with people riding all kinds of things from the super expensive, custom builds to crappy old clankers.
To be honest, I could have carried on riding the old Cannondale for years to come but I finally decided what type of riding I like to do and was fortunate enough to have the budget to buy the right bike so I treated myself.
Hopefully this one will last me into my ripe old age :)
@@JethroJessop “ Hopefully this one will last me into my ripe old age” ...I’m in It now mate
hey, did you also consider to buy the Surly Bridge Club? why did you went for the Ogre?. Thanks
I did consider a few different frames but the BC wasn't on the list. It all seems a long time ago now and a lot of my thinking on the subject has been forgotten but I wanted plus size tyres, horizontal dropouts for the Rohloff and I liked the doubled up mountings on the forks that let you run bottles and bags at the same time.
I'm trying to remember what else I was considering - I think maybe a Bombtrack? The Tumbleweed Prospector looked good but was way too expensive in the end.
@@JethroJessop thank you!
Nice!
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching
Have you got around to doing the bags video? This is where I have got to in my setup and I’m thinking of leaving the back rack on and having a big bag on top of it rather than a giant seat torpedo. Dithering. What is the bottle cage for the Koran Kanteen and those metal ones up front? Appreciate everything you post.
I haven't done bags yet because I'm still not 100% decided on my own set up or how to pack them.
I'm pretty sure I will always run a rack on the back. I really don't like seat packs and the easy access and large volume of panniers is too good to give up. I'll keep the panniers small but they will always be there.
The bottle cage is Velo Orange Mojave bikepacking.com/index/oversized-bottle-cages-for-bike-touring/ and its great. Holds a Kleen Kanteen really tight. The bottle cages up on the forks are just cheap no-brand jobs.
On the forks in this video I have Salsa v1 cages that fell apart on my recent PBW ride. I have since swapped them out for some Tailfin mounts to which I attach Restrap fork bags which I love.
On the bars I have a Revelate Designs Sweetroll and Egress Pocket.
The framebag is Surly branded Revelate Designs to fit the Ogre.
I will get a bag/packlist video out one day but I'm still getting it dialled in my own head so don't really feel like I can advise anyone else on it yet ;)
Hi Jethro, interesting hearing you talk about the Maxxis tyres sliding about. I've got a Bombtrack Beyond+ ADV, which comes with WTB Ranger 29" x 3" tubeless tyres and I've got the same problem, fine in the dry but they do slip and slide around in damper conditions. I'm starting to think that maybe it's common with the wider footprint of the tyre. Other than that I love the plus size tyres. Love your vids, by the way! 👍
Maybe you are right, I don't have enough experience to say but I was kind of surprised by how minimal the tread on the chronicles is.
I figured the lower running pressure would make up for it but it doesn't seem to so maybe it is width thing.
I live the plus sizes as well though and wouldn't swap back.
How do you like the bombtrack? I met a guy riding one when I was in Sweden last year and they were on my shortlist before I settled on the surly.
@@JethroJessop Funnily enough I nearly went for the Ogre, but I didn't like the horizontal rear dropouts, just a personal preference thing. Settled on the Bombtrack and have been really impressed with it. It was supposed to be my offroad bikepacking bike but it is now my go-to steed of choice!
@@jonedge80 Horizontal drop outs are a bit weird but I chose them for the Rohloff. I got a Snugnut (or maybe a Tugnut, can never remember) to help with the positioning and I'm kinda down with it now.
Glad the Bombtrack is delivering - here's to many great adventures in the future!
@@JethroJessop Fat tires are known for their gripping ability, so I think you've just run into the one environment that the Chronicles aren't optimal for. This is a problem with any tire that's built for multi-surface. Surly Knards get a lot of the same criticism. Any time you have a tightly packed, low profile knobs, its going to be really good on hard surfaces. But, for the same reasons, does a bit poorly on loam and in soup. I'm a bit jealous, Chronicles have a bit of an epic reputation here in the southwest US. But, it seems they no longer make them. Options for 27.5x3 are slimming, it seems.
@@cjohnson3836 Think you're right. In the dry they are great and they roll well on rough and paved. It is just when they hit the slick stuff that the fail really.
You can't have it all though so I'm not going to complain too much.
OK matey, I've thought about this for a year. Anyway I have put a free 'Cycle off into the world pass' in the post for you.
I like the sound of that!
I will listen eagerly for the postman. Shall I hand in my notice at work now or wait till it arrives, just in case? 😉
Hello! Which is your Ogre size? Thanks
Mine is a Large. I'm about 6 foot tall and fits me well.
The official Surly size chart on their website is pretty trustworthy if you aren't able to try before you buy
I have a 2017 ogre with a rockshock reba fork, XT triple drivetrain and hand built wheels. Works well
Nice. Sounds like a beauty :)
Love your review, cause we see you are a real adventurer with your cycle, and your priority is not to see it shining in the middle of your living room, washing it after each 10 miles. But just to ride. It is dirty as a cycle should be.
That's is probably too true 😉
A bicycle should be dirty but I should probably look after mine better, I'm just a lazy fellow who is good at procrastination.
Glad you are enjoying the videos though, thanks for watching 😀
Tucson Arizona Desert 🏜️. Moloko Bars on my ECR Surly.
I bought mine on a bit of a whim but they are fantastic. The sweep is perfect for and did say with all the wrist pain I used to get
You should be a professional TH-cam influencer cycle wizard!
Believe me, I am trying! It's not as easy as it looks though so I thank you for your support 😉
Hi Jethro , What do you think of your Surly now you've had it a while ? would change tire size for example ?
I love it. Really capable, really comfy to ride. It is my adventure bike but also my primary mode of transport day to day.
I'd be sort of interested to try a slimmer tyre but purely for scientific reasons. I enjoy the 3s on and off road.
I might add some bar ends or an angled stem just because I like an upright riding position.
Basically, no complaints, it's a great bike 😉
@@JethroJessop I have a had my Surly Ogre for a while now & I find it's a lot nicer ride than my Thorn Nomad , I use 29" wheels with 2.25" Vittoria tyres & get extra comfort from a Cane Creek seat post & a Redshift stem , I covers tarmac at a decent pace & rides off road really well . Can I ask what make of water bottle holder you use underneath your down tube ? as I'm looking for something reliable to hold my tool bottle . Happy new year & thanks for the inspirational videos.
@@kevindean9613 How do you find the suspension seat post? I'm always toying with the idea of getting one but I know what I'm like - I'll talk myself into the most expensive one out there without even trying it out first ;)
The bottle holder I use is a Velo Orange Mojave. Its great, really tough and has held up well. Never had to use additional straps or had anything shake loose from it. I can definitely recommend.
@@JethroJessop Thanks for that ,I have the Cane creek thud buster but I also got a Cane creek eesilk from Bikester in a sale it has a carbon stem ,both are great ,The eesilk is more easily adjustable ,I really like them great on long rides & when you hit the odd unexpected pothole filled with water .
@@kevindean9613 So worth having then?
Whenever I ride with Alan he waxes lyrical about how much he loves his. Maybe its time I joined the club - these bones aren't getting any younger ;)
I've found Ritchey 2.8" Z max evolution to be by far the best out of everything I've tried .
Ok, I'll look into them. The chronicles are still sound and I won't sack them off till they wear out or get slashed but I'll definitely want to have an alternative lines up ready for when they go.
That is a remarkable tubeless repair. If being able to ride with something like that in your tire isn't a testament to the capabilities of a tubeless setup, I am not sure what is.
It definitely cleared up any worries about it that I had. I'm a full concert now, I love it
Beast!
Thanks, I've been working out :)
Hi, could you give me some tips for building the bike with Rohloff? QR vs Fixed screw mount(like what you put on) and the crank specs? TIA.
I don't know what I can offer really. If you are in the UK then I'd say talk to SJSCycles, they were amazing at helping me get the right parts. They spoke to Surly, got the recommendation for the axle and were just very helpful and friendly.
I went with the Middleburn cranks purely because they are made for a Rohloff setup and I got fed up trying to work out which other options would have the correct chain line.
This is the one I have activesport.co/Middleburn-RS8-X-Type-Rohloff-4arm-Chainset-With-Hardcoat-Ring
38T/175MM
Mostly though I'd say just read a lot. Decide on your frame first then read up on the spec for that frame, search for other who have done similar builds and written about it.
Read the docs on the Rohloff site and watch their instructional videos.
bikepacking.com/bikes/ has a lot of good articles as well especially if they happen to have reviewed your chosen frame. If you haven't got a frame in mind then they are a great place to start as they have loads of really good, in depth reviews.
Just take your time is the most important thing. It took me months to get an idea of what I needed and then probably the same again to source it all and put it together.
At the time I felt like I was learning loads but I seem to have forgotten most of it now ;)
@@JethroJessop thanks buddy, I have an Ogre and would like to change to Rohloff hub just like yours. A straight chainline is what I need. Thanks for tall the info and time spend replying my queries. Appreciate your help. Thanks again.
@@yiezhe No problem, sorry I can't be more help.
I learned a lot from the Bikepacking.com Ogre review, well worth a read though you may be beyond that if you already have the frame.
I believe the standard chain line is 54mm and a lot of people manage to achieve this using the middle ring of 3x setup and spacers as needed.
In my case I was lazy and went for the Rohloff specific middleburn but there are plenty of other options.
Good luck with it!
I would try the Surly ET tyres, would fit your rig very well for its intended purposes.
Just checked them out. They look decent and I would definitely look at other options when the chronicles have done their duty. The ETs are only 2.5 though and I am enjoying the 3.0 girth on the current ones :)
The shank is damn funny, mate.
Still unbeaten to this day! In fact I haven't had another puncture since. I'm loving tubeless!
Hello someone have build bafang bbso2 750w with 17.5 ah batterie on surly ogre S? enough Space for thé batery?i Can t find thé s frame size
Muy hermosa máquina bendiciones para ti buen video felicidades
Gracias 😉
Hey, could I ask you what type of axle that you are running with your Rohloff? The threaded axle or the Quick release one? Thank you!
The solid threaded one. I'll be honest, I got pretty confused when I was trying to work out which model I needed and in the end I phoned SJSCycles and just told them what frame I had and they sorted me out :)
The threaded axle fits the Ogre dropouts with a little spacer ring and the OEM2 axle plate.
amazing bike
you want to remove those bolt where the bottle cages are supposed to be
they will ruin your frame bag
I guess they might cause a bit of wear and tear but they aren't too snug fitting and that bag holds really solid in place - hardly moves at all.
I'm gonna check the fabric now though, you got me worrying :)
But yeah, it is a great bike. I'm really pleased with it and am just hoping that this year I'll be able to take it on a few good adventures!
Great build. I have a 2017 ogre and want to get your wheel set for trail riding. Did you look at cheaper options for the rear hub? Shimano seems to have some good stuff.
I did a little bit but I'd got my heart set on a Rohloff and in the back of my head I always knew that was what I'd end up with. They are expensive but this was my first new bike in 10 years and I figured I may as well push the boat out. I don't have a car and spend a lot of time on my bike so it didn't seem such an extravagance really. (I'm also really pleased with the wheel set - works for all kinds of riding)
Good stuff Jethro! Learning a lot from your videos. What type of rear cargo rack do you use on your ogre?
I use a Topeak Explorer but really that is only because that is what I've always had. I'm on my second one now but panniers seem to be becoming less frowned upon by bikepackers now so there are other options appearing on the market.
At some point I'll probably look into something a bit more minimal and lighter.
Finding this video has thrown a little curveball into my plans. First a bit of background, I’m 60 year young this year and a returning cyclist after an interruption of many years of hill walking. I am definitely not a Licra clad speed merchant. At the moment I have an e-bike which is a beast that I love but it limits my more adventures plans, ie Hadrians Wall, Alfreds Way and so on. I had been looking at steel bikes that would cope with these sort of trips loaded up with panniers and a tent, for example the Genesis Tour De Fer, which is in my budget area. Then you rock up with a Surly Ogre which has a different geometry (It’s a nice word but don’t really understand it). So onto the question, does this handle like a Morris Minor / Tank on the roads? The romantic in me wants to be able to plough off down a random rooty path at a whim, but the reality is most of my trips will be on NCN cycle paths, I’m not 23 anymore. Any advice greatly appreciated.
I'll be honest, I'm not someone who pays a lot of attention to handling. The Ogre is heavy and when it is loaded up with bar roll/bottle/fork bags I notice the weight in the front when steering but not in a negative way.
The most important factor for me is that it is very comfy, a pleasure to ride. With fat, soft tyres it almost feels like a full-sus, with tyres pumped up hard it rolls really nicely on tarmac.
I've ridden tarmac, gravel mud, steep rooty descents through the woods and I have no complaints.
I'll be honest though, I'm not an expert on bike geometry, I'm just a guy with an opinion. Always happy to answer questions if I can though!
I will say that if the King Alfred's Way is on your list then you will want something that can deal with a fair range of surfaces. I did the ridgeway section recently in bad weather and the surface up there was pretty challenging. There is a video of it if you haven't seen it already th-cam.com/video/JJ4yYIVo_VU/w-d-xo.html
Well one Tour de Fer purchase and another year has gone, I have had quite a few adventures on it but find the tyre size a bit limiting so I’m on the hunt for my N+1, I don’t think I’ll ever part with the Genesis which I have a soft spot for, but bigger tyres are called for as horizons have grown and the bumps have become bigger. I have recorded our Hadrians Wall route in you are interested, not the most riveting viewing but it is a record at least. th-cam.com/play/PL3cRX3tY5pVq6EZeQreysNonNi7HTjGE5.html
Keep doin what your doing great video if I wasn't broke I'd send those nuggets.
Thank you kindly my friend, I appreciate the encouragement very much.
I've been a bit slack recently but there are more videos coming soon which I hope you find just as enjoyable
Hi, nice bike setup like the big fatty wheels. To get more traction you could go very low on pressure that would give much more grip.. I had a rohloff hub shifting and such are great but I hated the twist shifter as the rubber on it disolved in a bout 3 months (twice a week 1 /2 hour ride) from my sweaty hands. And there was no good solution for replacing only the rubber thing. I recently seen a solution to use trigger shifters but seem complex. I dissolve a lot of rubbery things during rides ... Maybe I should not drink/eat so much acidic stuff. I subscribed and liked ;-)
Wow, acid sweat. As super powers go it's not great but it's better than nothing 😉
I've had my shifter on for a couple of years now and it's seen pretty heavy use and is still in good condition. My only fault with it is that I'd like it to be more grippy as I sometimes slip on it when its wet.
Generally though I really like it. Simple and effective.
Cheers for watching, and for the sub. Hope you find some other vids to entertain you here as well
Another inspirational video Jethro, just wondered if you have had to make any gear compromises with this new set up compared to the old 4 pannier set up.
Cheers and keep the vids coming!
Glad it was enjoyable, it felt a little directionless when I filmed it so I'm pleased.
A few sacrifices in terms of space and ease of packing. I'm quite lazy and pack messy which isn't as easy now.
I'll hopefully do a video on this exact subject though. Stay tuned 😉
Cool ride :)
It really is 🙂 I'm incredibly pleased with it. Just need to get some long rides planned now. Hopefully next year will be an easier year than this one has been
Hi, can you help me with sizing? I'm 178cm with 82 cm inseam. The surly site says I'm in between size M and L. My road bike is 56cm and normally categorized as M, wonder what your size is.
Thanks
I'm no expert in this area. I'm 185cm and my frame is L which I find very comfy.
I couldn't find anywhere near me that I could go and do a test ride so I based my purchase on the surly size chart here:
surlybikes.com/uploads/downloads/15924_SUR_Bike_Sizing_Chart_OL_VF.pdf
If you are 178cm that would put you M range based on this.
@@JethroJessop Thanks very much, sounds like M size would be a good fit for me.
@@kl-ke9ec I reckon so. Good luck with it!
@@JethroJessop Thanks, got my Ogre yesterday and the size (M) fits great. the 2021 Ogre don't come with H bar anymore, is yours Jones H bar or it seems like aero bar like or or it it add on.
@@kl-ke9ec my bar is the surly Moloko. Not sure if it comes as standard on any models as I built mine up from parts but it is really comfy.
Glad you are happy with yours though, I hope you wil get some great rides in on it soon!
I used to own an ogre... Fantastic frame... Made outta lead n filled with lead 🙂... I regret selling it... I now run a Genesis Vagabond steel gravel bike fitted with trekking bars... And a steel Stooge cycles speedball... Which is out there
It surely isn't the lightest bike in the world and I have never been one to pack minimal either so I won't be winning any races. But then, I won't be entering any so all good.
I just find it very comfy for trundling along which is how I like to ride ;)
The speedball looks awesome! Never seen one in the flesh but I love the look of it!
@@JethroJessop speedball ball is quite something with truss forks ... Shame I can't add a photo here. I'm looking to sell all my bikes and just make one bike to rule them all... Lol
@@norseman1137 I only have the one bike. The Ogre isn't really an all rounder but I make it work. It is my hobby, my exercise and my primary mode of transport so I get my money's worth.
What will this One Bike be? Do you have anything in mind?
@@JethroJessop well I confess... The surly ecr attracted me.... I also like the bombtrack beyond +... And the on one boot zipper also looks good...
Primarily bike packing n mincing around in UK... Gravel bit of tame dirt n roads... Camping kit and I'm 100kg.. So nothing technical or crazy... It will doubtless have standard derailleur gears 11x1... Budget around 1500-1800... Main thing in all honest is short medium ride camp out n return... Bit long in the tooth for your fantastic rides 😉
@@norseman1137 Every ride is good ride, doesn't matter how far you go :)
I had the Bombtrack Beyond on my list alongside the Ogre. I met a chap in Denmark who was riding one and he was well pleased with it.
I can't even remember what swayed me to the Ogre in the end
Hey Jethro, any tips on taping up the horns? I've never applied tape before and it's a little scary 😂
I sympathise. I'd never done it before either.
I watched a few videos about how roadies tape around their brakes on drop bars and followed that approach. There is a certain pattern that you wind so it leaves no gaps.
Beyond that, go slow, keep tension in the tape while you go and have some gorrilla tape or similar on hand incase the stuff they supply to hold the ends down is crap - it was on mine.
I think I actually did mess up a few times but you can sort of undo a few winds and go again. You have to do it to learn how to do it I guess.
@@JethroJessop thank you, I think I'll get the wife to do it (It's her bike). If anything goes wrong she can't blame me. 😁👍
@@NigelPond Always a good strategy. Have a google around for some of the more complex winding patterns you can do with multiple colours and such. I was quite up for trying that approach but then decide to go understated in an attempt to make my bike look less stealable.
@@JethroJessop All good tips, thank you. Been watching a few videos. It's slowly looking less intimidating 👍
@@NigelPond Very few things are once you've watched a few folk who know the process.
Good luck with it!
You need to do something about that mullet , it’s getting worse!
You should see it now!
I just cut it last night. Sat between two mirrors hacking at it with a set of electric clippers.
I'm just going to pretend that tufty, asymmetric hair styles are the future ;)
Same bike as you :) would you mind if I ask where you got the bottle cage for beneath the bike from? Thanks man
Greeting bike sibling :)
I can't remember where I got it but it is a Velo Orange Mojave and the bottle is a 40oz classic Kleen Kanteen.
If you are after oversize or unusual bottle cages this is a good page (its where I found mine) bikepacking.com/index/oversized-bottle-cages-for-bike-touring/
@@JethroJessop Legend thank you. Subbed. Hope you get millions and can put your feet up
@@wobblyisthebest No worries. Any more questions, just shout and I'll try to answer.
What brand bag you using here
It's Surly branded but made by Revelate Designs. Surly have a full set of RD bags to fit all their frames and I went with it just because I was sure it would be a good fit. It seems like a good bag - not 100% waterproof but pretty spacious and well made
#teammoloko
The dream team ;)
Just got my Ogre 2020. Lol what a massive shank! That could kill anyone. Gotta read up on setting up tubeless, still on the stock tubes.
Also plan to put a Rohloff hub onto mine, as well the TRP Spyke brakes.
Did you install the Rohloff yourself?
Its a great bike, you will love it!
Definitely worth going tubeless. Think the video that helped me the most was on the GMBN channel. It's not really hard but if you are like me then order an extra roll of rim tape incase you mess up the first application :)
I am also still very happy with the Spykes. They do require some tweaking now and again but it's a very easy process and can be done whilst out and about.
With the Rohloff I got someone else to build the wheel but I did the cabling and set up the shifter and all that. Again it's pretty straight forward if a little fiddly but there are some great guides on the Rohloff channel that I followed.
Worth using a wheelbuilder you trust and giving them the relevant pages from the Rohloff manual as there are some Rohloff specific factors to take into account around lacing patterns and spoke tension.
I dunno if you are in the UK but if you are I can very highly recommend SJS Cycles for all things Rohloff - in fact all things cycle touring. They were fantastic when helping me get mine sorted out.
@@JethroJessop Hi again, been riding my Ogre successfully, even with 2,5x29 inch wheels its an off-road beast, although no major tour yet, I updated the handlebar to the Koga Denham bar which is great.
Now I am researching the Rohloff... definitely gonna order a complete wheel, but I am a total newb so I have no idea what crankset and bb would be good for the chainline, my stock 2020 build has the cheapo sram NX cranks with 32T ring which could be used (I wouldn't mind the low gear) but I think my chainline is 50mm so I guess that's a nono since I need 54mm or 55mm depending the sprocket on the hub.
You think once I have that wheel with me I can find something in my local bike shops that would fit?
What kind of crankset/bb do you have (or had) that worked with your 38/16 setup on the 2019 Ogre (which should be pretty much the same as mine)?
Also what about the chain tension, do you use a Surly Tugnut or something else or nothing?
I am using the monkey nutz 3.0, one on the drive side, currently, since I've had my TS axle slip when I pedalled in from standstill on a high gear by accident freshly after I got the bike, maybe that can be used, dunno, what about the semi vertical dump out slot on the surly bike with gnot boost, do you use that to take out the Rohloff wheel if you don't use any chain tensioning hardware?
Thanks!
@@JohnKrakatoa Glad you are liking the Ogre.
My BB is a Shimano XTR BB93 HollowTech II and the crankset is a Middleburn RS8 X which is made specifically for the Rohloff.
I use a Surly Snugnut to keep the alignment and chain tension - I actually have one on both sides just because it makes fine adjustment really easy.
In terms of chainline though I'd assume that you can get the wheel built and then hit up your local shop for a BB and crank set that will give you right chainline.
I know lots of people use the middle ring of a 3x crank but I just got so confused trying to work out which ones would fit and what spacers I'd need that I shelled out for the Middleburn.
There are definitely other ways to do it and if you have a decent LBS they will be able to sort you out I'm sure.
I recently swapped my 16t sprocket for a 17t one as well. Didn't think it would make a lot of difference but it does seem to. I was always wishing for a lower gear and was rarely in 14 so that little extra for climbing is nice.
I assume you'll get the same Rohloff as me with the splined carrier for the sprocket so it is really easy to swap out the sprockets with just a pair of needle nosed pliers.
Incase it is helpful, the advice I got from SJS cycles (which they got from Surly) was that that "the Ogre needs a TS EX Rohloff hub which has the solid axel not a quick release with an OEM 2 plate"
@@JethroJessop Thanks for the quick answers, I'll have a look at that BB and middleburn crank thank you.
Yes I know I need the TS DB EOM2 one.
I think the splined carrier is standard now.
About the Snuggnut, you have the 10/12 washers for the Rohloff so you can use it in the Gnot boost I guess?
So that is Snuggnut compatible then?
What I am reading in the FAQ at Surly for these two is pretty confusing.
@@JohnKrakatoa yeah, the Rohloff uses the spacers to fit the frame then the snugnut sits on the outside between the frame and the bolt.
All seems to fit fine with no tinkering but I know what you mean. Sometimes it feels like the more you read up on a subject the less you know about it.
Great vid and I love all the British words “malarkey”, “guff” lol. Subscribed! By the way, what size is your Ogre and how tall are you? I always have a hell of a time finding the correct frame fit and now that nobody has anything in stock, I don’t see that improving anytime soon. Lol
I do love a good British-ism :)
I'm about 6' or maybe 6' 1" and I have a large frame. That choice was made based entirely on Surly's size guide : surlybikes.com/uploads/downloads/15924_SUR_Bike_Sizing_Chart_OL_VF.pdf
I consider myself very lucky to have put this all together pre-world-falling-apart. I'm hearing so many people say their build projects are being put on hold due to lack of components. Hope you find something soon.
Any questions, just shout 'em out and I'll answer if I can. Thanks for the sub and cheers for watching!
Jethro - I just deleted my previous comment querying which saddle you're using and your opinion on it, apologies! I saw your response though. I'm wondering, have you ever tried a Brooks? I've been on my Brooks for about 1500 miles now and I just can't get comfortable! I'm wondering if the Selle SMP would be worth a try.
Also, do you ride with bibs/chamois shorts or just with normal underwear?
Thanks!
I've never tried the Brooks. People who love them seem to really love them but it also seems to be about a 50/50 split with people who hate them.
I just could never see the reasoning behind spending a load of money on a saddle that might not be any good but you won't know for sure for 500 miles or whatever. I also never got my head around the idea of a touring saddle that doesn't like getting wet. I see people wrapping their saddles in plastic bags overnight and I just couldn't be arsed with it.
Add to that, the only people I've ever known who tried them all gave up in the end because they couldn't get comfy.
What makes a good saddle is really personal though. I rode for ages on one that was way too narrow because I just never bothered to measure my arse. Caused myself a lot of discomfort before getting the Selle and realising what I'd been missing all those years. It probably isn't any better than any other saddle in the grand scheme of things but it works really well for me.
In the summer I just ride with normal underwear and shorts. In the winter I wear tights, some padded and some not. It's another thing that I never really put a lot of thought into and am only now starting to consider.
@@JethroJessop thanks for responding. Ive ordered myself a Selle SMP TRK and after the first ride, I can see it has a lot of potential! Noticed some chafing at the back of my thigh/under my arse cheeks so I'm going to have to play with the fit.
@@ryanchadd3472 it's such a specific thing to each rider and the smallest changes can make such a big difference.
I hope you manage to get something that works for you though
Great build! Have you tried the Ogre on singletrack? If so, how did it fare?
Not on proper fast and furious, trail center single-track. I've hit some wild single track but always with bags on.
It seems good though it can sometimes be a little twitchy.
There is a decent trail center near me and I keep meaning to go and do a loop around there to really test it.
Could make a good future video so watch this space!