There is now a monkey in the house

A Surly Karate Monkey in fact.

Had it 3 weeks, but just got it rolling in a satisfactory state this weekend.

Saturday was the proper shakedown - from home to the Sticky Forest and up and down many times, then home again. The absence of front suspension is definitely offset by the 25.5 pound weight, which is surprising - I thought it'd be closer to 30.

Today I towed Emily into town in the trailer to get some groceries - proving that it is indeed a bike of many guises.

Yes, early days in the relationship I know, but so far I'm enjoying have sex with my new bride.

**Footnote** After a quick browse of http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/ I realise this is a fairly shallow post.

So, here's the specs;

medium monkey frame, with rigid fork.

Hadley 32 hole hubs (freaking expensive, but V good.

Black spoke, cut by DB the spoke master

Salsa Degado race rims (25mm wide)

Black rubber inner tubes.

Kenda Kharma 29 x 2.2 tires (pretty narrow 2.2 if you ask me)

Cheap shitty 25.4 85mm long stem

Salsa Moto Ace 11 degree flat bars (very cool would get them again)

Ritchey Logic headset - seen better days

Cheap lock on grips - scratched the bars first time I took them off - bah !

Shimano 3 x 9 Deore/ Deore XT shifters (dual release - very nice, but confuses my thumb/index finger)

Avid Juicey 4 brakes - that is 3 levers and 5 calipers....no psringf in the front pads so they rattle.

Hope 6 inch rotors

Suntour XC Pro front derailleur with butchered Shimano plastic spacer to make it fit.

Clapped out Shimano 73 mm square taper bottom bracket
Shimano XTR old school 175mm cranks with 24/34/42 chainrings
Little SPD Shimano pedals
SRAM chain !
SRAM cluster 11-32 !
Shimano XTR shadow rear derailleur - medium cage
Easton seatpost (formerrly Clint Jacksons)
Seat - yes, narrow, slim and not overly comfortable and probably expensive.
Hand made Bike plate - actually a seat plate, made from a pilfered real estate sign.

Probably some other stuff, but you've fallen asleep by now.