Project Archive Test

After a chance discovery of a brand new Marin Larkspur frame on eBay I couldn’t resist the urge to build up my own version of one of these cult bicycles. Not for me this time, but for my wife, who’s riding has stepped up to the next level, and the Larkspur is the perfect ATB for her preferred style of riding whilst also giving her scope to tackle new, more ambitious trails.

There was something about the proportions of a good fatbike that always seemed right to me. I never wanted to ride snow or sand much, but I do ‘enjoy’ riding bridleways and I was seeking a machine that could smooth out the worst of my local hoof holed trails. But it had to be light, nimble and capable as a daily driver. Did I create the right machine for the job?

Not being my first lugged steel Trek, this time I knew what I was looking for. A pop-to-the-shops-pub-cafe-anywhere bike that could carry a light load but be nimble, comfortable and very nice to look at. A slight bashed up frame transformed very nicely into an urban utility rig that will always have a place in my collection.

The Stooge Scrambler is an interesting machine. A bridleway steam roller is how I would describe it. I was drawn to the twin top tube and massive tyre clearance + the lure of this very cool British brand I could not resist. I wanted a bikepacking rig that I could spend many miles on. Was the Scrambler it?