NBD — Gus Boots-Willsen

[Jay Lonner]

This nicely-appointed 57cm Gus was listed on eBay a few weeks ago — I learned about it via the Craigslist thread. I wasn’t really in the market for a new bike, but the starting price was low enough that I couldn’t resist entering a bid. I didn’t expect my modest offer to be competitive, but it ended up winning the auction. The bike showed up this week, and after adding pedals and a saddlebag I was able to get it out on a ~15 mile jaunt around some local tideflats today.

In this configuration it rides like a smooth, stable beach cruiser. I definitely feel the weight of those big knobby tires though! The bullmoose Losco bars are comfy, but I wouldn’t want to take it out on any but the mellowest singletrack like this. I’m not sure yet what role this bike will play in my stable — I suspect that my commuter will be better for commuting, my MTB better at MTB-ing, my bikepacking rig better for touring, etc. Right now I’m appreciating it for what it is: a beautifully-made, somewhat anachronistic jack of all trades that nonetheless excels at embodying the Rivendell aesthetic. And maybe that’s enough.

[Johnny Alien]

Congrats!! Great build!

[Johnny Alien]

I'm not a fan of bullmoose versions of bars myself. They look great but they lack too much in flexibility for me. Flexibility in setup that is not actual bar flex although they also have less of that.

[Brian Turner]

Those are the Tosco-moose, and pretty dang hard to find. I’m guessing you could unload them easily if you didn’t want to keep them. Took me nearly 2 years to acquire mine.

Brian

Lex KY

On Sep 2, 2024, at 8:17 AM, Johnny Alien <johnny....@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm not a fan of bullmoose versions of bars myself. They look great but they lack too much in flexibility for me. Flexibility in setup that is not actual bar flex although they also have less of that.

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[Richard Rose]

Jay, first - congrats! Ride it like you stole it - because you did!:) I mean, the components alone…
Unless “better” actually means “faster”, I think you will be surprised. The bike devours gravel. And it is the most comfortable MTB I have owned. My normal singletrack rides are between 12-24 miles in length & tend to be somewhat rocky & rooty, very twisty and range from really flat to quite hilly. I am slower on the Gus than on any suspended bike I’ve owned. But every other part of the experience is better. And your build is more “MTB” than mine, with the exception being the handlebar. Mine is 2x7 Riv drivetrain with rapid rise & Deore brakes. Friction only. But, the Bosco got switched out for a much more MTB worthy Albacore with stubby stem - so much more control. It’s just a really satisfying MTB ride. ENJOY!
Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 2, 2024, at 1:11 AM, Jay Lonner <jay.l...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> This nicely-appointed 57cm Gus was listed on eBay a few weeks ago — I learned about it via the Craigslist thread. I wasn’t really in the market for a new bike, but the starting price was low enough that I couldn’t resist entering a bid. I didn’t expect my modest offer to be competitive, but it ended up winning the auction. The bike showed up this week, and after adding pedals and a saddlebag I was able to get it out on a ~15 mile jaunt around some local tideflats today.

>
> In this configuration it rides like a smooth, stable beach cruiser. I definitely feel the weight of those big knobby tires though! The bullmoose Losco bars are comfy, but I wouldn’t want to take it out on any but the mellowest singletrack like this. I’m not sure yet what role this bike will play in my stable — I suspect that my commuter will be better for commuting, my MTB better at MTB-ing, my bikepacking rig better for touring, etc. Right now I’m appreciating it for what it is: a beautifully-made, somewhat anachronistic jack of all trades that nonetheless excels at embodying the Rivendell aesthetic. And maybe that’s enough.
>

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[Ben R]

congrats on the new bike day!  its always a fun one!

the guy is a rad one! I recently picked up a Susie and it's been a blast.  you would be surprised as to what they can handle.  I think in another thread people were talking about taking their Susies/gus on some "rougher" stuff so baby it but don't baby it. 

the bull moose bars are rad! I say keep them on and give them a go! I got a pair on my MB1, and again, it can handle some stuff!

but congrats.  solid looking set up!

Ben R

[Kim H.]

@Jay,

I wish you a full congratulations on your NBD of your Mr. Gus Boots Willsen bicycle.

Give ride reports when you can.

Kim Hetzel.

[Josh C]

Love it, congrats Jay!

[Jay Lonner]

So I installed some new handlebars on the Gus and got it out on my usual little loop — a touch over 20 miles, ~1500 feet of climbing, and a nice mix of surfaces ranging from road to MUP to gravel to flowy singletrack.

The handlebars are the newest iteration of the Persuader bars from Tumbleweed. These have 20 degrees of sweepback and are 840mm wide. (I like wide bars and I can not lie!)

[Richard Rose]

Yes! Beautiful. But I am a bit biased. Where are you located? Going on a Riv only ride next month in SE Michigan. I plan to take Gus.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 9, 2024, at 11:46 PM, Jay Lonner <jay.l...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> So I installed some new handlebars on the Gus and got it out on my usual little loop — a touch over 20 miles, ~1500 feet of climbing, and a nice mix of surfaces ranging from road to MUP to gravel to flowy singletrack.

>
> The handlebars are the newest iteration of the Persuader bars from Tumbleweed. These have 20 degrees of sweepback and are 840mm wide. (I like wide bars and I can not lie!)
>

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[Brian Forsee]

Great looking gus Jay! What is your saddle height?

Brian

[Jay Lonner]

Brian, my saddle height is about 75cm, which given my PBH of 91cm seems a little low. I think this is attributable to the fact that I favor midfoot positioning on thin platform pedals, and that I mostly ride in Chuck Taylors, which don’t have a very substantial sole. 

Richard, I live in the extreme NW of Washington state, about as far as you can go without getting on a boat. I don’t see myself riding in the Midwest anytime soon, although I have very fond memories of the cycling around Madison when I was a resident there in the early oughts. In those days I was mostly on a first-gen Rambouillet, which was just ideal for the rolling hills there. 

To those who have asked about whether I plan to sell the Toscomoose bars, the answer is — probably, eventually. I recognize that they’re rare, which spurs a certain hoarding instinct in me that is probably psychologically unhealthy. No doubt I’ll have a Marie Kondo moment one of these days, but until I’m 100% sure that I’m keeping the Gus they don’t take up much real estate in my garage.

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

Sent from my Atari 400

On Sep 10, 2024, at 7:31 AM, Brian Forsee <bmfo...@gmail.com> wrote:

Great looking gus Jay! What is your saddle height?

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