New Bike Day - Hunqapillar FINALLY!

[Philip Kim]

Picked up my Hunq from Gravel & Grind (helped me put together the build) on Saturday and finally got around to riding it this morning. Here are some pictures before my morning commute from DC into Arlington.

This is a 48cm Hunqapillar, with mostly 10 speed XT parts except the SLX rear derailleur, and White Industries crankset. Also Pauls canti's and levers, Brooks Swift, and Nitto Seatpost.

Of unusual to note, I fitted this out with a Jones loop bar. I had Clockwork Bikes make me a custom 31.8 quill stem. It's bare steel right now, but I'll probably nickel plate it somewhere down the road. Wheels are Compass Rat Traps set up tubeless on Atlas rims. Using the Riv's silver hub rear, and the Shutter precision hub front. Built up by Gravel & Grind.

Got the Carradice bag from Gravel & Grind, fits all my work clothes, work laptop, lunch, with room to spare. Strapped to my handlebar method - via Ultraromance-style, and also seen on Mark Reimer's Atlantis. I really like this set up, allows more cargo than a basket, and things don't fly around.

Can't recommend the guys at Gravel & Grind enough. Very chill, very flexible, and very rad.

This bike rides soo awesome! I can really push it, but it's very comfortable and stable. I was also surprised how light it feels considering it's a stout frame. So stoked for many many years on this thing!

Thanks to all those I've privately messaged and all those who answered my questions and all that. It really helped a lot.

I've been thinking of getting a Hunq for awhile now back when it was the awesome grey and red color, so I got it colored in the old grey, but cream accents to match the new Hunqapillar decals.

[se...@austin.utexas.edu]

Awesome! Beautiful bike and build. I run a Carradice on the front too and love it. Great to see a quill stem with Jones bars. Love those bars and wish they'd make some production quills available in 31.8.

Sean

ATX

[Mark Reimer]

Gorgeous bike, looks like a ton of fun!

[Ryan Thompson]

Congrats on your new Hunq!  Love the color and setup especially the Jones bars.  I've been meaning to get up to Gravel and Grind to check it out, seems like a great shop.

Would be nice to see it in person sometime.

Ryan

Arlington, VA

[bluebirdonabicycle]

What brand and size on the tires?

On Monday, June 20, 2016 at 9:42:50 AM UTC-4, Philip Kim wrote:

[Philip Kim]

Of course, let me know anytime! I'm usually in Ballston for work during the week!

[Philip Kim]

These are Compass Rat Traps 26x55. They are very nice ride so far. Nice and wide, but very awesome ride.

[Shoji Takahashi]

Congrats, Phil. 

What a great looking bike.

tailwinds,

shoji

On Monday, June 20, 2016 at 9:42:50 AM UTC-4, Philip Kim wrote:

[Patrick Moore]

Nice rig! Lucky you.

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[Bruce Smitham]

Beautiful bike Phil!

[RichS]

Congratulations and well done! My Atlantis has the identical paint. Enjoy!!!

Best regards,
Richard

[Deacon Patrick]

Oooh the adventures waiting to be unwrapped! Beautiful mammoth!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Michael Morrissey]

That looks soooo good.  The custom stem is awesome!  I love the grey color also.

m

On Monday, June 20, 2016 at 9:42:50 AM UTC-4, Philip Kim wrote:

[Chris Lampe 2]

Congrats and that's a gorgeous bike!!!  Very close to how I would outfit one if I had the funds to indulge in some really nice components.  

Are you saying that's the original grey?  I thought it was a completely different color because it looks much lighter.  Maybe it's the lighting in your camera or maybe it's just the contrast difference between grey/cream and grey/burgundy-orange.  

On Monday, June 20, 2016 at 8:42:50 AM UTC-5, Philip Kim wrote:

[Marc Irwin]

You won't believe how much you will continue to love your Hunq.  I look forward to every ride.  Keep an eye on those pedals, I had both fail in the middle of a two week trip last year.  Fortunately there was a small town hardware store nearby.   They had some $5 MTB pedals which got me home.  I switched to the Grip King pedals with serviceable bearings.

Marc

On Monday, June 20, 2016 at 9:42:50 AM UTC-4, Philip Kim wrote:

[masmojo]

That is one righteous ride! I am totally I n board with what you've done. I think my onky concern would be the Swift saddle, seems a bit narrow for a semi upright build?
I was loving the Joe Appaloosa, but seeing as I am a largish guy I have been thinking that a Hunqapillar is probably the way to go! You haven't helped steel my resolve not to get one!

[Philip Kim]

Thanks!. I'm a smaller rider 5'6" 150lb. I tried the B17 brooks on my upright Cheviot, and could not get along with it. the Swift is just right for me. I used to ride the Swift throughout college on an upright fixie, so I've never really had any problems. If it starts being uncomfortable, I still have the B17 on hand!

[Philip Kim]

Yep it's the original grey. It changes with the lighting as it's got a bluish tint to it! Maybe the cream also makes it appear light too!

[Ryan Fleming]

New bike day is always a good day...nice bike ! Hope you have many happy miles on it!

[iamkeith]

Stunning! Looking forward to hearing your imressions of the loop bar on that frame

[Pondero]

It is great to see such an awesome bike be built up so nicely.  The special touches you added show you had some vision going in, and what resulted looks spectacular.  I hope (expect) it will bring you many rewards.

Chris Johnson

Sanger, Texas

[Philip Kim]

So today, I finally took it on my normal commute into work from DC in Virginia, about 8 miles and takes me about 50ish minutes in the morning. I hadn't ridden into work since early late October. I went into the holidays gaining 10 lb and getting out of shape, and never really took exercising back up. So I expected it to take closer to 1 hour mark for my commute.

I'm generally slower in the morning, and there's a stretch of about 3.5 miles where it's all uphill when I enter Virginia, steeper in the beginning, and levels out as I get closer to work. As I was getting closer to this section, I thought "time to drop to the granny", but surprisingly was able to keep it in the big ring (granted 40t). I decided to pace myself, because previous bikes I've ridden had me gassed by the time I got to where the road slowly levels out. So I just spun, and thought I was taking it pretty moderately paced.

I thought to myself, "Well the Hunq is a touring bike, what'd you expect? It's not a roadie, you're gonna be slower."

As I got into my building, I checked the time expecting to rush to get dressed, etc. Found I got into work in 47 minutes, one of my faster times. I took off my shirt and barely any sweat. 

I was so confused, I'm trying many "firsts" on this build so I can't pinpoint it - my first time tubeless, first time on Compass Rat Traps, first time with Jones loop bar on more pavement rides. 

The only changes I need to make - the Jeff Jones Loop bar did get a bit uncomfortable at the grips at the end of the ride - might need ergon or more padding than the cotton tape I have. Need to tilt the handlebar up slightly, and need to switch out the VP-001 for the VP Vice pedals.

Either way, I'm extremely pleased on my first commute with this bike.

On Monday, June 20, 2016 at 9:42:50 AM UTC-4, Philip Kim wrote:

[Jon in central Colorado]

Philip,

That's great ! There's always a little tweaking after the first ride on a new build.

Do you think some new bike adrenalin kicked in to get you there faster?( Smiles)

I put these gel pads under the tape on my road bike bars to  lessen the pain on my torn rotator cuff. Attach them on the bars with electrical tape and then put your tape of choice over the gel.

https://www.amazon.com/Fizik-Bar-Four-Pieces-tape/dp/B000N0YQ34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467050080&sr=8-1&keywords=fizik+gel+pads

Have fun with your new bike.

Jon

[Deacon Patrick]

Between new bike adrenaline, Compass tires, and greater comfort through frame geometry and bike smarts (thus a happier, better performing engine), I'm not at all surprised you smoked it! Well done!

With abandon,

Patrick

[René Sterental]

Congratulations! The truth will cover out on your next commute! ;-)

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[Philip Kim]

Jon, this might be just the ticket. Thanks for the recommendation, into the cart they go...

Deacon & Rene, definitely think it's a combination and I'll probably be able to narrow it down as I switch out things and commute more miles

[Ryan Fleming]

The Riv effect?

[RoadieRyan]

Yeah for new bike day - what a sweet ride.  I too like the original Hunqa Grey and red combo but the cream is classic and looks great.  Chapeau

[Tony DeFilippo]

New bike day is pretty darn special, congrats Philip and thanks for sharing. I like the paint on your Hunq and reading about all of your build details. That front carridice bag is pretty sweet to btw.

If you and Ryan set a day to get together with your new bike let me know I'd love to join you!

Tony

[dstein]

NIce! that's a really attractive build. Are those the bars I sold you? They look more like the titanium ones. Those pictures plus that stem are making me want to go back to a Jones bar setup :)

Cool color too.

[Philip Kim]

Yep the bars you sold me had me hooked on the Jones bar. I just went super fancy for this build with Titanium!

[Paul Y]

That's so cool, congratulations on your new bike and for trying something different too!

I still can't decide if I want a Hunq or a Jones Plus to ride the GDMBR on and this is an interesting route.

[Philip Kim]

Thanks! Apparently the Hunq has been ridden on the entire route back when they made the prototype. I've seen others use it on the GD as well. The Paul cantis are pretty strong, but may switch to fatter tires, and Paul Motolites for stronger braking. I was thinking of the Jones as well, but I'm a smaller rider and prefer the 26in wheel platform.

[Deacon Patrick]

Paul, I've done 200 miles of the Colorado section of the GDMBR with my Hunqapillar when it was set up with fenders and 50mm Duremes and did just fine (even better now with the fatter, far more supple Thunder Burts). Much of the GDMBR is FS roads, so washboard is the big factor (mud down in NM depending on rainy season) and some jouncy rocky roads, but really not much or bad. I don't know the Jones Plus from experience, but my Hunq did great and I've done far more challenging bikepacking trails with it yet (Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail sections). 

With abandon,

Patrick

[Lungimsam]

You guys must have dolphin thighs to be able to power those mammoths off-road!

[Paul Y]

Thanks for chiming in with that Patrick, that's +1 for Hunq. Riv style and massive expedition really feel like they go together too.