All City Gorilla Monsoon
Holy cow, do I want this bike! I’m just not sure why…
Look at that. That is a beautifully lugged, steel framed, drop barred, 650Bx2.4 shod lust magnet (at least in my book). It’s the All City Gorilla Monsoon.
Is there something wrong with me? I’ve just bought a gravel bike (which sadly won’t be here now until mid-March according to Evans Cycles). I’ve also got an aggro hardtail that is quietly being put together and I’ve just upgraded my Jeffsy. What the hell would I want with something like this??
There is obviously no answer to that, not really. Equally obvious is I am not about to buy one however much I want it – I’m not that crazy.
The thing is, increasingly I want bikes that put the fun back into cycling. e-MTBs to haul-ass uphill and smash it down? Not for me. Race bikes for the road? er, no, none of that either! But something to let you see what’s round the next bend, be it on a road or trail? That’s sounds great. If it lets you inhabit a niche that few others are in, even better!
All these arguments apply to the Cannndale Topstone I’m waiting for. I expect it to be an excellent companion for any non-gnarr ride.
It’s just… this looks great doesn’t it?
About the author
Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.
Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.
An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.
If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.
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Gordo says:
Yuck no, they’ve even skimped on the valve caps!
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Posted on February 1, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Matt says:
Now you’re being unreasonable!
You can fit a rack and add paniers Gordo, what more do you want?? (btw. full marks for being the first person on this website to mark a bike down on the absence of valve caps)
I can offer you a nice pot plant if that helps seal the deal?
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Posted on February 1, 2019 at 4:58 pm
tony says:
I’ve got to say I love mountain biking and I love road riding but if I want to go back to 1988 and ride a steep rigid off road bike I’d get my old Orange frame off the wall and ride it. Not getting the love for gravel riding.
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Posted on February 1, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Matt says:
Well take the gnar out of our off-roading and add in the odd tarmac section and you have ‘gravel’ riding. You wouldn’t want to do that all the time but if you want a fast blast away from traffic its ideal e.g. a quick run to Newlands for bacon sarnies…?
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Posted on February 1, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Elliot says:
Wretched abomination!
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Posted on February 1, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Matt says:
You wants it, don’t you precious?!
Its a gnarmac niche you know, you’d love it!
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Posted on February 1, 2019 at 6:16 pm
SSJ says:
Hmm, it could make a decent off road commuter for me when the mud dries up a bit on the NDW.
On the other hand, no matter how nice the colour, that combination of 2.4″ tyres and drop handlebars seems to occupy a special sour-spot in the bicycle multiverse.
No a lot of love for this one so far . . . .
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Posted on February 4, 2019 at 5:42 pm
KevS says:
I must admit I find myself struggling with a perverted sense of liking this ugly pedaling conveyance, but then what do I know being a retired ex roadie/cyclist/mtb’er?
I feel that this bike might just require the wearing of gaiters and I just cant do that …….. ! 🙂
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Posted on February 4, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Jemster says:
Hmmm!
Well, reminds me of an early Gary Fisher Hoo Koo e Koo a bit.
I don’t want to try a gravel bike, just in case!
I’ll stick with the e bike to get me up the hills, so I can hoon down them again.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BumKmM5ArsVuUQy36
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Posted on February 6, 2019 at 10:49 pm
Matt says:
Here’s a link to a review of the HKeK:
https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/product/review-gary-fisher-bikes-hoo-koo-e-koo-09-34088/
Long top tube, short stem and attention to fork offset in 2009 – you might be on to something Jem. Well, Gary Fisher was anyway!
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Tony says:
Has Jem invented a new niche? Ugly e-gravel?
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 10:40 am
Matt says:
Even I draw the line at that! Although I did just read about Swinley hosting a Gravel’duro event:
https://advntr.cc/swinley-gravelduro-enduro-meets-gravel/
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Matt says:
I sense you guys are fighting your inner longing for a gravel bike – especially Elliot!
This thing would fly on hardpack trails and would be ideal for the sort of South Down trails/South Coast riding some of the slacker brigade have been indulging in over the past year.
I rode to work with Mark today – first outing on his Pinnacle Arkose ‘gravel’ bike. On the local backroads, first of all it looked extremely comfortable on 37c WTB Riddler tyres, second it was nice to see a bike that fitted him, third the clearances are huge. Looks ideal for covering ground rather than shredding.
I’m just bummed my Cannondale Topstone still won’t be here until March…
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 11:01 am
Elliot says:
“I sense you guys are fighting your inner longing for a gravel bike – especially Elliot!”
In my most outraged Niles Crane impression; You take that back!!!
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Matt says:
LOL! I can actually hear you saying it as well Elliot!
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 9:29 pm
DaveW says:
I could be interested in this if it had full suspension to cosset my battered body. Maybe I should just put dropped handlebars on my Spearfish…
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Posted on February 7, 2019 at 4:37 pm