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Reader’s Rides – Marvin the Moonlander

Fat-bike.com reader, Mark Peterson, hails from Salt Lake City, UT and sent in this story about his Moonlander, “Marvin the Martian”, along with a bunch of pix of the upgrades he’s done. For all you “green” fans out there, Mark has scoured the globe to find anodized green goodness!

I have always loved my bikes. Ever since I was a kid I have been “obsessed” with bikes. First there was BMX then came Mountain Biking. For years these were all I needed. When I graduated from my local University I purchased a road bike. I fell in love with cycling all over. I became a fully shaved stereotype for many years, but I always went back to the Mountain bike. I purchased about every niche of bicycle I could. From choppers to single speed fixie, ect.. ect.. But there was something about the mountains that always called to me. As my life progressed from young warrior to middle age, I found myself constantly looking for “something” that echoed from my youth, then I saw my first Fat-Bike.

It was in one of my bike mags, a Pugsley. I dreamed of what it would be like to play on that Bike, but I couldn’t justify the purchase price at the time. For years I secretly held a need to have a Fat-Bike.

This summer I was cycling home from SCL with a friend when an accident happened and my wicked expensive carbon bike was destroyed. I had an option, to buy a comparable Road bike or buy a cycle cross & a Fat-Bike.

I purchased a Surley MoonLander and my life changed. I became a fully charged 5 year old playing on his new bike. This summer all I have ridden off road is my MoonLander. It climbs and descends better than my 24 lb. 4” FS and is 10 times as fun. I am hooked in a big way.

My local scene is prime territory for Fat-Bikes. The terrain and weather are Ideal. There’s a treasure trove of trails and trail networks that are known to the locals but remain hidden from the rest of the world. I am developing a piece for http://fat-bike.com/ reveling the local flavor and Fat-Bike potential in video and word. I look forward to sharing my neck of Eden.

My MoonLander:

I took a stock MoonLander and customized to my taste. I replaced the stock seat and seat post with a Anodized green Ringle Moby seat post and topped it with a Serfas Cosmos saddle. I swapped out the bars, stem, and stem spacers with Deity Dirty 30 Anodized green bars, KNCN Anodized green stem spacers, KNCN Anodized green headset cap, KCNC Xtensionhead HD deep sleeve head set, A Mowa Venus 80mm Stem. I also replaced the grips with Su Chis sc silicon grips (the best grip I have ever put my hands to) w/ KNCN Anodized green bar plugs. I have switched the standard issue crank bolts for KNCN Anodized green crank bolts. A pair of Ti KNCN Anodized green skewers. Other upgrades include a 200mm front rotor and 24 Green anodized braze-on frame bolts. I used 2 Anodized green water bottle cages and toped the whole bike off with Lizard skin wraps @ the top and bottom of the head set, the front and rear derailleur. And yes the Lizard skins work killer for keeping the majority of muck off (old school trick). Oh, and I can’t forget Marvin the Martian my mojo.

I have a many more upgrades in process and will update my break down in the spring and I am looking for someone to customize my Clown Shoes and I am also looking for the perfect Hubs.

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7 Responses to Reader’s Rides – Marvin the Moonlander

  1. casey September 24, 2012 at 4:11 pm #

    Amen brother!!!
    just got a moonlander myself…
    i’ve caused 3 rear end collisions here in Helena

    • Mark Peterson September 24, 2012 at 4:44 pm #

      True…Everywhere I go it’s like a parade. People just stop and stare, sometimes at their own peril. They will get over it..in time

  2. Mark Peterson September 25, 2012 at 9:34 am #

    Cool I am looking forward to seeing both your trails and your bikes. I am currently finishing another bike that is Blue Anodized. I am prepping for a mixed purple and orange Anodized parts. I look forward to more bikes that are interesting.

  3. Troy Pearce October 2, 2012 at 8:26 pm #

    Great looking Marvin!! My Marvin and your Marvin are going to have to get together someday!! Great story and great parts list. I love my ML and is my go-to bike for any trail.

  4. Cory October 3, 2012 at 9:45 pm #

    Cool bike! I might have an ano green derailluer pivot bolt. I have one, but not sure what it fits. Also have a couple blues, and a red.

  5. Tom Diaz March 5, 2013 at 9:54 am #

    Great looking machine! Looks like it’s already having fun, just by itself; add a “puny human” as Marvin might say, and you must be having a blast on your rides.

    Thanks for the inspiration; got a Moonlander frame & fork for Christmas and enjoy seeing what others have done to make their bikes even more capable and fun.

    – Tom Diaz
    Wasilla, Alaska

  6. craig July 28, 2013 at 2:18 pm #

    where did you get the grips?

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