Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Our Reader’s Rig of the week comes from Leo in Berlin, who shares the story of discovering the joy of riding and eventually finding his way to a Stooge Rambler. Get to know Leo and see his carefully considered and lovingly built Rambler here…
Words and photos by Leo Rey
Hi, I’m Leo. I’m a Colombian motion designer and creative director living in Berlin. My story with bikes really began after moving here. Back then, I wasn’t much of a cyclist. I grabbed a second-hand bike and started exploring Berlin in small, tentative steps. Slowly, I moved further—first into Brandenburg and, before I knew it, even farther beyond.
Over the years, I’ve owned many bikes. Each one was a step toward bigger ambitions and new adventures. Those bikes carried me to Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Italy, France, Slovenia, and numerous other places. My dream of the “perfect bike” became a bit of an obsession. I wanted something with more and more tire clearance, ultra-low gears, and drop bars.
Then, I discovered Stooge Bikes. It was like they had read my mind. Their designs checked every box on my wishlist. When Andy from Stooge announced a new batch of Rambler frames, I didn’t think twice. I contacted him, and he patiently answered all my sizing and spec questions. I placed my order and waited months for the frame to arrive. When it finally did, I knew I needed to build this bike right.
To bring the project to life, I enlisted the help of Jorrit from Munro Wheels and Alex from Goldsprint. We built a bike that’s as tough as it is beautiful. Every component was chosen with care to make this dream ride a reality. The result is a true beauty.
Since I’m on the smaller side, the bike has a short seatpost, which makes fitting saddle bags a bit tricky. Thankfully, I already had a T Rack from Tumbleweed, and with a drybag on top, it would work. I also use a full-frame bag from Wizard Works and a Specialized Burra Burra Harness. Lowrider racks are my absolute favorite, especially the Tubus Duo. I pair it with Ortlieb’s small gravel panniers.
- Frame/Fork: Stooge Rambler
- Rims: DT Swiss XM481
- Hubs: SON Dynamo (front) / Industry Nine Hydra (rear)
- Tires: Vittoria Mezcal TNT 27.5 x 2.35″
- Handlebars: Dajia Far Bar, 44 cm
- Headset: Ritchey Classic Logic
- Crankset: Middleburn 165mm, 34T chainring
- Pedals: Shimano
- Cassette: Shimano Deore CS-M5100, 11-51T
- Derailleur(s): Shimano Deore RD-M5100 11-speed
- Brakes: Growtac Equal Disc Brakes w/ KCNC Razor Rotors (160/180 mm)
- Shifter(s): Gevenalle OM paired with Microshift 11-Speed shifter
- Saddle: SQlab
- Seatpost: Velo Orange Grand Cru
- Stem: Velo Orange Ahead, 40 mm
- Front bags: Specialized Burra Burra Harness
- Frame bags: Wizard Works Forres Full Frame Bag
- Accessory bags: Revelate Designs Feedbag
- Lights: SON Edelux II, Busch & Müller rear light, Drust rear light hanger
For lighting, I relied on a silver SON Dynamo hub paired with an Edelux II headlamp, a setup that feels both functional and sophisticated. I also added a Busch & Müller rear light mounted on a Drust hanger. Next on my list is installing a USB charger.
Earlier this year, I took the Rambler out for a test ride on one of my favorite routes around Berlin. The weather was brutal—sub-zero temperatures, with fog everywhere—but it was worth it. The moody atmosphere made for some unforgettable photos, and the bike performed perfectly.
You can keep up with Leo on Instagram and at LeoRey.co.
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