Official MTB / Mountain Biking Chit Chat

[Natedog]

Hydro's feel nice but I always run mechanical's.
I ran into a nice deal at blue sky cycles,funn EZR brakes,shimano cables and all other hardware,and avid levers,for somewhere around 65 BUCKS I wanna say.I gotta say,funn might be a cheaper brand but they have worked awsome for me!!!!

About those super cheap Funn disc setup, maybe no replacement brake pads are available?

Funn EZR Mechanical Disc Brake Disc Brake System Reviews - Mtbr.com

replacement pads for Funn EZR brakes- « Singletrack Forum

Hayes Hayes So1e-MX2-MX3-GX2 Disc Brake Pads | Chain Reaction Cycles

 

[JeremyH]

Speaking of new brakes, I finally got sick of the Avid Elixir 1's that came stock on my bike.....they required a ton of maintenance and we're still louder than I'd like. The local bike shop was having a labor day sale, so I picked up a set of the m675's for a pretty good price. I will be testing them out this morning.

 

[hpiguy]

Just got back from a vacation visiting my sister. While I was down there, we went and picked up new bikes (both Giant MTB's) for my niece and nephew who had never learned to ride due to where they lived. My brother-in-law and I used a trick he found online and had them both riding on their own in about an hour. The following day we took them out to the green way and they rode 3 miles! No matter what I ever accomplish on a bicycle, it will never top this. Seeing that look on their face when it all clicked, and getting to do their first big ride with them was worth every penny! "thumbsup"

 

[hpiguy]

Got some new goodies for my SS today

 

[JeremyH]

Make sure you post up how that Tubeless setup works. I am getting pretty sick of flats on my bike....

 

[hpiguy]

I will for sure Jeremy. I also haven't forgotten to give a review of the 650b SS I bought, just want to get a few more rides on it first so that I'm comfortable on the bike before giving a half cocked review.

 

[rockhugger]

Speaking of new brakes, I finally got sick of the Avid Elixir 1's that came stock on my bike.....they required a ton of maintenance and we're still louder than I'd like. The local bike shop was having a labor day sale, so I picked up a set of the m675's for a pretty good price. I will be testing them out this morning.

I like the look of those SLX brakes, let us know how feel and modulation is please. I've always Shimano hydro brakes.

Got some new goodies for my SS today

Those Ritchey grips are on my wish list for a dream build maybe next spring or summer. I'll be curious what your thoughts are on them. "thumbsup""thumbsup"

good stuff

 

[RiceBurner]

Speaking of new brakes, I finally got sick of the Avid Elixir 1's that came stock on my bike.....they required a ton of maintenance and we're still louder than I'd like. The local bike shop was having a labor day sale, so I picked up a set of the m675's for a pretty good price. I will be testing them out this morning.

NICE! Like the vented brake pads. My new bike came with XTR and having only been on SRAM stuff it was a new feel but I'm loving it.

 

[RiceBurner]

Just got back from a vacation visiting my sister. While I was down there, we went and picked up new bikes (both Giant MTB's) for my niece and nephew who had never learned to ride due to where they lived. My brother-in-law and I used a trick he found online and had them both riding on their own in about an hour. The following day we took them out to the green way and they rode 3 miles! No matter what I ever accomplish on a bicycle, it will never top this. Seeing that look on their face when it all clicked, and getting to do their first big ride with them was worth every penny! "thumbsup"

This is awesome! I recently got a deal on two matching Goodyear dealer BMX/Freestyle bikes, mint condition. Nephews are gonna be stoked. I really wanna keep one, but wont, riding them around a little brung back some memories. I would've given my left pinky for one of these when I was a kid.

 

[hpiguy]

^^Nice! They'll be pumped, no doubt.

The tubeless setup is being a PITA, but I sort of knew it would be. I'm not using tubeless rims or tires (lots of guys have done these rims and tires however), so once you get the bead to seat, breaking it to put the sealant in makes you start all over again. So I put the conversion on hold and ordered the injector so I don't have to break the bead to put the sealant in. I'll ride it tubed this weekend and give it another go next week and keep you guys posted.

 

[rupps5]

For the tough to seat combos I usually use a compressor and put a ratchet strap around the tire to hold it close to the rim and use soapy water on the tire/rim junction

 

[Natedog]

^^Nice! They'll be pumped, no doubt.

The tubeless setup is being a PITA, but I sort of knew it would be. I'm not using tubeless rims or tires (lots of guys have done these rims and tires however), so once you get the bead to seat, breaking it to put the sealant in makes you start all over again. So I put the conversion on hold and ordered the injector so I don't have to break the bead to put the sealant in. I'll ride it tubed this weekend and give it another go next week and keep you guys posted.

Yes, you'll want the special presta valve stem with removable core and the injector.

For the tough to seat combos I usually use a compressor and put a ratchet strap around the tire to hold it close to the rim and use soapy water on the tire/rim junction

I did ghetto tubeless once using WTB rims (they really seat and hold the bead well!) and decided it was too much hassle and mess. All I needed to seat tires on them was air compressor, soapy water and a little manual hand tire manipulation.

 

[RiceBurner]

I've went tubeless and will say I'm never going back. Hedge thorns are common here and will end a ride quick. I put in two big scoops of Stan's, be sure to hold bottle upside down to get all the granular goody you can. Using true mounting lube and compressed air I inflate till beads 'Pop' and then ride that puppy. You need to air it up daily till for awhile. Sealant only seals while in motion. I've used tubeless strips and gorilla tape with equally good results.

Also I slit a little cut in a tube and add Stan's into it and then patch the hole and carry as a quick fix if I cut a sidewall. In a race I don't have time to look for thorns that may puncture the tube I just installed. Another way to use Stan's, not tubeless.

 

[hpiguy]

Thanks guys. I'm using a compressor already, did the bottle upside down thing like the videos show, etc. Just having some teething pains with none of it being designed to be run tubeless, but I'll get it eventually.

 

[JeremyH]

I like the look of those SLX brakes, let us know how feel and modulation is please. I've always Shimano hydro brakes.

I've put 65 miles on them so far and they seem to be working great! The modulation seems about normal (about half pull before full breaking occurs). So far no noises out of them and no trouble. I do plan to pull the pads this weekend and check them for wear.

NICE! Like the vented brake pads. My new bike came with XTR and having only been on SRAM stuff it was a new feel but I'm loving it.

Yeah, I wasnt expecting the pads to be vented, I thought it was part of the brake system. Should help prolong the life of the pads...which is nice.

 

[hpiguy]

Taking a lunch break at Tsali right now.

 

[hpiguy]

Tsali was awesome! It was my first time there, and it's such a cool place. It was fairly wet from the rain in the early AM today though.

The views are incredible!

The bike wash is a nice touch I thought

And, I got lucky and was in the right place at the right time, and got a little show from a couple of Huey Cobras. "thumbsup"

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/64ScKygMjhQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[hpiguy]

Second ride on the SS today. I need to cut the new bars down some, I almost crashed grazing a tree at speed. They're right at an inch wider than I'm used to, but I guess that's all it takes. I ended up running into a friend, and pushing much harder on the SS than I normally would. It's still kicking my ass, but I'm going further between cardio system shutdowns now. :mrgreen:

 

[Natedog]

NICE! Like the vented brake pads. My new bike came with XTR and having only been on SRAM stuff it was a new feel but I'm loving it.

They are not vented, those are heat sinks to keep the brakes cool.

I've put 65 miles on them so far and they seem to be working great! The modulation seems about normal (about half pull before full breaking occurs). So far no noises out of them and no trouble. I do plan to pull the pads this weekend and check them for wear.

Yeah, I wasnt expecting the pads to be vented, I thought it was part of the brake system. Should help prolong the life of the pads...which is nice.

Somebody mentioned the two brake fluids used on bicycle brakes, mineral oil and DOT, you must keep both of them off the brake pads and disks. What I meant about mineral oil being nicer, is it won't eat paint off the bike like DOT fluid does.

Jeremy, thanks and please keep us all updated on those brakes. "thumbsup"

Taking a lunch break at Tsali right now.

View attachment 294153

Dangit, I saw that Friday and was wishing I was riding there with you, that is beautiful trails! "thumbsup" I was working lol.

Second ride on the SS today. I need to cut the new bars down some, I almost crashed grazing a tree at speed. They're right at an inch wider than I'm used to, but I guess that's all it takes. I ended up running into a friend, and pushing much harder on the SS than I normally would. It's still kicking my ass, but I'm going further between cardio system shutdowns now. :mrgreen:

Trim the bars as needed. :lmao: Been there. Good to hear about your cardio, keep riding, but don't push to hard to soon, no shame in walking some hills. Great pics! "thumbsup"

 

[hpiguy]

Thanks Nate! I wish I could have a bit RCC mountain bike epic here, that would be pretty cool. I trimmed the bars down 20mm, and they feel about right.

ALSO, for anyone on the fence about going tubeless, do yourself a big favor and buy in the injector syringe. SOOOOO much easier that way. I had no issues getting the bead to seat that way since I never broke the bead to add the sealant. I'll keep you guys posted on the results. I put 2oz in and did the stans dance, clock is ticking now to check for air pressure.