Official MTB / Mountain Biking Chit Chat

[hpiguy]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. I do 90% of my own work on my bikes also. I have four bikes and that saves me a lot of money over the course of a year. Anything that requires specialty tools, I either have the shop do it, or borrow the tool and have them walk me through it while in the shop. Being friends with the owners has it's privileges. :mrgreen:

 

[bryco13]

I think most of the race face stuff is still running 104. Definitely better to check though.

 

[hpiguy]

I know some of the Turbine cranks run 120/80 as I almost bought a set on closeout a couple days ago, those appear to be Atlas cranks though. Lucky I checked as they wouldn't have worked for me. They have the ones I need on clearance at price point, but I'm saving for something else at this point anyway, must resist the temptation!

 

[jsowens]

One thing I've ran into a couple of times with customer bikes is chainrings not fitting despite the BCD being the same if the parts are from different companies. For example, one particular instance is a customer wanted FSA rings put onto a different brand crankset. BCD matched, but the crankset had extra material on the spider that would have required filing to work. Called FSA and they informed me for best results to match the chainrings with the same brand crank if you're running a 2x or 3x setup in the front. 1x narrow wide rings seem to work on a wide variety of cranksets if the BCD matches.

 

[Natedog]

One thing I've ran into a couple of times with customer bikes is chainrings not fitting despite the BCD being the same if the parts are from different companies. For example, one particular instance is a customer wanted FSA rings put onto a different brand crankset. BCD matched, but the crankset had extra material on the spider that would have required filing to work. Called FSA and they informed me for best results to match the chainrings with the same brand crank if you're running a 2x or 3x setup in the front. 1x narrow wide rings seem to work on a wide variety of cranksets if the BCD matches.

I ran into this putting Shimano chainrings on SRAM crankset, a light touch with file on chainring fixed it, only needed couple thousands of an inch removed from chainrings where the index against the spider...not the mounting holes themselves which lined up perfectly. "thumbsup" I run steel chainrings especially on mtb whenever I can because they last longer and don't weigh that much more. If you're that concerned about weight, don't supersize your lunch.

 

[rupps5]

x2. I could use a 80-120mm fork with a 1-1/8 steerer. Would make my SS ride so much better.

I would like to get rid of some of those forks. I will let you guys know what I have.

 

[hpiguy]

I had a custom set of wheels hand built for my SS by Dave at Cyclewheels USA. Great guy to deal with, and fantastic prices. Pretty excited to ride 'em this weekend. Rear wheel is symmetric, non dished SS specific build.

Hope pro2 single speed rear hub, 80POE and stainless steel freehub
Hope pro2 evo front hub
Stans Flow EX rims
double butted spokes and brass nips
Bontrager XR4 expert 27.5 x 2.35 front
Bontrager XR3 expert 27.5 x 2.20 rear

I have the same tire combo on my 29er and they rock around here.

 

[Natedog]

I had a custom set of wheels hand built for my SS by Dave at Cyclewheels USA. Great guy to deal with, and fantastic prices. Pretty excited to ride 'em this weekend. Rear wheel is symmetric, non dished SS specific build.

Hope pro2 single speed rear hub, 80POE and stainless steel freehub
Hope pro2 evo front hub
Stans Flow EX rims
double butted spokes and brass nips
Bontrager XR4 expert 27.5 x 2.35 front
Bontrager XR3 expert 27.5 x 2.20 rear

I have the same tire combo on my 29er and they rock around here.

Not sure about those tires, many mixed review on Bontrager tires, Specialized and GEAX tires have done very well for me. Those wheels should be very sweet, what's the F/R weights on them?

 

[hpiguy]

Nate, the newer bonty tires get much better reviews. But I don't really focus on that to be honest, I get advice from what the fast / technically proficient guys in my area like, and that's what I buy. I also am a big supporter of my LBS, as they've been really, really good to me (beyond good actually, and I've become very good friends with them away from the shop also), and they're a Trek / bontrager shop. Wheels are probably right at 2000 grams, as the stainless freehub body adds a bit of weight, but you don't have to worry about gouging it with a SS cog over time. I also don't focus that much on weight to be honest, or I'd have done Arch rims. But I'm a bigger guy at 6'2" and 200lbs, so I like a wheel set I never have to second guess, and I like the wider rim on the Flows also. I can appreciate the guys that worry about weight, respect it even, I'm just not one of them.

 

[rupps5]

That is a good solid wheelset. A few fast guys use those tires in my area too. Is the rear hub a flip flop our just one sided?

 

[hpiguy]

Thanks rupps5! I got the tire choice tip from a friend who's been riding for a long time, "just ask the local guys what they like" he said, and it hasn't steered me wrong yet. And tire choice is largely dependent on where you live and what you ride regularly also. It's not a flip flop hub, just one sided, but that's fine with me.

Like my other Stan's rims, tires aired up with zero fuss, and have been holding air since the first post. I'll let 'em sit overnight, then air them down and put sealant in them.

 

[rockhugger]

But I don't really focus on that to be honest, I get advice from what the fast / technically proficient guys in my area like, and that's what I buy. .... Wheels are probably right at 2000 grams, as the stainless freehub body adds a bit of weight, but you don't have to worry about gouging it with a SS cog over time. I also don't focus that much on weight to be honest, or I'd have done Arch rims. But I'm a bigger guy at 6'2" and 200lbs, so I like a wheel set I never have to second guess, and I like the wider rim on the Flows also. I can appreciate the guys that worry about weight, respect it even, I'm just not one of them.

And then there is me, the total goof ball, I look at what everyone else is running, and if I see a trend towards one thing, I look at the other options and usually go a different direction. Sometimes it's a mistake, but sometimes it's a gain. "I've never seen that part go so fast" is the desired effect. Like I said, I'm a goof ball.

If I ride a group often, I tend to study other riders styles, coupled with their gear choices. It's important to note that knowing your riding style also helps in making gear choice.

on Wheel weight:
The only weight to worry about on a set of wheels is the weight furthest from the center axis. I'd ride 5lb wheels if 4.75 lbs of it were in the center. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Your wheels are a good balance of weight and long term durability with the brass nips. They look hot!!! I love hand built wheels, and chics in Bikinis :shock:
SS wheels are inherently strong by design anyway with Zero Dish.

Ride on"thumbsup"

 

[hpiguy]

Thanks rockhugger, I like having something different from the crowd as well, that's why I built up a SS instead of buying one off the shelf. But I didn't want to buy $100 + worth of tires only to figure out they didn't work around here. After all, that's $100 I could have put towards more bike stuff. :mrgreen:

I'm still figuring out my riding style, but I will say that I prefer my 650b over my 29er, and I tend to hit all the little bonus stuff along the way that you spot to play on; jumps, drops, etc. I'm out there to have fun, and could care less about how fast I was, and I think that's why I love both 650b and the fat bike so much. All of that plays into my wheel choice also, with the flow being more of an AM / enduro rim.

Tires were still rock solid this morning (not that thought they wouldn't be), so I'll deflate them and put sealant in when I get home.

 

[OTHGbronco82]

I have an idea for a product that will help people measure their sag so they can get their rear shock set up correctly. It's still just an idea right now. But, if there was something like it, would you consider buying it?

 

[tedo]

Got some new Carbon risers for this beast. They really smooth out the ride.

Did a quick 10 miles of singletrack today on this beast.

It was 6 degrees F with no wind. Tons of sun. Smile from ear to ear.

 

[EeePee]

Must be a beast, eh?

 

[tedo]

Must be a beast, eh?

Yerp.

She's down to about 27lbs. This spring I will go tubeless to drop almost another lb. Currently it's as light as my old trail bike (trance). However this Salsa feels faster. Very nice geometry.

It will be my summer bike as well. Way funner ride for me.

 

[rupps5]

Beargreases aluminum?

 

[tedo]

Beargreases aluminum?

Hell yeah. So nice.

 

[rupps5]

That is the one I am looking at...