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Any mountain bikers??

#141
ubado said:
Yup ... (2) chainring and (1) cog.

"Why?" ... just to have one. :D
... nah, it gives me the ability to have a SS with a granny gear as well. One of the main places I ride ... some of the climbs are a bit too steep for the typical SS gearing (at least for me) ... that's were the granny gear comes in. :cool:

A Paul's Melvin rear tensioner. (bolts onto you derailleur hanger) ... Invalid Link Removed
It's made to retrofit multi-speed frames to singlecogs. It's made to be used for a SS or (2x1) (since it allows for a 20T difference).
Click to expand...

I know about the tensioners, I have one on my Retrotec(vertical dropouts)- I was unaware they were capable of taking up enough slack to run multiple rings. On that note, I'm guessing you'll run a garden-variety front derailleur & shifter..?

Lastly- just to be picky- a 2/3x1 is not really a SS, now is it? :ninja:
Again- no disrespect meant- ride what you like, I just like talking bike(s). :cool:
 
#142
bassteban said:
I know about the tensioners, I have one on my Retrotec(vertical dropouts)- I was unaware they were capable of taking up enough slack to run multiple rings. On that note, I'm guessing you'll run a garden-variety front derailleur & shifter..?

Lastly- just to be picky- a 2/3x1 is not really a SS, now is it? :ninja:
Again- no disrespect meant- ride what you like, I just like talking bike(s). :cool:
Click to expand...

Yea ... regular front set-up.

No, no ... it's not an SS ... it'll be a 2x1 fully-rigid :smug:
(just used the SS as an example, for the answer of "Why?" I was going for a 2x1/3x1 ... I wasn't calling it a SS ).


... anyhoo ... how do you like your Paul's Mevin?
Any pics of your SS? :)
 
#143
ubado said:
Yea ... regular front set-up.

No, no ... it's not an SS ... it'll be a 2x1 fully-rigid :smug:
(just used the SS as an example, for the answer of "Why?" I was going for a 2x1/3x1 ... I wasn't calling it a SS ).


... anyhoo ... how do you like your Paul's Mevin?
Any pics of your SS? :)
Click to expand...

OK- I see. :)

I may have one or two- gotta dig around(I'm rather inept w/pics & computers:rolleyes:). BTW, I have a cheapo tensioner; not sure it would function w/2 rings. I will admit I've wondered about it; my main SS has a 32tx18t & climbs almost everything I want it to, but a pair of gears- one slightly lower & one fairly tall- would be pretty fun.
 
#144
3540001742_58c719bbe6.jpg


If this works, my SS is built up around this frame/fork. It's all I have ATM.
 
#146
bassteban said:
... I will admit I've wondered about it; my main SS has a 32tx18t & climbs almost everything I want it to, but a pair of gears- one slightly lower & one fairly tall- would be pretty fun.
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I'd like to have a rigid SS ... but I couldn't get through many of the uphills I encounter where I'll be riding it. It'll be set up as a 32t/22t x 18t ... that should keep me attacking the trails and out of the saddle the whole time. :cool:
 
#147
elgecko said:
Hey, is that the top of Bain Ridge? Beautiful lighting!

One of my favorite loops at Chino is to start at Soquel, over Bain Ridge, up South Ridge, down Bovinian Delight, across Raptor Ridge, up Sidewinder, back to the truck.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, the picture was taken with a cheapie sony camera but I think the flash really helped bring out the color on the bike. Yeah, that's bane ridge. Hit me up and let's ride.

Mark Reccord...way sick bike and awesome foresty place to ride too!
 
#149
iamdenialNJ said:
Thanks man, the picture was taken with a cheapie sony camera but I think the flash really helped bring out the color on the bike. Yeah, that's bane ridge. Hit me up and let's ride.

Mark Reccord...way sick bike and awesome foresty place to ride too!
Click to expand...

Thanks! The bike is super fun. Worth the cost, IMO.

I couldn't find this thread the other day for some reason so I posted a video from the same trail system in the biking 2011 thread instead. But seeing this thread lives I'll post it here too. It's pretty indicative of the nature of the trails here.

Slingshot - YouTube
 
#151
Mark Reccord said:
Neat. I'm looking at building up a steel hardtail for next year. Probably an On-One 456. Can't go rigid though, terrain's too rough for that (or I'm too old). :D
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:D :D

I was checking out those 456's myself when I began my search for steel. Sweet rides. Killer looks.

Yea, the trail that I mainly ride is a bit too rough for a rigid ... super, super rooty. I'll ride my HT Cinder Cone there.


The Hahanna will mainly be for another trail that I dig, but find myself locking and unlocking the fork through most of the ride. So with that, I was thinking about upgrading my forks to something with a remote lock-out but then I realized ... for just a bit more than a used Rock Shox Reba with a remote lockout ... I can get a vintage steel bike, and turn it rigid. :cool: Plus there's really not a place on those trails that I couldn't get through on a rigid ... so why not.

Yea, Yea I know ... I could always just leave the forks locked-out ... but heck, any reason to get another bike is a good reason ... just like basses. :D
 
#152
Mark Reccord said:
Neat. I'm looking at building up a steel hardtail for next year. Probably an On-One 456. Can't go rigid though, terrain's too rough for that (or I'm too old). :D
Click to expand...

My car is a Kona Unit , bought it in 1997.
Those are very well built , solid and nice riding frames.

I only changed the fork on it since for a rigid Fatty.
 
#153
I'm in the market for building a new xc bike. It's been about 7 years since I researched products. So I have a few Qs since I'll likely be buying a frame and building my own bike.

Are XTR components and disc brakes still the default top of the line ones? Has SRAM stuff caught up to the level of awesomeness that XTR dominated in the late 90s early 00s? What about Hayes disc brakes, they were some tough as nails brakes back then too.

Are tubeless tires the standard now? Back then they were the new hotness and I don't know if it was a passing fad or here for good.

What's with 29" wheels? Seems like something a dedicated downhill bike would use, or for a bike built for really tall people. I'm getting the regular wheel size that my old bike had (probably 26?) anyways but I'm just curious.


And a rather niche question:

Do any reputable component makers have a crankset with only two front chainrings with sizes specific for running only 2 front ones? (basically there's no granny gear on the front and the other two have a few less teeth to compensate). I used a CODA one on my last bike.


Normally I'd just hit up a bike shop and ask these but the two I used to frequent have closed.
 
#154
I'm probably not the right person to try and explain (since I've only really got into mountain biking about a year ago and upgraded to a 29er about 3 months ago, I was out of the biking world for 7 years almost before that though) but I'll take a stab at it through my personal experience with the current bike technology.

Shimano stuff is more highly regarded as the "better" manufacturer but I've heard many satisfied SRAM customers too. So it's kinda up to the personal preference IMO.

No clue about the brakes man...

Tubes are still the standard but many 'hardcore' riders swear on tubeless. The tubeless debate is that you can run lower tire psi's thus improving traction. Also, flats caused by throns are a thing of the past but not 100% flat proof. It's kinda expensive to upgrade and I have no need to go tubeless.

There are advantages of 29" wheels like going over obstacles/rocks a bit easier, more traction, and more stability, and you carry your momentum a bit better too. Some people like them some people don't. In my experience the 29" wheel has been totally BADASS. I'm 6'4 and the 29" wheels fit me perfectly. I've been riding harder and longer than before.

No definitive answer on the crankset but I'm pretty sure SRAM has some 2x10 stuff. Lately I've been wanting to get rid of my middle ring on my crankset since I hardly use it but I don't know if my crankset is compatible. I would also be interested in this.

A good place to learn a bunch of crazy tech talk go to mtbr.com

Hopefully someone else would like to chip in too.
 
#156
For brakes ... Hayes are still rock solid. I've got a set of Hayes Stroker Ryde hydraulic disk brakes and they haven't let me down. Super quick stopping, powerful. They are a bit quicker than my Shimano XT V-brakes (with dry rims) ... no comparison when wet ... Hayes hydro's all the way.

As for 2x Crank Sets ... SRAM, FSA, and Raceface cranks come to mind. I've got a set of Raceface and FAS cranks (3X) ... you can't really go wrong with either. And they are both cheaper than the SRAM's I've seen. Between my FSA's and my Raceface cranks ... I prefer Raceface. Since 3x cranks are pretty much standard ... how about just swapping the large chainring out for a bash guard. I'm looking to do that with my Raceface crank set ... going to a rigid, (2X1) setup for my Kona Hahanna.


When it come to 26" or 29" ... it's all up to you. Both of my Kona's are 26'ers. My experience with 29'ers was just sitting on one. Right off the bat ... I didn't dig the feel. Also I'm 5'11" with a 30" inseam ... so the 29'ers just felt too tall/big.


Hope this was helpful! :)
 
#157
A brief note on 29" wheels; I have not seen them aimed at downhill-specific bikes- I'm guessing that's because they are likely structurally weaker than 26". Slightly slower acceleration may come into play as well. Look at what types of MTBs go big-wheel: shortish-travel, full-sus cross-country, rigid SS- not sure what else; the larger wheels will do some things better, but I don't think monster jumps, high-speed decents and large drops are are an ideal situation for them. All semi-educated guess/casual observations, mind you. :)
 
#158
I think downhill 29er rigs will be coming out real soon. Still not close to true downhill rigs but they are getting close.

Check out the PBJ, a 7" travel 29er
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Check out the lunchbox, a 6" travel 29er
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and the WFO, a 5.5" travel 29er
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#159
iamdenialNJ said:
I think downhill 29er rigs will be coming out real soon. Still not close to true downhill rigs but they are getting close.
Click to expand...

Yea, they seem to be the natural progression for those who ride 29'ers exclusively. As 29'ers become more and more mainstream ... I'd imagine more 29" DH bikes will be coming down the pike.

One of the guys from my LBS kept trying to push the 29'ers on me. He just got one and thought it was the cat's meow ... then again, he's about 6'2". :smug:
 

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