Awesome place to ride. Nice trails!
It's on my bucket list to ride once in the US.

Are you on Strava ?

[edit: like the music]

Yes, I'm on Strava.  Look for TJ Jones in Bonita Springs, Florida. I'm a Premium member.  Thanks on the music compliment.  That's from my original band 'A Persuasive Reason'  I am the primary writer, bassist, engineer, and producer....  Yeah, I own the studio, LOL!

Where are those trails exactly?

Both are in Southwest Florida.  The one around the lake is Willow Run Quarry in SouthEast Naples.  It's definitely technical and today I bunny hopped 7 snakes - 5 black racers and 2 Water Moccasins.  Unfortunately, I think the owner sold the land and thus this will likely be the last year we can ride on it.

The smoother place is CRP (Caloosahatchee Regional Park) in Alva which is just west of Ft. Myers. Yeah, it's more of a pedal track. I took my wife last week for her very first MTB ride on it and she did the 8 mile loop which excludes the advanced section which is about 2.2 miles.  It's an interesting place because it's along the river and there is actually clay in the ground.  So this time of year the trails there are really hard and fast...  And soon the rain will come and bye bye for 3 months, LOL!

I found this place recently between a water management facility and a land fill just up the road from the quarry.  Locals call it 'The Lunch Ride'.  It's pretty much dirt and some sand through the Florida scrub palms and cypress trees.  Another pedal track but the single track sections are super tight and speed makes them quite challenging.  The ground is a bit softer, so although my average speed is down a bit, more like 11-12 instead of 15mph, the workout for endurance is awesome.  I use that place as my training course for endurance.  Here is a video with a more unusual camera angle.  I have the 2nd place time for the Bobsled segment.  The CS-MB01 is super quick and nimble, it has just taken me some time dialing things to find the sweet spot.... And the Fox Stepcast 32 helps a lot!  However, I am dealing with a creaky headset.  Ordered a new bottom bearing, so hopefully that will resolve the issue... Sounds like I have a woodpecker trapped in my frame... Grrrrr!



Depending on weather, I'm planning a trip to Alafaia this weekend.  It will be my first time there and I'm sure it will be fun.  I did Carter Road about 5 weeks ago.  That was pretty insane!  Super skinny trail across the tops of dirt hills with less than a foot of shoulder on each side... and I have vertigo!  It was pretty crazy, but a lot of fun... kept telling myself I better not wipe out, I have a gig in 3 days for a wedding, LOL!  Youtube search that one, you will see what I mean.

If any of you guys are ever in my neck of the woods, hit me up. I'll take you to some local trails.

I did a CS MB01 that weighs in at 20.3 lbs.  Went with carbon wheels from Peter and running tubeless.  The most expensive part on my bike is the Fox Step Cast fork.  You could probably go with something cheaper to keep the cost down and still be sub 22 lbs.

SS thread! Nice.  There is this guy, Brian, who rides with us from time to time on a single speed, and quite honestly, I think he is faster than most of my group and many of them have podium placed in the Florida Circuit races. 

Anyway, since you guys are talking about SS drive systems, he has a custom TI bike with a belt drive system. I believe it is this one: https://www.sevencycles.com/spotlight/belt-drive.php

I got a chance to take it for a quick spin and I have to say that belt drive is pretty slick!  Lighter, and smoother.  You don't realize you can feel your chain until you dig into a belt drive. The sensation is so fluid!

They aren't cheap by any means, but definitely worth looking into.  I do know he said something about a tensioner wheel he added to the system as he was having problems with the belt coming off.  Since he installed it, it's been perfect.... The guy rides heavy 1 to 2 times a day.... He's an animal, LOL!

Anyway, if you have questions about it, I can get in touch with him and get you more info from his first hand experience.

I now use aliexpress bottom bearings in stainless steel.

Do you have a link for this?  I'd like to order a few and give it a try.

I can't comment on that frame either, but the geometry is not too far off from my CS-MB01 in the 17".  I am also in the USA and have been literally abusing the bike since mid October almost 5 days a week now.  I have a couple of threads on it that I have pasted below.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

// current update.
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,1115.0.html

// ordered and pics.
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,1050.0.html

Tj

Man, your garage is waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy too clean, LOL!

I need to sell some stuff and make room for more bikes... 

So me and the beast went to Markham Park and thrashed about for 17 miles of some pretty high-speed and insane trail busting.  Did all the black diamond stuff that was open.  Loads of rocks, jumps, drops with roots and misc obstacles. I even crashed.   I got a little banged up and am somewhat sore today, but the bike performed beyond expectation.  The crash was in the first 1 mile as I was more psyched out about some of the terrain on a new bike.  Once I got over that, no more hesitation and no more spills.  Jumps and lands like a dream.  Super light in the air and easier to whip around as a result. 

The trails were wet as we got a morning rain, but all things considered, I still pushed the bike really hard and I was with a group of guys that are pretty fast and had no problem hanging with them even though I was fairly unfamiliar with the terrain, given I've only been there a few times.

From here on out, I guess it will be updates on mods from here on out unless I have some sort of failure.... Probably some pics too.  My Fun orange pedals and Kore blue crank ring just came in.  Once I get everything mounted I'll snap a few more.

Regardless of my pain, I'm hitting CRP trails in the morning. There are some jumps and bmx/free ride things there, but mostly a big XC pedal trail with a lot of changing terrain.  https://www.leegov.com/parks/facility?fid=0253

Keep the shiny side up!

TJ

Yes Alex,  Dealing with Peter was very good.  I happen to try and make my purchase during a typhoon, then Chinese holiday, and then Peter leaving to Las Vegas for Interbike.  Once he shipped, it took about 7 days.  They had to build my wheels as well, so that's why nothing was shipped before hand.

So I completed the build today.  For the moment I have a GX 1000 crank instead of the 1400. Mine was defective as we couldn't get the play out of it. SRAM will have a new one in my hands on Tuesday.  At least I will ride some trails this weekend.

OK, so considering it's been raining and its dark outside, I just rode around on my street to test gears and brakes and my first impressions are great! The bike feels solid to me, however, I am 160 lbs and on a 17" frame.   I will take it for a more thorough ride in the morning and put some miles on it.  Probably only black top and some dirt roads, but enough to see if I feel any unwanted flex or what not. 

I emailed with another guy who built one in Europe.  He's considerably larger than me and got the 21".  He said it flexed a little but he was happy with the purchase.  He also has 28 spoke wheels where mine are 32.

Hope Tech 3 X2 brakes... Whoa!  Where to even begin on these, they are amazing.  I used to own a Buell X1 motorcycle and these brakes in combination with the shock gave me flashbacks.  The modulation is incredibly controllable.  I've never felt more confident putting so much force on the front brake of a mountain bike before.  Granted I'm coming from V Brakes, but I've ridden a few Shimano brake builds.  Not even comparable.  I got mine from Merlin for only about $60 USD more than Deore XTs.  Even with the Snail brand (Hope copy) rotors, they are amazing.  I was able to cut the hose (stainless braided), route through the frame, refit the brass ends, and bleed all on my own with no help or manuals.  I did watch a video on bleeding V1 Hope brakes about 2 weeks ago, but that was it.  Simple to do provided you have the tools you need like good Shimano SIS cable housing cutters.  Super easy to adjust reach and bite as well.  kinda fun to find that comfy spot for quick finger response... Seriously, I can't say enough good things about them.  Even getting the calipers and rotors aligned was super easy.  From here on out, I will probably run Hope Tech brakes exclusively. 

So here is what's on the build:

Frame CS-MB01 - Carbonspeed (Peter @ xmcarbonspeed.com)
Wheels 29 with Novatec hubs - Carbonspeed
Bars - Carbon from Carbonspeed
Seat Post - Carbon from CarbonSpeed
Saddle: G-House all carbon (Selle SMP clone) $25 from Aliexpress (Thanks carbon_dude for the link, I love this thing!)
Fork - Fox 32 Factory SC (Step Cast) very light and got it under $875. Message me for supplier.
Brakes: Hope Tech 3 X2 - Merlin Cycles for about $260.00
Rotors: Hope copies by Snail from AliExpress ($25 for the pair)
Stem: Fun 80mm 7degree from Chain Reaction Cycles (about $25)
Grips: RaceFace Half Nelsons from Chain Reaction Cycles ($20)
Groupset: SRAM GX with 1400 crankset upgrade from r2-bike.com (about $350).
Pedals: I have from another bike.
Tires: Ground Controls 2.3 ($55)

Here is an initial pic, but I'll do more tomorrow outside with some closeups of various parts.  As for any cons,  the aft mount for the rear brake caliper is akward to get to due to the seat stay over it.  Had to use a single bent allen key to get it tightened up, but looking at the design, I don't see how this could have been avoided. 



Frame routing holes were big enough for the 5mm brake lines.  I was initially concerned about this.  The way I routed my cables was I took a wire from a coat hanger and fished some 40lb braided fishing line through my down tube routes.  I used this as a pull string and tied it to the brake line and the shifter cable.  There is ample room and a large opening with a bracket for the shift cables and a separate hole for brake under the BB.  I was able to use needle nose to assist with pulling through on the fishing line.  The trick is to route from head tube down to BB.  Don't try going the other way, you don't any real way to manipulate the brake line if it hangs on the edge of the carbon opening.  ( I found this out the hard way, LOL).

OK, enough for tonight. I'll put up a few more posts over the coming days with more pics for you guys and my thoughts on the ride.