I just watched your video on the pivot issue.  Could you possible feather the outer edges of the washers with a grinder?  Not a lot but just enough to give relief on the outer ring of the race?  That video was super helpful, and by seeing it all taken apart, it's clear that the solution is quite elementary as you pointed out.  Just thinking a little grinding might get you back on the trails until a correctly lathed set of washers can be sent to you. 

Speaking of which, I have a buddy back in Florida who has a lathe.  I might be able to get a set cut for you.  Are they steel or aluminum?

Hey guys,

I'm going to be here until October 1st.  Already I've been riding Blanket's Creek, Allatoona Creek Park, and Taylor Randahl.  I may try and venture north up to Raccoon Mountain again, but I definitely don't want to ride that solo. 

If any of you guys want to ride, let me know.  I've got plenty of free time while I am here.

I ran Stan's last season, and I just put on new Schwalbe Racing Ralphs and trying the Orange Seal. 

I have heard from some reputable sources that the Orange Seal doesn't break down as quickly and handles larger holes and cuts a little better, but it's too soon to tell.  One thing I have notices is it gets bonded around the presta valve mechanism inside, so once it get's slow to inflate, I pull the valve and a little ring of hardened sealant peels off.  After that everything is fine.

I'm thinking this season of building an FS, but I've already ridden my hard tail on a few trails in Tennessee and North GA, and I am thinking that rather than do a pure XC build, I may want to do something that can handle a little more trail. 

Does anyone have any thoughts about this frame?

http://xmcarbonspeed.com/Productinfo.asp?f=1481

Thanks!

I feel your pain.  However, growing up in bike shops, I generally do and inspection, cleaning and any dialing and tweaks about every other ride.  A lot of it has to do with your riding style, but if you ride regularly, I would recommend checking your bike or having it serviced at least every 2-3 months if you ride consistently.

I'm in Florida, so sand is a huge issue and keeping the drive train clean is impossible.  I average about 50 offroad miles a week and I have found that changing out my chain every 3 months is cheaper than replacing the chain and cassette every 9 months.

A dual piston caliper seems like a lot of power on a 160mm rotor

I have to agree on this.  I think it could potentially create a more dangerous situation than safety.  I'm running Hope X2 single piston on the front and it will put me over my handlebars.  You are probably better off swapping out your front rotor for one with a little more surface area if you want more braking power.  I originally had a rotor that had more surface area like the Shimano Ice rotors.  It was just too much.  Too easy to lock up the wheel and not enough modulation.  I switched to a lighter XC design which has bigger holes and much less surface area.  Now I have very controlled braking with great modulation, but still enough to lock up the wheels.

Recently SRAM released Eagle GX so I think the lower cost 1x12 is already here.

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!   Been waiting for this! 

Things I have found on Aliexpress I would buy again:

Santic Shorts - $23.00
Fox knock off long sleeve jerseys - $12.00 (definitely nowhere close in design and completely different fabric, but cool and wicks sweat great).
Headsets - $9
Rear axle with ratcheting feature - $18 (def worth posting a link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2017-QR-86g-Bicycle-Skewer-front-15mm-rear-12mm-for-Carbon-Cyclocross-Fork-Thru-axle-12/32752388404.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.WTURaI)
Tideace Seatpost - $28
Tideace Handlebar (700 mm) - $20
Future Carbon saddle with Titanium rails - $30 (Selle SMP style - I have 2 and love them!)
Foam Grips - $2 (They are a little thinner than name brand, but $8 cheaper!)
Rock Bros Sunglass kit - $15 (This is the one that comes with 5 different lenses and case)
X2U Sport clothing - $12 to $15.  (I actually saw this stuff on a major European site for over $50! )
Tieboa Shoes - $52  (They made it though 1 season and still going strong).
Coospo Heartrate Monitor $20  (Works great with Strava and Wahoo)
Coospo Speed and Cadence sensor - $19 (Cadence works with Strava, Cadence and speed work with wahoo.  There are major compatibility issues with Strava on a phone and dual readout sensors, so it's a Strava issue, not a device issue).
Lixda Helmet - $15  I bought a second one because the first one smells like a jock strap... Now I take it in the shower with me after my rides and rinse it good. The new one has done much better just from the simple washings.
Rock Bros Multi Tool - $12
SNAIL brake rotors - $25 for a set.
Idqidao brak rotors - $10 per disk.  (Now I see DECKAS brand on the same 2pc rotor).
DECKAS chain Ring - $26
Aluminum Seatpost Clamp - $1.37


Things I would NOT buy again:

Any carbon part with ASIACOM brand on it.  My seatpost broke on the 3rd ride which was me just doing bunny hops in my front yard.  It broke in the air when I pulled the bike up underneath me and the seat slapped my butt.   I tried some handlebars... Seemed to be a little sketchy.  After about a dozen rides, I took them off to inspect them and the were cracked under the controls on both sides!!!! Glad I pulled that part.  The stem would not stay tight.  Every time crashed my handlebars would spin.  Kinda sucks because it was a 60mm x 15 degree which I used inverted to get my bars lower.  I really liked the positioning.  Now I'm on a Strynge 60mm x 7 degree inverted.

Most of the saddle bags I have tried did not last.  Granted I bought the cheap ones between $5 - $10.  I might give it 1 more round with the Rock Bros brand since the glasses and multi tool I have from them are holding up nicely.

Carbon saddles with carbon rails.  I'm only 155lbs and I broke the rails on the saddle within 2 weeks of riding.