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Topics - Carbon_Dude

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Component Deals & Selection / SRAM AXS - Ebay Seller Italy

« on: May 03, 2020, 06:15:12 PM »

A few weeks ago I purchased the SRAM AXS Upgrade Kit from an eBay seller in Italy. At the time it seemed like a bit of a gamble but with eBay buyer protection I went ahead and placed the order. Including shipping and tax to the US, total was $798, about $270 less than retail + tax. Item shipped fast and arrived in 4 days. They've raised the price by $40 but still not a bad deal for anyone who wants to upgrade to the ultimate in drivetrain technology.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sram-XX1-Eagle-AXS-1x12s-Upgrade-Kit/223886351391?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D226424%26meid%3D42ea9a9dab604d2dbc9efde5f1e1900b%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dsb%26sd%3D222860058216%26itm%3D223886351391%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV2bDemotion%26brand%3DSRAM&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

After The Ride / What's new?

« on: March 15, 2020, 08:06:50 PM »

I've not checked in on Chintertown in a long while. Hope everyone is doing well, and staying healthy. The weather here outside Atlanta has been terrible for getting out and riding, so much rain over the last three months I can't even talk about it. Been riding Zwift a lot lately, the new MTB course is fun.

Component Deals & Selection / New Bike Rack - My Review

« on: May 02, 2019, 09:20:40 PM »

I had a Saris Superclamp EX 2-Bike rack and while it was good, and served me well for about 4 or 5 years, I decided to sell it and purchase a 1-UP USA Quickrack Single + 1-Bike Add-on. Several of my friends had purchased the 1-UP and really liked them so I decided to join the club.

Overall, this rack has got to be one of the best currently available on the market. Here is why:

Since 95% of the time I am only carrying one bike, I can just use the Quickrack single without the +1 bike add-on.
The quality of the rack is very good, no plastic parts means nothing to crack or age over time.
The rack is designed such that as you add more bikes, each successive bike mounts a few inches higher than the previous, kind of like stadium seating, this allows the bars to clear each other.
Adding or removing the +1 Add-on is very simple, just two bolts that you loosen slightly attach the add-on and tighten the bolts, takes only a few minutes.
In the single bike configuration, it's lighter than my Saris rack was, and only a few pounds heavier in the 2-bike configuration. I take my rack on and off my car each time I use it so I like that the single config is relatively light weight.
The 1-up rack is similar to the Saris in how it holds the bike, grabbing each tire and not touching the frame, no ratcheting straps to deal with either.
Out of the box it supports tires up to 3" wide, and virtually any wheel size. It will also accommodate Fat Bikes with a simple conversion kit.
Cost is comparable to the Saris Superlcamp 2-bike rack but is much better quality. The 1-up is all aluminum construction, whereas the Saris is black painted steel and plastic.
There is zero wobble on the 1-up, my Saris would rock back and fourth and creak at the hinge point (tilt mechanism) while driving down the road. The 1-up is solid, it's doesn't creak, and it doesn't move at all, even with two bikes attached.
The 1-UP even works with Chiner bikes!

With all the great things I have to say about the rack, it's not without a few faults:

The ratchet design could be better, if you pull up too much on the lever, it can bind.
The release for the tilt mechanism could be design better, it can also bind slightly.
The 1-UP doesn't have a provision for built in cable locks, if you need to lock the bike, you'll need to bring your own bike lock

To go with the review, here is a pick that I need to resize:

After The Ride / Winter = Trainer Season, Anyone Elst on Zwift

« on: January 13, 2019, 09:59:25 AM »

So for this winter I have purchased a Wahoo Kickr to use while the weather is cold an rainy here in the South. Anyone else on Zwift?

Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components / New Gravel Bike

« on: February 23, 2018, 06:41:07 PM »

I've been thinking about a gravel bike for a while now. I was never sure what I would like though, when it came to a "skinny" tire bike. I have a really good relationship with my local bike shop that's just a mile up the road from my home. Last week I stopped in and was chit chatting about bikes (of course) with the owner and he mentioned that he has had a lot of fun on his gravel bike. I said I was thinking about it but wasn't sure what size I would even ride or what a good model would be. He walked over and pulled a 2017 Santa Cruz Stigmata 2X SRAM Rival, in a 58cm size, and told me to take it and demo it for the weekend.

After a short test drive I was pretty much hooked. He gave me a ridiculously good price on it, a $1,500 discount, I just couldn't say no.

Here's a pic, please ignore the pedals, I just got a set of XTR pedals and put them on today:

If the bike shop owner is available, he and I are going to go do some gravel riding tomorrow.

Component Deals & Selection / Full Suspension Talk

« on: November 30, 2017, 02:11:29 PM »

I was on MTBR in the Spec SJ 6Fattie forum and saw a post about various suspension designs that I thought I'd repost here.

"Oh boy. I'll try to keep this short and simple and probably over-generalized, but if you google anti-squat, you will have the opportunity to go down a rabbit hole from which you need never emerge. I'm sure somebody will jump in to disagree or put a finer point on things, but I can tell you what I was thinking in saying that.

The Stumpjumper suspension is designed with less of an emphasis on inhibiting compression of the shock under pedaling forces than some other suspension designs. In general, modern bikes, are designed such that the force exerted by the chain on the rear triangle counteract the natural tendency of the suspension to compress during acceleration. Earlier designs of many bikes, including the FSR suspension platform used by Specialized, did not do this as well and, thus, significant portions of pedaling energy were wasted on movement of the suspension, rather than on moving the bike forward.

In recent years, the FSR suspension platform used by Specialized and others has been designed to achieve 100% anti-squat (pedaling forces exactly counteract the tendency of suspension to compress) when the bike is near its neutral sag point under rider weight, However, other suspension platforms, like Santa Cruz's VPP and DW Link designs, maintain that 100% anti-squat throughout the upper half of the bike's travel. (In the lower half of the travel, the rider is presumably charging downhill and the suspension absorbing bigger hits, and thus pedaling efficiency is not as big a factor.)

The FSR (as well as single pivot and split pivot) designs have relatively linear falling anti-squat rates, where the pedals offer progressively less resistance to suspension compression, the more the suspension compresses. A falling anti-squat rate results in less efficient pedaling compared to VPP designs (a generalized term including Santa Cruz, DW Link, and others) in situations where the suspension is compressed, such as when pedaling over rough terrain or when standing and mashing on the pedals. On the SJ, the anti-squat falls at a rate that is faster than that of competing bikes, like the Cannondale Bad Habit (a single pivot) and DeVinci Marshall (a split pivot). Thus, there are many bikes that pedal more efficiently than the SJ.

There are trade-offs to this greater efficiency, and in previous versions of suspension designs that emphasized anti-squat, those trade-offs often gave-up a lot in suspension performance. One trade-off for this loss of efficiency is that because pedaling forces do not resist compression of the shock as much, the shock is free to respond to bumps when pedaling, and thus traction is optimized. Also, because pedaling does not resist suspension compression as much, the pedals are less likely to kickback when an obstacle is encountered that forces the shock to compress, as on suspension systems emphasizing anti-squat behavior. The degree to which each of these trade-offs (and others) is an issue varies with the specific design. These trade-offs were much more problematic when anti-squat levels much greater than 100% were incorporated into some suspension designs, but there are definitely characteristics of each design that annoy or appeal to different people riding different terrain.

The way that I perceive these differences is that the FSR suspension is more plush and responsive and, in some cases, provides better traction than some of the VPP designs. The advantages of the FSR platform are diminishing as VPP designs get better, however, while internal shock damping performance has also improved, allowing for the inefficiencies of the FSR and other similarly sensitive platforms to be compensated somewhat. That said, were I to be buying a bike now, I'd likely get something with a more efficient pedaling design, as I prefer the firm pedaling platform and not having to worry about flipping the compression damping mode switch on my shock. YMMV"

From my limited experience with FS bikes, it seemed to me the OP knew at least a bit about what he is talking about.

Component Deals & Selection / How Things Work: Freehub Body

« on: April 20, 2017, 09:23:21 AM »

Some good info on freehub bodies. You can see why I think DT Swiss makes a good design, especially for the money. However, if money was not an issue, Chris King hubs are truly amazing and I can see why they are so expensive.

https://dirtmountainbike.com/features/work-freehub-body.html

29+ & 27+ / Salsa Deadwood SUS - New 29+ Full Suspension Bike

« on: February 21, 2017, 10:24:53 AM »

29+, Full Suspension Carbon (front triangle), SRAM X01 Eagle, looks like a winner to me. Although Salsa is asking a high-end price for the high-end build ($5999). If they cut the price and added some carbon wheels, it would be a much more enticing. Maybe check back this time next year and see if it goes on sale as a 2017 leftover.

I still think the industry is (slowly) moving toward plus bikes, nice to see Salsa jump in with a nice offering.

https://vimeo.com/203520230

Sales & Classifieds / XX1 GXP Carbon Crankset $275 (includes shipping)

« on: January 15, 2017, 04:05:58 PM »

I was saving these for another build but at the moment, I don't have any plans to build up a new bike so I thought I'd see if another Chinertown member wants them.

Condition:
Drive side has some very light wear on the outside of the crank arm, non-drive side is new, chainring appears to be in good condition.

Specs:
GXP Drive Spindle
32T X-sync chainring
Q-factor 168
175mm crank arms

$275 includes shipping and PayPal fees.
PM me if you have any questions.

After The Ride / What did everyone get or do for Christmas, anything good?

« on: December 31, 2016, 08:45:23 PM »

My wife and I really didn't get anything for each other but we did go on a cruise to the US Virgin islands and spent Christmas at the beach with family in the Florida panhandle.

Sales & Classifieds / Complete 29+ Bike Build Kit (Just needs frame) $1200

« on: November 10, 2016, 09:09:33 AM »

My Stache 7 got into a minor accident while it was on the back of my car and had some frame damage. I settled a claim with my insurance company and purchased a replacement bike but all the parts that were on the Stache 7 are good and I am deciding to either buy a frame and build a second 29+ bike, which I don't need, or selling all the parts for someone else to do the same.

I thought I'd see if anyone on the Chinertown forum is thinking about building a 29+ bike, if so I have all the parts with the exception of a frame that I'd be willing to sell cheap, all you need is to buy a frame.

Here are the list of parts, please note, these parts are only 6 months old, I purchased the bike in April of this year:

-> Manitou Magnum 29+ Fork
-> Stache 9 Wheelset DT Swiss 350 Hubs, Sun-Ringle Mulefut rims, DT Swiss spokes, XD Freehub
-> Trek/Bontrager Chupacabra 29+ Tires
-> Trek/Bontrager Carbon Bars 760mm
-> Trek/Bontrager 70mm Stem
-> Trek/Bontrager Headset
-> Trek/Bontrager Seatpost
-> Trek/Bontrager Evoke Saddle (Titainium Rails)
-> Trek/Bontrager Seat clamp
-> Bontrager Grips
-> SRAM GX 1400 Crankset (new)
-> SRAM XX1 11-spd Trigger Shifter
-> SRAM XX1 11-spd Rear Derailleur
-> SRAM XX1 11-spd Cassette
-> SRAM 11-spd Chain
-> SRAM PF92 Bottom Bracket
-> Shimano M8000 XT Complete Brakeset with IceTech Rotors)

Literally everything you need to build a 29+ bike, you just buy a frame like a CS-496 from Peter. You'd be saving several hundred dollars in parts and getting everything all at once. I'm willing to split the shipping costs with the buyer. PM me for any questions.

This is a great opportunity for someone is is going to build a 29+ bike anyway.
All components have very light wear, no damage, and are in almost new condition.

I can post pictures of individual parts but for now here is a picture of the bike with all the parts on it so you can get an idea of what the bike with all the components assembled looks like.

29+ & 27+ / New Trek Stache 9.8

« on: November 07, 2016, 06:52:41 AM »

My Trek Stache 7 was damaged a few weeks ago while it was on the rack on my car. After settling with the insurance company I've upgraded to a Stache 9.8. Upgrades from the Stache 7 to the Stache 9.8 includes a lot of carbon (frame, wheels, bars, cranks), Rockshox Pike Fork, dropper post, and XO1 drivetrain. My first ride was yesterday and I have to say the new bike is amazingly good! The Stache 7 was pretty good but the weight made it climb a little slower, now the Stache 9.8 resolves that by shedding up to 4 lbs off my old bike (the 9.8 weighed around 26 lbs when I picked it up at the LBS). The downside to the light weight is now it feels more like a race bike, lightweight and fast, but a little less comfortable and a little more rough on the down hills.

As for my old Stache 7, the frame was damaged so I'm talking to Peter about purchasing a CS-496 so I can put all my old parts on it and have a spare 29+ bike.

After The Ride / I Just Noticed...

« on: September 15, 2016, 07:52:23 PM »

My have over 1653 posts, I need to go ride my bike some more.

29+ & 27+ / 29+ Challenge

« on: September 15, 2016, 07:35:07 PM »

Amazing what this guy can do on his Trek Stache:

http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Cam-McCaul-and-the-29-Challenge,32246/sspomer,2?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=spotlight

Component Deals & Selection / Cycling Shoes with BOA closure

« on: September 03, 2016, 09:53:30 AM »

About 3 years ago I found a set of SCOTT MTB shoes with the BOA closure system. Since then I've really liked the ease of twisting the knob to tighten the shoe and just pulling up on the knob to loosen and take the shoes off.

My current pair have one BOA closure at the top, and two velcro straps. Here is a picture:

I think my next set of shoes will have all BOA closures.

Like these from Louis Garneau (https://www.amazon.com/Louis-Garneau-T-Flex-Shoes-Black/dp/B00HEYY71I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1472913685&sr=8-4&keywords=boa+mtb+shoes):