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Soft-tail Titanium 29 Well the other thread on this board stoked my interest in this type of frame.  I rode a Salsa Dos Niner several years ago and loved how that frame rode , but it cracked after a years use at the shock mount bolt. 

Flash forward to now, and I have been riding this frame for the past few months.

Frame was made by Titan.

Here are the pictures from the factory when frame was finished, prior to the last payment.
October 15, 2022, 10:08:09 PM 		1
Re: Recommendation for spoke tension meter I assembled a calibration jig over the holidays, mostly using AliExpress parts and a few bits and bobs I had lying around. The design is based on various other designs that are floating around on the interwebs.



Frame:
2x 2020 aluminum extrusion 600mm (the length depends somewhat on the length of the scale and spoke; the image shows a ~280mm spoke)
2x 2020N aluminum extrusion 200mm (2020N (as opposed to regular 2020) has one solid side wall; I chose it for extra rigidity but plain 2020 probably would have worked as well)
4x corner brackets with T-nuts and screws

Center section, from left to right:
M8 threaded rod (I bought a 1m rod and chopped it into pieces)
M8 nut (I used a flanged nut but a non-flanged one should work just fine)
thrust bearing 8mm inner diameter, 22mm outer diameter
M8 cap nut
nipple + spoke
M8 'I-type' clevis end - for J-hook spokes; for straight-pull spokes you'd use a second cap nut
M8 rod
2x M8 clevis end (aka yoke end or Y-knuckle on AliExpress; attaches to the scale)
crane scale in the 150 to 200kg range; I chose the most compact model I was able to find
M8 rod
M8 nut (thumb nut in this case but a regular nut will do just fine)

Fabrication:
drill 2020N extrusions for M8 rod
drill cap nut so that a spoke nipple can fit through
grind short groove into the 'I-type' clevis end so that the spoke head can be slotted into it (as mentioned, for straight-pull spokes, use a second cap nut)
I also had to grind the 'Y-type' clevis ends slightly so that they fit into the scale without interference

Note: under tension, the J-hook spoke head will deform - in my experience, it'll remain in its groove securely but count on one sacrificial spoke for calibration. (I'm guessing straight-pull spokes don't have that problem.)

Sources:
2020(N) extrusions and brackets - Zhuhai store (cheap but very slow shipping) https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1100992109
thrust bearing - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806942964649.html
'I-type' clevis end (M8 version) - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832818258210.html
'Y-type' clevis end (M8 version) - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799845781219.html
crane scale (150kg version) - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806675357153.html

Everything else I got locally.

Calibration:
You'll need two wrenches to put tension on the spoke, one to hold fast the cap nut and another to turn the left-most (flanged) nut. (Adding tension is a little fiddly but using a closed-end wrench for the flanged nut (or even a ratcheting wrench if you have one) makes things easier.)

Tension your spoke to a specific value (e.g. 70kgf), then check the reading on your tension meter and write it down. Repeat these steps for e.g. 80/90/100/110/120/130kgf and create yourself a tidy little table with kgf + tension meter readings. Check everything a few times.

Disclaimer: if you kill yourself using this jig, don't blame me. If you kill yourself using a wheel built with this jig, don't blame me.

Cost:
Roughly USD70 - I had a few pieces already so that helped.
January 13, 2025, 11:23:30 AM 		1
Re: Anyone Making Decent Multitool and Portable Chain Breaker? Sorry I'll be obtuse and give you a non-answer, but I'm overly passionate about multitool criticism.
The absolute best multitool you can have is just spare wrenches for what comes on your bike. Even the fanciest custom one won't be as practical, light, compact and tailored to you than a small pouch/plastic baggy with 2 3 4 5 6mm and maybe torx if your bike has them. Not to mention it will always be cheaper.
As for chain breakers this little thing is very clever and quite handy: https://aliexpress.com/item/1005004391212401.html Available in the bundles section for 5.19
Don't fall for big multitool propaganda. They suck.
April 19, 2025, 03:05:08 AM 		1
Re: 29er XC Hardtail - Modern Geometry It looks like it is made to work with rigid fork. There is no room for the fork's crown when it is turned. Also the length of the fork suggests this (490mm).
September 28, 2025, 04:42:39 PM 		1
Re: Issue with mounting brake caliper on Seaboard GR02 fork The GR02 fork has holes drilled with 20mm offset, so it can only be used with 160mm or 180mm rotors. Brake calipers set up to use 140mm rotors must be used with 160mm rotors, and calipers set up for 160mm rotors must be used with 180mm rotors.

I think the calipers you use are only meant for 160mm rotors on forks with standard caliper mount holes, so you'll need a 180mm rotor for this fork.

I had the same issue - I used Juin Tech F1 calipers, and they are also only meant for 160mm rotors.
October 11, 2025, 12:11:24 AM 		1
Re: Chinese cycling clothes
Quote from: frenzen on October 21, 2025, 12:03:51 PM
do you have any recommendations for long distance riding? I am talking about like 10 hours +, or just better off buying the real brands? I plan on doing weeks worth of long distance bikepacking with 10 hours + daily. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
I rode 4, bike camping/bikepacking rides this year ranging from 3 days to 7 days, riding 8 to 12 hours per day.  I have 9 pairs of shorts that I have purchased from Aliexpress over the past 4 years.  4 pairs of GRSRXX, 3 pairs of DAREVIE,  and 2 pairs of YKYWBIKE.   

For these long rides, I typically just grab 2 pairs of these shorts randomly and use them on these trips.    All of them have performed well regarding how the chamois contacts my sit-spots.   Except...

Two of these shorts cause sore raw spots on the right side seam where the chamois is sewn into the Lycra.   It took a while, but I have finally isolated one of 2 pairs of pain causing shorts. (One of my DAREVIE shorts.)  When I inspect the sewn seam area that creates the abraded skin area, I can't, for the life of me, see anything that causes the problem. - On 4 to 8 hour rides, they don't cause any issues.

The other variable that is by far more important to me is where I am riding, versus the shorts I wear.

I live in the Pacific northwest, and the humidity is low.  In this region of the US, I seldom, if ever, use chamois/butt butter/creams, and my bottom has no issues.

OTOH, For every ride I have ridden in the past several years on the east side of the country,  I discovered that the high humidity in our eastern states, and Ontario Province, CA,  makes it necessary to use chamois creams and antiseptic gels from when the ride starts, to when I finish.  If I don't do this, I get saddle sores on my sit spots within 2 days of riding.
   
For me, on my eastern state US rides, its not the shorts I wear, its the humidity, the mosquitoes, no-see-ums / biting midges, gnats, and the Deer flies that get me.
October 21, 2025, 12:52:28 PM 		1
Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Quote from: jonathanf2 on October 23, 2025, 12:27:46 PM
Balugoe has some new components! As usual, I've been happy with a lot of their components. They're up there with the likes of Elita One when it comes to carbon bars, stems, etc.

Carbon stem with full integrated spacers:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809272114703.html




$70 for a stem with "lenght" printed on it :/
October 27, 2025, 12:32:13 AM 		1