X-Goods | 216 | 29er

[drfragnasty]

Bike continues to impress.
XT geartrain worked perfectly with factory lube but not so much after dusty ride and cleaning with CRC 5-56.
It started to mis-shift. All fixed thanks to Prolink Chain Lube and a rag.

Xpedo XMX24MC pedals save a little weight and offer a wide platform. Whether they stand up to prolonged use remains to be seen.
Anyone else had experience with them?

Old cheap plastic pedals:


Xpedo:


AUW 10.43 - .54 = 9.89Kg.

[Carbon_Dude]

I think what you are calling a "factory lube" is little more than a sticky coating of rust inhibitor.  At least that's what I've seen on all the new drivetrain parts I've purchased.  I've always cleaned this coating off the chain and lubed with one of the recommended lubricants.

Everyone has a favorite chain lube, currently mine is White Lightening Clean Ride Wax Lube.  It's reasonably priced and keeps the drivetrain cleaner than any other lubricant I've used.  I always apply some to the chain when loading my bike on the car, giving it a chance to dry before I ride.

As for pedals, if you ride your mountain bike off road, my opinion is there is no better, safer pedal than a clipless design.  When you combine a good pair of mountain biking shoes with a clipless pedal you get so many benefits that I would not consider riding these days without clipless pedals.  I know many people are intimidated by having your feet clipped in, but I find that the level of control, and in effect safety, cannot be matched by any platform design.  I'm not trying to be a "pedal snob" here, I know a few people who ride with platforms and they are very happy with doing so but they will never get the benefit of what clipless systems have to offer.

[bdub]

I have been using Squirt on all my chains lately and really like it. The fine dust we have here and especially in places like Moab destroys chains, but Squirt has prolonged chain life and I can go longer between applications.

As far as pedals I use both. I mostly use clipless, but if I do a trail that has a lot of gnar and technical challenges I throw on some platform pedals.

[Patrick C.]

That's what I never understood.  I can see not being attached if you are doing tricks or very likely to bail as in dirt jumping, but for rock gardens, rough and fast descents, or anything else where the bike is bouncing around I greatly prefer to be attached to the bike.

[drfragnasty]

Blue Derby
The Expedos saw some action today at Blue Derby Trail | North-East Tas.
Just 20m in, the left pedal produced an unwelcome "click"  but it cured itself after a bit more riding.
More than likely not enough lube from the factory.

The bike feels solid, no rattles or creaks. I'm very happy with it although some artwork / paint is needed.

The dam above Derby:

[Carbon_Dude]

Nice scenery!

[drfragnasty]

Spent a day on the newly re-surfaced Scottsdale (Tasmania) Rail Trail. The bike performed impeccably but TBH the surface wasn't harsh.
No mechanicals, no fuss. OK, maybe it got a bit dirty thanks to a wet track but apart from that it was brilliant.
 
This is my first 29er and I love how low the rolling resistance is even at around 45psi front and rear.

[cmh]

Spent a day on the newly re-surfaced Scottsdale (Tasmania) Rail Trail. The bike performed impeccably but TBH the surface wasn't harsh.
No mechanicals, no fuss. OK, maybe it got a bit dirty thanks to a wet track but apart from that it was brilliant.
 
This is my first 29er and I love how low the rolling resistance is even at around 45psi front and rear.

Wow, that's really not awful. Quite beautiful!

[Vipassana]

Awesome pictures!

Make sure to post up your ride details and pictures here so we can all enjoy them and compare our terrains:
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,576.0.html

[c01e]

My aluminum bike weighs too much...one day though...

[Tiptopperoo]

Nice build mate! I'm in Victoria (Geelong) those trails you have in Tassie look well worth a trip across the pond for a roll!

How did you decide on that frame out of interest, did you look at the two more popular 057 and 256 frames also?

[drfragnasty]

The 057 was my next choice but I liked the "twist" in the downtube on mine.

The 057 @ 19" actually has 120mm head tube whereas mine is only 100mm.




There's not much in it TBH. IMHO you can't go wrong with any of these three moulds.

As for MTB in Tassie, it's finally coming together down here. Derby, Hollybank,  Meehan Range Hobart Eastern Shore and Hobart Mt Wellington all offer first-rate tracks.
I haven't riddden Hobart but have found the other two to be fantastic.

FYI
The North East Rail Trail now has support (Fed Gov $1.43million) to help develop Launceston to Scottsdale rail trail.


http://www.ridebluederby.com.au/

http://flowmountainbike.com/features/must-ride-derby-tasmania/

http://www.ridetassie.com/

[drfragnasty]

With a few kms under its belt, here's something to look out for.

With road tyres on I went for a 100km spin (and rode through a blizzard which was memorable)
and a day later found the bike had an annoying creak. I thought it was the BB so disassembled
 the cranks and BB although it's an XT 86MM BB so the bearings can't be accessed.

Re-assemble and it still creaked. One characteristic of carbon frame sis their capacity to radiate
noises throughout the entire frame so isolating the noise is tough.

I tried the head-set; cleaned and lubed, it wasn't that so finally tried loosening the rear QR and that
seemed to be the source and more correctly it was the drop-out brackets. They had come loose both on sides.

Cleaned and tightened with a 2.5mm allen key and all was fixed. Took it for a 60km spin today and it's becoming my
favourite bike. AUW 10kg (22lbs) and solid as a rock.

XT groupset is fantastic. The brakes peerless.

[MTB2223]

Good you find it.

Where's your FD ? Aren't you afraid the chain will get of? I don't see a chain guide either.

[drfragnasty]

Chain catcher? It's not really a concern, I commute on it mostly so kerb jumping is about as extreme as I go.
I could likely lose the inner chainring too; I've yet to find a hill that needed it but you never know.