Tremeer023 profile

I've actually got an Ergotec bar (not on list below).  Found after a lengthy Internet search for 12 deg backsweep bars with high rise.  I've since tried to buy a 45mm SQ Lab in alu but they were out of stock last time I checked.

Switched to a 70mm riser (12 deg backsweep) about a year ago with inverted Apex stem slammed (5mm spacer only so the stem clears the upper headset cup).  My bike has a low stack height but 50mm was my preferred bar height previously.  

I remember the flat bar trend years ago, but it always seemed wrong to me on bikes designed to be jumped and thrown around.  Makes more sense for xc I guess.

I was excited for this jacket until I saw the price tag.  Think I'll stick with my Patagonia Techface jacket which cost less than half the price of this and is top quality.

What a lovely bike.  Nice work. 

0.5 psi difference in front tyre pressure between wet and dry rides though - can you really tell the difference?

Their Saint range was a real game changer. My (approx) 10 year old Saint DH crank is the oldest component on my bike.  The paint is worn and bb has been changed but I'm confident that the crank Arms and spindle will still be working fine 10 years from now.

I've had this fork (Z1 coil 150mm) for a few months but only about 3 or 4 rides so far.  I'm around  185lbs and the firm spring feels spot on although I'm still playing with the settings.  So far ive had to turn the rebound almost all the way in (which is unusual compared with previous forks ive had) to stop it from feeling too loose.  

I wondered if the Grip 2 damper would offer more refinement so may have to try this upgrade.  I've heard people say they prefer the Grip 1 as it stays more supple (less to interfere with the stroke), but if anything my fork feels TOO supple once it gets past the initial 30% or so of travel.

I've had the Endura MT500 Spray II trousers for a couple of years now and wear them at every opportunity.  The range of temperatures it feels comfortable in is much wider than I expected (from freezing right up to 18C or so).  It has thigh zippers for cooling.  I personally find the waterproof seat area invaluable and wouldn't want to be without one.

I replaced a lot my bolts with ti bolts (random weight saving exercise as I was bored), but they seem to round out more easily.  After stripping a couple of rotor bolts I got scared and switched back to steel for a lot of them.  

Multitool or not, it's always worth paying more for a sharp edged quality hex tool.

417mm is an odd number.  I assume that's the shortest setting so could be lengthened by 15mm or so.  

This bike is not dissimilar to my Pipedream moxie which has the same sliding dropouts (but 425mm - 441mm).  I was running mine slammed at 425 but have recently put an extra link in the chain (ss setup) to extend to about 438ish I think.  Liking the extra cornering support and stability on jumps, but it is more difficult to manual.  Very tight cornering is a bit worse but not unmanageable.

Looks like my current set-up.  I'm running a Renthal Apex stem inverted with an Ergotec 70mm riser bar, also cut to 770.  It has a 12 deg backsweep so may be worth checking out. 

Andrew, as a fellow 'over 40' I've never seen the Waltworks look as good as it does in the top pic.  Looks similar to my bike but better.  It's my dream bike!  Maybe due to growing up riding bmx and living somewhere flat.

Posted by: twk

Now all you slow-to-conform single speeders will have the ‘option’ to ride bikes a better way!

Covid wants you to single speed! Why else would there be no Eagle chains until July!?!?!?!??!?!?!???

Even Singlespeed spacers have to be scavenged from the dark corners of various parts bins. And the cleaning gnomes in my workshop are on strike...

I'll post a proper picture of the build once I have it all together ;)

Looking forward to seeing the whole thing.  I'd recognise that frame anywhere.

Posted by: bicycle_batman

New bike day, and thanks to this site and contributors for some great info.

- Nordest Bardino 2 Ti

- Portuguese/Spanish company with frame made in Taiwan

- SQ Labs 610 Active saddle + 29x2.6” tires (this particular brand) + Ti frame for compliance

- Bike feels as comfy (if not more) as a loaded Surly ECR

- Nordest were kind enough to accept my request for rack mounts and triple bottle cage mounts. I give you Enduropacktouring!

- No plans to go near dirt or dust anytime soon

Looks lovely.  The grey tyre sidewalls against the grey downtube - nice.

Posted by: heathen

Posted by: Tremeer023

I've had quite a few hardtail frames and always seem to gravitate back to steel with thinner seatstays for good comfort as a general rule of thumb. I'm really interested in rear end frame flex design and would like to see more options. Production Privee manufacture flex into the back of their Shan steel frames.

The Production Privet frames look awesome but the Geo is soooo 2012...... It would be nice if they updated the hardtails to match there fullies

Yes, it's a shame about the short reach numbers on those frames.

I've had quite a few hardtail frames and always seem to gravitate back to steel with thinner seatstays for good comfort as a general rule of thumb. I'm really interested in rear end frame flex design and would like to see more options. Production Privee manufacture flex into the back of their Shan steel frames.

Posted by: craw

Posted by: Tremeer023

Posted by: craw

Which coil fork did you order and why? I've got a new FS frame on the way and I'm trying to decide what fork should go where. My 160 Helm 29 air is amazing. Maybe I should get a coil Helm to go with? Reviews of the Helm coil all mention how linear it is, while reviews of the new coil Z1 don't.

I've ordered a Marzocchi Z1 coil partly due to cost, and because I had a load of them back in the 2000's so there's a bit of nostalgic value. I nearly went for the Ohlins rxf but not convinced it's worth the the price difference from the Marzocchi. The MRP Ribbon looks good too but I wanted 36mm stanchions (purely for vanity/aesthetic purposes).  I can live with the extra weight.

Posted by: craw

Posted by: thaaad

You guys should check out the fuckyeahhardtail Instagram account if you're in to that. 

https://instagram.com/fuckyeahhardtail?igshid=nf771mebrl5

That's a cool account. Funny there's one in there running a Trust fork. Wasn't the one specific thing testers all agreed on was that the Trust was not good at slappy landings?

Can verify that the Trust Message is not good at slappy landings but I don't think it is a problem really as you can control flat landings to feel less harsh at the front usually.  

The main problem with the fork imo is that it excels on smooth flow trails and jumps (it makes a surprisingly good jump fork), but on those trails, you don't really need suspension at all!  On rough janky stuff, it's not good.  

I've just ordered a new coil fork to replace the Message as I realise how much I miss the comfort up front and ability to ride the fork occasionally over rough bits.  The Message will hang on my wall as a piece of mtb history.  It may be put on another bike in the future though as it does suit a hardtail frame well.  I'd never bother putting it on a sus frame.

Posted by: thaaad

You guys should check out the fuckyeahhardtail Instagram account if you're in to that.

https://instagram.com/fuckyeahhardtail?igshid=nf771mebrl5

That's a monster truck of a bike - love it. If somebody were to describe the paint job in writing it would sound awful but it actually works really well. Congrats! I vaguely remember the colour from the late 80s.  

Oops, I quoted the wrong post.  Comment relates to the Arcturian.

Yes I've seen the Daambuilt bike before, she's a beaut.  Understandable that it's your go to bikepacking rig.  170km in a day, you're fitter than me.  My longest rides are only up to 30k or so plus some playing on jump lines in the middle.  I don't tend to do all dayers.

3 bottle cages, didn't know it had that!  Maybe they've been paying too much attention to Mike Levy at PB.

Sounds like my bike will handle as much distance as I can manage and then some which is good to hear (still loving the Moxie).  I can always go back to gears.   I used to drive to trails every weekend but in recent years really appreciate longer rides from the door.

I have two sets of wheels (cheaper than 2 bikes), one with Maxxis Rekon/Ikon and the other with DHF/DHR and softer compound (dh set up).  First ride of the year with the dh wheels and, jeez what an amazing difference tyres can make.  Easy to forget once you get used to lesser tyres shortcomings.  Riding them on the road is another matter of course...

Good looking Cotic Vik. Double bottle cage; are you planning any longer bikepacking type rides with this? I'm in the middle of transforming my Moxie to a winter set up with 150mm fork (have to wait until late Oct for it), but it will end up with similar geometry to this I think. Would be interested to know how much distance you can comfortably cover with it.

Posted by: Vikb

RAH - regarding 12 deg vs. 16 deg bars I'd say it's noticeably different. Cant really say better or worse. Depends a lot of the specific bike it's going on. I like having both options.

I have ridden 17 deg bars on all the techy stuff I'm comfortable riding and after an adaptation period it wasn't a problem. I don't dirt jump so I can't speak to that. 

I plan to put a 16 deg SQLabs bar on the Cotic and it'll be used for shreddy riding. This bikepacking rig will also get ridden on very challenging natural terrain. I don't expect any issues due to the backsweep.

Thanks for the info.  I feel like I've reached a sweet spot with front end set up so don't want to spoil it really but would love some bars with a brace, but the good ones all have at least 15 deg backsweep.

I still like to throw the bike around a bit though.  I guess there's only one way to find out for sure...   As you say, good to have the choice, can always go back to the current set up.  Reduced reach could become an issue if it's too extreme a change maybe.