danimaniac profile

and they do. (see above comment)

I feel it's becoming quite a thing, at least over here in Germany.

You should try out and play around withPropain's bike configurator

In this case you could choose to run a XO1 setup with GC derailleur, cuz you know you gonna hang that thing on the next rock anyway (as an example). You can choose different brakes from magura and Sram and differen level of RS and FOX suspension.

It's bit of a pity as two years ago you would have been able to spec a complete Formula build for suspension and brakes.. but still. This is pretty great.

Last-Bieks just gives you a list of available parts which you can choose from (and the price increase to the absolute base-built)

does this geo chart make a lot of sense to you then?

The fun thing is that they have different road bikes for going uphill a lot and going fast in the flats. OR the cause for shortest chainstays possible (boost in drag) but therefore a super nervous bike (That's for the long flats) bit longer bike with less "aero-attitude" for the mountain stuff where drag becomes less important, but some downhill/uphill stability needs to be added (with huge climbs crazy fast descents will be added) and so on.

The progression in roadbikes though is happening in infinitesimal small steps. Oh man.. and they fight about the height of the rims, every little mm of chainstay and if any other colored socks than white can be allowed.

Dude.. get on one of the Last Bikes. Based in Dortmund, Aluminium frame, good specced for around 4k€ superb geometry. AND! They know what they do. Next order round should start soon for bikes being delivered in spring.

Or you can get the handmade in Germany Carbon Enduro frame that weights roughly 2, TWO!!!! Kilos and is tested to do whatever you want (ASTM 5 or sth...) But that frame alone is 3700 or so

to (not) answer your question: With all I know today, I'd pick the Dominion over the Cura4 anyday. I think the TRP DH-R Evo is a nice third player in the market of brakes "as powerful as a Trickstuff Dirrettissima". [But that comparison might be a german thing. ]

I have a little excel-sheet calculating theoratical braking power of brakes. All three (and the TS-DRT, and Magura's MT5/7) deliver almost the same power (System Leverage as a combination of mechanical and hydraulic leverage) All the rest is friction in system (Dominion might be best in class), quality of hoses (pressure and stuff) and the rubbing partnership of pads and rotors.

Must say though: Like the appearance of the TRP Evo Master, would love to pair that with a silver MT-4pot caliper from Magura. Would make a hell of a brake, too!

If you have to fin the caliper the brake system is designed to fail:

Heat is being produced between the pads and the rotor. The resin (semimetallic, too) itself is rather bad at transferring heat, while braking, the pads'n backplates only touch the pistons and that little clip, which is so small, it could heat up, but would not transfer heat through the screw or splint holding the pads in. Leaves us with the pistons on that side. There's some contact area, most of it is fluid what you don't want to heat up, rest is seals that you don't want to heat up. Actual touching of the caliper body itself is in fourth degree through the fluid (and through air) 

That's why the rotors shall take the heat. And by arriving cooler than the pads are while braking, because it went full circle, it will take more heat. 

That's why I think if you need finned calipers the brake is designed to fail.

Also: Great review, good read!

Sorry for the nitpicking above.. I just love nerding about brakes.

Can you get Andrew and Cam to ride these for comparison with the A4 and Cura 4? These actually sound like a real contender. Does the lever have any trickery like Servowave/Swinglink or is the mechanical leverage linear? (Please do a teardown!)

> To improve lever feel, TRP started by moving to a smaller 9mm piston, down from the 10mm pistons in the master cylinders of the DHR and Quadiem brakes. Apparently the smaller piston increases the force in the system. In the calliper, the opposite is true; four 16mm hybrid ceramic/stainless pistons remain. This combination results in less pressure to bring the brakes to attention, something that was clear the first time I squeezed the lever. The new Hayes Dominion also features a 9mm master cylinder piston and similar, light access to the power.

About this: you say "apparently".. this is just physic's law: Force/area = Pressure. Pressure is the same at master and slave cylinders. But as slave area is much greater than Master area Force increases by the same factor. Hydraulic leverage. So only because of this the DHR-E is about 23% stronger than the previos DHR.

But because of this deadstroke is longer, because still the same volume of oil needs to be pushed around.

Dominion's Master cylinder is 9.15mm diameter ;-) *g*

On a sidenote: I think it's unfair to bring the larger rotors into the equation like TRP does. Because every single brake gets stronger and more heat resistant by increasing rotor size. But of course it feels awesome. But can you try if the 2,3mm rotors fit the Dominion A4?

response to the music club: Even meaningful music has been published since march.

And if you just want to shout out some anger and frustration you could try Salem from Nothing More (not sooo meaningful maybe, but just shout "BURN THE WITCH" a couple of times and think about all the stupid people ruling over countries while doing so maybe :D

Gojira's "Another World" could actually be meaningful, and the video is awesome, but you should like metal ;-)

Babylon Circus have released a new album, but understanding of the french language helps a lot to understand what they want to say, too.

While in lockdown I took some stuff home from the gym:
aerobic dumbell set with additional weights, a mat and one of those stupid aerobix steps.

With this setup you can do almost everything (except pullups)

Use the step for variations of lunges, squats, benchpress, dips ..

also can do deadlifts, rowing, all the pulling and pushing basically. It was great. Had to return it all and lost interest in going to the studio completely. Now always think about just getting the stuff all by myself and safe on the studio plan.

Need to say: I was pretty much into these Hot Iron courses with a mix of some crossfitty things. Now almost only to Tabatas with all the exercises I can imagine, but the results are low as I only can bring myself to go to the gym like once a week.

Posted by: danimaniac

drop 15 kilos and work on my FTP --- up it to 270-300 Watts (3 Watts per kg bodyweight) (driven by numbers, I am :-D )

Climb my nearest mountain (1000m altitude change) in under 75 minutes (currently 100minutes)

be able to do 10 Pullups, 50 Pushups, run 10km under 50minutes

I'll just quote myself here... None of it.

I dropped 5 kilos and regained 2 , FTP test is due though... I'm excited to see

1000m climb is still 100 minutes... but my bike gained in kilo just in rubber

8 pullups, 60 pushups, still hate running, won't do it :D

I'm definitely stronger though than when I first wrote that overly ambitioned crap up there :P due to HIIT training with barbells and stuff and a morning routine of about 100 pushups and 200 situps/Crunches that I introduced in February and have not skipped yet and an evening routine of eating well and drinking good beer and wine. This all helps... maybe

you could try thicker padding?

Posted by: andy-eunson

I have the Giro switchblade but it fits poorly. I thought it was OK in the shop but on the bike it’s hard on my neck. It’s too low on my head so looking up is hard on the neck muscles. I am considering others though. It’s about to get wet and we all forget how to ride when it gets wet eh.

I don't know about availability across the pond. Anyway. I've good experience with ion rascal shoes. There's two versions, I've the cheaper ones. 

The only thing bugging me is that the strap is starting to disintegrate at the tip after a good year, but nothing a good glue or some stitching can't control.

drop 15 kilos and work on my FTP --- up it to 270-300 Watts (3 Watts per kg bodyweight) (driven by numbers, I am :-D )

Climb my nearest mountain (1000m altitude change) in under 75 minutes (currently 100minutes)

be able to do 10 Pullups, 50 Pushups, run 10km under 50minutes