danithemechanic profile

If i remember correctly the Zee is essentially an Slx short cage with a different paint job. I knew you could increase its capacity swapping the direct mount tab with the one of an Slx.

I wonder if also the cage could be swapped, and if it could work crossing a Zee with an higher end derailleur too.

@cxfahrer

You are absolutely right.

But every time has been a bet!

sometimes it's a bet backed by a great warranty (PNW seatpost) sometimes it just sucks from the third ride (KS seatpost)

since the bet sides are: i will ride this weekend or not, i try to not put too much money and time into it and advise my customers to do the same.

Let's say most of the industry should be more like the PNW than the KS seatpost.

If it was a commuter bike we're speaking of, i would perform a torque-pressure-align check and off it goes.

But this is not the comparable version of an utility car: these bikes are the prized, hard earned possessions of an individual seeking for outdoor activity past time and fun.

The main goal as a mechanic these days is providing the right amount of service and make it last as long as the components allows given the riding time of the user.

To me serviceability is everything, and if you don't pull it apart from new you won't catch potential problems until, well, they become problems.

Your brilliant series "Teardown" does just this and i think it is the most useful piece of journalism for the potential buyer.

When a friend was reviewing wheels for another magazine, i used to tell him to tear those hubs down, because wheel reviews all read the same but if you tear those hubs you can truly tell wich is better sealed, has the biggest bearings, is a plain joke, ...

The same can be done with every "hidden" part of a bike, wich in the ends plays a huge role in the life of it.

This is a general consideration, i don't mean to pick againts GG or this review.

I absolutely second this.

On personal rides, everything i get either used or new gets taken apart before being built. Everything.

On customers bikes, i always ask if they want it built "like if it was mine" but that's going to be a favour for a good customer or an extra to pay.

I could never imagine getting a bike shipped, putting the wheels on and riding it.

Each part i didn't get my hands into is a potential problem coming up.

A pedal that wears out along with its cleats makes little sense to me.

At this point i have many CB pairs with many worn stages of cleats, and i can see how one could dial its favourite amount of retention just "bedding in" cleats to a point on lesser used shoes to have them ready for later.

If you search hard enough you might even find replacement "wings" for some CB pedals, or swap them between models.

One thing that i grew accustomed to with CB pedals is the ability to clip in rearward.

No matter the shitty situation you're in, you can just throw your foot there and it will clip, also helping you resume your stance quicker.

This is a feature i surprisingly saw some new pedals have but not these Chromags.

I still think that as far as mud shedding-flat pedal like unclipping force-easy of entry the Crank Brothers don't have any rivalries.

I've come to the point where an event report without watercolor paintings seems weird.

Spoiled, i guess.

Transparency from Formula? 

Their suspensions might be good (their brakes surely are) but their comunications about parts spec is sub par.

It's kind of an early 2000's situation where you can only gather informations through rumors heard on the trails or at the shop.

Who cares whatever you wear? Who cares whatever you ride? 

Take a look at the latest skateboarding fashions, it's a mixed bag of crazyness! so cool!

Personally i really like to see people riding with "outside the box" style, but i guess here's the issue, sometimes style is difficult to have, usually it's easier to copy someone's else.

I see your point on visors and i can't but agree. Then i check your new helmet and the first thought is: "That's so roadie"

But this is a reaction to a fashion in biking that needs to put a label on things at all costs.

I wish we could just choose the "nicely designed" option without having to choose a label.

Pete you don't have to take blame of anything! 

I'm sure the no maintenance claim came out in the press release it's not your own claim.

My purpose wasn't that of upsetting you or being pedant, i didn't even want to pick on this technology in particular, i'm just really annoyed by hyperboles and absolute truths (and acronyms btw) plaguing the language of this industry.

Why can't everybody just put technologies in terms of options?

All i see is a mechanical device made of a multitude of parts put togheter with some fasteners inside the main frame of the bike anchored to the frame and the fork's steerer tube. I strongly doubt this will unaffect normal maintenance of any bike (picture cleaning and greasing the headset parts as an example) so i can accept to a degree that the device itself can be free of maintenance but it will surely add to other maintenance procedures.

I was speaking in general, mountain bikes are the most maintenance heavy bikes ever, with or without steering dampers.