Znarf profile

I just bought a lightly used Santa Cruz Hightower V2 frameset. 

The original owner either pulled a cable end cap into the tube in tube for the dropper cable or stopped it up with something else. I can't get a cable through there and am fiddling like a madman. 

I appreciate the external routing on my Madonna THAT much more! 

I might have to settle for an externally routed dropper :-(

RAAW just changed their warranty for frames and bikes over here.

They now offer five year warranty for original and following owners. And crash replacement also.

That’s really cool! And stabilizes value for used frames.

I like what Santa Cruz is doing here: Putting bearings in the links. If the bores are toast. Swap the link or repair it, not the whole frame.

I just read a great article about this very question. One launch/flight with the virgin or SpaceX tourism space craft uses/emits about as much kerosene/co2 as one intercontinental flight (New York - Paris or similar) with a big air liner with around 300 passengers. 

So that's a lot of emissions to keep some billionaires or millionaires entertained for a couple of minutes. But at the same time if you take into account how many average people / airliners fly every day that's a staggering amount of CO2. 

Now, imagine if space tourism would become a Joe Average thing, cheap and affordable, so everyone could do it for fun...

Great discussion with lots of interesting and substantial viewpoints and remarkably civil for a topic which touches climate change. That's why I love nsmb.com and the user base on here! Thank you all very much!

That’s right.

At the same time, every kg of greenhouse gas that isn’t emitted helps. Even if we fail the 1.5deg goal (which ist pretty likely), the more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,  the more drastic  the changes will be and probably also faster. 

There’s a margin between somewhat livable and apocalyptic which isn’t 0/1. 

Please do what you can, even if other people don’t. It DOES make a difference. Even if it is only perceivable on a personal scale. It will be scientifically measurable without doubt with 8 billion people. 

Regarding cycling and emissions. On one hand, spending calories for fun isn’t efficient. 

But if you stick to riding to the trails instead of driving all the time, use your fitness for commuting and replace your bikes/equipment only when it fails, there are many worse ways of recreation in the developed countries. 

And I’d wager people who spend time on trails (or even maintain trails) will develop a certain sense for nature and keeping it intact.

Cool article, central topic and good of Trek to be (comparably) forward with this data. Sustainability and repairability  should be a fixed, important criteria for all reviews on nsmb.com!

For me it is a toss up between a Wheeler Wasp full suspension frame I bought like new, but without warranty.

The seat stay snapped at the brake mount after two days of riding.

Close second: 

Marzocchi 66 SL (Air) fork. Beautiful monster of a fork. It was incredibly sticky. Turned out the mag lowers had a manufacturing defect. The through axle holes weren’t aligned properly. I could only insert the axle with considerable twisting force. 

Marzocchi claimed that tolerances were in an expectable margin, warranty denied.

I pedaled that boat anchor around for a year and it offered incredibly shitty performance.

Very cool review - I really love that on nsmb.com there seems to be a place, appreciation and editorial willingness to allow in-depth, nerdy (good), content with context and depth! Many other websites or magazines (which I also enjoy somewhat) only seem to concentrate on brief content which reduces products to disposable items only current for a blink. 

I enjoy that there are articles which are long enough, that I have to file them away in my reading list and then find an occasion a bit later where I find the time to actually read through it. Also the needed tinkering and "ripening" of a bike (and actually sinking hours in wrenching, RIDING, WRITING and photography) show in a lot of posts. 

REALLY COOL!

Great article!

Actually I have already sold the 38 and went back to the 36 and then got a 2021 Lyrik Ultimate as a spare, too for when the 36 will go in for warranty once the CSU goes again.

The Lyrik is pretty awesome, it is incredibly simple to setup and very plush. Lets see how it will hold up :)

It´s a bit weird with the Jibb. I am 1,83m with short torso but long arms and legs. Even though it isn't much smaller than my Madonna of the same size (both large), it feels a lot smaller, standing up. I like it, but I won't keep it in my stable. It is too close to the Madonna and I'll swap the frame for a used and much less potent XC/Trail bike with a bit less overlap. I'll occasionally use this bike for mellow trails or fireroad adventures and ride the Madonna 90% of my time on proper trails.

I LOVE the Madonna and will cling to this bike - it has practically NO drawbacks for me and fit is perfect. 

I have several riding buddies who substituted their Madonna or other bike with a Jibb however and dearly love it. They are all a bit smaller though. Right around 1,78m or less - also on larges. Different strokes...

How tall are you, Kenny?

Posted by: Kenny

Posted by: Znarf

I find that with all modern bikes (bb sits below the wheel axles) it is absolutely beneficial to change or learn the proper manual technique. 

No doubt technique helps, but my previous bike was a ripmo af - lower bottom bracket, longer reach, less stack, yet it did not have the same too-far-forward feeling, and getting the front end up was fine. Main difference was chainstay length so yeah, hopefully 440 helps. :)

Okay! Fingers crossed!

I find that with all modern bikes (bb sits below the wheel axles) it is absolutely beneficial to change or learn the proper manual technique. 

It is not about pulling the bars but instead mainly thrusting forward and a little downward with your feet through your hips. 

You need the right (not too low, not too high) bar height and it will feel natural with enough practice. 

Pulling on the bars worked with 26“ bikes or BMX, it doesn’t any longer.

I struggled with the manual for years (more like decades), but I finally learned it on the bike with the longest chainstays I ever owned. 

I now can do it pretty effortless for a minute or longer (if there’s a long enough road with a slope. 

On narrow trails my hit rate is much lower, but I can lift the front wheel practically effortless for a couple of meters basically anywhere on long bikes, which increased my confidence in a lot of situations).

It was about technique and not geometry (in my case). Ryan Leech’s online course and the L-hint (your hip must make an L shaped movement while lifting the front wheel).

Before mastering this particular technique there where certain situations on long 29ers where I was more passenger than rider.

That said, benefits of long geometries can be enjoyed in most situations without much rider input. 

I hope that doesn’t sound too haughty. It isn’t meant that way. I am in no way a pro rider. 

Maybe it helps if you film yourself riding the bike to see potential for adjustment and unlock the full potential? 

The 440mm chainstays will make a noticeable difference anyhow!

Are you having this weird over the bar sensation when you're riding SEATED or when STANDING up? For steep stuff? Or on mellow trails? Because you say "when I least expect it". 

I ride my Madonna 9 out of 10 times instead of the Jibb, because the Madonna feels like an extension of my body after three seasons on it. 

I haven´t felt the Jibb pitching me forward while standing up so far. I find it surprisingly capable with the 160mm fork. I have ridden steepish and rough stuff with the Jibb and the bike does well, but I find it is like with aggro hardtails. Fun but punishing. In the Jibb case, not because the suspension doesn't work well, but because you can go so fast, but 135mm are 135mm, no way around that. 

What keeps me from full on love with the Jibb so far: I feel like I have more weight on my hands for seated riding on extended flat sections compared to my Madonna. (of course the Madonna sags more, but I have the seat further back on the Jibb). It is a bit weird and I'll investigate more. Dynamic ride height and progressive (short travel) rear suspension might be a culprit here. I know several much better riders than me who absolutely shred on the Jibb and love it.

So far I much prefer my Madonna (that bike is 11 out of 10 for me). I have to add though that I seem to enjoy longer travel bikes more, because my joints don´t ache as much post ride. Especially in gnarly terrain. 

I hope you'll find ZEN with the 440mm stays. If not - don´t hesitate to mix things up. When you don't jive with a bike, there's no point NOT to move on. (if financially feasible)

Yeah! A beautiful bike!

And indeed not easy to find…

Did you try the 440mm chainstay options?

I recently tried that (compared to stock 445mm) and WOW it is an unexpected BIG difference. My Madonna is much more playful now. I like it even better and will try it on my Jibb next…

Cornering isn‘t affected much, but bunny hops, pumping and lifting the front wheel on trails is more effortless. Rear wheel is a tiny bit more squirrely, but as the Madonna is a very composed bike that doesn‘t bother me.

We‘ll see. They claim that Trickstuff will stay independent. But I absolutely agree that a healthy skepticism is in order ;-)

DT Swiss is a big company which offers decent spare part support in my experience and I’ve had satisfying experiences with their products so far.

Worst case would have been an aquisition by Crank Brothers or Avid :D

That would be the sweetest excuse to buy some of these:

https://flomotorsports.com/products/copy-of-beta-brake-lever-1

Hi,

that would be my reasoning as well. I bought two sets of Trickstuff Direttissimas. They were expensive, but they are the first brakes which have zero compromise performance, durability and you can get any single smallpart and the company vows to have spareparts for the next fifteen years. (true for their Cleg brakes which I have lusted over since around 2004).

They make my riding experience noticeably more enjoyable and safer. That said, all of the following companies make brakes I enjoyed and had fun with in the past.

I rode Shimano for a long time, they work, but some niggles and non servicable calipers. 

Sram I don‘t like for the DOT hassle.

Maguras have weak lever assemblies.

Hayes are hard to source in Europe.

Formula would be a contender since the Cura, availability is soso, reliability 95%.

So I feel there is a reason to shell out for the Direttissima and if I keep the same brakes for 5+ seasons they won‘t be expensive in comparison. 

Suspension forks though? Over here buying a Fox compared to a Lyrik is hardly justifiable for performance reasons. A Lyrik Ultimate is around 700€ brand new online, a 36 Factory is about 1200€ online. The Era is 1499€ msrp and the V1 can be found for 1399€.

The Lyriks got a lot better since 2019/2020. In my experience there is negligible performance difference between the 36, 38(!) and the Lyrik, if you are in a common weight bracket. 

EXT seems to offer exceptional customization options through their german service partner, so there might be riders who benefit. 

It is an interesting fork, but I have no interest in setting up a couple of interdependent air chambers. I find setting air pressure for changing temperatures a nuisance even without. I had an AWK (like a Runt) double chamber in a 36 once. Great when set up perfect, but not worth the hassle for 90% of my riding.

I would however shell out for a fork if I knew I could ride it for 5+ years.