earleb profile

If you want even more fun, run your friction thumbie on your diy electric bike and the ability to send 500w of power into hunting for the gear. 

I love my thumbies, but I did get a trigger shifter back on the electro commuter after it's last rebuild and it's nice. 

Even though it was a 11spd Microshift and 11spd cassette I ended up spending about a year in friction mode. It got knocked out of alignment one morning dropping the kids at daycare, flipped it into friction mode....just never took the time to realign it and switch back. Cables never out of adjustment in friction mode.

Fancy stems are nice and I have several (NS Billet, Chromag, and TCI) but my next will be back to a simple inexpensive forged lightweight weight weenie one so I can min-max the dollars into higher value area. 

I want another P321 rear hub and the dollars gotta come from somewhere.

The 11-46 10spd cassette, budget but not cheap rear derailleur, xtr shifter, and the non series low key mt-900 cranks. Will a 12spd ring work with the 10spd chain? 

You get enough spread in the 10spd cassette, all steel no pre-mature wear in the bigger gears. 10spd is going to be lighter than 11 or 12. Rear derailleur that works well but doesn't break the bank when you destroy it on a rock.

The non-series cranks are just new XT but I like the low key branding better. The 24mm Shimano series gives up a touch in weight to the 30mm axle systems but it's a better system. Quality bearings, a steel on steel interface between axle and bearing and simple pre-load. 

XTR shifter because they usually just feel better than XT. 

Min to the max. 

I was really un-happy with the shift feel on the move from 10spd to 11spd XT. The 11spd XT just felt heavy and clunky. Currently on full GX Eagle and it's just okay, it's been durable. I have an new 11spd Sram mix of GX and X1 ready to go on the next build, bought before the latest Shimano stuff was available an I have XD driver on the current wheelset.

https://www.schwalbetires.com/accessories/helpful_tools/tread_cutter

Buy what's close to what you want then trim em.

Bootcamp? I assume that was riding lots with James.

Can we get a weekly/monthly article from these two? This reminds me soo much of late 90's Bike Mag vs the stuff we get now either online or in print.

Dave Camp did a couple gear box style bikes.

https://sites.google.com/site/dcamp2/history

I know where there is a shop where you can built your own.

The antithesis of the Gee Milner "Dream Build" videos.

Dammit you have me wondering about a set of these for the next build vs adding another set of Magura's to the fleet.

Posted by: Endur-Bro

Why are people so emotionally attached to paying more for items one can purchase from any other online retailer for less?

Because much of the profit was used for positive environmental projects. 

The NSMBA would not be where it is today without grants and sponsorship from MEC. MEC grants were used to springboard from struggling volunteer board to paid administration staff. It seems small but it's a quantum leap in capacity.

So glad I had ordered a box of housing and cables last year. I am tight on housing ends but if I get desperate I'll spin my own with some stainless on the lathe. 

Now I do need a drivetrain for my commuter bike...so we'll see how fun it is to source cassette and chain in these out of stock times.

Crazy to think this happens twice. 

Some serious vendetta to hit this a 2nd time.

Everything you might need to know is buried in here somewhere. 

https://expeditionportal.com/forum

What's your plan/goal for the build?

It would be great if we could get cab over small / mid sized trucks in North America. You can get a 7ft box on a small footprint.

If that's above isn't a glowing endorsement then I don't know what is. 

Wait, Craw is that a 29'er or a 26 dirt jumper? 

I have a new MK1 on the shelf waiting to go on the next build and keen to ride it.

Posted by: RAHrider

Isn't saying that you prefer flow trails just another way of saying "I like easier trails" while sacrificing your ego? Espresso on Fromme is a perfect example. It's got to be the most boring trail on the shore save a couple of boulders and ramps. Anyone who says they like the flow trails on Fromme are really saying they like the easy ones, aren't they? 

No, it also means some people like to go fast sometimes. 

I like to creep around at a snails pace on Bookwus, Upper Crippler and Upper Digger but I also like so feel some speed sometimes on Expresso and Lower Expresso. Mix n match.

The world needs a way to put the "I'm here to fucking party crowd" back into Phase 1 lock down so the rest of us can function in a Phase 3 world.

No need to bleed or change the oil, this is as simple as an air can service or adding tokens. I stuffed a homemade shim in mine last summer, from memory I think these travel spacers sit down under the tokens.

Posted by: LoamtoHome

sometimes braids indicate the original trail line isn't that good.... as a builder I've learned to look at braids and see if the braid is actually better. Most times it is.  Builders don't always get it right the first time.

I think this is often overlooked on the topic if braids, especially on older Shore trails.