velocipedestrian profile

I've gone too far. DMR Trailstar designed for a 120mm fork running 170mm instead.

I didn't realise for a year or so, then did some experiments - found the sweet spot for handling on that frame is ~130mm. A harsher, but better balanced ride. 

Less dramatic, but still too far - 170mm on a V2 Banshee Spitfire (designed for 150mm), the front was fine, good descending etc, but too much for the STA. 

Good experiments though...

Thanks Dave.

I've been enjoying my supermarket trips on the bike I'd recently rebuilt from the spares pre-covid. 

DMR trailstar, SS, rigid fork, 2.3" BMX treads, slx brakes... Cruising the empty streets during our lockdown was great. Now that we're easing back on the restrictions in NZ the foot/traffic has returned and the fun has decreased.

Hmm, maybe 2?

Oldskool 26" Lyrik has respectable crown depth, DU shocks win, pads get checked regularly, hubs and drivetrain are both pretty new... 

Sorry to be boring, I'd be much less smug if I went looking at the other bikes around this joint.

The car is Tom's, the giraffe is Ben's, the dank strangeness is everyone's.

Lynsky, you're a gem. I didn't have to get to the nuptials photo to recognise your purple prose.

But.. 

I understand the impulse to baptise a new steed, however braving the bracing waters of Ōwhiro Bay is too much for my tender nugs.

Thomas is the deceivingly normal looking one, the bike is Ben's.

You may not be locking down with us, but I doubt you have much accent choice.

This.

My closest to home trails are mostly two way, dual use. There is already conflict with walker/rider interaction, n00b riders going 20km/hr uphill is not going to help.

Nope. Wheelworks / Flite is the local version for me.

Or its homage "Swordfish trombones".

Makes me miss my OG Pike, should never have sold it.

Posted by: DanLees1978

Shimano SLX Mech and Shifter

Absolute Black Oval Chainring

Connex Wipperman Chain

Sunrace cassette.

All 10 speed, works fine.  Shifting is about 90% as good as a perfectly set up all SLX 10 speed drivetrain but with a wider range than normal 10 speed. Would probably just run a wide range Deore cassette now.

Similar here - 10spd SLX derailleur, XTR shifter and sunrace cassette. I found the shifting downgraded significantly when I went from a Shimano cassette to the sunrace (11-42, b screw at full in), wolftooth goatlink helped pull it back closer to the performance of the full Shimano set.

Posted by: AndrewMajor

Posted by: velocipedestrian

Wow. Badarse.

Gonna read the piece, but first a guess about how many responses came through about the oval of the Thomson being 90° wrong?

It gives you more compliance that way! Hahahahaha.

None! Just a question about bolt strength.

Wow. Badarse.

Gonna read the piece, but first a guess about how many responses came through about the oval of the Thomson being 90° wrong?

Posted by: thaaad

It's definitely the seat angle that makes me dislike pedaling it, it feels like I'm pushing super far forward instead of down since the BB is so far forward relative to my hips.

The only issues with running it in the high position is that it steepens the head angle more and raises the BB as well. I'm also not sure if a half a degree steeper seat tube from raising it will make a noticeable difference. 

The works headset steepens the STA slightly alone, plus the 1° from running the dropouts at full high ~1.5° steeper STA and still getting - 1°HA out of the - 2° headset. 

I also reversed the [cradle? Tray?] lower part of my seatpost head the rails sit in to give me a few mm extra forward. 

I get that little tweaks won't change everything, but it depends if it's nearly right, or bigger change is needed.

I feel your pain Thaaad, a long term collection of parts makes for a sweet ride that no one else can see the real value in.

I'm still on an old Spitfire, and wish it was longer and had a steeper STA... Would be worth peanuts if I sold it, so am gradually turning it into the best bike it can be (for me). Next step is a works - 2°headset, partly for the HA, but also so I can run the dropouts in a steeper position to improve the STA for pedalling. 

Would that help your darkside? Or is the poor pedalling a different factor?

Awesome build! I can't let my daughter see that.

Posted by: Ddean

it’s easier than I would have expected to lose the front end by taking a less aggressive stance (guessing because it’s long). It’ll probably be good for improving my body position in general. 

The short stays make this trait worse, geometry is all compromise.

I recently ordered a NOS MiCo damper for a 26" Lyrik from Bike Recyclery...

Not sure if that helps you, sorry.

Sometimes I feel like the last person using a crank mounted bash. I tried a taco, and liked how easy it was to clean the ring, but my frames warranty doesn't cover damage caused to the ISCG tabs by an impact.

The only real downside I can see is the 30t max chainring on a 104bcd crank.