techguy

Ya me too as Manitou has never been battling, maybe in this country, but internationally not, as well as Magura forks they are huge in europe! RST started the same time as Rockshox, and like suntour and spinner forks the reason they haven't made a huge impact is because they manufacture a lot of forks for other companies....

I have a set of Gators on my training wheels and a set of GP4000's on my race wheels, best of both worlds, then the GP4000's last forever...

I'm 1.85m tall, saddle height is 78.5cm centre BB to top of saddle

If you have the 9sp Sora then you can get spacer shims that sit in the STI's to move the lever closer to the bar, if she has the 8sp shifters then there's not much hope but to go 9sp and get the ST-R600 levers that can take the shims or like I say the newer 9sp sora levers have the shims...

Ya thats not a bad price for new cranks and BB, I would go for it...

Ya tell me about it! my 1st son was 7weeks premature and the dr's bill came to R35000 and Med aid paid like R15000 so here's kippie stuck with a massive bill... On top of that my new son is also prem so the dr's secretary decides she's going to make us pay the outstanding amount and another R35000 deposit "just in case" Med aid doesn't pay. We told her she's smoking her Frikken socks and where to go and how to get there! Her response? you should be greatful the dr is looking after your baby! Jeez I would love to earn R35000 for two weeks work from one client!

If you really want to clean the dried up sealant then use carb cleaner spray from Midas...it dissolves the dried up latex...

Black Chilli is the Conti trademark for the rubber they use in their tyres, the gatorskins have Black Chilli rubber, I think you mean the GP4000? If so then the differnce is huge, the GP4000 is lighter and has a more supple ride to it being a foldup tyre whereas the gatorskins normally sold (you can get GP 4 seasons with gatorskin) are a wire bead.For all the info go to http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/general/home/index_en.html It should have all the answers and models of tyres

Don't stress too much, I agree with Johan, But the frame is still rideable...

I agree with splat...

I had a top end RST about 10yrs ago and it compared well to the (then) Rockshox Judy's which were the top end forks then. The RST range has always been bubbling under the major brands - the same as suntour forks they are actually quite good for the price you pay...

I saw some of those on the shelf next to hens teeth...But seriously the move to 180mm is worth it I have 180mm XTR cranks and will never go back. unfortunatley the square taper DA cranks went out of production 13yrs ago so to find a set now I'd try ebay or the like...

Well done Johan for trying, However what you have described (Imay be wrong) gives me a picture of what Terry Dolan, Claud Butler and other frame builders in the UK call a winter traing bike, steel with mud guards, and relaxed geometry to do long base miles on... I have painted lugged frames in the past, but for what one can charge is restrictive for the amount of time it takes to do properly. You can buy premade lugs from tiawan...and frames from steel are traditionally brazed and not welded. Just my 2c

Its a top pull, most FD's are compatible with both so I doubt you can buy the wrong one...

I can do science me, and I can see the benefits scientifically...

All I can say to Johan is ride one before you take it apart on engineering mumbo jumbo...

Thats cool I'll patent the 34" wheel! HAHA

No problem I've fitted 2.4 tyres to those wheels before with no hassles...

The 29ers do not need a specially offset fork, its just Gary Fisher's vision to make a better handling bike, the Hi-Fi that I had was a 26er with the offset fork and it was a wonderful bike to ride! I also rode an old 29er with a standard fork (standard 29er fork) and didn't feel any difference in the handling...

popcorn please!

the whole idea with Fishers genesis geometry is to make the bike stable at high speed by having a relaxed (68-69deg) head angle but making the bike corner well at slow speed by reducing the trail by moving the top of thr fork forward...and it works!

Easiest way to lighten any bike is to take the wheels off... HAHA just my 2c. As I tell all my clients, unless you're prepared to go big and dish out the cash then don't bother. Strong, Light, Cheap pick two

For that amount of effort it would work out cheaper to just buy a new rim and in a few hours you could have a finished wheel...

Hi I have done this before, Bead blasting leaves the frame with a matt finish that still needs to be polised to put a clear coat over, the problem is the clear coat may not stick properly to the aluminium unless a very good panel shop does it with an epoxy based clear coat which costs a packet. Rather go the paint stripper/sanding route and polish the frame with a very good aluminium polish...it works out to the same amount of work...