wesley_r

Also bear in mind it's a 5 year old bike - and the previous shock was 10mm too short, maybe that played a part? Anyway, enough jibber jabber! To go with my new bars, I decided I needed a nicer stem. I've been running a 55mm no-name brand stem that seems to have a rise a little steeper than your run of the mill 5 degrees. Truvativ's AKA stem is pretty nice, and '09 stock is going for +- R200 a pop so it was a no brainer. Initially I ordered a 70mm as I wanted a bit more of a stretched out feel, but I eventually decided against it and Geco Cycles were kind enough to swap it out - just got a mail from them that the 60mm replacement has arrived at the shop. Lekker.

Yip, Andrew is a mate, and other Andrew (it's 2 Andrews, true story) is a nice bloke as well - we hung out on Friday night after the Strength in Numbers screening. Mate or not though, they're doing good work, and I'll plug them every chance I get, because our local industry needs guys like them - their vision being to service the "niche" of SA's MTB market - DH, DJ, AM, etc They've got some even greater brands than what they already have coming on board, but I've been sworn to secrecy

yebo - see, 10kg less, and I think it was at about 20% sag for a 115kg rider... and it was the old shock... the RT3 is o so plushy

Next up - cockpit. Initially I was running Truvativ BooBars - 780mm width and 20mm rise. To be honest, I found them great when pointed downhill, but for all round trail use a bit too wide and low - so I switched to a set of 30mm rise, 710mm wide Holzfellers I had. I quickly realised the ideal for me would be a 25-30mm rise, and a width of 730-760mm... I tried getting 740/30 BooBars and 730/30 Holzfellers locally, but with no joy (after months of trying). Then out of the blue a new local online shop launches - www.dialdbikes.co.za - and lookey what they have. Deity Dirty30 in 760mm width and 25mm rise. And what's more they are pretty light, and looks like if needs be it'll be easy to cut them down (which is a mission on the BooBars due to the taper which limits how far your controls can move in). If you want to hook yourself up with a pair I can recommend these guys. Nice range of gravity orientated stuff, and cool guys to deal with... here's a link to the bars: http://dialdbikes.co.za/deity-dirty30-handlebar.html Available in many funky colours, I finally settled on the simple, yet striking black and white. Look how well that matches the frame

O, Cpt, didn't you ride the bike at the DS event? I had the shock super stiff that day for that course. Or did you ride it at Majik?

Cpt, what do you weigh? I run the rear at about 25% - 30% sag, which at my weight of 115kg is about 260psi (if I remember correctly)... and that's a Rock Shox Monarch RT3 with high volume canister. Hairy - where could I send it?

While stripping the shock out of the frame we noticed that one of the axles / spacers / whatever you call them are bent. Now, bear in mind this is a 2007 bike bought 2nd hand, not from an "official" Commencal dealer. I emailed Absolut Biking (the Commencal distributor in SA) and after a speedy reply and some backing and forthing they agreed to mail me a new set of axles, free of charge. They didn't even charge me shipping. Axles should arrive today or tomorrow... With this sort of service I know that if I ever buy a new Commencal in the future I can do so with peace of mind. Thanks guys

Why? What am I missing? You've lost me - must be my age

Step 1 is the frame - if you remember, I had the frame resprayed with some custom graphics I designed (along the lines of the Commencal DH bike and the MetaAM), and then disaster struck and one part of the frame, where the clear coat hadn't cured properly, got damaged in transit. I patched it with some clear film and left it, but now that the frame was not being used I sent it off to get patched up. You'll have to wait for the "after" photo, but this is what it looked like when I removed the film the other day (taking some of the outer layer with it!), before sending it back to get repaired. The repair is done, and it looks killer - better than new!

So, as some of you may know a little while ago I hurt my back. No, I didn't crash, I just have a dodgy back... getting it right again meant physio and 6 weeks off the mountain bike (longer, if possible)... So what to do? Easy - I took my Commencal to my LBS along with my old Mongoose Tyax frame and I said "put everything from here on here" Since I'm running an adjustable travel fork I dialled it down to 110mm and for the last few weeks I've been doing afternoon road rides to get fit, along with regular pilates. But I've had enough. I'm stronger and fitter now, and missing the trails big time. I've already done a Contermans ride on the hardtail and had a ball, so it's time to build up the blue beast again. Along the way a few subtle changes are going to be made so I thought I'd get a little thread going around the rebuild of my super awesome trail rig

I was joking. But damn, I am soooo tempted to get a BFe. And no, not for the ISCG tabs

No, I don't have ISCG tabs. Maybe it's time to buy that Cotic BFe ....

the DMR comes in a version that can accommodate a regular bash guard... this then perhaps? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=61123

What about this one? http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/chain-guide/product/review-dmr-bikes-viral-chainguide-12-45732

I recently dumped my big ring in favour of a bash guard and am thinking more and more each day of dumping the granny gear too and just running the 32T (34T later when I'm fitter)... obviously I'll need a chain guide - but what? There seem to be so many brands and types on the market, I am confused... Anything I should be looking at - reliable, something that either comes with a bash guard or can accommodate one, and a decent price? Advice? This is for my trail / AM rig, not DH. But this is the best board for this sort of advice

Help! I recently dumped my big ring in favour of a bash guard and am thinking more and more each day of dumping the granny gear too and just running the 32T (34T later when I'm fitter)... obviously I'll need a chain guide - but what? There seem to be so many brands and types on the market, I am confused... Anything I should be looking at - reliable, something that either comes with a bash guard or can accommodate one, and a decent price?

You guys have swayed me, trading it on a 60mm instead...

thanks for confusing me more. but bear in mind - you went from 85mm to 50mm - quite a jump as cpt says I think I need to try it, and see how it works out...

'tis true, and these stems are cheap as chips - no-one like's wasting money but at least i can flog it again or keep as a spare...

Bike's still in pieces what you think CPT - should I give the 70 a bash, or go for a 60 instead?

went for the 70, not convinced. it seems very long. measured my current stem again and it seems more like a 50mm... maybe i should just trade this in on a 60mm then... I suppose I won't really know until I ride it though...

Didn't think so - would make it a pretty useless fabric for cycling kit if it did Maybe I just need to get used to the fit. And start wearing lycra shorts. And shaving my legs....

that easton stem is hot ordered the white AKA. It's a well priced stem at roughly R200, I currently have a 55/60mm stem (unsure) and want to try something a little longer. I think the white's going to look sweet, can't wait to put this bike back together

Silly little question - just bought a Fox cycling shirt (polyester) from BuyCycle, which is my usual size but in a more "traditional" cycling shirt cut, and it's long enough, but mega tight - my question (since I'm used to wearing looser fitting kit) - which may seem like a silly question - does polyester stretch a bit after a few rides? Would like to avoid the hassle of sending it back...