Palaeodom

I've got Easton carbon Hbars and they are excellent...just looking around to see what other components people rate. I've heard good things about Thomson...expensive but good.

Thinking of building up a new XC/Trail machine and looking for a component suite. Are Momsen really decent? There aren't many user reviews I can find on the web. any opinions would be good. Its a choice between Momsen, KCNC, Easton and Ritchey

Been using Crossmark non-UST for ages now on tubeless rims and as long as the pressures higher (I run between 2.5 and 3 bar depending on conditions) then I don't see the tyre burbing. Just keep the side wall intergrity as firm as possible and it should be fine. I've never had a side wall rip or puncture either and the weight saving is a real bonus.

Whats the weight difference like? or can you not really feel it, the anthem is supposed to be lighter but i've only heard great things about the Ex9. Do you have any critisms of the Ex9, and do you know where i can test ride and Ex9?

what is that? do you know the model number and how much it retails for?

Really? When reading all these reviews they seems to think as the travel goes up things like control at slow speeds goes down, or pedal bob is higher when you have a higher rear travel? Having ridden a hardtail from scratch i'm not sure if these are actually true or just online blurb.

Is 150mm too much for an XC/trail bike?

The name Fezzari is a bit wierd and close to ferrari its true, great price for the specs though.

Either the Fezzari Nebo Peak - Direct from factory at $3299.00 Frame Fezzari Racing Design F6A 150mm Travel, full sealed cartridge bearings, replaceable derailleur hanger, water bottle bosses (not on S and M sizes) Fork Fox Talas FIT RLC 150 mm travel (adjustable from 120 mm travel) air shock. 15mm Thru Axel. Travel adjustments between 150 and 120mm; Low Speed Compression; Lockout; Lockout Force Adjust to determine the level of lockout; Rebound adjust; and air preload adjust Rear Shock Fox RP23 with Boost Valve Technology 6-way adjustable shock with Pro-Pedal. Preload Adjust, Rebound Adjust, and 6 versions of Propedal (Lockout) Adjust Sizes S, M, L, XL (16", 17", 19", 21") Headset FSA B-53K, black alloy with oversize bearings Drivetrain Shifters SRAM X.0 2x10 Front Derailleur SRAM X.0 2x10 Rear Derailleur SRAM X.0 2x10, Carbon cage Cassette SRAM PG-1070 12-36 10-speed Crank Sram X.0 2x10 Carbon Chainrings 26/39T Alloy Bottom Bracket Truvativ GXP with external sealed cartridge bearings Chain KMC X10 Cockpit Handlebars Truvativ Stylo Team mid-rise bar, 30mm rise, up to 680mm width, shot-peened anodized alloy, black Stem Truvativ Stylo Team Stem, 31.6mm, anodized black. Sizes and angle vary depending on custom fit. Tape/Grips Fezzari Lock-On Saddle WTB Rocket V performance saddle Seatpost Fezzari Alloy, blast black, 31.6 x 350-400 (based on custom setup) Pedals Wellgo racing flats. Aluminum, CNC machined Cr-Mo axle, sealed bearing. Wheels Rims Mavic XM819 Disc. 15Gx32H alloy, Tubeless ready Hubs Front Hub: Shimano SLX 15mm Thru Axle Rear Hub: Shimano SLX QR Spokes 1.8mm (15g) black stainless, brass nipples Tires Maxxis CrossMark UST 2.25 Tubes Fezzari All-Mountain Brakes Brakes Avid Elixir CR hydraulic discs, 185mm rotor front 160mm rotor rear Brake Levers Avid Elixir CR with adjustable reach and pad contact control Or Cube AMS 130 Race - 2,229 pounds. Frame:HPA 7005 Advanced Hydroform ERC Triple Butted, FSP 4-Link-System, X-12 Fork:Fox 32 Talas RLC FIT 110/130/150mm, Lockout, tapered Rear Shock:Fox Float RP23 BV 200mm length Chainset:Shimano Deore XT FC-M770-10 Hollowtech II 42x32x24T, 175mm, Press-Fit BB, 10-speed Chainrings:11-36T Cassette:Shimano CS-HG81 11-36T, 10-speed Chain Device:- Bottom Bracket:- Chain:Shimano CN-HG74 10-speed, 110 links Front Derailleur:Shimano Deore XT FD-M771-10, Down Swing, 34.9mm, 10-speed Rear Derailleur:Shimano Deore XT RD-M773 Shadow 10-speed Front Brake:Formula R1X hydr. discbrake (180/180mm) Rear Brake:Formula R1X hydr. discbrake (180/180mm) Brake Levers:- Pedals:Click here to see our wide range of bike pedals. Handlebars:Syntace Vector 2014 318 Lowrider Oversized Stem:Syntace F149 Oversized Headset:FSA Orbit Z-t Grips:CUBE Fritzz Screw-On-Grip Saddle:RFR Natural Shape 0.2 M Seatpost:RFR Prolight 31,6mm setback Rims:DT Swiss XPW1600 wheelset 9mm/X12 Front Tyre:Schwalbe Nobby Nic Kevlar Triple Compound 2.25 Rear Tyre:Schwalbe Nobby Nic Kevlar Triple Compound 2.25 Inner Tubes:Schwalbe MTB leicht SV14 Shifters:Shimano Deore XT SL-M770-10 Rapidfire-Plus, 10-speed Extras:Seatclamp: RFR Prolight 31,6mm setback

Howsit all, Putting together some ideas for my new ride and have been lokoing at some small independant custom frame builders, mainly titanium. It seems you can get some quite serious toys built for you at the same sort of price you'll pay for the equivilant big brand name bikes. What do you think are the pros and cons of using a smaller workshop? e.g. Moots, Ragley, Lynsky.

I also looked at the anthem, the guys at the LBS rave about it. not sure, anyone know when and where the next ride before you buy is?

What else did you look at? Cube seem to be the best spec for the price...even at 20k scott, specialised and whyte have SLX/XT components and poorer wheelsets. I prefer the alu frame too.

Apparently, but can't find a pic of one quickly.

Yeah, it is a good looking bike...just have to save the 25k to get it...not so cool.

I'm busy considering the same thing. I have been looking at the cube AMS130, its pretty light for a full susser (11.5kg), its got a good anount of travel but it changeable between 110, 130 and 150 and comes with front and rear lockout so that you can work the climbs. Its got pretty good reviews. I'm thinking it might be fun to have something that behaves well on XC, marathon stuff but will a the flick of a button enjoy some more downward facing fun. I reckon it may diversify my riding places and enjoyment, i'm also coming from and XC style race hardtail. This one's the SL but the AMS130 race is 12.1kg and quite a bit cheaper...the only difference is the wheelset, but you can swap to your light XC.

I hadn't really given a lot of thought to trek...but am looking at it now. looks pretty well kitted

Morning All, I'm stuck in bed dying to get on the bike and i'm spending the time thinking about the toy i'm saving up for. I'm hoping you all can add some suggestion based on your curent rides and experience. I'm currently riding light race hardtail. Looking to increase my rides to marathons but keep the ability to fling it around and chuck it into corners etc. These are the specs i want in the ride: Aluminium frame (no carbon for me) Full Susser 120mm fork, 100mm shock XT, X9 or XO groupo Gotta like going up as well as down. XC style bike but versatile, so nimble and i'd like to give it a little air every now and then. Total weight <11kg as stock with potential for upgrades. Looking at spending about R25-30k. Been recommended the Anthem X1.... What else o you guys reckon....pictures would be great too. Thanks all

well thats generous of you JB but i'll pay you for your time. I shall give you a shout when i'm in need to some expert nutwhacking.

Thanks JB. there isn't actually any problem at the moment but whe I change the tyres I'd like to take them out just because... I don't have a garage or workspace large enough to do this so how much do you charge to nut whacker my dings?

I didn't like the monorail on front for wooded trails with roots. I found they slipped really easily on dry roots never mind damp. Where and what do you ride on?

Found a few dings in my rear wheel rim whilst refilling with sealant. The tyres still seal so they aren't an issue at the moment. Whe I change tyres whats the best way to deal with these? Will any LBS be able to knock them out?

Yep being in the office is definately not cool, but its the only way to free up time for the bike durin the week, not much of a weekend rider. Thanks for the comparison BigBen, its always nice to hear of someone doing the sme sort of thing and it working. I can't wait to try it out! On slightly different tack, when i decide to replace my middle and inner chainrings i want to change to a 24T and 34T setup. do you know which rings are compatible with shimano? or do shimano do differently sized chainrings?

I will definately go ride as soon as I can get out of this damned office.

I have only removed the large chainring. I didn't say anything about 'rules' I just put down my experience, which is about the only thing I have to go on and why I ask these questions in the first place. To clarify my current setup. I have removed my large chainring for some added clearance and it only functioned as a pointy bashring. I have not changed anything else at all. I'm still running the stock chain length, cluster, 3 x 9 shifters, FD and RD. Changing the chain length makes sense to me as it will make the system tighter since I don't have a large chainring to ensure it doesn't pop off the middle and around the crank when bouncing around. I am hoping I don't need to buy a new FD because the limiter screws may allow me to stop it moving past the middle chainring when shifting from small to middle. I will now check this out. If I do need to buy a new FD, my question is will a 2 X 10 accomodate a 9 speed chain? and lastly I have a number of chains so if it turn out i want a large chainring back then I will simply put to old large chainring back on and put on an old chain.

My understanding is that you don't really want excess length in the chain. The measurement i've always used is that the chain should reach around the largest front cog and the largest back cog with one or two links extra. Now that my largest front is significantly smaller the chain should also be smaller. If I have excess chain length i've found it more prone to jumping off the middle blade on especially bumpy areas or landing when the RD is pushed forward and the chain slackens.