Soggy

My crank also turns for the most, two revolutions, but there is no feedback. The bearings are smooth as silk and no sound comes from them. It does feel like there is thick grease in the bearings. I just didnt expect to hold back like it does as my old bearings have a very slight shhhh sound but have no play in them. Guess I must just work these new ones in then.

thank for the info Johan!

Just wanted to know if this is normal? I recently converted my cartridge bottom bracket on my Merida to a cupped Bottom Bracket so my new FSA crank will work on it. I purchased a Shimano 105 BSA Bottom Bracket kit for it and it fits great. I noticed that the bearings themselves are a little tight in the bearing cups. Is this normal for new bearings and do they need to work themselves in and do I expect them to loosen up a little later after a few rides? This kinda defeats the purpose of my carbon crank as them being a little tight now is adding more peddling resistance to my cycle.

Post it in the classifieds section, it will sure to be seen there. Not on this thread.

Those Merida's should go for around R5000 second hand.

Yeah the 100mm stem should be better to level out the reach. Maybe there is a bit too much weight on the front with the shorter stem or the geometry is not what the designers designed the bike for. Perhaps keeping the bike as close to stock in terms of geometry will help stabilize it.

The only time I ever feel a wobble like that is when I have one hand on the bars. Then the one arm is working overtime to steer and keep balance and it wobbles a bit but this is only when picking up a lot of speed down a mountain. Flat road its more stable. Since you are only getting it now after 7000km, from the sound of it sound like something is wearing out. How was your tyre pressure as well? I think if its too hard then it could do that as well.

Thanks very much for the replies. The frame is based on a standard dual suspension setup. So I guess it will be best to stick with a standard fork that would offer about 150mm travel for the most. I guess I wouldnt want to do any drops on that frame that would cause a 150mm to bottom out, I guess that would be pushing it.

Kewl thanks. So a good idea would be to pickup a good new/used wheelset, and depending on the fork I buy I would have to re-hub and re-spoke.

I dont know if this topic has been covered yet, if so please point me to the thread. Can a standard wheel that uses a quick release be converted to use a bolt through axle or will I have to buy a special wheel for it? Reason being I am busy building up a mtb and might want to get a DH fork for more aggressive riding and routes. I think I will need that extra shock absorption, and it also look friggin cool as well.

Its a 2001 (E10) Model. The main reason for fitting the tow bar is for the bike rack. I dont plan to tow anything as its only a 1300cc. I the warranty is loooong by its sell by date though

R.I.P, condolences to his family. A great loss for the cycling community. May he cycle the Tour de Clouds in peace

Thanks for the replies!

Cant go wrong with Merida man. I ride the Road 880 and even on its standard Sora components it never failed me. Very good quality.

Hey there, did anyone here have a towbar fitted to their Toyota corolla? How much could I be looking at and where? Reason being, I put the bike inside the car so long, but as I get into mountain biking, I dont want to put a dirty bike on the back seat. Rather wanna take it home and clean it at home.

In theory putting larger rotors wont be harder but actually softer on your brake disks. It like trying to stop a spinning record with your finger. The closer to the middle the harder you have to push down to stop it. The further out to the edge, the less force is needed for the same stopping power. That is also why V-brakes are also light on the rubber blocks and dont burn up on the first go. Go for it!! Ever take a look at a Buell brake disk, they thought of this looooong ago.

Thanks very much! Will take a look there sometime.

Damn, pity about the ramps. Eden? Where is that?

Thanks for that! That is much closer for me than Paarl.

Yep, saw some relative DH rides down from the Paarl Monument. Rides arent that long and the climb is steep back up. But looks like great fun.

Im also looking, all I found so far was general mountain biking trails in the Bottlery Hills. I guess there are some but guys are keeping it very secret

Damn!! May he get a full recovery soon!

That is why I only service my bike at CWC, they are top notch guys and have awesome service!

Kewl, then its just for me to hit the gym harder and road harder as well.

That's my sentiments exactly. if it was only a weight issue then it wouldn't make sense to be to spend so much money for weight I can just lose by training off bodyweight (I have about 10kg healthy to lose). If the new components provided much less resistance and better power transfer to the wheels, then it would make sense in my eyes to do some of the upgrades. Thanks for the replies!