Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Sweet. Shall do just that. Alternatively, the discs themselves could just be wearing in

Troutie - am I correct in saying that the Liberator just has an extra bit of alu removed, and replaced by a section of plexi in order to complete the liberation? Or have you made a completely new, kinked cover for the optics? It's a wicked result though. I imagine the photo's (as normal) just do not do the enhancements any justice. cptmayhem2009-08-04 11:53:31

They're the "serration" variety... Same as the windcutter, except without the Titanium Nitride coating (plain Stainless)

Just put some Alligator rotors on the bike due to the stock Tektro Auriga comp ones bending like a cape flats tin roof in a winter storm. Problem is, the stock Tektro pads aren't biting as readily. I put this down to them being 1: They're crap 2: They're sintered, so the fact that the rotors don't heat up as much due to the better cooling properties is preventing the pads from getting up to their proper operating temp 3: They're crap Question is, which pads should I upgrade to? I'm still pretty heavy on the brakes on the downhills (still classed as an intermediate rider in some areas) but I need something that will grip from cold and yet still have the ability to stay "in" when the heat rises. The pad pattern I can use is the same as that of the Deore disc brakes, so availability shouldn't be a problem. Should I go organic, or semi-metallic, or remain with sintered and just get a better brand of sintered pad?

FARK, Troutie! That's a real blinder! Kinda shows the losses we're all having due to lights being incorrectly designed, and not taking advantage of the potential "spill" of that you normally get around the globe (LED in this case) Sure can't wait to try my hand at getting my own light made. Going to be a struggle, but worth it in the end. Oh, and welcome to the Hub. We now need to see a picture of your bike, sitting in it's rightful place - the couch.

Sweet frame guy! Bet you can't wait to hit the drop-offs with that thing!

Yep - spd's. NOT SPD SL's though...

It's a lekker source of calcium, high in natural protiens and tastes good to boot! Plus, if you have a lekker stekkie it's a bit more fun to drink ;-P I agree, Mr. Brunsdon - really does change. Haven't had KFSEE or Steers for a while now - but I make my own burgers & pizza, so i pretty much know exactly what goes in! As for appetite - if you want to see a man eat, watch Donkey. Damn, that dude can CHOW!

what about fitting a new front fork and just changing the front rim? Okay, you'll change your climbing characteristics, but you'll have the best of both worlds... Wheelbase of inbetween a 9er & a 6er, the descending properties of a 9er due to the front wheel, and you don't have to shell out for a whole new bike... Mind you, getting a 9er fork, and rim, and tire together might prove just as expensive as getting a 9er out the box...

Those are, like, SUPERCOOL! Price, beamshot & everything else when you can please!

Excellent! Don't worry though man, we've all had our little foibles!

One word... Nope. The 26er's, due to their lower circumference, would have more control - surely (when it comes to the tight twitchy stuff, anyway) whereas the 29er's would roll over more technical descents and drop-offs that would have the 26er "catching" and giving you a feeling of instability. I've recently ridden a 29er, back to back to my 26er (both H/tails, and same size) and quite frankly, the difference is amazing. I felt more in control in the tight twisty stuff on the 26er, but when it came to the fast, flowing ST & dropoffs, the 9er was tops. The 9er was generally slower to respond (longer wheelbase) but was more sure on it's rubber as a result of the larger tyre and longer wheelbase. Now to the crux of the matter - the debate of fatties versus 9ers. Imaging what the difference would be had you put fatties on the 9er, then gone over the same sections? Bear in mind that in order to get any real comparison, they have to be the same tire (make, model & width/profile) which will be a bit hard to do seeing that the 9er is still a relatively new animal on our shores and thus tire availability is not the same as on our faithful 6ers. In addition, the 9er could possily feel even more (shock! Horror!) secure with the addition of a set of fatties, but I'm sure that you will want to test that theory out for yourself. As for being too cumbersome for racing... Well, only you can make that choice. It is you who's riding it, after all. My opinion? I'd forego the responsiveness in order to get the better descending capability. Not to mention that, given the same gearing & RPM, me on a 9er will outstrip you on a 6er, purely due to that extra circumference. Make your own choice.

One thing wrong with the argument for going against the flow of traffic, on a public road. IT IS ILLEGAL! If you were my friend and you got knocked down, I'd tell your mother/brother/wife or daughter that you were an idiot for breaking the law, and riding on the wrong side of the road. Just the same as if you jumped a light or a stop sign. On the flip-side, think of the motorist if he hit you while you were on the wrong side... Sure, he'd be gutted he's just keefed a guy. But, at the same time - he wasn't breaking the law, was he? So he should have a clear conscience. It's willful endangerment, which will most probably nullify any insurance payouts unless you have a helluva good financial advisor and legal counsel. How are your wife and kids going to survive then?

going to see it tonight...

Yeah, that's true... but if his budget is in the 6k region, the Mesa or Felt are the best options... Saying that, it all hinges on what his definition of "breaking the bank" turns out to be.

I'm 6ft and my bike's a medium... 17.5 inch, to be exact. So she might be better suited to something other than a large. Just try them all out before saying "she's a large gal!" For a budget-beater (under 6k) you can't go wrong with Felt. The Q620 has hydraulic discs, deore components and a reasonable (in the entry-level range) fork. Silverback are also very good, but for the same spec you're looking at about 7k. Schwinn also do a good entry-level bike, the Mesa, which is almost on a par with the Felt wrt the value for money stakes.

Rain... was going to go for a ride, but not now. Damn stuff! Also can't find my lock, and as i was going to ride to the gym, that's now not happening.

only when i'm alone, and then on a very low volume so i can just hear the bass-line and just a bit of backing mid-range stuff. I like to sing it in my head as i go along. But I haven't done that for a while, and then, like Crow, only on the uphills. I like the downhill sections just a LITTLE too much to be listening to anything other than DJ Tubby...

Did they? Hmmm. Never seen it, so cannot comment. But those Trek Y20's? Never have I seen a fad pass so quickly.

Dunno mate - was soooo long ago, all i remember are the bikes and the hotties in little lycra shorts & tight tops... mmmmmmmmmm.

And as far as the "Dynamic y-shape frame" Why do you think Trek stopped making the Y-series? Although i must say they looked AWESOME on Pacific Blue with those Spinergy wheels!

One word... CRAP!!! Don't touch them with a barge-pole! Donkey won one at an event last year, did one mtb race and it broke half-way through the course. Not even worth the paint they're painted with!!!

Gotta agree with Holy there... You'll have the perfect platform to upgrade the discs, fork etc (all of it in fact) without having to shell out for a new frame anytime soon. Welcome to the dark side!

Seen the Puma at the Puma store in Canal Walk, but it was an orange specimen... Sweet looking bike, for a foldable!

Because with the former there's always a friend next door, and what's beneath the latter makes us breathe heavily when they're off.