carbon29er

Oh dear.

Rob Booth

The AGM is tonight, why not go along and vote for some new people on the Exco if you want change? There are 10 candidates for 6 positions, 5 current Exco members and 2 past members are standing for re-election. I am standing.

Can't wait to try a set out as the biggest hassle with carbon rims has been getting the tyre to seat, particularly out on the trail without soapy water and a compressor.

The most pain I've seen at the Karoo2Coast recently was in 2011 when passing a vaalie on a gorgeous bronze Niner rigid single speed. I saw his pain and rode with him for a while on the 2nd climb, chatting away while he suffered. He was bitching that his mates had told him this was a perfect race for a single speed but had forgotten to mention the 11kph long steady ascents or the 60kph long descents. As I changed down and spun away uphill I heard him cursing in the distance. I saw him again at the finish, a broken man, enviously stealing glances at suspension forks and derailleurs.

I would guess at least 50% of the Karoo2Coast field will be on Racing Ralph. Either Rocket Ron or Racing Ralph are great for Karoo2Coast, if you want the lightest tyre you can go without snakeskin and save about 80g a tyre. As the course is not technical there is little risk of a sidewall tear. Of course the lightest by far is Furious Fred. Disclaimer: I also happen to be selling both RoRo and RaRa quiet cheaply at the moment. Here: http://www.carbon29er.com/geax-saguaro-tnt-29x2-2-tyre/

ParkTool, not the cheapest but quality tools. http://www.parktool.com/product/ratcheting-click-type-torque-wrench-tw-5 3-15nm R 975 http://www.parktool.com/uploads/thumbnails/uploads/products/a9f4fa4d1b7e5a48e82f06dc5e7f711ba6c977e1_430x390.jpg http://www.parktool.com/product/ratcheting-click-type-torque-wrench-tw-6 10-60nm R 1099 http://www.parktool.com/uploads/thumbnails/uploads/products/7b0b1db0c8bfbee18f72ec45ed9b2b9e5d206057_430x390.jpg http://www.parktool.com/product/socket-and-bit-set-sbs-1 R349 This is needed for either of the above wrenches. http://www.parktool.com/uploads/thumbnails/uploads/products/5e9d401389905acd173f72ec12690782de1ab199_430x390.jpg

Anyone interested in the ParkTools torque wrench? If there is interest I'll do a special.

All my 29ers go out with wheels I've built. Had a few sets at the Masters World Championships this weekend. No podiums but all finished without incident.

Definitely MTB hybrid with tubeless. Commuting will be much easier not stopping to repair flats.

Hope are nice. But not as nice as Project321 hubs. And they don't have a Lefty option.

We all know they didn't bother with the KY Gel

As JB said, longer only used if the rim requires a longer nipple to be able to tighten. From the wheel building bible:

I tried to get a KOM on my last ride on may 31. The descent from the mast, did really well until the last corner. 4 ribs and 6 vertebra and 10 and a half weeks later and I still don't have a KOM. Well, that's my excuse for losing it on the tar section on a route I have ridden hundreds of times...

and much much nicer. Maintenance wise the 2013 Hybrid is a breeze. Pre 2013 you need some tools and HAVE to do a bearing reset every 20 or so hours. Major PITA.

The biggest issue with a "proper" bike for a young child is the handle bar drop. By young I mean children under about 140cm. It's easy to get the right saddle height and reach on a small frame but it's a lot harder to get the bars at the right height due to limits in geometry that usually dictate a axle to crown of 480mm. The result, on a 26" wheelset, is a very upright riding position, not ideal for an aspiring young racer. Under 40kg it's doubtful a child has enough weight to move most forks which is why the Lefty is suitable. But the Lefty's height is an issue. Budget is an issue, but build with decent components and change the frame as he/she grows, this way the 5 year investment is reduced. I'm bringing in some 26" rigid carbon forks to test on a few competitive riders to see effect on lap times.

I use AVS (http://www.avs4you.com/), does the job extremely well. And you only need to buy one licence for all their stuff and can be used on a few PCs.

I have built up quite a few sets of BOOTH carbon 29er wheels, both using ISO hubs and Lefty hubs with absolutely no issues. RIders have completed Epic, Sani and Imana, wheels are as true and stiff as the day I built them. I have used 24, 28 and 32 hole rims depending on weight and riding style of the buyer. All have been set up as tubeless with either RaRa or RoRo tyres. Getting the tyres to seat can be a bitch, even with a compressor, and if you lose the seal on the trail best put a tube in, it will take a miracle to seal with a hand pump or bomb. The lightest set with CX-Ray spokes was a lefty 24 hole at 598g front, and 833g rear 28 hole, both Project321 hubs, WITH tape and valve. Using American Classic I reckon I could get rear down another 80g.

The Grand Tour of Poland that will be Grand if he wins it. Otherwise it will only only be Poland. I should go uncapped but July is the only month that I get into trouble with limits and I have so much stuff with the provider that moving is too much of a hassle.

Do I buy more bandwidth tomorrow to be able to watch Sir Bradley in the massive Grand Tour he has entered as his comeback from the giro 'mare?

Data usage in July was horrendous, it's all PnP's fault. If only Supersport could get an Eurosport feed. 3 GB to listen to Sean Kelly on the 14th. While watching in HD with sound muted. Must be mad. Or addicted?

Not any more, the 2013 hybrid has no issues with maintenance. Come ride mine, same frame as you have?, but I've fitted the best fork money can buy.

Nipper boys, future F-Type Jag drivers!

We chose a lefty as Luc doesn't weigh much and the lefty provides the best suspension movement for very light riders. The axle to crown suited the frame perfectly,

Congratulations to Luc Mellaart who became a SA Champ over the weekend at the SA National MTB XCO Championships on Hayterdale Trails - Addo. Luc rode a BOOTH BIKES 26" small hardtail, with custom built ZTR wheels laced to a Project 321 lefty hub and a Lefty fork with carbon bars and stem.