EZRider

Hi all, a friend of mine purchased an '09 Trek Fuel EX frame and wants to build it up as light as possible. The specs on this bikes call for a 130mm travel fork. He has both 100 mm and 140 mm fox forks. Could he use either of these forks with that frame? He may also buy a 120mm fox fork. Would it fit or does he risk changing the geometry of the bike significantly?

That's easy: tell Bob that Tony Blair said he can't and let Malema know Helen Zille dares him to!

I will never say I hate him' date=' just that I like Robert Mugabe and Julius Malema more.[/quote'] Hey Mampara, you may like him less than Boss Bob or Mad Malema but you are an anti Lance amateur compared to the guy with the "air-pistol-toting-dude" as his avatar Hope he does come to the Epic, will be fun to see him up against our own.

MTBers on tar are roadies with really slow bikes

Too true dat...

I topple over a fair bit but still haven't managed to chip the paint on my alu bike I think the whole carbon-will-break-all-the-time thing is blown up out of proportion. My friend's Bianchi alu MTB frame cracked as did another GT marathon frame of another of my riding partners. I ride a GT alu marathon frame and have had nothing but joy from it. Materials fail. There is a warranty' date=' use it if it is a manufacturing defect. My reasons for not wanting to ride carbon is, like your sig says, not wanting to be a ponce. Those swoopy, plastic designs just make me feel like I am in some kind of Buck Rogers movie. Even the road bikes now look all twisted and melted and I am told thats how they are supposed to look? They also seem over priced to me. The GT carbon is only a few hundred grams lighter than the same specced alu bike and costs 10 k more [/quote'] There are more pros then cons to a carbon bike and once you ride one chance are you will be hooked. They give a totally different feel... I agree or the serious race crowd (even the non sponsored ones) wouldn't be riding them. I have ridden a few and I was impressed. I just like the look and idea of the alu bikes more. It is just me

We measured it in my LBS and the Zaskar Pro (LX build) carbon was 200g heavier then the alu. The rest of the build was exactly the same. The carbon one was R7k more expensive. Wow, didn't know that. I was talking about the Marathons, where the alu is slightly heavier than the carbon and costs a whole lot more. Still, a lot of people are very happy with their carbon bikes. Just as a lot of people like those swoopy, twisted futuristic designs. Each to his own. It's a marketer's dream come true. I sit and drool over a new bike (aluminium) that will set me back more than 50 k. It wont make me a better rider. It probably isn't any better than my GT. But I still want it! I work hard, I make a good living and I will probably buy it soon. There is no escaping the capitalist dream... I pity people who drool over cars, motorcycles or boats, bikes are at least sort of affordable.

I topple over a fair bit but still haven't managed to chip the paint on my alu bike I think the whole carbon-will-break-all-the-time thing is blown up out of proportion. My friend's Bianchi alu MTB frame cracked as did another GT marathon frame of another of my riding partners. I ride a GT alu marathon frame and have had nothing but joy from it. Materials fail. There is a warranty, use it if it is a manufacturing defect. My reasons for not wanting to ride carbon is, like your sig says, not wanting to be a ponce. Those swoopy, plastic designs just make me feel like I am in some kind of Buck Rogers movie. Even the road bikes now look all twisted and melted and I am told thats how they are supposed to look? They also seem over priced to me. The GT carbon is only a few hundred grams lighter than the same specced alu bike and costs 10 k more

Some of the faster SA MTB riders are on carbon. I know they are sponsored so if their bikes break they get replaced but I have seen them finish pretty hectic stage rides with their carbon bikes in one piece.

Why is it that guys that are "large enough" don't get messed with? I have also found that sometimes guys that are "large enough" sometimes push their luck because they intimidate us "normal" folk. Love standing up to those who try that nonsense - it normally gets them to back down becuase a) they know they are taking a chance and have been caught out and b) they wonder why a "normal sized" person would dare to stand up to them. Not you guys of course. And not all "large enough" lads are like this. but there is always one ..... Some of what you say is true: a lot of "big" men aren't that good in a scrap because they seldom need to get into one. I am naturally big and strong and I never fight. Partly because I am big and so bullys tend to leave me alone and partly because I am pretty soft natured and walk away from most altercations. Mainly because there is always someone out there with a 9mm and enough stupidity to use it. On the other hand, bigger men tend to have fewer complexes about their size and don't normally tend to be bullys (oh yes, idiots do come in all sizes but its not the norm).

No worries, I ride an alu full suss so I am not strongly opinionated on carbon either way. I hope your friend was an exception to the rule as my nephew, Dominic, really loves his bike! Mind you, as I said, he hasn't managed to break it yet. He is 15 and will be riding the Dirty Harry on Saturday in Stanford colours so if any of you are there give him a cheer.

My nephew just got himself a GT Zaskar carbon frame a few months ago and he races it super hard. He is 15 and takes part in all the school and regional XC races and if he hasn't managed to break it yet then they are pretty unbreakable! Mind you, he washes it every day... and it sleeps inside next to his bed... and I think it has some kind of blankie for when it gets cold.

A friend of mine has an almost brand new Trek carbon Elite frame I think he may want to sell. Okay, so that is a lot of "thinks" and "maybes" and "almosts"! How much do you want to spend?

So, you're a Barry (sometimes a Berry) or a 'whatever the one in Heidi was called'. Seriously though, I would get another but its way to hot here in Tzaneen for them. More of an Egoli type of dog.

It's weird how a post about a dog becomes a post about Lance. If he wasn't on the tour most of the hubbers would have nothing to say. Especially those who dislike him. Anyway, to stay on topic, cool dog. I used to have one as a kid until it got hit by a car

You should spend some time here in Tzaneen. The women farmers rule the roost. haha id love to spend some time there - not bacuase the girls choose their own bikes' date=' but because it's a stunning part of the country - i bet all those girls choosing their own bikes would know how to ride them as well - and know where the juiciest bits are [/quote'] Yeah, it is beautiful. Mountain biking heaven. I just leave my farm gate, pick a direction and go... The girls do know a lot. It's the curse of the internet. I tried to swap out my wife's Bontrager lite wheels with my old ones and that didn't get me very far

You have no idea But, like I said, its worth it. Must be something in the water here.

Probably are' date='..............let us know which one it is, cos the one I am watching,........ the "Le tour" is a complete yawner.! [/quote'] - Awesome individual timetrial by Cancellara - Team Time Trial very technical with plenty crashes - Leaders jersey decided by hundredths of a second - 23 year old Cavendish showing incredible performance and maturity. - Spinters team causes a split on a flat stage in the wind - Contador and Armstrong trading blows for team leadership - Breakaway stage wins. - Green, polka, and yellow all changing hands and hotly contested. Only the first week gone. I dunno, I'm really enjoying it so far. I was annoyed by the rest day, no racing to watch. Have to agree, I am really enjoying this Tour.