Boast about your latest purchases here...

[rock]

Fedex has me an early christmas present on the way 

[Gonduir]

Got this baby last night. Upgraded from a Giant TCR composite 2.

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/Daezara/IMG_4544_zpslebpyque.jpg

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/Daezara/IMG_4542_zps100tlpm0.jpg

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/Daezara/IMG_4545_zpshg55h59u.jpg

 

Just need to get road shoes now and i can use my pedals.

[Eddy Gordo]

Non cycling related.

 

 

Is that a sand board or snow board PS, I dunno the difference

[Rocket-Boy]

Non cycling related.

 

 

Always wanted to snowboard, very jelly about that.

Seems they missed an "e" in the name

[MTBc]

My first full build from scratch, finished about 2 months ago. From installing the BB bearing to tightening the pedals (excluding the wheel build)... Although the guys at Mellow Velo gave a hand with the headset

 

 

 

running 34 x 11-42 with a real brand mixup - Wolftooth DM N/W on Sram crank, kalbo 16t & one up 42t.

 

 

 

[gummibear]

Is that a sand board or snow board PS, I dunno the difference

Snowboard....have now idea what the difference would be.

 

Used to use a sheet of plywood to go down the dunes and Sundays River and Maitlands

 

If the weathermen are correct then i won't be cycling outside much this winter.Might be able to snowboard my local trails    

[Odinson]

My first full build from scratch, finished about 2 months ago. From installing the BB bearing to tightening the pedals (excluding the wheel build)... Although the guys at Mellow Velo gave a hand with the headset

 

 

 

running 34 x 11-42 with a real brand mixup - Wolftooth DM N/W on Sram crank, kalbo 16t & one up 42t.

 

20150830_061751.jpg

 

 

20150830_061826.jpg

 

Very nice! 

 

(Just cut that damn steerer tube!)

[Eddy Gordo]

damn, 

 

Snowboard....have now idea what the difference would be.

 

Used to use a sheet of plywood to go down the dunes and Sundays River and Maitlands

 

If the weathermen are correct then i won't be cycling outside much this winter.Might be able to snowboard my local trails    

Damn, I am jealous. Need to plan that long awaited trip to tiffendell somtime

[henningvr]

I joined the 1 x 9 club (yes, I'm several years late to the party ) - Just had my new Raceface 30t NW chainring installed at Singletrack cycles yesterday. Running it with a 11-34 XT casette, XT derailleur and LX shifter. Went for a decent ride today. So far so good! 

 

[BSG]

It's finally official

 

So much more bike than my limited skillset can handle at the moment, but she gives me a big ****-eating grin every time I get on her, and that's the point of it all...

 

Meet: Penny.

 

p5pb12748165.jpg

I see you run a very short stem on your bike, what will the affect be in handling? I have a 90mm stem and flat bar on my Merida full susser, had a raiser handlebar on with the 90mm stem, but put it back on my ht for wife and son who uses it now mostly, I felt much more comfortable with that setup. I'm thinking of leaving the flat bar on my full susser but to put a shorter stem on, no longer than 50mm. I like a more upright riding position because of lower back operations I had. I need advice because it it seems to me that you've got quite good experience.

[AlanD]

I see you run a very short stem on your bike, what will the affect be in handling? I have a 90mm stem and flat bar on my Merida full susser, had a raiser handlebar on with the 90mm stem, but put it back on my ht for wife and son who uses it now mostly, I felt much more comfortable with that setup. I'm thinking of leaving the flat bar on my full susser but to put a shorter stem on, no longer than 50mm. I like a more upright riding position because of lower back operations I had. I need advice because it it seems to me that you've got quite good experience.

For what its worth, Myles recommended a shorter stem for (I was aski g the questions) so I took the advise and went from 90mm stem to 60mm stem.

 

Best thing ever!. Handling was so much better and more control. Also went wider on the bars and handling and control was fantastic.

 

Search a thread called Stem 101. Thats the thread where I got all the info.

[AlanD]

Ordered Friday, arrived this morning. Brilliant service from Bibi.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Ordered Friday, arrived this morning. Brilliant service from Bibi.

you're going to love that combo... 

[Mike Bike]

Just finished building my dream bike...can't wait for the first ride tomorrow

[BarHugger]

Just finished building my dream bike...can't wait for the first ride tomorrow

Report, report, report........please.........considering something new?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I see you run a very short stem on your bike, what will the affect be in handling? I have a 90mm stem and flat bar on my Merida full susser, had a raiser handlebar on with the 90mm stem, but put it back on my ht for wife and son who uses it now mostly, I felt much more comfortable with that setup. I'm thinking of leaving the flat bar on my full susser but to put a shorter stem on, no longer than 50mm. I like a more upright riding position because of lower back operations I had. I need advice because it it seems to me that you've got quite good experience.

Howdy BSG,

 

The stem on there atm is a 50mm jobbie, that comes standard on the new Reign. It's paired with a mahoooosive 800mm wide bar, also standard equipment with the Reign.

 

My initial impressions coming from a 40mm stem / 780mm bar combo (same rise, different sweep) on my old bike (30mm shorter on the top tube, 45mm shorter on the reach) were initially along the lines of "HOLY CRAP, this is WIDE!"

 

Given that I'm still in the testing stages, it's still too early to tell what direction I'm going to go, but initial impressions are that I want to shorten the stem in order to get a slightly faster steering response, given that I do not want to cut the bars just yet (as that's irreversible) 

 

Ideally I want a steering response somewhere between where it is at the moment, and Iwan's Hungry Monkey hardtail (which is RAZOR sharp) without spending north of R15k for a good carbon wheelset, which also contributes hugely to the steering response.

 

But back to your question. And yes, I know: TL;DR

 

My experience is limited (yes, I'm a *** rider) but I read a metric ****-ton of stuff online which is written by people who know a shedload more than me.

 

Essentially, a shorter stem will sharpen steering response, which is why a move to a shorter stem is traditionally paired with a move to a wider bar, which more or less balances the steering response out. Without knowing how wide your current setup is (it would help to know) I would recommend starting with the 50mm stem, which will lessen the load on your back whilst also positioning you slightly further behind the front axle when out of the saddle, which consequently improves your handling on the rough stuff as your weight is no longer as far over the front of the bike. 

 

I'd pair that with a wider bar to begin with, as you may find the handling is slightly too quick / skittish at speed with the shorter stem but same width bar. I don't know how much length you have on your steerer, but a good place to start on the wider bar journey is with Rapide components, who do a FANTASTIC 15mm rise 780mm bar with a reasonable (9 degree) sweep, for only R 309 delivered (actual price R229, delivery charge of R80) HERE

 

If you have enough space on your steerer to jack that up a bit, and place spacers underneath it, then it's a good option. However - if you find that you NEED more rise than that bar offers, when paired with the shorter stem, then I'm afraid that the exercise becomes a bit more expensive as there aren't any other bars that come remotely close to that option ito price. You may, however, find that the 15mm rise is enough when paired with the shorter stem

 

For the stem, I'd recommend the KCNC Bear Claw, which can be found for approx R300 or so, or the Ryder stems, which are also around that figure...

 

FWIW - every single person that has changed from a long stem / narrow bar to a short stem / wide bar has been absolutely amazed at the difference it offers in terms of handling and confidence in the rough stuff. It's something I would advocate for every single person who isn't a race snake. Even then, the benefits of moving to a short / wide setup significantly outweigh the potential weight penalties.