It's actually a little over 2 weeks since I had this delivered, but have since partially stripped and rebuilt with some 'choice upgrades':
Base bike: Mondraker Arid Carbon 2025MY
Updates:
- Swapped in my Hunt carbon wheels and set the new tyres up tubeless, saving 1.5Kg over stock 😯
- Swapped the M7100 cassette for a Chinese special - Goldix Ultralight XD 10-46
- Swapped the GRX 610 crankset for another Chinese special - Kore carbon with direct mount 40t ring
- Stuck a KMC X12 chain on there as the Shimano chain would not shift well on the non-Shimano cassette - sorted
- Swapped the saddle for my prefered WTB Rocket Ti
Then it got complicated. I ran a 90mm USE Vybe suspension stem on the previous bike, and wanted to do the same on the Arid.
Reach is looong on the Arid though, so I bought a new 70mm Vybe and then tried to work out how to sort the headset cable routing...
As standard the Arid has concealed routing under the stem and into a shroud that leads into the headset spacers and then through the headset. An email to Mondraker confirmed the ONOFF branded parts were actually from Token, so I found a supplier of the alternative setup where the cables pass directly into the top cap. Fitting these of course meant removing the gear cable and both brake hoses, but to be honest the hoses needed shortening anyway so it wasn't too big a deal.
I also took the opportunity to neaten the routing through the headtube. I also stuck on some Easton EC70 AX carbon bars before putting everything back together. Brakes needed a bottom-up bleed, but as all the air was high up in the system it was fairly straightforward.
Out of the box the bike was 10.2Kg without pedals. It's Now 8.8Kg with pedals 🙂
Headset wizardry:
I can hear how fast it is from here.
Your sleepers seem a tad rotten.
I don't see @citizenlee 's post/pic - anyone else?
Sleeper's aren't mine - local barn that I often cycle past. Patina, I think it's called 😀
I don't see @citizenlee 's post/pic - anyone else?
Sleeper's aren't mine - local barn that I often cycle past. Patina, I think it's called 😀
Its the T-1000 from Terminator 2 saying "Nice Bike".
I don't see @citizenlee 's post/pic - anyone else?
Sleeper's aren't mine - local barn that I often cycle past. Patina, I think it's called 😀
Its the T-1000 from Terminator 2 saying "Nice Bike".
😀
Nice! 😎
Valves/logos/wheels all correct.
Cranks horizontal.
Chain in big/big is an aesthetic compromise but acceptable.
Needs mudding.
5/7
Valves/logos/wheels all correct.
Cranks horizontal.
Chain in big/big is an aesthetic compromise but acceptable.
Needs mudding.
5/7
Glad I scored ok 😀
Barn is at top of a hill, hence choice of gear. Agree not quite as aesthetic. Deliberately chose some non-muddy tracks for the maiden voyage. I was just impressed that the farmer had cut the grass 🤩