Forum menu
OK - I've fitted some knobblies and flipped the stem on my Amazon tourer and I'm having some great fun on it. TBH - I'm surprised at how brave I feel on it given I'm normally such a mincer. However, I'm having one or two wee issues that some with more experience might be able to help with.
[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6077051359_965d22384f_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/6077051359/ ]IMAG0269[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/druidh2000/ ]druidh_dubh[/url], on Flickr
1/ Handlebar position. Generally, it feels great. I tend to hammer around on the hoods and use the drops for some of the descents. I reckon it feels better on loose, steep stuff when in the drops. However, putting all my weight on the front like this means that any small drop-offs result in a bit of a nose-dive. Should I be looking at bar position and/or technique or just accepting that's how it works? Would some of these off-road drops (like a Ragley Luxy) make any real difference? I'm also aware that my arms are getting very pumped on longer descents - probably because I'm still braking too much pending me getting full confidence. Would moving the position of the brakes/bars help with this too?
2/ Rock strikes. I'm noticing lots of rocks being thrown up by the front wheel. It's bad enough when one crashes into your shin and causes a 4cm gash, but I'm worried about the frame too. Is this just a consequence of the reduced distance between tyre and frame? Does anyone use "helicopter" tape on the downtube to help protect the frame?
3/ Tyre grip. Frankly, I'm amazed at how good the 35c Maxxis Raze are. Was I just lucky in choosing this tyre or is there something about CX tyres which make them feel grippier than their 26" cousins?
1. try a shorter stem and see how that goes. I have non OS stuff you can borrow.
2. You are gnarlier than you think for the rocks, but less gnarly than I though for wincing about it. Wear body armour.
3. Are you on crack?
4. You better ride this sh1t on e2e. And beat me.
Fit some bar top mounted brake levers as well. Proper CX racers and bike snobs will mock you. Anyone with half a brain will know that you've fitted them cos you're well'ard and ride true gnarl. Grip the bars gently, let the bike rattle round under you and your arms will suffer much less.
@crazy-legs - additional brake levers aren't an option. This is still my tourer and (a) I need the bar space and (b) they get in the way of a bar bag. I don't fancy re-cabling and re-taping every time I "convert" it.
@cynic-al - I have some shorter OS stems which I can try. I can see how that will bring the bars back a tad, but it might make them lower too. However, I have one spacer on top of the stem at present so I might play around with stem position a bit. TBH - I'm not too fussed about my legs - more the frame. It's Ti and you know how fragile that is 🙂 I'm serious about the tyres though. They might slide about a bit on gravel and the like but they're great in softer stuff, even on tree roots and the like. Oh - and I've still not chosen my E2E steed.
Meh the frame will be fine.
I too am still undecided about which quiver to choose from my fLOLtilla for e2e
That'll be the I LOLf Man E2e 😛
druidh - want a short high rise stem to try?
Couple of things that I do/have that may or may not help; using compact handlebars means you aren't dropping as much at the front when you choose to use the drops, and although I appreciate that saddles are personal, a simmer, racier seat allows you to slip off the back much easier than that thing...
Tyres are personal too, but maybe you are coming round to my way of thinking; that tyres are wildly over-rated in the mountain bike world...
Slimmer, not simmer.
Oh yes, change your brake cables, often. The difference is pronounced.
Bit of old tyre on the down tube shoudl take away the worry of rock strikes. Easy enough to cable tie on and then take off when back in touring mode.
If worrying about that, might also distract slightly and affect confidence as well.
Thing??? 😡 That's a B17 you know.
I can see what you mean about compact bars. Of course, that would mean touring with them too (see above) but that wouldn't be much hardship. still tempted by some Luxy/Woodchippers too mind....
As for the tyres, and again tinged with the fact that I'm hardly pushing my MTBs performance much, I've switched from Nobby Nics to Maxxis Advantage recently and found them to be far superior in almost every way. So - there must be something in it!
Woodchoppers work well IMHO.
Oh and I tried my B17 on my 29er, but took it off as it is a bit more difficult to slipbetween legs when hanging off the back.
Andy - Member
it is a bit more difficult to slip between legs when hanging off the back
*s****s*
LOL I shook my head as I wrote it... 😳
Here, if it works, is my setup, skinny saddle and compact bars. You can set the levers higher too..
[img] 
[/img]
Yes, I know about the apparent dead animal covering the sofa, and the banjo, and the Paul Klee on the wall...
It's ok, we can't see the Klee...