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[Closed] The old "strong/light/cheap, pick two" situation... Humph! 🙁

mboy · 2014-08-27T22:09:15Z

Been sat trying to work out how to meaningfully slim down my Kinesis Sync as I fancy doing some winter XC races, and maybe another 12hr solo next year, and I've come to the conclusion that it's all but pointless unless I can throw silly money at it, or am prepared to adjust my riding style. The bike is fantastic to ride, but it's just shy of 27lb (or 12kg in new money) including XT trail pedals and a Reverb. Losing the Reverb drops a healthy 200g or so, but I feel it's still pretty overweight for what should be a pretty light XC trail bike. The problem is, where to compromise? Forks are Revelations @120mm. I'd love a Rockshox RS-1, but that's mega money, and would only save 200g still. A Reba would save roughly the same but be too flexy IMO, as for a SID... Well. All the Money and too flexy for sure! So I feel like I'm stuck with the Rev. I know other makes exist, I like Rockshox, I also like the new X-Fusion forks but they're heavier still! Wheels are DT Swiss 240 on Mavic EN821. The rims were 450g each plus 58g worth of nipple beds, so roughly the same as a Stans Arch EX. I like the stiffness of the 821's, I like the UST, I'd prefer a 23mm or so internal width but I can live with the 21. I feel like if I change the rims for anything lighter, short of going for expensive carbon rims, all I'm doing is adding a lot more undesirable flexibility there! I like stiff wheels, I also like light, so it sounds like I've just got to find the money (by selling something sadly!) to pay for some carbon rims... Argh! Brakes are Formula T1, which can be a bit squeally, but are very light for such a high performance brake. I'd not get much lighter without losing performance. Tyres aren't light, but then they're not heavy either. Paper thin sidewalls on tyres don't last for me, I'd rip them in no time, do I need something with some support, which means 700g plus per end for a 29er tyre at least. So not light! Drivetrain is a mix of XT mechs and cassette, XTR shifters and a SRAM XX crank. The XX crank is causing me issues there as I don't get on with the 26/39 ratio very well on a 29er, so I'm likely to have to replace it with something ally and (shock horror!) heavier! Though I've been thinking of giving 1x10 a go again now there's 30T retainer rings out there. Pedal wise, I won't be swayed away from Shimano now sadly. Used to love Crank Bros, but got fed up of them falling apart. XT trail pedals just work, and give a good platform, so don't really feel I can lose weight there. Bars are 740mm Ritchey Trail 2X. At 270g they're not that light, but then I can't find a flat carbon bar I like the shape & the price of! Stem is a Pro Koryak, at 150g for an 80mm I've got max 20g to lose before stems start to become really flexy, so it's not worth it. Seatpost is an FSA gravity light, at 270g it could be lighter but not by a huge amount. Saddle is about 220g, and not prepared to go lower on that, as it's the lightest version of a shape that I know fits me well. Grips are ODI lockons, so I know I could lose 100g here, but I don't like the feel of anything else, especially not ESI! :? So there you have it... Do I just have to start being more finessed or have I missed a trick do you reckon?

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mboy

Posts: 12663

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Topic starter

Well I'm part way there to a lighter bike for XC...

Been offered a pair of BOR Cold Black 29 wheels for a price I couldn't really refuse, and they're pretty bloody light for a 29er wheel at sub 1500g the pair!

Also looking at a KTM Aera Comp 29er frame at 1250g, as it looks like I've got a buyer for my full sus to make way for this and can get one cheaply. And would probably go 1x10 with a Hope T-Rex for most of the time, and fit a front mech with 2 rings for long distance and enduro stuff. Though for now just the wheels and lighter tyres on the Sync will make a bit of difference.

Posted : 02/09/2014 4:29 pm

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