Pygmy picked up the bike and I dropped the Blue T-130 off to the buyer, he was more than happy.

I got the new Orangey T-130 home and started on the process of stripping it down and getting it ready for me.

As i’d stolen the seatpost from Crust, one of the first jobs was to get the Reverb post out which will then be fitted onto his bike at a later date. To get better access the cranks came off, which is fine because i’m stealing the 1X Raceface cranks to go on, I’m not keen on the GXP setup that was on the new bike and have spares… So the Hope Bottom Bracket went on at the same time too.

Overall condition wasn’t too bad, some absolute incompetence from previous owner, routing the brake cable so it fouls the frame, not where Whyte have fitted some protection, but just randomly on the frame… Grrrrr. Luckily i had some touch up paint i’d ordered from Whyte on Thurs that arrived today. So cleaned it all up, touched it all up and sorted the routing.

the drivetrain and swingarm were absolutely filthy which I’ve now sorted out along with the chain, the cassette and some truing of the rear wheel

New grips were fitted.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2djS4Kw]2019-01-26_04-11-15[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2eqVkUx]2019-01-26_04-11-23[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2d375hP]2019-01-26_04-11-33[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QEAKux]2019-01-26_04-11-43[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2emjZdW]2019-01-26_04-11-54[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/23PsZz8]2019-01-26_04-12-04[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2emjZYy]2019-01-26_04-12-16[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/23Pt2cB]2019-01-26_04-12-28[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/23Pt2HX]2019-01-26_04-12-36[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2eqVqj4]2019-01-26_04-12-45[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2eqVj1T]2019-01-26_04-10-48[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2eqVjoM]2019-01-26_04-10-56[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2d372dn]2019-01-26_04-10-39[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

As per the other thread, i managed to sort the play in the shock bushing and took it out for a little ride, wasn’t far or long if i’m honest, but that was all i had to play with today.

Overall though the bike feels great… Bars, levers, gears etc all spot on, shifting is great. The SLX brakes are marvellous, sharper than the M615s i’ve had on the previous bike. The large does feel more ‘right’ if i’m being honest, a bit more spacious. I need to raise the seat a little bit though, but overall, it’s feeling spot on at the moment.

So is this a large frame now? Looks good! I do like an orange bike 🙂

I was torn between the medium and the large and ended up with a shorter stem and it was bang on great bikes

Yes John, large frame now.

I love a bit of orange being a KTM fanboi too, but it wasn’t just the orange, I’d have taken whatever colour as long as it was the next size up.
First impressions tell me it was the right decision, if a little delayed.

Nice looking bike there and it seems the fit is good too from what you say.

I love cleaning up a grubby bike and getting it back into a nice clean state. Very satisfying!

I did make it dirty again as it’s quite sloppy round here at the moment, but i’ll be taking bits off again later this week when the Hope 148 kit arrives and getting the wheels fitted, will also check for any tyre rub and tape up if needed. The plan then is potentially to meet up with Binners on Saturday for a ride, but depends on timings as the bugger is about a million miles from me. But wouldn’t shock me if i get out on Thur/Fri for some more testing out on the trails if the weather holds.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dhUVFG]t13016[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Should really have the complete bike pic too i guess…

All that attention to detail spoiled by white cable ties 😉

that’s not even on the bike ! GRRRRR. The pic is the ‘before’ from the Ebay advert.

I didn’t collect it, a mate did….

I noticed yesterday that he’s taken the EnduroGuard off before sale…. Which considering it was in every picture on the Ebay advert i thought was a little out of order.

I’ve bought one now and that will indeed go on with black cable ties of course.

It now has 1X Raceface Crankset, Nukeproof pedals, Magura Vyron seatpost, Giant Grips and a Hope BB, i’ve stuck some orange insulation tape on the vunerable bits. Next to go on are the Hope wheels and the light fast Barzo rubber.

Ah I did miss the spec differences in the picture, as my eye was drawn straight to the cable ties. It’s a nice feeling making a second hand bike ‘yours’ 🙂

Nice looking bike weeksy. Is that really the height you run your saddle? A medium must have been well off!

Nope that was the height the bloke who sold me it had it, he’d decided it was too small.

I’ll scoot out today on it though for some Shockwiz testing so will get a couple of pics out in the wild. I’m hoping my Pro4 bits arrive today as i’d like to see the weight difference and ride it how it is destined to feel 🙂

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dnDQAm]2019-01-29_09-19-27[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

I also have to admit, the large is correct. Without a shadow of a doubt. Just feels right. Pedalling and power feels stronger actually, not sure if that’s possible though or just a placebo effect. But i feel like i’m going quicker on it.

Well i kinda ballsed one bit up…. but in a good way.

Not sure where i rear it, but i swear it said the back end was 148×12. So i ordered a converter kit for my Pro4’s…. Only when i went to fit it did i see that my frame is 142×12… Which is great because so are my Hope wheels….

So the Hopes are now fitted.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SmLbHo]2019-01-30_02-36-15[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

I like that Buddy, it looks like it’ll be great fun!!

I like that Buddy, it looks like it’ll be great fun!!

Assuming you’re still involved, you’ll see it at Checkendon.

I’m quite envious.  This is the kind of bike I’d want for buggering around on everywhere and I was previously thinking a 140mm fork would be better…  then they launched the new one with a 140mm fork.

It’s ace for me, I’ve taken the older one to Morzine, bike park Wales, I’ve even let you ride it. Now I’ve got the bigger frame it feels sharper, steers better, jumps more stable and covers ground better. I think there’s a lesson there about bike sizing.

This year it will do the same things at Morzine, Southern XC, etc. I’m not sure what bike I could get that would suit me more.

Out today for a decent length ride in the frost. The thing now really does handle superbly… Massively impressed. Just rides over stuff without even noticing.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2evDVcB]2019-01-31_10-38-48[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Fast too 😉

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QKn2Hc]2019-01-31_10-38-36[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Went out Fri and Sat on the Whyte, then yesterday after the ride i was cleaning and sorting it and noticed a little bit of play on the back end.

Thought it was the shock bushing i replaced a month or so ago, but i replaced the whole item and that wasn’t it. So narrowed it down to the bearings.. but there’s 8 of the buggers, so i plumped for the main pivot bearings. Takes a bit of time to get to them sadly, plus some remembering which spacers go where and what torque settings for each part.

Got the bearing removal kit out, I must admit, i’m not that keen on them. Basically they have an expandy thing that grips the inner bush of the bearing, it’s then some brute force and hammering to get the bearing out… Not my favourite way but worked OK. The bearing insertion tool worked better and they were soon replaced and the bearings are happy and all put back together.

Then a bit of time re-fitting all the bits and getting it all back together 🙂

All good and ready for another ride. The bearings will be sent off and replaced FoC as part of their lifetime bearing warranty 🙂

[url=https://flic.kr/p/R92eMV]2019-02-24_08-22-41[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/24hWqMM]2019-02-24_08-22-32[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2eUoEYt]2019-02-24_08-22-19[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Noticed the other day that i was only getting 9 gear changes not 10 for my 10 clicks. Had 10 mins spare this morning so got the tools out and started tweaking bits.

Seems the previous owner had adjusted the B screw too much so wasn’t actually using gear 1 at all. 5 mins later, B screw adjusted, mech position moved and i’ve got 10 gears for 10 clicks.

Also fitted the WTB Trail Boss /Whyte wheels/Tyre combo… But now debating whether to swap them over in reverse so i have the Trail Boss fitted onto the Hopes. Initially i bought the Hopes/Barzos for XC Racing, but as plans have morphed now slightly and i won’t be XC Racing it may make more sense to have the Barzos on the Whyte wheels and the Hopes with the Trail Boss. I’ll only be using the Barzos for summer use and for the rest of the time i’ll be using the Trail Boss…

Hmmmm debates.

Use the Barzos not the rear of both sets Weeksy?  They’re a faster tyre…?

Faster doesn’t really come into it now in honesty, if not racing it’s more about grip than weight. So the fast light ones will be used for things like the SDW event and similar rides, proper summery stuff, which now means the Trail Boss can be used for Swinley, BPW, local wet muddy stuff etc.

All swapped over, realigned brakes etc and good to go.

Looking good Weeksy, glad you are happy with the bike fit.

Thanks matey, deffo the right decision. Sure the M wasn’t ridiculous but the large seems to give me a lot more in many ways of riding, ability to get power down, turn etc.

I was noticing more and more how i still couldn’t get the gears quite correct, i was always 1/3 of a gear out, sometimes on the way up, sometimes on the way down…. So decided to pull things apart etc. It was then i noticed that the rear mech wasn’t correctly attached,it was unthreaded about 3mm and worse than that it was also bent as when i tried to use the B screw it didn’t sit onto the correct part. GRRRRR. I then went to swap the cable and ballsed up the SRAM shifter, which then went in the bin.

So jumped on CRC and bought a 10 speed Shimano Zee mech and shifter, all in for £50…. bargain.

All fitted yesterday afternoon and it was effortless to set up and then a quick test this morning. click, change, click, change, click, change…. up down, up down…. effortless….

I knew i liked Shimano stuff for a reason 🙂

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dNmegi]2019-03-15_09-30-31[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Today I went just a little bit crazy!

Went out for a nice ride in the afternoon after finishing work early. Set several top 10s on Strava segments despite not really trying and being completely lost. Didn’t know most of them but was having fun.

Well, apart from the noises.

1. Climbing creaky graunchy noises, only when out of the saddle.
2. Cable rattle from internal routing.

To resolve 1 I thought I’d check the hope bottom bracket. Removed it and found a tonne of water and slimey mud!

2019-05-22_07-06-48 by Steve Weeks – Flickr2BBcode
H8216, undefined@4.4 mm, f2.0, 1/50s, ISO160

Not sure how or why but I’m thinking maybe through the cable routing grommets/holes. But something I need to consider. Also cleaned chainring, bolts, pedal threads etc. We’ll see how it goes.

2. This is where I went nuts! Cable rattle was getting on my nerves, I’ve tried a few cable tie tricks lately, thread through frame holes and they push cable to the side, but that didn’t work. Tried pulling tight and using tape/ cable ties to hold it tight, but no, not really any good either.
So ive also been looking Bird Bikes as they use a threaded BB which I like, I also like the company ethos.
Their Aeris LT 120 ticks all the boxes

Well, apart from budget. £2100 is a cracking price, but still £1000 more than I’d get for the t130.

So I jumped on eBay and bought these
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zM0AAOSwFYJb0Veb/s-l1600.jpg%5B/Img%5D

But happily I already had 5 in the spares box. So next thing you know I’ve got the cables pulled out of the frame and they’re now routed externally. Gear cables re-done and just finishing off the brake bleed after new olive/barb. Hopefully that puts the rattle to bed and I can move on. Pics to follow tomorrow as I’ve not quite completed it yet.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2eAKY14]2019-05-22_08-36-08[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Needs some more work when the others arrive to tidy up the routing, also really need to shorten the front brake line. But it’s a lot more on the right lines of silent at this stage, short test tomorrow to see fully.

I’ve got the 2016 t130s so quite a handy thread this.

Upgrades;
140mm revelation fork
Hope 4 hubs (front is boost)
Stan rims
Sram NX 1x conversion
Reverb 1x lever as I hate the top of the bar one

LBS replace bearings every year when it gets serviced as I’ve noticed the play on the rear.

Currently in for its service now. SRAM won’t service the reverb and monarch as the parts are discontinued so replacing the reverb with brand x. The monarch is working fine but may put a cane creek on it.

I very very rarely have my dropped fitted on the bike, i’ve got a Vyron so can be removed/fitted in 1 min as it’s wireless/cableless. Just had a recent repair on the eLect unit of it, so hopefully all good. I only fit it for BPW etc.. Swinley is a maybe, depends how i feel on the day.

Bearings i’ve done myself, they’re all fairly new now…Servicing myself too. Headset is drop in/out on these, no need for specialist tools.

As above, the only irritation as been the cables being noisy at times. I’ll also be interested to see if the BB stays dry now after removing all the cabling and covering the holes in frame. The seatpost is pretty sealed with the rubber cover. So can’t really see any other way the water can easily get in, certainly not in them amounts anyway.

As a bike to ride though, i absolutely love it, it’s still WAY better than me and apart from wanting some new ‘bling’ i can’t think of a decent reason not to keep it for ages.

I can’t justify getting another full suss. It suits me well so gonna ride it into the ground.

Not had issue with cable rattling. Maybe I’ve just zoned it out.

I’ve also got the original wheels (front one has a boost extender on it) with continental double fighters on them as I used it for commuting for a few months. Went and bought a longtitude for commute/pub/hack duties.

They’re gathering dust in the shed if you have use for them.

Thanks matey…. I have a set of standards in the loft too 🙂

I think at times i’m over fussy when it comes to things like cable noise and i end up hearing more than others, possibly chain noise as well etc.. We’ll see next time i get out on it, but i think i expect silence over tractor wheel rumbles and that’s a bit more than over optimistic. LOL