@Yak – fitted the e*13 cassette and it shifts perfectly. 2 bikes Shimano/SRAM both the same outcome.

E*13 pass
ZTTO FAIL

Anyone ever had any luck getting refunded from ali-express??

I have a similarly not quite right ztto 9-46t. I thought it was the 9t causing it being that bit smaller than the 10t and too much for the range of an xt mech. Anyway it came off and I was going to try it later with a sram xo mech. Although that one struggles with the 10t, so I don’t hold out much hope.

@Yak – I was thinking the exact same thing which is why I went SRAM GX with this build, specifically so I could use this cassette (always been a shimano fanboy)! But when an e*13 cassette came up on here a month back I got it for my Shimano based bike as they say their 9-46T cassette is Shimano/SRAM compatible and it works flawlessly. I will swap out the e*13 cassette tonight and see if it works with the GX mech – just a pain having to swap over the cassettes as different rear wheel STDs

Also, how worn is the chain? A combination of worn chain + slight misalignment (+ possibly slight spec deviations) could be sufficient to give you issues.

On the bike I’m building now it’s a new chain and an old frame but it’s doing exactly the same thing as it was on the other bike (Shimano rear mech) which had an old chain an a new frame. Think I’ll take it to the LBS and see if they can get it shifting smooth because I’m done with it.

If anyone has an e*thirteen cassette they no longer need I’ll take it because it works perfectly on the Shimano bike.

Done!
Link to pic

Should have invested in a dremmel but I had a file handy and once I’d started… Anyways, can crack on with the build now and put this one to bed. Still be interested to know if it’s SRAM spec or not tho, if anyone lands on anything definitive.

I’m guessing SRAM had the foresight to engineer it that way so that HG alloy spiders could be used, makes sense if they did but when it came to creating their own cassettes didn’t want/need to so made them all the same size. Total speculation though. Not sure I care enough to get in touch with SRAM, once it fits I’ll be happy and move on but still curious and very fed up of filing… The last 5% is taking as long as the first 95% !

Are there many other freehubs out there that don’t have the small spline?

The SRAM schematic does have the small spline and although their cassettes have all the same size notches their freehubs do have the thin spline. So… I’m not sure. Either way been at it for half an hour with a file, another half hour and it should be done. It would be much easier with a dremmel but is possible with a rounded file.

Interesting so the SRAM spec uses the HG style splines. So really it’s superstar that are wrong?

Ahh – need a friend with a dremmel now! Good to know there’s a solution.

Got the superstar wheels delivered yesterday!

Link to pic

Good to know. Main thing is that it does the job right enough.

I’d be up for that some time too! Looks good, sounds like a freeze might be the best bet to getting one of these ticked off before summer.

Think I’ve only ever seen two other people riding there before. A lot of trees came down in the winds before Christmas, they do need harvested they have been left to grow too big. Be sad to see the trails go tho – still lots of fun to be had the now. Cleared a few trees and rerouted a few trails but one or two have big trees over some of the best bits.

When are they harvesting darvel @nobeer?? I love it up there.

Yea it’s a bit sloppy out there the now for sure, just fancied fancied getting out the woods for a bit – based in Kili @nobeer

I should add that it’s tapered so wouldn’t work with the swift I’m afraid :(

I was thinking about a swift but that would mean a new wheelset for sure and I’m keeping the fork for bike packing on my solaris max, so trying to make it work on another frame while it’s at rest. It’s a Bombtrack BPC but they also do a BPS (steel)

Took it out today to Dalbeattie – after chucking on a pair of fox 34’s 120mm, steerer cut to 200m and about 20mm spacers under the stem we have a different animal. 800mm bars with 25mm rise and 7 backsweep are OK but think I’d prefer more sweep and rise TBH. No sore back today tho and with the saddle slammed all the way forward I think I actually need to move it back a touch. It performed well, I didn’t notice the weight on the climbs and it was nearly as capable as the Dartmoor with the 130mm fork but not quite. More versatile tho. I was running the mullet wheels today and with 175mm cranks I bottomed out a lot, even smashed the chainring once I think. I’ve got a set of 170mm I’ll swap in for next time. Tyres… Was running minions DHF & DHR today super grippy and great but not XC – when I got 29er I’ll be looking for new tyres as the ones I cut have on are not aggressive enough (pirelli scorpions), so be interested to see what everyone else has been liking.

I’m 5’11” too but I was advised to size up! Hate being between sizes but I’m trying to make it a bit shorter, saddle forward, 35mm stem – current bars don’t have much rise or sweep so they will be getting changed if I still need to make some tweaks.

@mccraque – interesting… I’ve just pulled the trigger on a fox 34 120mm but I’m going to keep the steerer long and add a spacer to how it is now, I might also get some Moto X style bars with a lot of rise and backsweep. However, the good news is that I’m just back from a trip to the local woods shod with B+ rubber and it was a blast and that was with the rigid forks on so it can only get better. New fork and longer dropper to add later this week and then I’ll see how it handles some proper trails.

@chakaping Great article BTW – thanks for sharing.

I’ve got mullet, 29 and B+ wheels, tempted to make it mainly 29er with 120mm travel.

Went for the transplant and found the steerer too short – bugger! So the question is… If you could pair it with any form what would it be…? I’ve got two contenders on the table at the minute due to availability and price (2nd hand): 120mm fox 34 or the marzocchi bomber as you can change the travel yourself and I could try a few out for size. TBH, if I could decide on the travel I’m after then I’d just get a fox in that length, leaning towards 130mm – never had an issue with the one I’ve got on the Dartmoor.

Thanks for that @scotroutes – I know all the bothies are still shut, are there any out houses or good bivvy spots that you can recommend? Taking a tarp and gore bivvy, was thinking of in/around the Feshie area, the spot at Corarnstilmore might not be far enough along now looking at it clockwise. If going for the outer loop I guess around Glen More would be the obvious spot for an overnight stop?

Anyone have any updates on what the rivers are like the now or how that new track is progressing?

Still planning on going for it this weekend, either the lower loop or the outer loop, clockwise starting from Blair Atholl

Was probably looking to make it as easy as possible – so if that means going further down then longer is OK. I know that the recent rain will have a bearing on what’s possible. Aiming for the last weekend in May

Good tips/info here and will defo take you up on that @scotroutes – I forgot to ask about the best direction. The only reason I mapped it anti-clockwise was because I know Glen Tilt. I had a look at the single track at the end of it last year on a gravel bike and decided I’d come back on a MTB. I’ve been up to the bothy in Glen Feshie for a night but walked in from Kingussie side so not very helpful in terms of this route. The other bits don’t sound too bad… Geldie sounds a bit grim, maybe it would be better getting Geldie done and out of the way on day one leaving a reasonably easy day back to base?

Lovely back roads from Prestwick/Cragie/Sornhill/Newmilns/Hareshaw/Strathaven – after that I’m lost though and that looks like it’s only just over a 3rd of the way.

.

I’m seeing a few folk responding to their own messages to get them displaying. Take it this is a known issue then?

Not checked in here for a while, I did build it and it’s turned out really well… Then some git reported it to the council and I’m having to move it as it’s on the front of the house! I thought that it would be ok as it’s a temporary type structure but no.

The raw materials are less than half that and the finished article, done right, is generally more solid, using better materials and will last longer.

Yes, this ^

I think a washer is the answer. I’ll measure it later.

Good ideas on how to measure the wheel, I’ll do that tonight and try and get a pic to show what I mean… it’s defo something fishy with the hub but I don’t know much about cup n cone hubs (or any hubs for that matter!). If the cup/cone had become loose would it not make the hub wider rather than thinner? Obvs have no idea what I’m on about but the hubs are practically new, maybe had 5 outings on them but I’m worried now that the play will kill the hub faster.

Sounds like a gazebo might be the answer…

The garage in question is detached from the main house but I don’t think that makes any difference technically. I guess what I could do is, assuming the Scottish weather permits it, get him to leave out his bar and some plates in the garden and I could go round and use them within the current guidelines.

In Scotland, one person can go to another persons garden to meet one person (2 people max meeting outside/in private garden). Not that I’d be doing that anyway. It is just around the corner so travel can be taken out the equation.
There’s no chance of airborne transmission if ventilated prior to use and with a thorough wipe-down after use no chance of contact transmission. So, as said… would probably come down to neighbor’s perception, however, if the old bill were called in I think it might fall into their discretion of how they treat it fine/warning.

Just checked back in here for the first time in a while. Thanks for all the Strava links nobeer, I’ll work my way thru them and give you a shout when I get to auchincruve. I ended up heading up the back of darvel and found quite a lot of good stuff and some not so good… Well, too muddy stuff too. Was fun tho and has me inspired to check out some more local places.

Nice one cheers

Chain dot saw AT outlook dot com