donkey kong on a 20lb XC bike.

offtopic but I saw a >>100kg dude (he had height AND width!) racing a carbon Scott Scale at the Spa 24 hr in'08. I was sure he was going to stand on the pedals and rip the frame in 2 but it seemed to survive

Olly, not really personal opinion if you mean my comment about Hopes. I only said they *should* be better not whether or not they are. It's obvious that they should be better, they're a buttload more expensive and considered by the market much higher end than J3s, which are pitched at entry level. OTOH, Whether or not they (Hopes) are worth the difference, now that would be more a matter of opinion and in mine I agree with you that they're not.

wrightyson, fair play about the salespitch, I was venting a bit because it really irritates me when shop dudes play the old switcheroo. About the brake performance, you mention that pulling harder seems to produce less braking force now when they were better previously? Does the action feel at all spongey? Have you possibly got any oil on the pads or disc recently? Do the front and back brakes feel / work differently from each other (ie one brakes well, the other not or one spongey the other solid)? It's not much of a diagnosis, but one or both of the brakes could have contaminated pads and/or need bleeding. Your mechanic will be able to diagnose this in seconds if he has the bike in front of him.

there does seem to be a lot of negative press about juicys. However I've had 3s and 7s and no issues.

normally when opinions and experiences run so hot and cold like this it points to reliability issues (like manitou forks. Wonderful … if you get a good one) but unreliability is not a trait that Avid/SRAM are known for so I don't know on this one tbh

That said, the shop mechanic saying something like "you want to get a set of hopes" while looking at a set of faulty brakes that his shop sold you and so are *his* responsibility is a clear and cynical sales pitch. Ask him why his shop sold you the 3s in the first place if they're that bad, then query each part on your bike in turn, making the point "well, you were willing to fob me off with "rubbish" brakes so how can I trust a word you say?" Should irritate him enough for one afternoon.

3s are fine, but they are entry level. ofc Hopes or anything in that league should be better, but you do get what you pay for … most of the time

I just got a set of elixirs, they're working out well so far and several places are offering deals on them (I got the CR carbons for 230 Euros in Belgium a few weeks back)

Otherwise avid Juicy 7s should be cheap atm as they're being discontinued. I don't mind them, but public opinion seems spit if you know what I mean

looks good, do you have a recommendation for guides? Mrs Fascist is always keener on these things of we can get a guide / tuition

for commuting, I used to have 25s at 100psi and now have 34s at 60-70. There's quite a difference in comfort between the 2, the 25s are quicker for sure but the 34s (which are puncture resistant schwalbe touring tyres) haven't punctured once in 5,000 km (all last year) so I'm sticking with them

Get under 10% body fat and THEN you can start to think about loosing weight from the bike

blimey dad, are you whoring STW now?

Oh, you're not my dad … then I'd just as soon you stop telling me what I can and can't do, tyvm

😉

from Morznet;

For summer 2009, the lifts will be open in Morzine & Les Gets from 19th June until 6th September inclusive and the entirety of the Portes du Soleil area will open up on 26th June until 30th August. However, this year, Les Gets will be opening some of it's lifts earlier than normal so that you can get in a bit of weekend biking before the main season begins. The Chavannes chairlift and the Mont Chery gondola will be open from 30th May to 19th June, weekends only, and there is also the possibility of extending the opening dates of these lifts until 13th September, weather permitting.

it does vary from year to year, especially in newer resorts (meaning ones that only started opening for moutainbikers recently) but Morzine is pretty established so I expect those dayes will be similar for '10

May have a look at Zermatt in September Trailseeker, sounds fun, great reputation and I've never been there!

no, specifically says it's for internal bottom bracket bearings. HT2 are external.

enduroforkseals.com sell tools, but they're aresingly expensive, not sure of a ghetto solution or if a "V" type puller would be man enough for the job

/edit beaten to the punch … TWICE 😀 Joebones, which enduro tool did you get?

Meh, weight loss without performance loss is enough of an end in itself I rekon. A really light bike (like, sub 9kg) is a totally different thing to ride than a 15kg one, even if you add a 6kg rucksack. perhaps psychological but it matters not. True perhaps that saving 100gr is no real saving in itself, but save that 5 times and that's a half kilo … then we're talking.

I have a similar fork (Pike … but 426 coil UTurn) and have been thinking of a similar upgrade. Thor/TALAS32/Rev would each be a clear half kilo lighter than what I have on there atm but blimey they're not cheap.

I got lucky last week and found a 15mm '09 Talas 32 RLC for <450 Euros so grabbed it. Otherwise, I don't think I'd pay the 700+ asking for the weight saving (because let's face it, the Pike is an excellent fork)

you didn't say what brakes you have in the OP, there can be 200+ gr to be saved there …. again only worth it if you can find a deal or anyway want an upgrade, but Avid seem to be pushing Elixir CR carbons pretty hard atm, they can be found for 200 quid a set if you're lucky

Rocky Mountain Blizzard half price off wiggle plus a pretty good build (sid teams, XCones, Elixir CR carbons , XT drive etc etc) for a very excited Mrs B.

now I am waiting on the 26.8 (! knew there was a reason the frame was cheap) seatpost and hosebarbs so I can trim the brakes and we're done!

stiffness shouldn't be different between steel alloys if the profiles stay the same.

My understanding of the issue is that 853 stays are available but they're the same profile as the 4130s so not lighter. 853 has a better yield strength so could in theory be used to make lighter stays, although these then maybe more flexy as the profiles are smaller/thinner. Thus you can get a "full 853 frame" (not sure on HT) but to what end. The rear end will bemore expensive and stronger than a 4130 one but the same weight and stiffness, which is why Cotic say they didn't bother for the moment.

My Evil Sov is 853 Main T and 725 stays, if the paperwork is right