Yeah I am running middleburn rs8 on a un72, thats still perfect after 2 years

I used to run an older xt on a un72 for about 3 years and now its on my wifes bike for the last couple of years albeit getting less use now its still perfect

that Tequesta is cool!

starts fantasising about retro bike…

It's rather tempting isn't it

Apart from being shiney and a bit lighter would it actually be any better than my 853 Inbred though?

I guess it depends on how tall you are and you arms aswell but on my 853 inbred I built it with a 60, and it was great but maybe just a tad short so I tried a 75 and hated it, my downhill mojo went completely, then I got a 65 and its the best

I reckon 10mm is a lot of difference, if you find 80 spot on then stick with it rather than getting a nice shiney stem. If you start moving the saddle back you are moving your weight distribution back

Lezyne are great, cant remember which one I have now but it gets up presure well and attaching with a tube is much better

I ran 2.1 advantage rear and 2.35 hr front for ages, its was ace

At the moment I have been trying a 2.25 ardent on the front instead and thats ace too but not quite as ultimately grippy as an HR, probably put the hr back on when its gets muddier

I tried a 2.1 advantage on the front and hated it

And yeah a 2.1 advantage is about the same size as a 2.35 hr

Not much tyre clearance on a kaffenback if you want to run proper cross tyres

Just in case anyone reads this and wonders about putting them under the bars…

Spent a bit of time last time setting them up on top instead and just took them for a spin for 1.5 hours. They are actually much better on top, which is after all where they are supposed to be :)

Shifting is very crisp and positive.

Have one in each shift cable about 6" from the shifters and one in the loop before the rear mech. I run full outers too, crap still gets in the end eventually and with these I can blast it out and lube in. Very effective.

Jakes are awesome. I trail ride on mine, stick slicks on and pretend it's a road bike (have done a couple of centuries on it),and have loaded it up and cycled the length of Ireland with camping gear.

Mine aint a standard build but its nothing fancy, they are just good do anything bikes. I might even try a cross race on it one day, maybe.

There you go you have heard something good now.

I think I'll try them on top of the bars this weekend and see which is best

How bizzare.

they do have a longer throw than proper thumbies did, but I think it's fine

in 1st

in 8th

Just thought I'd try it this way for a bit

1-3rd shifts with a flick of the finger
4-5th requires a slight twist of the wrist and a push from the finger
6-8th is a push with the thumb

8-1st is 1 push with the thumb

it's better than it sounds

I read about some riders running thumbies like this in the 80's so thought I'd try it. I may try them above aswell to compare but this way I can keep my hands wrapped around the grips

right this is what I ended up with, I rather like it

I like it actually. Only points I don't understand on a bike like that are no QR seat clamp and having a triple and a long mech instead of a 2+bash and med mech.

I'm more of a steel hardtail man but the weight difference to the pig is attractive.

Now if I am being picky. One white cable? And with Avid mech discs I have found the cable runs nicer to the inside of the fork leg then up like you have it.

Maxxis Locust are good are grippy and tough but slow on tarmac. I prefer Maxxis Raze, less grippy, still tough and much faster on tarmac bits.

Are you telling me there are actual shops you can go in to buy this stuff? Good lord whatever next

I rather like it myself. Would make a nice pub bike type thing.

I wonder how it would do in the dirt :)

Re 7 and 8 speed, soulwood is correct, 7 speed was 5mm spacing and 8 speed 4.8mm. In practice if you set it up to be spot on in the middle of the cassette it might work but need more fiddling.

Thats good to hear DWH, can't wait to get them now! Don't suppose you have a pic of them fitted to keep me going? Ever tried them upside down and back to front?

Thanks all, ordered myself a set of the SJS cycles / forge style ones with ultegra shifters…hopefully I will like them as it was stupid money to spend

Thanks for all the replies. I will sleep on it and make a decision in the morning. Not keen to "upgrade" to 9 speed as my chain and cassette are only 2 months old and I'd need a new front mech too.

"ambient scenic cross-country" probably about describes me, gnarly is starting to hurt too much now I am in my 40s :)

@sslowpace, they look nice. Very similar to the SJS cycles ones I think.

Is there anything to be gained by running them on the wrong side of the bars upside down I wonder, I think my brain could cope.

What I really want is for Campagnolo to do some MTB gears, oh well

Are those trx fairly cheap sram?

still half tempted by the thumbies for some odd reason

hmmm just assumed sram shifters didnt work, I didn't know there were 2:1 shifters.

If you legs "definately need a granny ring" then I'd wager they don't need a big ring !

IIRC Brant used to tell people to hit the stay with a big hammer to enlarge the clearance – but that could be urban myth.

No he really did, though the evidence was probably lost with the old forum. I did this to my 853 Inbred about 2 years ago, much better.

You are only treating the effect not the cause. I'd rather get my drivetrain setup nicely so it doesn't suck. Even if I do get caught and mash mine through a gear change it doesn't suck.

I hate triples :)

Currently

130mm HT (853 Inbred)
Cross bike (Jake)

I keep fancying a road bike but more coz I just like the look of them so maybe 3 would be too many for me as the 2 I have a pretty versatile.

Nah **** it I want an SS cx bike and a road bike too

2.25 ardent front
changed the "summer" 2.1 crossmark rear for a 2.1 advantage a few weeks back

errr where is the 6700 for 530? tri mate of mine wants to update

they work by pulling the two parts of outer apart rather than pulling the inner like the normal lever does

been thinking of putting mine back on

Right I agree 100% with pp. And if you don't have an 853 inbred you wont quite appreciate the problem.

I took a different approach. Nicely indented my chainstay with suitably shaped object (long socket on its side and hammer). Ditch the triple, they are way more prone to suck imho, went for 22/36, this is tightish even with the chainstay indented (I suppose 34 might have been better, but I like 36). Run an 8 speed drivetrain with 9 speed blackspire chainrings, the granny being stainless. Run a medium cage mech and a nice tight chain.

That saw me through about 2 years with no chainsuck at all. When it did finally suck again its because the 36t chainring was fecked, as was the chain, so my own fault at that point.

They are great frames, with superb mud clearance but at the expense of chainring clearance. A shame the back end wasn't a bit better thought through. Even knowing that I think I'd buy it again simply because it rides so well, fits me nicely, is comfortable and adaptable. However if I ever snap it I don't know if I'd bother with a new chainstay because considering it was only £250 new I have already had value out of it.

Gratuitous drivetrainish shot

Apart from trail centres it is very difficult over here without local knowledge as land access is a mess. There is very little of anything in most places.

For trail centres there is Ballinastoe in Wicklow and the Ballyhouras in Limerick.

Basically I recommend Scotland instead.

whoa

possibly the draggiest crapiest tyres I ever had*, man they were cool at the time

*actually I just remembered I have some 2.25 cinders in the shed which must be a close second

I thought the uncle john had a disk mount on the frame, just not on the planet x carbon fork.

Yeah either 2.25 Ardent or 2.35 high roller front
and 2.1 crossmark or 2.1 advantage rear

Depending on how I feel, but always slightly skinnier and faster on the back.

I use a Kona Jake for trail riding, any road rides and have been touring on it. If you are too cool for a tourer or want some off road ability then they are great do it all bikes. I took mine from Mizen Head to Malin Head with camping gear loaded up this year. I have also ridden the Ring of Kerry on it a couple of times, though just a day ride not touring.

Quite stealth, apart from the white Revelations and the few silver bits