Mountain Biking

[Begbie]

Yeah I noticed that but it's a fool's errand trying to get them to fix stuff on their website Pretty sure going to the 8 gets you the air sprung version of the RS 30 Silver, Deore 10x2, Race Face cranks and Duster Elite rims.Same brakes but they seem decent enough. I asked them to get me a quote and check the stock anyway, fingers crossed.

If it's the 2018 version for £400 do it!

 

[JustBen]

My continental King tire has a bit of a gauge out of it. What's best to replace it with? its a 27.5 wheel. tire iirc is 2.2. bikes only used for trail centre riding.

 

[VaderDSL]

Need to bleed/replace the fluid on my dads Trek 8000, sadly they're Avid/SRAM Juicy 5, thankfully I have Elixir R on mine so already had the bleed kit, but its a PITA and I hate DOT fluid. Only thing is I rebuilt my Elixirs last year with new internals, I cannot find any of the Juicy 5 internal kits in the U.K, none on ebay UK (can only see them from the U.S).

 

[rhysduck]

I'm glad I dithced my Juicy 7 brakes for Formula (yeah I know) a good fwe years ago, great brakes the juicy 7's were, when they worked. Bleeding them was an absolute PITA like you are experiencing @VaderDSL

Shimano now on both my bikes and the Mrs. Bleeding is a doddle.

 

[touch]

For reference I'm interested in doing this and similar sorts of riding, for which it seems like 29ers could make a big difference.

https://deesidetrail.co.uk/route/

I know air forks are all the rage but I think I'd appreciate the relative simplicity of decent coil forks, and the overall weights of the bikes seem almost identical.

I've been looking at that too but there's another race I want to do on the same date as the group start so Deeside might have to wait until next year (or an ITT).

29er would definitely be the better option for that type of riding.

Looks like there will be a bit of hike-a-bike so less weight on the front wheel really makes a difference for dragging it over rocks. Especially if you're planning an overnight stop and you've got the bike loaded with sleeping kit.

 

[Begbie]

I'm glad I dithced my Juicy 7 brakes for Formula (yeah I know) a good fwe years ago, great brakes the juicy 7's were, when they worked. Bleeding them was an absolute PITA like you are experiencing @VaderDSL

Shimano now on both my bikes and the Mrs. Bleeding is a doddle.

Just a shame the new XTM8000s are awful.

My rear brake is either needing rebuilt or put in the bin

I need to sort it out really, but it feels dreadful. The front is ok, but the modulation isn't the best. But the back sticks, squeals like mad randomly, has awful lever feel. Sometimes it's normal and then the next lever pull it barely moves to lock up the rear wheel.

I'm sorely tempted to just get a whole new groupset, this is now the 2nd XT mech I'm on and the clutch mech has died on it. I mean the whole mech is at an angle! But the amount of chain drops I'm getting from it now is just stupid. But with a new wheelset, my fork and shock needing serviced and a new groupset on top. I could've bought a new bike

 

[Hedge]

Just got back from an afternoon at Leeds Urban Bike Park. Fantastic place. Thoroughly enjoyed the pump and jump tracks and then rode the woodland trails nearby which were excellent!. Such a nice flow to them.

They are developing what looks like a hell of a technical downhill trail too.

Definitely recommend it. Free parking and great coffee and food in cafe.

 

[steve45]

I'm gonna have to get down there when my mate comes back from estonia, sounds good, I'm guessing there isnt much/anything for the big rig? The crush would suffice?

 

[Hedge]

I had a hard tail and I found it was ideal for it.

Great for practicing some skills. Nice and quiet today too.

 

[Minusorange]

Well that sucks

 

[Supercow]

Just a shame the new XTM8000s are awful.

Not good to hear, I was keen on the whole groupo, but now not too sure anymore.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Not good to hear, I was keen on the whole groupo, but now not too sure anymore.

I just swapped my leaking XTs (they are 4/5 years old and have been well used) to Zee brakes which are excellent with better modulation despite being 4 pot. Weight wise they seemed very similar to the XTs, they must be getting replaced by Shimano soon as they were only £80 each which was less than new XTs.

I have Saints on another bike and cannot tell the difference performance wise over the Zees, they seem a bargain at the current prices.

 

[Caseh]

I'm looking at ordering the Guide RE for my new bike. Code calipers with Guide levers, and they're getting some really good write ups for normal trail bikes. Looks like a set can be had for £160 as well!

 

[rhysduck]

Just a shame the new XTM8000s are awful.

My rear brake is either needing rebuilt or put in the bin

Not good to hear, I was keen on the whole groupo, but now not too sure anymore.

Early M8000's had a bad reputation for some sets being problematic even after a proper bleed. I believe Shimano were replacing them and have now sorted the issue out, whatever it was.

Both of my M8000 XT Brake sets are flawless. They're spot on, only need one bleed (when I shortened the hoses) and they're been on the money ever since. They stop me and the new Shan rather promptly

 

[I_M_Weasel]

I was washing my bike down today and discovered some damage to the rear drop out, it's where the carbon frame attaches to the alloy drop out, it still feels absolutely solid, no flex or give at all.

What's anyone's thinking, knackered frame or superficial?

https://ibb.co/eVMXbT

https://ibb.co/cBmXbT

 

[steve45]

That could very well just be paint cracking from the stresses in that area, but i'd be contacting the manufacturer for a professional opinion. I'd be wary, probably fine but get it checked out.

 

[TallPaul_S]

I'm looking at ordering the Guide RE for my new bike. Code calipers with Guide levers, and they're getting some really good write ups for normal trail bikes. Looks like a set can be had for £160 as well!

I've used a few brakes now on various demo bikes and my own and I've come to the following conclusions:

XT's are powerful but far too on/off, there's no modulation.
Deore brakes (my own) have much better modulation but are lacking a bit of power, however sintered pads and a 200mm front disc would probably sort that.
Guide R's are decent, loads of modulation but not huge amounts of power.
Code R's - loads of power AND modulation!!

However, every set of SRAM brakes I've tried I haven't been able to get the lever bite point far enough out, even with the adjuster to the limit. It might just be that the pistons needed pushing out a bit but I prefer a bike point quite far out, my motorbike habits are too ingrained - the ability to have a feather touch on the brakes and not have them have 3" of play is a big deal.

I've yet to try Hope tech 3 E/V4's but I think they are going to be the best mix of power, modulation and adjustability. Just so happens they look brilliant too

 

[Begbie]

Not good to hear, I was keen on the whole groupo, but now not too sure anymore.

TBF my front brake is fine. Just the rear, but I don't get along with them as much as I did the Zees. Losing two mechs so far has been a disappointment mind, this one is a mixture of the two (hence why the clutch doesn't quite work so well). It took a spoke out when it went bonkers too, gentle incline into about 30km of riding after a few tough steep stuff. So not poorly indexed or setup (which I thought was the issue with the first).

I'm tempted to put my Zee calipers onto my XT levers.

 

[Caseh]

I've used a few brakes now on various demo bikes and my own and I've come to the following conclusions:

XT's are powerful but far too on/off, there's no modulation.
Deore brakes (my own) have much better modulation but are lacking a bit of power, however sintered pads and a 200mm front disc would probably sort that.
Guide R's are decent, loads of modulation but not huge amounts of power.
Code R's - loads of power AND modulation!!

However, every set of SRAM brakes I've tried I haven't been able to get the lever bite point far enough out, even with the adjuster to the limit. It might just be that the pistons needed pushing out a bit but I prefer a bike point quite far out, my motorbike habits are too ingrained - the ability to have a feather touch on the brakes and not have them have 3" of play is a big deal.

I've yet to try Hope tech 3 E/V4's but I think they are going to be the best mix of power, modulation and adjustability. Just so happens they look brilliant too

I never used to like Avid brakes previously, but these seemed to tick all the boxes I was after. Now I just need a bike to put them on!

 

[Supercow]

Zee brakes .

I'm not overly concerned with weight, but my frame's a bit on the chubby side, so would prefer to try and keep it down where I can, without diminishing returns. Think the Zee would add 140ish gram over the Xts iirc.

Both of my M8000 XT Brake sets are flawless. They're spot on, only need one bleed (when I shortened the hoses) and they're been on the money ever since. They stop me and the new Shan rather promptly

I've personally only ever had great experience with Shimano, so would prefer to stick with them - certainly won't be thinking of going Sram Guide or the like.

I'm tempted to put my Zee calipers onto my XT levers.

Frankenbrakes rule!
Pretty good thread on the subject here: http://ridemonkey.bikemag.com/threads/frankenbrakes-and-brake-improvement-discussion.274164/