And now for something completely different. (09.05.15)
Gears and 700c's.
I spent the summer riding the Salsa. I tried different bars, gears, crank lengths and whatever other magic I could source. Was it comfy? No.
After much research talking with previous TD riders, enthusiasts local to the trails and long distance crazies I have opted for a Genesis CDF 10.
Some riders (many of which I must say were heading out to race) condemned the idea as daft straight away but on speaking with numerous cross riders from multiple backgrounds it's looking good for a more sedate pace.
Pros
- Overall lighter than the Salsa
- Comfier (thorough bike fit completed, happy in the saddle 70+ miles)
Cons
- Less space for load carrying in comparison
- Skinnier tyres not as comfortable (I seem to be alright with double taped bars to compensate)
Cogs and bars (17.6.14)
So I've added a couple of different cogs to the single-speed setup:
I've ran a 34x16 drivetrain previously and got on with it very well with my 26er bike. So I decided to stay with what I know. Due to the climbing encountered on the TD, as well as various UK trips I have penciled in, you may have also noticed the slightly larger 18T cog.
Twinned with a Narrow/Wide chainring the ability to hop between ratios gives me a great opportunity to give the legs a rest when I need to and also enjoy the altitude gains a little more!
On the opposite end of the bike... The local routes to me are getting a bit tedious so to mix it up a bit I've taken the jump to aero bars early on (may as well get used to them!).
I went for PRO 'Tempo' one piece bars for two reasons: Good value (£64.99 RRP) and easy of fitting. Stay tuned for an update after I've been out for a long one!
All change! (14.05.14)
Ok Ok! The so the wheels have changed size, the bars now drop, the brakes are now mechanical and I'm about 9 gears down....
There's a reason behind the sudden change to the bike....
The terrain that lies ahead benefits from a wheel that rolls quickly, with ease over rough tracks & trail. A rigid fork and mechanical brakes have easy/no maintenance compared to a hydraulic brake and air fork.
The tough bit.... going single-speed. The rig above isn't quite on the money for multi day TD style riding just yet. I have a few ideas to make it a bit more adaptable and look forward to testing soon.
For the single-speeders out there asking the question: The ratio is 36 front, 16 back at present!
29er is coming.... (19.04.14)
A few changes (09.03.14)
The bike in its previous state was great for trail centres and local riding but I was having a few issues when putting the mileage away: spongy 120mm forks, wide bars (and slim grips) and no bottle cages.
The changes below have taken place over the last few weeks.
Forks
Was: Marzocchi Bomber Corsa SL 120mm
Now: On-One rigid steel fork
Bars
Was: Nukeproof Warhead 740mm wide riser bar
Now: Cut down to 700mm
Grips
Was: SRAM trail grips
Now: Ergon GR2 grips with bar ends (large size)
Extras
Giant Pro1 carbon bottle cage
With the fork, bar and grip change it certainly feels easier on the climbing. I'll be reviewing the new components after a few months of use.
My bike as it stands at the minute (03.02.14)
It's been built for UK trail centres and hills so I'm aware bits will need to be looked at for crossing the varying terrains of the Tour Divide.
Frame/Fork
| Frame | Maxlight Kinesis XC120 |
|---|---|
| Fork | Marzocchi Bomber (120mm travel, 9mm dropout) |
Components | |
|---|---|
| Handlebar | Nukeproof Warhead riser bar |
| Stem | Nukeproof Warhead (60mm) |
| Seatpost | Charge Chopstick |
| Saddle | Charge Spoon |
| Pedals | Shimano M530 SPD |
Drivetrain | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Shifters | Shimano SLX M660 (10 speed) | ||
| Front Derailleur | N/A | ||
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano SLX Shadow (10 Speed) | ||
| Brakes | Hope Tech x2 | ||
| Brake Levers | Hope Tech x2 (Goodridge braided hoses) | ||
| Cassette | Shimano HG81 (10 speed) | ||
| Chain | SRAM (PG51?) | ||
| Crankset | RaceFace NEXT with RaceFace single wide ring (34 tooth) | ||
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano Hollowtech II | ||
Wheels | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rims | Superstar XC-430 | |||
| Hubs | Superstar SWITCH EVO | |||
| Spokes | DT SWISS | |||
| Tires | Continental Mountain King 2.2 with SLIME inners | |||
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