I don't like the flat spots of Ergo bars.

If you can find some of the original Deda Elementi's still, that could work. Also see if your local shop has a take-off they will let go cheap.

 

I survived my race in Moab... finished 10th overall. I crashed in stage 1 and got a little lost during stage 4, but even without those mistakes I might have only moved up to 9th. First place DESTROYED everyone.

Pretty disappointed with how flat (and uphill) the tracks were based on what these events are supposed to be. We ended up climbing over 600 feet during the timed stages- which are supposed to be ALL downhill. It was basically a XC TT. The training I've been doing definitely helped though- I was beat at the end, but still able to pedal pretty well in the last stage.



Cheesy MBA bike check:



That says 'copy this image' right?

 

I've been to some MTB races where like you said it's to flat or non-technical, long climbs but no logs, rocks, roots, drops etc. That needs to be kept in there or it becomes a VO2 max race only and not a bike handling race which is where I think MTB really shines.

 

Good job at Moab.

 

I lol'd IRL

 

Corkscrew is fun.

 

lol @ this thing winning a stage:

Elitists must be imploding right now.

 

I get its not a big name brand, but it has a high end groupo and what looks like pretty standard geometry and a decent aero wheelset.

What makes a cannondale/giant/trek/other any better if aero/geometry/weight is similar?

 

Diamondback had devolved into a dime-store brand, and this is their attempt to get back into the high end market.

Does name brand matter? I think very little. It can also be deceptive. C'Dale, Trek, Specialized will all have a target market model name, like "Tarmac" for Specialized full on race. But, within that model line, they will have 4-5 sub-models: S-Works, Pro, Expert, Comp, Elite, Sport; in order from top to bottom (OK, 6 sub-models). Completely differnent carbon strength and layup, or even Aluminum, as well as huge variety of component and wheel selections.

So, regardless if you have a favorite brand and style, just saying, "I have a Tarmc" is meaningless.

That said, the big 3-4 have huge research labs and good trickle-down (last year's TdF winning bike is this year's commercially available, much less expensive level). Smaller, botique brands (Merckx, etc) also have good research, but higher pricing due to smaller volume of sales.

Lots of words to say, Maybe. Like anything else, the Chinese knock-off can be just as good as the USA version, or it could be junk.

 

Paging SavingAIDS:

 

Just think back 25yrs ago, if it wasn't an Italian bike with Columbus steel tubing it wasn't Tour worthy. No fancy aero odd ergo's and silly aluminum designs. It had to be a historical brand with a story and honor not some techno marvel.

Really your buying a frame and maybe fork set, everything else is someone else's parts not the same logo as on the frame. If a company can weld properly and uses the right tubing and geometry it's not going to differ that much.

Now try to buy a full suspension Mountain Bike. You have 3 wheel sizes, 4 suspension travel categories and multiple rear pivot designs and shock/fork manufacturers. Roadies have it easy..........

 

TOC came through...


Leaders:


Chasers:


Team Sky wins best chase car for sure



Pretty boring to watch- about 100 cop cars/motorcycles come through, a few riders, chase cars, wait 5 minutes, repeat cars/riders/motorcycles, then its over.

 

True, and the sad thing is 90% of those frames and forks come out of the same 2 or 3 factories in Taiwan.



Try designing those FS mountain bike frames. It's a nightmare trying to accommodate new and old "standards" (and it's getting worse )

 

Didn't Giant claim to make many of the brands we see today at their Taiwanese factory before they came out with their own brand ?
I still have a nice Giant sub 3lb hardtail and an old Manitou SX Ti 50mm travel fork I might make into a 20lb bike for my son.

 

they do. Giant manufacturing makes a LOT of the high end stuff.

that sounds like a pretty nice kid's bike.

 

Just rode 45km. Feeling great.


I need to install the inline barrel adjusters on my derailleur cables and fine tune them.

Right now there is no barrel adjuster at all for the front and it works Ok, but it could be a bit better.

I don't have a stand, so tuning them is a really timely process roadside.



Ps, does anyone else have seatpost slip issues? It might be me adjusting to a higher and higher seatpost too since the angle never slips but it seems like my post sags over time.... Dunno. Carbon frame with carbon post.

 

I really need to get a jersey for the pockets and some cycling shorts.




Que hustler saddle bag slam

 

Take care where in the cable you put the barrels. If in a section where the outer sleeve twists when the handlebars are turned, then thy will constantly 'self-adjust'.

Get some carbon grip paste. Kind of like special valve lapping paste. It causes the parts to grip each other.

 

Good tips.

Thanks.

 

lol @ luggage large enough for a water bottle.