What bike part or accessory have you been looking at but can't quite bite the bullet on?
I've been looking at a 200mm PNW Bachelor dropper but I just can't quite come to a decision quite yet.
Posted Jan 14, 2020, 6:40 PM UTC
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If you don’t already have a dropper then buy that shit! It’ll change everything. Easily good money well spent. Wheels and hubs too. Those are all game changer upgrades in my opinion. I’ve changed bars and that’s helped some but not worlds of difference. Esi chunky grips helped me a lot too. My hands would go numb from the chatter before and now they don’t. Anyhow never hesitate to pull the trigger!
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I already have a Fox Transfer 175mm but I can't quite get it high enough at full extension and not low enough to get the saddle out of the way when descending. I came from road cycling so I know the terror that is descending without a dropper lol.
3
You have a 175mm dropper and you can't get it low enough for descents!? Mine is 100mm and I feel very well served by it. I'm only 4" shorter than you. I guess bike geometry is a bigger factor than I realized?
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Spot on, macronova! Frame geometry will really come into play here. Also, rider build! For many frames and riding styles a much larger drop is advantageous.
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Depends on the steepness of the descent. Normal descents it is fine but when it gets really steep it is really in the way which happens frequently where I ride.
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You can retrain yourself to ride at a lower saddle position. Thats what I do. I noticed that having a lower saddle helps my bike wheelie less and makes it easier to climb rough stuff.
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Yeah this is hella bad for your knees. Don't compromise bike fit.
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Ive been doing this with for 3 years, with no pain. Knee problems are largely individual.
There is no consensus on what causes pain either https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21615188
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I’m 6’3”(190.5cm) so it makes the change in saddle height pretty extreme. If it’s too low at full extension it’ll blow out your knees pretty quickly. If the saddle is high enough at full extension it won’t get out of the way on steep descents.
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I highly recommend the OneUp. I’m 6’4” and got the 210 over the summer. Tough to beat for $200, and easily serviceable if/when needed
1
What Im saying is, lets say you have the dropper post lower tube partially out of the seattube (i.e not as low as it can go), and the dropper is fully extended.
If you compress the dropper and its still not enough for descents, what I am saying is that you can move the dropper body lower in the frame, by like 1 inch, resulting in less than optimal position, and you will be fine.
I have been riding like this for the past 3 years with no knee issues. I did move my seat slightly further back though to get the knee over spindle metric closer.
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oneup edc tool. I like the idea of a steerer tube tool kit, but I can't scare up the courage to tap the steerer.
7
IMO its a great tool for race day but it seemed to me like a bit of a pain in the ass to fiddle about with for day to day use.
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I believe there is a version where you don’t have to tap the steerer
2
I know, that stem developed a squeak on my buddies ride.
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Just thread your fork, there’s nothing to worry about. Maybe get your lbs to do it for you
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Granite makes one that does not require tapping your steer tube.
1
Oof I feel that. I am really into modding stuff but it always takes me forever to get around to it because I hate the idea of screwing up and making the upgrade pointless.
1
I got one great tool. I love having it every time I go ride without having to grab a pack.
Taping the steertube was an easy decision for me. It doesn't affect the fork at all. And I bought used so no real warranty.
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There is one that stores inside your handlebars now.
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I use their EDC pump and store the tool inside that- the pump is awesome and not having to tap the steerer is even better
1
I picked up the pump and tool during their Anniversary sale. I haven't needed to use it, yet.
1
New hubs and rims (I9 Hydras laced to WeAreOne Factions); already in the process of swapping my Fox DPS for a Factory DPX2 (bye bye tax return.)
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DPX2 On my list as well
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Glad to hear you like them! I'm familiar with both companies and it's awesome that you can get i9 kitted wheels straight from WeAreOne.
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@manofmonkey - We're obviously partial, but highly recommend it! :p Let us know if you have any questions, as well.
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That's twitter.
It's u/ followed by their name so. u/manofmonkey not @
I have some questions about your products but it's late so I'll get those sent off later in the week.
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Thanks for the heads-up!
Just shoot us an email when you're ready, and we're happy to answer any questions.
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Dropper. Really want one, really feel my riding would benefit from one, but I don't ride that often and they're expensive. Also, I'm worried I'd break it - I've broken almost everything including a Thomson.
4
JensonUsa has the one-up dropper on clearance right now. I got the v1 post and the lever for only $170
1
Ahh unfortunately I'm UK based! Was hoping to get something from somewhere local so I have someone to do warranty...
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CRC has their Brand-X droppers for pretty cheap.
1
Volume spacer for my fork/shock.
Reasoning: I keep forgetting until I go ride, then I remember.
3
Hey u/redyellowblue5031, don't forget to order that volume spacer!
3
This happens to me all the time lol. While riding; note to self, make adjustment XYZ. Get home and put the bike up on the rack. Repeat.
Mainly minor things like brake lever angle or something but when climbing boring fire road you notice these things.
2
Avalanche damper.
I bought a Yari for cheap and swapped it onto my stumpy in place of the stock Rhythm 34. Plan always was to either buy an Avy damper or a Charger and basically end up with something comparable or better than a Lyric for cheap. But the Yari has been decent and I've had a hard time committing to the $450 or so. I'm confident that the Avy would be stellar - I've never heard a bad thing about them. Need to do it soon so I'm ready to really rip by spring.
2
Can confirm: avy damper is one of the best upgrades that I’ve ever purchased. I’ve got it in a pike.
2
Thanks man!
1
Cushcore in the front. Im definitely gonna get it for the rear because I already dinged my rim there, but I’m still not sure if I should add even more rotating mass to my bike that already weighs as much as a DH bike.
2
I’ve thought about getting cushcore several times but every time I do I can’t bring myself to look past the added weight. I’m sure it rides amazing though.
2
Took me a year to finally purchase pedals then a month more to buy shoes.
Next decision is stem and bars. Along with shorts, jersey and trousers. I've been trying to pin down a decision on the clothing stuff for over a year though so not very hopeful
1
Pedals are always a tough choice because they all vary so much. Flats/clipless, color, platform size, shape, weight, q factor, and so many other details that make the decision so difficult to settle on.
1
I just got Nukeproof horizon bars and have to say I’m very impressed. Really well finished, and the anodising is very good.
1
Yea those horizons are amazing (that's what's on one of my bikes)
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Mines a Full bike, ripmo af.
Trying to justify a new bike for myself in the spring.
After I just got the wife a new bike for xmas.
1
cush core. I can soooo see the benefits, just can't quite bring myself to spend north of 100 on em.
dynaplug. seems like a sleek tire plug system. again, just don't want to spend the money..
1
Cush core is really valuable if you are racing or want to protect expensive rims, but for recreational riding, its not really worth the money. Just use Huck Norris and higher PSI in your tires.
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Having tried both I would have to disagree. The dampening that cushcore gives makes a tire feel like a DH tire. This and how it helps prevent tire roll are its two best features and huck norris does not provide either of those.
Anyone who likes to ride fast on rough trails benefits from cushcore.
1
$800 AXS dropper. No can do. Especially when the PNW Bachelor is so good and comes with the loam lever.
1
Electronic/wireless is sort of a gimmick right now. The systems are all independant, and operated separately. There is no reason why there can't be a remotes with multiple buttons, which can be used for the various systems and/or programmed to do multiple things at once.
For example, I would want a button to lock out my suspension, raise the dropper, and downshift to lowest gear before a climb, and vice versa for descent.
2
wireless suspension lockout would be honestly cooler than wireless shifting or dropper - those are already on the handlebars.
1
Thanks for the stoke, mr-tonka!
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The pleasure is all mine! I'm now exclusively running Bachelors on my bikes! :D
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Awesome!
2
I was looking at that too until I saw the weight and the price.
1
SRAM AXS upgrade kit. $1,000! Ouch.
1
Stages Factory Install on a set of the new XT cranks. I just can't justify the cost for XTR to myself.
1
Wolftooth dropper lever for my Reverb. I have the plunger remote and I hate it so much but the near $100 holds me back every time I look at it.
1
I made the switch last spring, I highly recommend it. It took me a bit more time to install than I thought it would.
1
I had to go to the auto parts store to get a 4mm box end wrench to take the hose off when I did my Sustain install.
I'm glad I did, though. The cable was much easier to deal with than the hydraulic hose.
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Personally i have used bike flights it works great and not to expensive either
1
Ive had a hankering for some new pedals to replace my OEM wellgo ones. But its either nukeproof evo neutron ones for 35 or I save and try buy some well lasting metal ones like shimano saints.
1
Been thinking about trying some issi clip in pedals in place of my crankbrothers... I hear they’re easier to get out of but I’m running them on two bikes w one pair of shoes and I just can’t justify buying two sets
1
A whole dirt jump bike
You can build one up pretty cheap if you use a donor 26" mtb, especially with disk brakes, and the $199 Octane Zircus One frame. Thats how I build my first one for about $350 - i got the donor bike for 50, swapped all the components over, the only extra thing I had to buy was a is42/is52 headset with the conversion crown race, and a set of chain tensioners. Learned to jump plenty fine on that, and later on ended upgrading it.
Thank you so much for this frame insight! My plan is to build a super light playful urban bike this coming winter and that looks like a perfect base.
Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind