Just back from my 2019 Downieville camping and riding tour. Good times, some amazing riding.
We managed 2 runs, day 3 we bailed due to possible snow and rain at the top.
Tracking hardware and maintenance here, I had way too much time waiting to load shuttles at Yuba Expeditions.
Picked up a new Volt Comp 142mm with custom "Downieville Classic" texture and paint, no more torn cover tearing at my holy shorts collection.
Next, I noticed the cool little on-trail tire plug kits on the rack. One of these for $45. AND my leaking water bladder was killing me too, dripping all over my bag.
Checking over my bag with 30 minutes left, my road-kill Leatherman was found to be siezed up, and I have not apparently been riding with a multi-tool in my bag.
New saddle, new bladder and new tire-plugging tool, off we went.
Minion DHF on the front with one adjustment to drop some pressure and the Hightower was awesome in the dry on Day 1 and wet baby heads on Day 2.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Good Choice - Swap vs Maintenance
So it looks like the swap strategy was the best for me, given the short time and skills available for the DIY maintenance approach:
Friday, September 20, 2019
Rockshox Pike RCT3 on the Hightower - tuning time!
The Pike got a test this am, and from the indicator, full travel was not achieved.
Not a surprise, as this fork has 2 volume spacers installed. Dare I remove 1 and try again?
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Fork Maintenance My Way: The Swap!
Given the bad luck I have had understanding my Fox 34 FIT CTD 2014 140mm fork the past few weeks, I glumly tried to order the parts for a lower form maintenance.
Fox 20wt oil, a graduated syringe, a set actually, and a new SKS sweeps and seal kit for 34mm forks.
I watched YouTube of Fox mechanics unbolting the lowers and cleverly using hammers to break loose the lower legs of what I hope is close to my fork. I read charts on the levels of fluid I need to add for my exact fork, confused over the 20wt gold and something called "Fox Float Fluid" sold in pillows.
Okay, so order one of those too.
The seals arrive Monday, giving me 2 days to actually do the work. I imagine myself Tuesday midnight learning the next lesson in the Fox fork game. Enough!
I got up and went to measure the length of the trusty Rockshox Pike RCT3 140mm 46mm offset (huh?) on my son's Scout 290. 180, no 190 mm, maybe 5 mm shorter than the Fox. Also, this fork is newer, works with plastic (vs oil) volume spacers and has 35mm stations, which is more than 34mm. SOLD, we are gonna swap em!
So tonight, I did the deed. Smooth transplant accept for getting the Cane Creek headset bearing race off the Fox, the Rubber mallet again proved its worth.
The resulting Hightower - besides steerer length, the color is good!
And the Scout, with the Fork sorta on but cable not committed:
After Downieville, I will build a box to send the Fox to Sparks Nevada, unless I decide to acquire more Pike's in my life.
I'll do a test on dirt in the AM - hopefully I will enjoy the results and worry about the non-riding bits of the upcoming trip - woohoo!
Fox 20wt oil, a graduated syringe, a set actually, and a new SKS sweeps and seal kit for 34mm forks.
I watched YouTube of Fox mechanics unbolting the lowers and cleverly using hammers to break loose the lower legs of what I hope is close to my fork. I read charts on the levels of fluid I need to add for my exact fork, confused over the 20wt gold and something called "Fox Float Fluid" sold in pillows.
Okay, so order one of those too.The seals arrive Monday, giving me 2 days to actually do the work. I imagine myself Tuesday midnight learning the next lesson in the Fox fork game. Enough!
I got up and went to measure the length of the trusty Rockshox Pike RCT3 140mm 46mm offset (huh?) on my son's Scout 290. 180, no 190 mm, maybe 5 mm shorter than the Fox. Also, this fork is newer, works with plastic (vs oil) volume spacers and has 35mm stations, which is more than 34mm. SOLD, we are gonna swap em!
So tonight, I did the deed. Smooth transplant accept for getting the Cane Creek headset bearing race off the Fox, the Rubber mallet again proved its worth.
The resulting Hightower - besides steerer length, the color is good!
And the Scout, with the Fork sorta on but cable not committed:
After Downieville, I will build a box to send the Fox to Sparks Nevada, unless I decide to acquire more Pike's in my life.
I'll do a test on dirt in the AM - hopefully I will enjoy the results and worry about the non-riding bits of the upcoming trip - woohoo!
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Nukeproof Scout Framesets at Chain Reaction! Got a 26" NS Bikes Frame for M Upgrade
Arg, prompted by daily Chain Reaction spam, I browsed the Scout 290 (29er) hardtail frame sets - so tempted to pick up an XL, cannot justify it - got one already. Go pick one up, I highly recommend it.
I asked M if he could fit Z's - maybe M could get the Large, and I put Z on the XL so we can "share" that one too. Z's bike is my favorite of the fleet, it always puts a smile on my face, and it inspired the Hightower which has been a struggle to relate.
M's little Trek is loaded with sweet parts. Wheels we hand built together, nice SLX brakes, etc. I've been shopping for a 26 frames upgrade that's a bit larger. CR had a deal on a NS Bikes sized Medium AL frame for $169 that I could not refuse, we will see how that might work (or not). The frames looks to be all QR too.
Hightower gets a 46t, new chain and cable housing + cable
As in the title, the prep on Santa Creme the Hightower continues.
The best "deal" I got on SLX chain and cassette was from REI - better than Amazon. I went SLX after not seeing a big weight advantage with XT, and in fact there exist forum chains claiming to GO SLX all the way, and spend money on the SHIFTER, XTR if possible. Hmm.
Also, to match the weight of XT, use the XT cassette binding/threaded ring. Done!
The next issue was making sure my 11speed XT could run the big 46t gear. Barely, so barely, I was
losing the tiny gear or the 46t when adjusting the B-screw. Then it seemed to actually be the tension.
After much struggling, I noticed the housing sort of jumping out of the shifter, on a mangled metal furrel. Doh!
I got to Sports Basement just before closing to get a new housing and cable, slapped it in to make the Saturday early AM ride. Worked so well that I forgot I had upgraded until I got to the trailhead.
46t was sweet, I almost made it up JM's nasty "Big Trees" climb, the closest in years. The cable did get pulled/fell out somewhere down Chaparrel, requiring a stop, tool unpack, and even reading glasses from the backpack, but overall, a success.
The Fox 34 left all sorts of black gooeyness on the "Kashima" coating, hope it survives Downieville. Maybe swap out Z's Pike for the trip?
The best "deal" I got on SLX chain and cassette was from REI - better than Amazon. I went SLX after not seeing a big weight advantage with XT, and in fact there exist forum chains claiming to GO SLX all the way, and spend money on the SHIFTER, XTR if possible. Hmm.
Also, to match the weight of XT, use the XT cassette binding/threaded ring. Done!
The next issue was making sure my 11speed XT could run the big 46t gear. Barely, so barely, I was
losing the tiny gear or the 46t when adjusting the B-screw. Then it seemed to actually be the tension.
After much struggling, I noticed the housing sort of jumping out of the shifter, on a mangled metal furrel. Doh!
I got to Sports Basement just before closing to get a new housing and cable, slapped it in to make the Saturday early AM ride. Worked so well that I forgot I had upgraded until I got to the trailhead.
46t was sweet, I almost made it up JM's nasty "Big Trees" climb, the closest in years. The cable did get pulled/fell out somewhere down Chaparrel, requiring a stop, tool unpack, and even reading glasses from the backpack, but overall, a success.
The Fox 34 left all sorts of black gooeyness on the "Kashima" coating, hope it survives Downieville. Maybe swap out Z's Pike for the trip?
Fox 34 pre 2016 don't use volume spacers
I finally got all the 28mm Fox socket to open up my Fox 34 CTD FIT so I could add my collection
of Fox 34 volume spacers, and....no where to connect the spacers!
Nice smooth top, no way to connect. Looking into the left fork-leg and a reflecting pool of oil stared back. Hmm.
Internet, and I found pictures of the "Top Cap" air assembly for 32's that were hacked for spacers, but reading I finally found other clods like myself who were surprised to learn that volume spacers were NOT for their forks. We get to use OIL. Not sure I want to get into that.
So the excellent Fox site and plugged in my fork ID and its a 2014, and oh, there is an upgrade
to 2016 internals that maybe take air spacers? I can't find the part online/out of stock, so I sign up for an "RA" from Fox. I get a number, and go back and forth asking about a quote on that upgrade, which is supposed to be a sweet deal.
Downieville is next week, out of time, maybe after.
Lesson is, I should have started with Fox first, maybe 2 months ago :)
of Fox 34 volume spacers, and....no where to connect the spacers!
Nice smooth top, no way to connect. Looking into the left fork-leg and a reflecting pool of oil stared back. Hmm.
Internet, and I found pictures of the "Top Cap" air assembly for 32's that were hacked for spacers, but reading I finally found other clods like myself who were surprised to learn that volume spacers were NOT for their forks. We get to use OIL. Not sure I want to get into that.
So the excellent Fox site and plugged in my fork ID and its a 2014, and oh, there is an upgrade
to 2016 internals that maybe take air spacers? I can't find the part online/out of stock, so I sign up for an "RA" from Fox. I get a number, and go back and forth asking about a quote on that upgrade, which is supposed to be a sweet deal.
Downieville is next week, out of time, maybe after.
Lesson is, I should have started with Fox first, maybe 2 months ago :)
Monday, September 2, 2019
Fox 34 Air Volume Spacer Upgrade!
After realizing the awesomeness inside the Pike RCT on Z's bike, I decided to review the theory of volume spacers with Dotty at GMBN
Missing from my toolkit for the Fox 34 is the 26mm socket - ordered the nice one from Park here
Assuming no spacers are in my Fox 34, I ordered 2x spacers for the fork - sold by Worldwide Cyclery via Amazon Looking forward to tuning the Fox up - adding rebound has helped, and the spacers should keep me from bottoming it out/add some subtleness to the ride I am missing.
Assuming no spacers are in my Fox 34, I ordered 2x spacers for the fork - sold by Worldwide Cyclery via Amazon Looking forward to tuning the Fox up - adding rebound has helped, and the spacers should keep me from bottoming it out/add some subtleness to the ride I am missing.
Fearing the Bonk, and Setting Rebound on the Hightower
I slept in Saturday, fearing the bonk and wasted day of recovery I experienced last Saturday on the Norris Canyon loop from Danville Peets.
This left energy for the afternoon family MTB ride at Stafford Bike Park on Sunday. Some jumps, some optimization of effort to use the Midpoint cutoff to the Kid's Flow Trail - gets me to the good jumps.
I've been getting along better with the Hightower, now that I have been trying to tune the suspension - the secret has been REBOUND. Increasing this front and rear has made the bike come alive. I took Z's Nukeproof Scout for a spin on the jumps, its a nice comparison.
Speaking of the Scout, the Rockshock Pike continues to amaze. I bled off the air and opened up the chamber to find 2 volume tokens in place, maybe explaining the subtle, amazing handling and fun of that bike. So I added another token.
I then tried to open up my Fox 34 on the Hightower, but was unable to open the airchamber to peek inside because I lack a 28+mm socket. Maybe I should put the Pike on the Hightower.
Psyched by the afternoon at Stafford Lake, I woke up ready to face the road bike again on Labor Day with a 50 mile Zoo Loop:
This left energy for the afternoon family MTB ride at Stafford Bike Park on Sunday. Some jumps, some optimization of effort to use the Midpoint cutoff to the Kid's Flow Trail - gets me to the good jumps.
I've been getting along better with the Hightower, now that I have been trying to tune the suspension - the secret has been REBOUND. Increasing this front and rear has made the bike come alive. I took Z's Nukeproof Scout for a spin on the jumps, its a nice comparison.
Speaking of the Scout, the Rockshock Pike continues to amaze. I bled off the air and opened up the chamber to find 2 volume tokens in place, maybe explaining the subtle, amazing handling and fun of that bike. So I added another token.
I then tried to open up my Fox 34 on the Hightower, but was unable to open the airchamber to peek inside because I lack a 28+mm socket. Maybe I should put the Pike on the Hightower.
Psyched by the afternoon at Stafford Lake, I woke up ready to face the road bike again on Labor Day with a 50 mile Zoo Loop:
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