2022-0923 Fall Roundup

 Documenting Updates to the Fleet

• Intense Shipped the Dropper Replacement!
• I shipped the bad one back. 
• I noticed no obvious air port to top off pressure. 
• No news on what might have been the cause of the end failure yet. 
• Installed the dropper and took it for a KT ride, worked fine as before.
• Rockshox 35mm lower kit arrived for maintenance, but I need oil and desire to get dirty
• Also got a 140mm shaft - I need to inspect and see if/why I am running so little pressure - maybe bent shaft? or dry/not enough oil?
• IF oil works, return shaft
• Need to return the Nukeproof XL pads - even the L seem big, very bulky. Okay with the elbows but the knees seem to be too much.
• Unfondo - got pulled in from the wait list so I am in. Maintenance/tuning on Whitelines continues
• new Coospoo is working well
• got a bell!
• tuned the front derailluer - I was doing it wrong forever apparently, but it still rubs in biggest gear
• get new tubes and maybe install the GP 5000's on the intended bike?
• Offering up Old Blue and FM166 to a young rider in need - has me pondering also adding White Lines and even Red Pinarello.
• Noticing the shift in generations out on the road
• Feeling old this am, not into the CX at all, even to practice after donuts today
• Terrible feeling that if I lose riding, I lose my social life.

2022-0904 Popped the Dropper on Hi-Ho Silver (Intense951 XC)

 I set out to do a lap or 2 of Tamarancho this am before the heat set in. Took the race-configured Intense951 XC, and the new Nukeproof Enduro pads up the hill, thinking how well this bicycle was working - shifting, seatpost and brakes (mostly) have been awesome.

Rear brake under pedaling load and turning left chirped a little, I tried loosening the caliper bolts, then riding a bit and then tightened the result. Helped.

Anyway, sweating it out and keeping the HR under 145, Julian of the KT gang shows up while I hung out atop the Flow Trail. Julian was "going slow" which for him is a strong medium for me - still unable to hang on the downs. Did a lap and Una Mas'd another, when out of the blue past the "bell bridge", my seatpost went "POP" and my butt slammed down to the minimal position. Hmm, so much for the trouble free post. I assumed a chamber literally popped in there, no air,etc. but it seemed to move a bit too much. Struggled on out with lots of standing, and/or sitting low, ate a sandwich and Root Beer with Julian then went home with the broken rig.

Hosed it off, loosened the seat post and got a very long silver post and threaded end

That was unexpected. The whole scene:

I was able to thread it back in, but the cable was bent on the end AND broken at the lever - had not noticed that.

Looking into the tube, how was I supposed to get the cable back into the end?

Unable to find details on internal dropper cable routing for the Intense 951 or snipers, I went to the website and tried "chat". No US listings available but NZ and AU were selectable. So I hit it, and Josh G kindly answered from the AU option (NZ had no response, but maybe closed - 3pm in AU)

Josh's description of how it SHOULD be working gave me confidence that that threaded end had indeed been piston-ing into the seatube and warping the cable housing into a coil - from the phone and bike flashlights it looked hot-glue-gunned in place.

So a sharp hook on a clothes hanger and a little fishing I hooked the coil, pulled the cable straight, and was then able to pull out the housing as Josh promised. Hurray!

I need to buy an over-length housing and cut to fit. IF the seatpost works, no harm no foul. I did find some nice seatpost manuals with greasing and assembly instructions that might get put to use.

(458 miles on Hi Ho Silver according to the Strava Gear report)