Ask the experts

[meepmoop24]

I can't find this anywhere... but which Park Tool spoke wrench do I need for the thicker aluminum I-9 spokes?

Should be the black one, SW-0.

[Dee Hubbs]

I can't find this anywhere... but which Park Tool spoke wrench do I need for the thicker aluminum I-9 spokes?

3.23mm, or "0" or "15 gauge" nipple size, or Park Tool "Black"

[smmokan]

Thanks guys!

[Abies]

What’s the best value on brakes going right now? I’ve been on Shimanos forever but I think my previous gen XT four pistons are giving up the ghost. Prefer mineral oil generally because I’m clumsy and do my own bleeding but open to whatever. My default is just to pick up a set of the deore 4 pistons and call it good.

[Toddball]

What’s the best value on brakes going right now? I’ve been on Shimanos forever but I think my previous gen XT four pistons are giving up the ghost. Prefer mineral oil generally because I’m clumsy and do my own bleeding but open to whatever. My default is just to pick up a set of the deore 4 pistons and call it good.

I just got a set of TRP Slate T4s that seem pretty decent. Feel is pretty similar to Deore/SLX, for a little cheaper ($120/side TRP vs $160/side SLX). They're on a rigid bike with XC tires though, so maybe not a great basis for comparison.

[mildbill.]

I'm at my wits' end - what is binding my drivetrain?

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I should have mentioned i'm in nor cal and was dealing with very fine, dusty conditions coincidental with my drivetrain binding issues.

We got about 1" of rain, 2 days of mud and a week of dust-free [insert bro-speak term for quality surface conditions].

After 2x thorough cleaning following the muddy days and now no longer riding with a fine coat of dust on the bike at all times, things seem to be running quite smoothly. Off to the queso thread for me I guess.

Or was it all psychosomatic and i was sick of the dust and stoked now?

[sfotex]

What’s the best value on brakes going right now? I’ve been on Shimanos forever but I think my previous gen XT four pistons are giving up the ghost. Prefer mineral oil generally because I’m clumsy and do my own bleeding but open to whatever. My default is just to pick up a set of the deore 4 pistons and call it good.

Gotta say I've been in the mineral oil boat 'cause I'm clumsy camp too, but the Sram Bleeding Edge system is pretty slick and keeps the mess down.

[McShortyShorts]

What’s the best value on brakes going right now? I’ve been on Shimanos forever but I think my previous gen XT four pistons are giving up the ghost. Prefer mineral oil generally because I’m clumsy and do my own bleeding but open to whatever. My default is just to pick up a set of the deore 4 pistons and call it good.

If you're looking for true budget, can't go wrong with non-series Shimano brakes like the MT520. Put some Galfer pads in them and they can hang with the best. If you don't need 4-piston, the Formula Curas are a good option. I've been running them on my hardtail, and they're just a simple, well made brake that works well. On the higher end, I still think Hayes Dominion A4s reign supreme, unless you really like the feel of Shimano/Sram. Dominions are DOT tho, and I do find that the pistons require more cleaning than other brakes.

[Abies]

I think budget to me means 200 dollars for both ends would be sweet, not including rotors, but I’d go up to 300 if there’s a good case for it. Thanks for all the suggestions.


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[Roxtar]

I think budget to me means 200 dollars for both ends would be sweet, not including rotors, but I’d go up to 300 if there’s a good case for it. Thanks for all the suggestions.


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Pretty sure anything below that level will be a big drop from your XTs.
Maybe used XT or SLX?

[Abies]

Pretty sure anything below that level will be a big drop from your XTs.
Maybe used XT or SLX?

To be fair when I wrote that I hadn’t really done much research lol, I just figured I could find something good on mega sale right now. 200+ an end feels steep to me though

I think it’s my calipers that are cooked (leaky pistons) so does anyone know if it’s fine to mate my XT M8000 series levers to current gen Shimano calipers?


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[climberevan]

Magura Trail brakes are pretty cheap and quite good. They are the ones with 2 piston rear and 4 piston front.

[toast2266]

Code rsc's can be had for under $200 / brake. They're not the *best* brake, but they're a solid option that's easy to service and bleed.

[Powder Ho]

Anyone have a tip for compensating for the reduction in pressure in a fork due to colder temps.
Half way through a ride I noticed my sag had about doubled. I know I could just add some air, but I'm looking for something more precise.
I found a chart for fat bike tire pressure that tells you starting pressure and resultant pressure based on temps. Anything like that for shocks?
Thanks.

[toast2266]

Anyone have a tip for compensating for the reduction in pressure in a fork due to colder temps.
Half way through a ride I noticed my sag had about doubled. I know I could just add some air, but I'm looking for something more precise.
I found a chart for fat bike tire pressure that tells you starting pressure and resultant pressure based on temps. Anything like that for shocks?
Thanks.

Guess and check. It's going to vary a fair amount depending on the fork, how cold it is, how much air temps warm up while you're riding, how hard you're working the suspension and how much it heats up on the ride, among various other factors.

[Powder Ho]

Guess and check. It's going to vary a fair amount depending on the fork, how cold it is, how much air temps warm up while you're riding, how hard you're working the suspension and how much it heats up on the ride, among various other factors.

Yeah, I was pretty sure I was over thinking it.
I' m going to try leaving my bike outside for a while before a ride and pump up to my normal pressure.

[toast2266]

Yeah, I was pretty sure I was over thinking it.
I' m going to try leaving my bike outside for a while before a ride and pump up to my normal pressure.

Go a little under your normal pressure. It'll warm up a bit on the ride.

[smmokan]

I'm not really tied into trainers these days, but I've been thinking about getting one for the winter. Is there a such thing as a "dumb" (not smart) trainer anymore? I have zero interest in subscribing to a monthly program and riding with my virtual friends, I basically just want to ride my bike and control the resistance.

[rideit]

For a 'dumb' trainer, I greatly prefer variable resistance rollers.

[Skistack]

There’s usually several Kinetic trainers available on Craigslist for less than $100.


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[MCS5280]

I'm not really tied into trainers these days, but I've been thinking about getting one for the winter. Is there a such thing as a "dumb" (not smart) trainer anymore? I have zero interest in subscribing to a monthly program and riding with my virtual friends, I basically just want to ride my bike and control the resistance.

Winter trainer = fatbike

[Falcon3]

Winter trainer = fatbike

You know those nightmares where you're stuck in invisible quicksand and you try to run and you move super slowly?

That's fatbiking.

[rideit]

You know those nightmares where you're stuck in invisible quicksand and you try to run and you move super slowly?

That's fatbiking.

Not here, you can easily drift into groomed corners at 25mph+ on some of our trails (with as much climbing and descending as you want). In fact, a few KOM’s are in the winter when the rocks are buried. Conditions have to be just right.
But yeah, fresh snow, badly groomed trails, warm snow, and it is like you describe. Don’t go out on those days.

[VTskibum]

For a 'dumb' trainer, I greatly prefer variable resistance rollers.

Will echo this! Before buying a smart trainer I spent winters on resistance rollers. EMotion were probably biggest back then but expensive. I bought a set a TACX Galaxia with little rockers so you could stand and pedal easier and attach a Minoura mag resistance to it, worked very well.


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[Powder Ho]

Go a little under your normal pressure. It'll warm up a bit on the ride.

I just read an article with a Cane Creek suspension tech who said 1%/10°f in temp change is a good rule of thumb.
He also said that the shock is affected more than the fork because of the smaller volume.