Ask the experts

[jamal]

My 34SC has always had a little squish in closed mode, it's better after bleeding the damper but that thing sucks in air pretty much immediately. Every time I think I'm going to do just a quick lower service I move the damper by hand am like "fuck."

I put that cartridge in last spring, I suppose I'll do a full overhaul soonish, especially since the rebound adjuster just broke off.

[joetron]

UDH, first bike with one and after a crash that I was pretty lucky to come out unscathed (bike and especially body), realized only at the start of a 3+ hour ride that my UDH was slightly bent. Was way too nice of a day out and trails were too perfect to quit, so I rode anyway w extra careful shifting practices. Was solo so was either pushing big gear circa my Singlespeed days or spinning like crazy.

Anyway hit the shop on the way home for a new UDH (of which I’m now going to keep an extra in the truck). One priced at $18 another Wheels Manufacturing was $48!? I went $18, but trying to decide if the wheels is 2x better at doing hanger things? I’ve read the cheapo/normal ones are abs plastic which apparently is ok bc they don’t bend and generally bounce back. Thoughts/experiences from collective?

Yep, we stock both. I have a few customers who have bent the plastic ones and were frustrated.


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[volklpowdermaniac]

Who’s using a smith mainline FF? Does the creak drive you slowly insane? Quickly insane? Everyone talks about it, and in trying it on in the store a couple times you can def here it if you move your head but it seems like if you get the padding correct it’ll be more snug and less noisy? / maybe it breaks in and gets quieter / fades into back? Otherwise fits pretty well (but so do a few others) and starting to find some great deal locally but I’m wondering if I’ll just ended up cursing the thing.

[VTskibum]

Yep, we stock both. I have a few customers who have bent the plastic ones and were frustrated.


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Do you recommend the more expensive ones? Any less likely to bend? Aluminum so not likely you can bend it back I would think?


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[McShortyShorts]

Who’s using a smith mainline FF? Does the creak drive you slowly insane? Quickly insane? Everyone talks about it, and in trying it on in the store a couple times you can def here it if you move your head but it seems like if you get the padding correct it’ll be more snug and less noisy? / maybe it breaks in and gets quieter / fades into back? Otherwise fits pretty well (but so do a few others) and starting to find some great deal locally but I’m wondering if I’ll just ended up cursing the thing.

I use my Mainline for lift days and enduro, when I'm actually riding the creak hasn't been annoying. I mostly notice it when stopped or walking around. Overall it's been a great helmet

[joetron]

The Wheels Mfg alloy ones are beefy and less likely to bend. I would have more confidence in realigning one of them than the plastic ones.
I don’t recommend them to everyone as a replacement- mostly just to people who I know are harder on their shit and going further out in the mtns regularly.


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[volklpowdermaniac]

I use my Mainline for lift days and enduro, when I'm actually riding the creak hasn't been annoying. I mostly notice it when stopped or walking around. Overall it's been a great helmet

Nice. Ok ok ok

[SchralphMacchio]

Who’s using a smith mainline FF?

I don’t have one, but I’ve been pretty dang happy with my Kali Invader 2.0 for pedal days, if you get sick of the Mainline and are okay having a FF quiver. I’d call it a FF trail helmet so I wouldn’t use it for park days or anything like that, but I’m loving how it breathes for pedaling up to high speed / exposed trails. I don’t have to take it off for climbs. I’m never using a convertible FF again. The only people I wouldn’t recommend it for is if you have a 58-58.5cm head, which is right at the break point of being too tight in the small one but possibly feeling insecurely floppy in the large one with the thickest pads installed.

[Andeh]

Who’s using a smith mainline FF? Does the creak drive you slowly insane? Quickly insane? Everyone talks about it, and in trying it on in the store a couple times you can def here it if you move your head but it seems like if you get the padding correct it’ll be more snug and less noisy? / maybe it breaks in and gets quieter / fades into back? Otherwise fits pretty well (but so do a few others) and starting to find some great deal locally but I’m wondering if I’ll just ended up cursing the thing.

Not a Mainline, but I've got a Giro Insurgent Spherical that is pretty creaky walking around, but I've found that if I tighten up the goggles strap I don't hear anything while actually riding.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Not a Mainline, but I've got a Giro Insurgent Spherical that is pretty creaky walking around, but I've found that if I tighten up the goggles strap I don't hear anything while actually riding.

Nice!, I ended up going with the Leatt MTB 4.0 Gravity, it just had the best fit, but I may grab a mainline if the sales continue. Leatt is nice, more of a pad system then cradle which I wanted as I don't intend to retire my POC 1/2 shell, fits more in the mainline, insurgent category, with the Invader, IXS TRIGGER, stage sititng in the super light category, and Otocon and Proframe Rs bridging the gap.
at least by weight and retention system type that is.

We shall see.

[singlesline]

Do y'all think it is pushing it too far to fit my XL Ripmo on this roof rack tray (rockymounts switchhitter ls)?




The end cap is metal and is held in place with a screw through a hole (so it can't just slide out). It is also the attachment mechanism for the built in lock cable, so presumably it is designed to be resistant to someone trying to knock/break it off to steal your bike.

It is a wheel-off rack, so the front is bolted on with the through axle--no option to shift it forwards more.

[toast2266]

Do y'all think it is pushing it too far to fit my XL Ripmo on this roof rack tray (rockymounts switchhitter ls)?




The end cap is metal and is held in place with a screw through a hole (so it can't just slide out). It is also the attachment mechanism for the built in lock cable, so presumably it is designed to be resistant to someone trying to knock/break it off to steal your bike.

It is a wheel-off rack, so the front is bolted on with the through axle--no option to shift it forwards more.

I'd call it good. That's just a little bit further over the edge than my bikes on my thule. I have plenty of miles like that without issue.

[MarcusBrody]

The X2 that came on the Ripmo I bought last Fall is no longer holding pressure. I'm not exactly sure how many hours I have on it, but I was gone all summer and most of my rides are sub-1 hour morning spins before waking my son up for school, so I can't imagine it's that close to the 125 hour service interval. I'm in the desert, so it's possible though that the air can seal dried out enough to let it leak even though it's fairly new. But it is the X2, so I'm not sure. I don't think the compression circuits are blown, but it's slightly hard to be sure when the air pressure isn't staying consistent and I'm running 60-80% sag.

So, do I just send it in for service or do I contact Competitive Cyclist (where I bought the Ripmo during their "Oops accidental markdowns" sale) and see if they'll potentially warranty it? I'd of course love to get the new, supposedly fixed up internals.

[toast2266]

The X2 that came on the Ripmo I bought last Fall is no longer holding pressure. I'm not exactly sure how many hours I have on it, but I was gone all summer and most of my rides are sub-1 hour morning spins before waking my son up for school, so I can't imagine it's that close to the 125 hour service interval. I'm in the desert, so it's possible though that the air can seal dried out enough to let it leak even though it's fairly new. But it is the X2, so I'm not sure. I don't think the compression circuits are blown, but it's slightly hard to be sure when the air pressure isn't staying consistent and I'm running 60-80% sag.

So, do I just send it in for service or do I contact Competitive Cyclist (where I bought the Ripmo during their "Oops accidental markdowns" sale) and see if they'll potentially warranty it? I'd of course love to get the new, supposedly fixed up internals.

I'd try for the warranty. I've had a couple of premature air seal failures in the x2. Word I've heard is that fox is being pretty generous with warranties on those things.

[MarcusBrody]

I'd try for the warranty. I've had a couple of premature air seal failures in the x2. Word I've heard is that fox is being pretty generous with warranties on those things.

That's what I've been reading as well. It's looking hot for the immediate future and our local bike park got washed out by hurricane rains for the year, so I can afford to be a bit patient I guess.

[Dumbest Known Time]

I want to get a spare AXS battery to throw in the repair kit for big days. Does anyone feel the need to talk me out of an Amazon knockoff?

[toast2266]

I have never not regretted buying a generic battery off Amazon. They all suck and their capacity goes to shit after a few charges.

[BFD]

since we are talking Amazon. What is the best under $40 bike shorts?

[XXX-er]

what do you consider a bike short and at 40$ who cares ?

[Shredhead]

I'd try for the warranty. I've had a couple of premature air seal failures in the x2. Word I've heard is that fox is being pretty generous with warranties on those things.

They replaced mine, no questions asked.

[carlh]

The pnw ones are supposed to be good and they are a great supportive brand but I haven’t tried them yet. Everyone is having a clearance sale right now so lots of bike brand options at that price point.

[MegaStoke]

Does anyone make unpadded cycling bibs or liner shorts? I don’t really like or need the chamois pad, but some skin tight lycra with leg grippers would be clutch.

[singlesline]

Is there an actual difference in the X2s, or are they just hoping that the new ones have better manufacturing tolerances post-COVID.

I suppose what I’m really asking is: do I want my similar age X2 to fail NOW so I can be sure fox will give me one that lasts?

[MegaStoke]

Is there an actual difference in the X2s, or are they just hoping that the new ones have better manufacturing tolerances post-COVID.

I suppose what I’m really asking is: do I want my similar age X2 to fail NOW so I can be sure fox will give me one that lasts?

My understanding is the 2024 X2s are subtly different internally, and whatever they changed has legitimately fixed the reliability issues that plagued the previous versions. I know a handful of people who have been wailing on ‘24 x2s all summer without issue.

[toast2266]

Is there an actual difference in the X2s, or are they just hoping that the new ones have better manufacturing tolerances post-COVID.

I suppose what I’m really asking is: do I want my similar age X2 to fail NOW so I can be sure fox will give me one that lasts?

My current gen, but older model x2 hasn't had the air-in-oil failure that's really common. Per Gunder, there was a covid era tweak to the design that led to the failure. The older versions of the current generation were more reliable. Seems fairly plausible that the 2024 tweak could resolve the issue.