Ask the experts

[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.

[grskier]

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.

Yeah, I'd check facebook MP or craigslist/pink bike, etc for your area for a bro upgrading to a wahoo or something and getting rid of a resistance trainer.

[El Chupacabra]

Anyone in Reno /Tahoe area want a free bike trainer? Simple rear wheel magnetic resistance thing.

[adrian.bee]

Is it a bad idea to shim a 31.6 seatpost into a 34.9? Want to use a 170mm I have in the parts bin.

[climberevan]

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.

FYI you can use any smart trainer with a free app that doesn't even require internet access. It just controls the resistance according to whatever program you've chosen or created. There are several of these. I ride the trainer several hours a week during the winter and don't pay for anything or do any "virtual" rides.

Don't spend money on a wheel-on trainer! Wheel off smart trainers are quieter and MUCH more appealing to use, so you'll ride more and benefit more. The exception is rollers, of course, but they should be a supplement to a trainer to work on pedaling smoothness and balance, IMO.

[Iowagriz]

^^^this.... wheel off trainer with programmable resistance of the game changer. Online gaming aspect is not required but adds an element for me to ride much more than I ever did in the winter.

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[toast2266]

Is it a bad idea to shim a 31.6 seatpost into a 34.9? Want to use a 170mm I have in the parts bin.

Usually fine. Sometimes you'll have issues with slipping, and sometimes you'll have issues with creaking. But often it's no problem at all. Not really gonna know until you try.

[Andeh]

Is it a bad idea to shim a 31.6 seatpost into a 34.9? Want to use a 170mm I have in the parts bin.

I'm running shims on both my bikes to go from 30.9 to 31.6 & 34.9. I had an issue with cheap silver Problem Solver shims slipping/creaking, but going to a black Cane Creek one works great.

[g_man80]

Is it a bad idea to shim a 31.6 seatpost into a 34.9? Want to use a 170mm I have in the parts bin.

What toast said. I’ve been doing it for 2 years. No problems. I use carbon fiber grip paste/lube to avoid slippage and creaks. Every few months I also pull out the seat post and shim to clean, lube, and ensure there’s no issues since water ingress is more likely. FWIW, I’m using the Cane Creek alloy shim.

[XXX-er]

So butchering a PBR can isn't going to cut it ?

I always wondered,

yes we should all have a tube of carbon grip paste

[toast2266]

No way a PBR can is gonna work. Rainier can... maybe.

[g_man80]

Sapporo if going 30.9 to 34.9.

[donutlynx]

I blew the damper on my Fox Float DPS Evol Performance after 2500 miles. Was so loud I thought I cracked the frame. I've done air sleeve services on it, but never rebuilt the damper. Not sure it is worth it (now that it is kaput).

Should I replace it with a new Fox Float X? 2020 Kona Hei Hei CR. I tend to rally the uphill and the downhill. Not much out there in a 190x45. Fork is at 140mm.

I'm thinking something with a external res. b/c the downhills here are loooong and more oil volume could help keep the oil temp lower.

Maybe RockShox instead?