Bontragers Rants.
- Thread starter Rampage
- Start date
suburbanreuben
Old School Grand Master
Some good reading there!
I'd like to hear his opinion on 29er's.
Absolutely the last thing that could have been changed - wheel size. It affects pretty much every part on the bike, the manufacturers must have really been rubbing their hands together when they came up with this idea.
Absolutely the last thing that could have been changed - wheel size. It affects pretty much every part on the bike, the manufacturers must have really been rubbing their hands together when they came up with this idea.
bontyfiend
Retro Guru
- Feedback
- View
Good find!
I remember reading these a while back and enjoying them then. I'm glad they haven't been lost forever...
Particularly enjoy the one about V-brakes: "the latest craze..."
I remember reading these a while back and enjoying them then. I'm glad they haven't been lost forever...
Particularly enjoy the one about V-brakes: "the latest craze..."
AntonyPiper
Dirt Disciple
brilliant, bookmarked and link sent to mates. They will love these.
The Lghtweight bit is IMO more common sense than rant!
"But here's the good news. Let's say that you are lucky enough to only weigh 150 pounds, and that you are wealthy enough to own a 25 pound bike. You're doing okay really; .....
Now, let's say you went out and got some light weight parts, enough to shave off 795 grams. This saves you a whopping 1% of the combined mass of you and your bike......
Well, taking 795 grams off of a 25 pound bike is not easy or cheap. Think of 8 parts you can shave down 100 grams, starting with decent stuff in the first place. Now think of how much that sort of thing can cost! Maybe the extra training isn't such a bad idea. 795 grams is a little less than 2 pounds. Who doesn't have this much to spare somewhere other than their quads, heart, and lungs?"
Even at my very modest 120 lbs, it costs a lot to lessen any bike by an amount which makes a significant percentage difference to "our" combined weight. The only way to make the difference is to begin with a VERY light bike. I once built a TCR down to 16lbs dead - at a cost (nearly all second hand) of £1600. To drop that by say another 1 lb would have cost c. +25% (I did actually use a spreadsheet to balance "£" per "grms" cost/benefit of various parts choices).
And yes it was quick!
"But here's the good news. Let's say that you are lucky enough to only weigh 150 pounds, and that you are wealthy enough to own a 25 pound bike. You're doing okay really; .....
Now, let's say you went out and got some light weight parts, enough to shave off 795 grams. This saves you a whopping 1% of the combined mass of you and your bike......
Well, taking 795 grams off of a 25 pound bike is not easy or cheap. Think of 8 parts you can shave down 100 grams, starting with decent stuff in the first place. Now think of how much that sort of thing can cost! Maybe the extra training isn't such a bad idea. 795 grams is a little less than 2 pounds. Who doesn't have this much to spare somewhere other than their quads, heart, and lungs?"
Even at my very modest 120 lbs, it costs a lot to lessen any bike by an amount which makes a significant percentage difference to "our" combined weight. The only way to make the difference is to begin with a VERY light bike. I once built a TCR down to 16lbs dead - at a cost (nearly all second hand) of £1600. To drop that by say another 1 lb would have cost c. +25% (I did actually use a spreadsheet to balance "£" per "grms" cost/benefit of various parts choices).
And yes it was quick!
http://www.compint.com/stinkingweasels/ ... racing.htm
"Hiring a 3 time World Champion is risky stuff. He has clearly proven himself. He's fast. And now he's switching bikes. He may think a full suspension ride is the way to stay on top. I hope so."
Djernis, Proflex.
I was lapped by that Proflex many a time and it had no suspension.....
"Hiring a 3 time World Champion is risky stuff. He has clearly proven himself. He's fast. And now he's switching bikes. He may think a full suspension ride is the way to stay on top. I hope so."
Djernis, Proflex.
I was lapped by that Proflex many a time and it had no suspension.....
