Recent Activity
All
grizzatom Added a comment about product review Chainring Spider
8/14/2020 10:12am
There is absolutely no pedal kickback unless the hub is engage. Dan Roberts, Steve at Vorsprung, DT and many others have tried to pound this into peoples' heads. There are multiple things happening whether we are pedaling or freewheeling, but the definition of pedal kickback requires that the chain be mechanically locked front and rear and the chain be under tension. This is why we are able to plot graphs and derive a pedal kickback angle based on the geometric constraints of the linkage system (aka chain growth). This is useful when assessing how a bike will feel while climbing...
Votes:
This product review has 1 comment.
luisgutrod Liked a comment about video Pro Bike Check - Greg Callaghan's Devinci Spartan
8/13/2020 8:05am
For me coil shocks have better midstroke support, but he is the Pro, what do I know
This video has 9 comments.
fclinder Liked a comment about bike check 2020 Norco Optic
7/14/2020 8:58pm
None at all. Now have a 2021 FOX DPX2 on the Optic. Night and day over the stock RS.
This bike check has 7 comments.
grizzatom Added a comment about product review Adjustable Coil
7/2/2020 1:55pm
Preload adjustment is very different from what the Sprindex does. Preload has always been adjustable on any coil shock via the spring nut. Sprindex is an adjustable coil spring spacer. By surrounding and cradling several coils,it allows you to effectively change the length of the wound coil wire, which alters the leverage you have over the spring. As a simplified illustration, you can try bending a stick over your leg, then break it in half and try to bend one of the halves over your leg. It will be much more difficult to bend because you don't have as much...
Votes:
This product review has 1 comment.
kfccoleslaw Liked a bike check Rocky Mountain with ENVE and Custom Deeks
7/1/2020 9:33am
This bike check has 1 comment.
marekkita Liked a bike check Commencal Meta TR 29 SX 2020 Custom Build
6/10/2020 9:23am
This bike check has 2 comments.
You run a coil on your personal bike, which has a very similar leverage curve to the Occam. Does it seem difficult to get the spring rate/sag set correctly? Increasing volume in an air shock is exactly the same concept as choosing to run a coil spring, but you have higher adjustment resolution. Sag is most often set incorrectly and is really a secondary indicator of correct spring rate. Dynamic ride height/feel and pedaling characteristics are more important. Darren from Push Industries mentioned exactly that in your podcast last year. If the tester would have taken the time to try...
This product review has 2 comments.
grizzatom Added a comment about bike check Norco Fluid Grinch Edition
6/8/2020 3:11pm
I'm a bike whore riding a carbon Sight now, but I agree with you completely. Carbon is fun and great for lots of things, and I've had many carbon bikes. However, if I can find an affordable alloy frame that fits the bill and I can build it the way I want, I don't hesitate to do it. In the end, it just means I can save some of that extra cash for more bikes and fun trips for my kids. That's a win!
This bike check has 24 comments.
grizzatom Added a comment about bike check Norco Fluid Grinch Edition
6/8/2020 11:18am
Wow, sorry so late to respond as well. If it still helps, the Fluid 29 is amazing long-stroked. I bought a Mid/Mid tune Monarch Plus in 7.5" x 2.0" (190 x 51mm) length and it basically bolted on without a problem. I really don't think there is an appreciable difference between the Fluid with a good 140mm fork/long shock stroke, and an Optic. The seat tube angle and rear center are slightly different, but not by much. The Fluid is such a great, affordable bike that can absolutely shred!
Votes:
This bike check has 24 comments.
For a given pressure that is roughly correct, but the primary benefit of an air shock is spring rate tuneability via pressure changes. That is why I mentioned adding a few psi to my shocks when I remove volume spacers. I'm shifting the force curve upward along the force axis. These graphs can be misleading because you certainly don't have to run your shock at only one pressure. When you add volume spacers, you're ultimately changing the shape of the force curve to exhibit more radical force changes (ramp up) over a given distance. If you want more midstroke (middle...
This product review has 2 comments.
I hope he burped the air from the lowers as well. I live at altitude, like the reviewer, and I always find that 36's have excess air in the lowers from being assembled at a much lower elevation. Also, I find the larger volume spacer in the rear shock a bit strange for a large rider. Higher rider weight does not mean more volume spacers are required, especially on bikes with a decent amount of progression in the linkage like the Occam ( roughly 18%). I'm 25lb heavier than the reviewer and the same height. I always end up removing...
This product review has 2 comments.
ThomDawson Liked a reply to forum topic The Best Component Upgrade for a Mountain Bike?
3/30/2020 3:45pm
I’ve said this many times... The best thing I ever did was put DH casing tyres on my bike. I’ve tried some pretty whacky stuff, stupid head angles, fork offsets, stems, all manner of shocks and forks, bikes 2 sizes too big for me. The only thing that I stuck with is having a nice, damped tyre on the front. If I had to choose a second it would be steep seat angles and dipping the nose of the saddle. I pedal so much better when I’m further forward over the BB. I can get myself up the hill with...
This forum topic has 69 replies.
ThomDawson Liked a reply to forum topic The Best Component Upgrade for a Mountain Bike?
3/30/2020 11:34am
Volume reducers = mid stroke support reducers. If you want more support you’re best throwing them in the bin and using more spring pressure. I actually think that damping can be overlooked these days. I also think there’s a misconception that moar spacers is moar better. Set it hard as fuck and ride faster and faster until it feels good.
This forum topic has 69 replies.
I've rebuilt X2's, the "bottom-out" bumper is just a thick o ring, and you can definitely get all the stroke out of them. The architecture just allows for more clearance on this particular frame vs. the same stroke Super Deluxe.
This product review has 1 comment.
You're right, I mathed wrong on the overall progression of the Sight. Either way, 18-19% is more than enough progression built into the linkage for this travel range and intended use, we don't want to end up like YT here.
I just think the Norco takes a bit of time to really dial the shock setup, then it's golden. No bottoming out here.
This product review has 1 comment.
grizzatom Added a comment about bike check 2020 Norco Optic
3/16/2020 9:26am
You can always run a 190mm x 50mm shock for a bit more travel if you want. Bryn was doing it. Also, if you get the DPX2, just make sure you don't get the standard base tune offered by Fox. The digressive rebound won't jive well with the progressive suspension on the Optic. It will result in the bike always feeling over-damped during the rebound cycle, even if you open it all the way up. Love your bike by the way! Good call on those tires too!
Votes:
This bike check has 7 comments.
Just out of curiosity, what was the stroke of the shock on the Sight you guys tested? Norco sell two different lengths depending on the build. I don't have any bottoming issues at all on mine. I've spent multiple days at the park hucking to flat and I've never felt it bottom harshly. That's saying a lot for a 225lb, aggressive rider. Most of my bikes scream and squirm when I point them towards a jump. Also, the 23% overall progressivity on the Sight isn't much different from the Scout @ 25%. The higher leverage ratio just requires more PiSsIes...
This product review has 1 comment.
grizzatom Added a comment about feature Vital MTB Test Sessions: Five Slack, Short-Travel 29er Mountain Bikes Reviewed
2/24/2020 3:47pm
Great comparison. These bikes all look like a bundle of fun. One suggestion would be to show the antisquat curve through the gear range rather than through the travel range. We all pedal in the 15% to 45% sag range 99.9% of the time, which gives us a pretty consistent antisquat value. Seeing how the bikes behave when pedaling at full bottom out or completely unweighted is not very useful. It would be much more significant to see what the anti squat (and associated pedal kickback) does in each gear ratio from a full sprint gear all the way to...
Votes:
This feature has 61 comments.
grizzatom Added a comment about video Bootleg Canyon DH POV with Wentz and AHK
2/19/2020 8:33am
It looks to me like Austin is running DHF's, but Wentz is running Specialized Butcher DH's (as seen on IG). He also normally runs cushcore inserts so I imagine the same is the case here. Bootleg, like Vegas, is definitely a place for the meatiest rubber you can find.
This video has 7 comments.
Changing stroke length doesn't change leverage ratio. It lowers ride height at sag and increases the travel on the bottom-out side of the travel, but the average leverage ratio stays virtually the same. Changing rear center length does change the leverage ratio and wheel travel. Also, lower leverage ratios require MORE damping in the shock, as current dampers are speed-sensitive. That is suspensions with progressive leverage ratios are called "rising rate". They drive the shock (and the damper oil) at a faster rate as the leverage ratio drops during compression towards bottom-out. You are correct about lower leverage requiring less...
Votes:
This product review has 1 comment.