Bike Reviews

If your local trails are as rooty as the trails in my area, then you know the benefit of being able to sit in the saddle and hammer away without being bucked off the seat.  There are alot of places where a hardtail can be faster than a full suspension bike, but riding a hardtail over consistenly rough terrain can take it’s toll on you.  A suspension seatpost allows you to keep the best attributes of your hardtail and improve the performance over rough terrain that’s too choppy to stay in the saddle and lasts too long to ride standing.

Cane Creek’s Thudbuster is a great option in a suspension post.  It’s parallelogram design gives up to 3 inches of travel to allow you to ride stronger for longer.  Telescoping posts can suffer from stiction and their action changes the seat height more dramatically.  The Thudbuster’s travel works in the natural path of the rear wheel, so it soaks up bumps fluidly and it’s travel has less impact on saddle height.   The posts add some weight to your ride, but the weight increase is less than what would be added by moving to a full blown FS design.  The LT model weighs in at around 460g depending on the size and length, and can be had for around $150.  I have used several models over the years and they have held up well to quite a bit of abuse.  Cane Creek has refined the post construction and pivot design over the years so the quality seems to keep getting better.

Thudbusters are available in 2 travel ranges, the 3″ LT model tested here and a 1.3″ travel option labeled the ST.  There are several seatpost diameters and post lengths available to choose from.  Give your lower back a break and pick up a Thudbuster.

For the past few years I’ve been dealing with some hand soreness on longer rides.  I’ve tried larger grips and even rode with a wrap of road tape over my standard grips.  The tape wrap worked to provide more comfort, but the wrap just wouldn’t hold up to offroad riding.  My hands are pretty big and conventional grips just weren’t getting it done for me. 

Since then I’ve been using the Ergon GP1 grips.  The large grips are designed with an ergonomically thickened profile that is intended to distribute pressure evenly over a larger surface of the hand.  The grips take a bit of getting used to, but once you get their angle adjusted to your liking and spend some time with them, they do just as advertised.  I’ve seen some folks comment on feeling less in control of the bike, but I think that’s just part of getting used to them.  I feel as in control as ever and don’t have the same soreness problems that I once struggled with.  The grips are a bit pricey coming in at around $25.  There are options that include nicely designed, though small, built in bar ends, and a couple of the grips come in 2 sizes.

Specialized has their own ergonomic grip options on the market that include a grip that is similar to the Ergon along with a couple of smaller models.  The grip I picked up is a new one from their line called the Comfort II grip and it sells for around $20.  It is like a smaller version of the Ergon model that provides a platform designed to relieve pressure, but the grip section that is located at the heal of your hand is a little smaller.  This grip is a great option for folks who are looking for increased comfort but don’t want to take the plunge to the larger Ergon style grips.

Both grips include lock-on style clamps that lock the grips to the bars.  If you’re looking for a little more comfort you can’t go wrong with either of these options.

Mavic has been making quality rims and wheels for years.  Their mountain bike wheels have had a good reputation for durability and for remaining true under fire, but their freehubs have been the target of some criticism for requiring extra maintenance.  Mavic has made a move to correct any of the previous issues by redesigning the freehub to increase durability.  One thing that has always been a trait of Mavic wheels is their silky smooth bearings.  Just a quick turn of the axle will show you how smooth a set of bearings can be.

While a 29 in wheel is known for rolling more smoothly over rough terrain, the wheels are inherently heavier so picking up a light wheelset really helps with accelerating and climbing.  I was in the market for a reasonably light set of wheels that would still take a beating.   After researching options pretty thoroughly I decided to pick up a set of the $775 Mavic Crossmax 29ers.  To better handle the increased lateral torque inherent with a 29er wheel (increased distance from hub to rim), Mavic chose to base this set on their 26” SX model, a wheel design for ‘all mountain’ riding, that has proved to be a very durable part of their line.  Another nice feature is that they are true UST rims, meaning they don’t require rim strips or tape.  That all sounded good to me.   

Right out of the box I was impressed with the way the wheels looked.  Hubs, spokes and rims are all black and the decals add some flair without being too flashy.  24 staight pull, oversized, alloy spokes are anchored to the well detailed machined hubset.  The wheels weigh in at just under 1800 grams a set which is pretty respectable.  You can certainly build or buy lighter wheels for your 29er, but going much lighter would start to raise some durability questions for my riding style. 

The wheels have spoke holes in the outer surface of the rim, but the inner surface is solid and the welded connection holds air without sealant.  Even with the UST rating on the rims, there aren’t any true UST tires out for 29ers so you’ll still need to run a sealant to keep the tire casings from leaking air.  I’m currently running the wheels with tubes - I plan to set them up tubeless using Stan’s sealant, but have just been lazy.  Mounting tires up was straight forward.  Tires fit a bit tight which should be good for going tubeless.  Included with the wheels package was a pair of valve stems for going tube free.

These wheels have been ridden pretty hard.  I haven’t babied them at all and they remain true and round.  I did touch the wheels up a bit after the first couple of rides, but haven’t had to touch them again since then.  The bearing adjustment tool that is included with the wheels works well and the bearings continue to roll smoothly and have maintained adjustment without trouble.  Acceleration is much improved over the stock wheels and they were responsive when climbing.  These wheels are stiff, with very little lateral flex.  Even on short steep climbs out of the saddle, they stay firm and transfer power very efficiently. 

All in all the wheels have been good to me.  They aren’t cheap, but seem like they will hold up well.  I’m a little concerned with the availability of spokes on short notice, so I plan to pick up a few spares to keep on hand.  I was also concerned with the lower spoke count, but that hasn’t proved to be a valid concern - with the oversized alloy spokes they seem as solid as a standard 32 hole wheelset.  I would certainly recommend them to riders looking for reasonably light wheels that are able to take some abuse.  You may be able to buy lighter 29er wheels than the Mavics, but I doubt you’ll find many options that offer a better balance of weight and durability.

There’s nothing worse than an uncomfortable saddle.  Going out for longer rides on a saddle that doesn’t fit is no fun, but the thought of heading out for long day number two, or even long day number three on that same saddle is enough to bring tears to your eyes.   

After trying several saddles over the last few years and not finding the right one, I thought I’d give Specialized a shot and picked one up.  It turned out to be a wise choice for me as the shape and width of the saddle provided a comfortable ride for extended time on the bike.    

Specialized has upped the ante in their saddle line, having recently released a couple of new mountain and road models.  I decided to go with the 143mm wide Phenom Gel mountain bike model, which retails for $95 and weighs in at around 295 grams.  The feature that sets it apart from the rest is that it includes a thickened section of padding at the nose of the saddle.  The idea is that when you are climbing while seated you will typically lean forward and put more pressure on the nose.  The extra padding in this area is designed to provide a little extra cushion for pushing hard against the saddle on tough climbs and the flexible shell helps soak up the rough stuff.  They have also included some hardened plastic corner edges at the rear to help protect the saddle in a crash.  All are good ideas that seem to work. 

Seeing the word Gel in the name of any product always makes me think of those huge overstuffed gel padded saddle covers that you see on comfort bikes.  In this case, however, you’ll find a saddle that is light and lean, without any extra fluff.  The main body of the saddle is covered in a light padding that’s a mix of gel and foam.  There’s just enough gel in there to give a little extra cushion, but not enough that you can feel it squirming around underneath you. 

Specialized has done a lot of R&D in the design of their Body Geometry line of products.  On the saddle front they have consulted with medical professionals to develop saddles that relieve pressure on your sensitive parts, and ensure that blood is flowing to these vital areas. Specialized has also developed a measurement system that includes a memory foam pad that you sit on to determine the spacing of your ‘sit bones’.  Saddles are available in as many as 3 widths, depending on the saddle you choose.   Just choose a style and match up the size to your measurement. 

Saddle choice is a personal thing - we’re all different.  There’s no saddle on the market that will provide the perfect fit for everyone.  Specialized has produced a design that has some thoughtful features that can make your time in the saddle more enjoyable.  Check out there line – you should find a comfortable saddle to suit you needs.

SRAM X9 Medium Cage Rear Derailleur

Description from SRAM’s website:

• Stylish and Strong! A forged 6061 aluminum B-Knuckle improves stiffness while the X.9 styling exudes our commitment to quality. X.9 is now available in three cage sizes.
• World Cup Proven Composite Cage
• Outside Facing Limit Screws - Intuitive Adjustment
• Sealed Bearing Upper Pulley
• Di.R.T: Direct Route Technology™
• 1:1 Actuation Ratio™ Superior Shift Quality
• Weight: Short 212g / Medium 227g / Long 230g

While visiting a local bike shop I picked up a SRAM X9 medium rear derailleur. Back at the home shop, I got the stand out and pulled the old rear derailleur off my bike. Installed fresh cable housing and pulled fresh shifter cables. I then installed my new SRAM X9 rear derailleur. At this point I sighted down the top sprocket of the SRAM rear derailleur and lined it up with the smallest cog on my cassette. Pulled the shifter cable through the rear derailleur and bolted it down. I looked at my work and checked the cable housing again to insure it was all seated correctly.

So I began spinning the cranks and found no signs of skipping. Next I ran through the gears, up and down, through the big chain rind, middle chain ring, little chain ring and back up. No skipping, a little chatter, but nothing a dial of the barrel wouldn’t fix. I made one twist of the shifter barrel and the chatter vanished. I thought to myself, “that was easy” and took my bike for a spin in the neighborhood for a test. I was surprised to find that the X9 shifted clean, shifted perfectly right from the bike stand. I ran though all the gears while peddling and then hammered it up a hill while shifting to see how well it handled shifting under a load and every time it shifted and completed the shift with zero chatter or skips. I’ve built many bikes over the years and I pride myself in how tight I can get my shifting dialed in. But SRAM’s X9 rear derailleur makes it so easy to dail in, that there’s no magic to it.

My first trail ride with the SRAM X9 was uneventful… and this is a good thing. I didn’t have to bother with the shifter adjustment at all. It was still dialed in right from the bike stand and the shifting was very clean. I hit most of the gear range that day and everything performed perfectly. A couple of days later I took my bike out for another spin. Expecting to have to adjust the shifter barrel a bit to compensate for cable stretch I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was still dialed in and no adjustments where needed. Same goes for the third ride. On the forth outing, I did notice a little chatter coming from the rear derailleur. So I made a 1/4 turn of the shifter adjustment barrel while riding my bike to take up a bit of cable stretch and the chatter stopped instantly. The cable finally settled in after a few more rides and with a couple of additional adjustments to compensate the X9 was set.

As for X9’s performance, it was very apparent that this derailleur meant business. Every time I hit the shifter the X9 would engage instantly… no hesitations, it slammed right into place and the chain followed it’s command, with zero chatter during the shift and the action of the shift was clean and precise! I was also very pleased with the performance of the X9 while shifting under a load during climbs. It’s one thing to test it around the neighborhood, but it’s a completely different story when you’re out on the trail and this is the real test and the X9 performed like a champ! Shifting loaded or unloaded the X9 did it’s job and did it well.

I couldn’t have been more pleased with the performance of the x9. Durability translates to X9! Since I installed my X9 I have put it through the ringer, it’s be smacked by logs, stumps, dragged across the ground during wrecks and pelted by rocks, yet it is still in great condition and the mechanical components are still tight and responsive. I recently replaced the X9 shown above that I had installed on my geared full suspension, with an X9 long cage. I’ll be migrating my older X9 Medium Cage Rear Derailleur to a 1×9 I plan to build up in the very near future. I know I can count on my X9s for many years of use and they’ll take the beating I’ll throw at them!

Worth the price? Yea, it’s worth every penny I dropped on it, otherwise I wouldn’t have purchased another one. I’d highly recommend the X9 to a friend and if you’ve never tried one before… next time you’re in the market to purchase a new rear derailleur, you should definitely keep it in mind as a possible solution. I’m certain you won’t be disappointed.