Mountain Biking - My new build...

Haven't been on in awhile, just thought I'd update everyone on what I'm up to (I know you all were wondering ;) )

2004 17" Kona Coiler 5" travel, w/ Push Industries/Fox Vanilla rear shock
Salsa Gordo rims laced 36h/3x to Deore hubs w/DT Competition 1.8/2.0 spokes
SRAM X.7 shifters + rear der.
Shimano LX front der.
Avid SL levers
Avid BB5 mech. discs
Rockshox Tora 318 Motion Control/U-turn 5" travel coil fork
FSA Pig headset (set up loose ball, of course)
Titec Ithys Amore saddle
Shimano LX crankset, set up 36/26 w/ e13 clear bashguard
Truvativ XR 90mm 31.8 stem
Truvativ Hussefelt 50mm 31.8 riser bar (may get swapped for something w/ less rise)
Crank Bros. Mallet C pedals

I'm still waiting on a few parts, but I'll post pics as soon as its done. I laced the rear wheel last night and realized that I'm going to be pushing a lot of weight around this summer. Oh well, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?

FSA Pig headset (set up loose ball, of course)


please explain yourself...i think i am about to learn something new!

Instead of using the ball bearings in the retainer that it comes with, I use individual bearings which are a) higher grade b) allows me to fit several more bearings and c) is about 400% smoother... those retainers have a way of eventually breaking apart and wreaking havoc upon your headset. Honestly, a $14 headset with loose ball bearings and good quality grease feels like a million bucks and is infinitely servicable. The 20-30 year old headset on my fixie is set up that way, and after rebuilding it loose ball style it feels amazing.

Instead of using the ball bearings in the retainer that it comes with, I use individual bearings which are a) higher grade b) allows me to fit several more bearings and c) is about 400% smoother... those retainers have a way of eventually breaking apart and wreaking havoc upon your headset. Honestly, a $14 headset with loose ball bearings and good quality grease feels like a million bucks and is infinitely servicable. The 20-30 year old headset on my fixie is set up that way, and after rebuilding it loose ball style it feels amazing.
interesting...but what about the nylon retainers? they shouldn't be too bad, right?

does the diameter have to be exact?? or just very close? did you ever try ceramic balls??

http://www.bocabearings.com/images/layout/ballsceramic001.jpg

where do you buy your balls from?? are boca bearings good? i think i will start doing this too. how do you know your balls are better than the retainer balls? where do you get yours??
thanks

makes complete sense...just never even dawned on me to do that. probably partly because i do not have balls at my disposal. but i could order them from boca.

do you know what size my FSA orbit extreme 1.5 would be off the top of your head? i am going to try and price them on boca....for ceramics:D also do you have an estimate of how many for 1.125 and 1.5 diameter HS's?

probably partly because i do not have balls at my disposal.


Theres a good Jr. High joke in there somewhere. Anyways, I have NO idea what size ball the headset would take. Most companies list on their website. I think the Orbits are all a sealed cartridge bearing, however, so you really couldn't go loose ball. the number it takes totally depends on the size of the bearing. For setting up a loose ball headset, I pack it until full and remove 1-2 bearings to allow a little space between each bearing. As far as the nylon retainers, my thought would be a) they still take up room that could be occupied by more bearings and b) it seems like they would wear down quickly. I've honestly never used the nylon ones though.

You should get a pic of that thing!