Mountain Biking - Birthday Loot!

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View Full Version : Birthday Loot!

ed
06-15-07, 11:25 PM
Okay, so I got a Thomson layback for Xmas so I really wanted a Thomson stem to match. My birthday resulted with a stack of pricepoint gift cert's, so I finally decided on a 90mm x 0 deg. I also picked up a set of SRAM Flak Jacket's and a cable cutter. I was going to run the Flakjack's with full length housings, but there wasn't enough housing for that, so I decided to give it a shot with proper installation:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/BIKE/DSC09140.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/BIKE/DSC09142.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/BIKE/DSC09143.jpg


Here's the bike a long time ago with the old stem and old build:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Hone4.jpg

It's wierd...my old stem was an Easton EA50 110mm x 6 degree. You'd think the longer EA50 would be a better choice for my local singletrack what with all the climbing there is to do, but the shorter Thomson feels better in all aspects of the ride. Climbing feels more predictable for some reason, I don't feel cramped...actually quite the opposite. I feel as if I have plenty of room, yet the shorter stem has made descending and aggressive riding much more fun.

I never thought a stem could make so much difference in the ride, but in the famous words of Frank Barone..."Holy Crap!" (I mean I'm happy)

Dannihilator
06-15-07, 11:32 PM
A shorter stem will open up the cockpit, it also puts more weight over the rear wheel.
z415
06-16-07, 03:15 AM
Thomson makes good stuff and the Flak Jacket is very nice. I use the Jackets and they are wonderful, hard to install though.

ed
06-16-07, 01:10 PM
It's funny how many people say that about the Jackets, but I thought they were pretty straight-forward & easy to install.

Just read the directions once and mind your jacket length.

This was the first time I had a set of cable cutters to work with though...MAN, HOW DID I EVER INSTALL CABLES W/O THEM?!
z415
06-16-07, 06:51 PM
Cutting was easy, I just kept cracking the red non housing lining thing.

OP: if you are looking for full length of housing, try the Staright Jackets, they come with more housing I believe. I use it for my brakes (vees) and I have enough to do full length twice. You can probably do the whole thing once over and have enough to redo the front mech discs.
ed
06-16-07, 08:02 PM
You can probably do the whole thing once over and have enough to redo the front mech discs.
I have Juicy's.
z415
06-17-07, 01:05 AM
Whoops, my mistake. My roommate was breathing down my neck as we were supposed to go out to get something.