Mountain Biking - Lightest fluid for Avid Codes on XC bike?

Hi guys,

I've been plaguing y'all with questions lately...

So I've put these Avid Codes on my 2004 Jamis Komodo which "everyone knows" that in 2004 the Komodo was a Portly'ish trail bike, not the Hefty freeride hardtail like contemporary design.

Anyways...since installing my new XC Avid Codes, my bike has gone from 26lbs 6oz to 26lbs 10oz and I attribute it all to the larger amount of fluid in the master cyl and calipers. Is there a lighter oil that I can use or maybe even 5wt motor oil mixed with water?

Gastro has already tuned me into the Organic pads with Ti backing plates.


What can I do to make racing weight but still have enough stopping power to lock up my rear wheel to slide around on the trail?

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC01807.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC01806.jpg

Brake pads with ti backing plates....

You are dead to me. Go ride your bike you friggin' weight weenie. 26 pounds is light to me and you're losing sleep over 4oz.

The way I see it, You have to lighten up the rubber, you live in Kansas. So nice 1.8 or 1.9 set of skins might be the do-it-all tread to meet you "weight weenie" requirements. What about the KOT's:thumb:


PS. Awesome ride!

Huh, XC Avid Codes. That a new model?

Huh, XC Avid Codes. That a new model?
Yeah, instead of the CODE, they're called the code


The way I see it, You have to lighten up the rubber, you live in Kansas. So nice 1.8 or 1.9 set of skins might be the do-it-all tread to meet you "weight weenie" requirements. What about the KOT's:thumb:
Does anyone make a good 1.6 or 1.7" aggressive "All Mountain" tire? I don't know if the KOT's will be aggressive enough for the gnarliness we have here.

Does anyone make a good 1.6 or 1.7" aggressive "All Mountain" tire? I don't know if the KOT's will be aggressive enough for the gnarliness we have here.

Doubtfully. 1.6 is about 40mm, CX width. It will be anything but aggressive. Light, yes. Sticky, I don't think so.

I suggest you take a ***** before riding. I know I can easily unload 4 oz. or even more.

I suggest you take a ***** before riding. I know I can easily unload 4 oz. or even more.

That's nice.

That's nice.

I try not to beat around the bush.

Maybe I can go with a super light radial lacing on my Hope Pro II / EX5.1d's. That's sure to take an oz or 2 off...maybe?

How 'bout 4ti's...will they take my occasional 5ft to flat?

This thread is a joke, right?

Are you running XTR or XO? How about carbon bars?

How about a lighter fork? Is that an old vanilla? I mean, c'mon now. Fluid? Fluid?

I think I just peed a little.

I say drain all the fluid and do a hydraulic-pneumatic conversion.

...I mean, it works for trucks....

^^ now were getting somewhere!

I say drain all the fluid and do a hydraulic-pneumatic conversion.

...I mean, it works for trucks....

I never thought about that. I do have an old air sprung fork that I could rob some air seals from.:thumb:

Are you running XTR or XO?
I'm running an XT Shadow with an LX shifter.



How about carbon bars?
I'm afraid of carbon...everyone says that if you put Lock-on's on it or if you brush by a tree branch...the carbon will unravel like a sweater.



Is that an old vanilla?
Old is subjective. It's not as old as 66. I prefer "experienced". Old is different. Old forks only work when they have to...mine is in its middle-aged prime.



I think I just peed a little.
:D

^^^

"middle-aged prime."

I like that, Ed.

Locking up the back wheel to slide around is going to tear up the trails, but you could probably get lighter with some smaller tires. Some 2.1's should be a happy compromise. If you still want to get lighter, you could take some stickers off, ride without underwear, or wipe any dust off the frame.

Why don't you just shorten your cables?
And my god you got issues.
Worrying about 4oz on a 26lb HT.
Switch out to some XC brakes if the weight is huge. You can lock up your rear with rim brakes if you want.

At least you're getting full travel.

Locking up the back wheel to slide around is going to tear up the trails
But on the Mountain Dew commercials, they make it look cool. It's just dirt, right?


you could probably get lighter with some smaller tires
We've already discussed that...possibly a Cross tire will be what I need.


you could take some stickers off,
I tried...then I weighed them and they were only 8grams with the clear coat still stuck on there. I had to call Jamis to send me some new ones b/c it looked stupid.


ride without underwear, or wipe any dust off the frame.
Come on, man! Let's not let this thread get ridiculous.


or wipe any dust off the frame.
There's not a whole lot of dust in the frame, but I was considering removing the water bottle screws to save weight. Do you think it will let dust get inside the frame?:mad:

Why don't you just shorten your cables?
I did already. Should they be shorter? How will I learn bar-spins with super short cables?



Switch out to some XC brakes if the weight is huge. You can lock up your rear with rim brakes if you want.
Because I need the toughest, most advanced brake set available.

Because I need the toughest, most advanced brake set available.

Sounds like you should look into the Hayes So1e, or the Tektro Auriga Comp.

Get out the dremel, Ed. You can grind out every other 'spoke' on your disc rotors; that should get it back to fighting weight.

Oh, and photo 2 is wayyyyy oversaturated. Desaturate pics of your bike and it will at least appear lighter ;).

Get out the dremel, Ed. You can grind out every other 'spoke' on your disc rotors; that should get it back to fighting weight.

Oh, and photo 2 is wayyyyy oversaturated. Desaturate pics of your bike and it will at least appear lighter ;).

Haha...I'm surprised nobody has mentioned those yet. I took them at night with a 30sec shutter time. It was dark enough that I could barely see. The first pic, I shined a flashlight on the levers and rear rotor. Kewl effect, eh?

Sounds like you should look into the Hayes So1e, or the Tektro Auriga Comp.

Yeah, those Tektro's look pretty slick...if they're lighter, maybe I could sell the Code for enough coin to get those. I'll have to check ebay prices though. None of the other XC'ers I ride with are interested in Codes.

http://aebike.com/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/BR7370.jpg

Remove your seat and post.

Remove your seat and post.

My post is fairly light (Thomson) but I guess I could take my seat off when I ride a trail that I have to stand on most of the time anyways.

Good call, rankin.

]
There's not a whole lot of dust in the frame, but I was considering removing the water bottle screws to save weight. Do you think it will let dust get inside the frame?:mad:

I'd just leave the bolts on, seal the frame tightly, and have it filled with helium.

I'd just leave the bolts on, seal the frame tightly, and have it filled with helium.

That'd be a lot of work. Lots of drain holes:thumb:

Hell, if you're really looking to shave weight, fill it with hydrogen. Screw the Hindenburg.

:deadhorse:

I hear Budweiser is coming out with a new lightweight fluid, approximately 70 calories in a 12 oz bottle.

Fusel oil - - an ultra-low-molecular-weight oil. Comes with an added bonus dual-use :D.

How about fizzy lifting drink?

OMG...I pee'd.

Have I caught my limit? I think I need to throw a few back, haha.

It’s probably not the lightest; but for sheer ease of use, I’d go with castor oil - - your brakes will bleed themselves!

Just take Junkyards advice and take a dump before you ride. Hell, just take off your front wheel, you don't need it anyways. That removes wheel, tire and front brake weight! And just to make sure, weigh both brake sets and see which ones lighter, then put the lighter one on the back.

poop.

poop.

green?

Have I caught my limit? I think I need to throw a few back, haha.

They keep getting bigger. I'll have fillets for a year.

green?

Depends on your diet.

Depends on your diet.

One time, my baby cousin ate red jello and...yeah.

lay off that bag of doritos and let the brakes sit.

if you're really that competitive, why aren't you going V-brake? ... or smaller rotors? maybe mech discs?

heck, instead of sticking it here on the forums, go get on your trainer.

in addition to the "take a dump" idea, don't forget to get your hair cut...

Oh this is getting way too serious.

Grape cool-aid makes green poo. Just sayin'.

Full body shave,ride commando, and medication for your OCD

Full body shave,ride commando, and medication for your OCD

(Linda's suggestions Ed, BTW)

Just take Junkyards advice and take a dump before you ride. Hell, just take off your front wheel, you don't need it anyways. That removes wheel, tire and front brake weight! And just to make sure, weigh both brake sets and see which ones lighter, then put the lighter one on the back.

You also remove the need for that fork, plus you can probably get by with cutting the bars to 8 inches on each side. I think it would be race-weight race-ready for the TdF!

One word: drillium.

Or you could transfer parts over to that first Komodo frame. A Fox fork unicycle would be ultralight, like 10 pounds.

Lucky you went with hydros, cable discs have a lot less power and you can't skid on trails if you don't have the braking power of hydros. Though I do wonder whether you're experienced enough to use hydros.

What galsses do you ride with? I heard Ryders Glasses are ultralight.