Sweep the leg.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0045.jpg

Just got out to test the finished build, & everything was perfect! Geometry is amazing, saddle is comfy (though some find it a but ugly ;)), suspension set-up is perfect for the local trails (if not just a bit more travel than I need), everything was just spot on. I tipped over and bashed my knee something good on a technical rocky climb when I was having troubles unclipping though. My skills are rusty at best & I'm having trouble readjusting to a lightweight bicycle after daily driving my SV650 for over a year now, but I had a great time & that's all that matters.

Did the local loop this morning before work. About 5mi with a nice 900ft climb coming out. Absolutely loving the new tires and tubeless setup. On a completely unrelated note i also got a new pup yesterday. Little female blue nose pit. She is awesome!

Weekend at the In-Laws
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...d/IMAG0002.jpg

Predawn breakfast at the coffee shop: $7.63.
Fill-up and a Clif Bar at the mini-mart: $48.27.
Day-use fee at the trailhead: $10.

Epic day riding with your "imaginary friend" . . . and getting the photographic proof of it . . . priceless.

Went to go ride my bike alongside some friends on their skateboards at a local park today. We found about a 2.5' ledge to huck off of and I was enjoying myself thoroughly until my brake lever went totally limp, followed by a clicking sound coming from the caliper. Upon further inspection, I saw that a pad had fallen out completely. So we searched and found it shortly after. But when I tried to reinstall it, I realized that the butterfly spring had been bent and sheered off in one spot, making it useless. I'm on my phone so I might not be able to post a pic until later, but I would really appreciate some feedback if anyone knows if this is a normal problem or if I should be worried. I replaced the pads and spring on my way to work and all seems to be well, but I'm only so lucky this happened at a park and not out on a trail.

Here we go: http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...34018983_n.jpg

1. There's a retainer clip that snaps on those little fingers.
2. When you put the pads in...there's a recessed place on the back plate that the pistons fit in...making it even more difficult for the pads to come out.
3. I'd say it was an initial installation issue and shouldn't happen again once the new set is on there properly. Not that it won't...but shouldn't.
4. If it happens again...snag some Elixirs. That can't happen with Elixirs b/c the pads are retained with a screw which is retained by a clip. (which right there should tell you that it's happened before on Juicy's enough times that they redesigned the retention system)


I'm still wondering how there was enough space there for the pads to come out...I'll bet that when you installed your wheel the last time, you bumped the pad with the rotor causing it to unseat a bit.




edit: There's nothing wrong with those pads in the pic. You can bend the spring back into shape and re-use that stuff. You didn't need to go out and buy new pads.

Everything you described is still there, so you're probably right that it was an initial installation issue. I accidentally pulled the lever with the wheel off a few days ago and had to reset the pistons, so I bet that's when it happened. But I'll keep an eye out and if it happens again, that just means it's time for some Elixirs. Thanks for the help bud.

...that or Strokers. Mine have become a little stronger since the first report. They are the Stroker "Ryde" version, so low on the food chain. D swears by Hayes Primes. Stroker Ryde vs Elixir R's...I can say the Elixir's 7/6 are more powerful than Ryde 8/7 setup. The Ryde's have a firmer "freshly bled" feel. The Elixirs are a tad "squishier" at the lever. Not bad at all.

My take on all this is that it's probably a lever ratio difference. Elixir's have more leverage giving it more power, less modulation, and more lever movement after the pads contact. The opposite for the Rydes...less leverage, less power, more modulation, firmer feel.


The Ryde's feel impressive when the bike is just sitting there and you squeeze a lever...the Elixirs have that "awesome power" slowing the bike down. The lever ergonomics favor the Avid's. (for me)

I always prefer gradual power over instant firmness, so definitely the Elixirs for me. The only advantage I see to firm brakes is less hand fatigue, but I've been DDing motorcycles for about a year now so I have a lot of strength & endurance built up in my hands. And I like being able to easily moderate how much I slow down. It makes me more confident on descents.

Squeeeeeeeezed in a ride today.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0138.jpg

little edit from yesterdays ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V19Mj2f7KHY

I had it happen out on the trail & it sucked. No matter what, I couldn't get the pads to stay in & had to eventually pull the rear pads for the final few miles or it would try to lock up the rear.
The cause was the big metal silver clip on the caliper itself, the piece that holds the pads - it just needed a bit of squeezing action to better hold in the pads (they should make a nice 'clunk' sound when you seat them into place) I guess it flexed over time during several pad changes, so it was barely holding them. When we hit a fast rocky section, it was enough to knock it outta whack.
Worked great after I re-set the spring, until I followed #4 of ed's advice. My Elixir CRs make me smile. :thumb:


Rain the past few days = magical dirt on Mt Evergreen.

Ran into some more good pixie-dust coming off Lair o' Bear.
Running hot & pulled a nice 2-wheel drift that coulda cost me a limb or 2 that I can't afford to break, but the moistiness of the dirt set me back on track. (A bit drier & I would have ended up plenty off-trail.) :)

The moistiness didn't help climbing Mt Falcon, but I don't think anything will help me there until I get about 50# of liposuction work done.

I <3 Ninham.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0074.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0069.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0098.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0015.jpg
If it steers funny, it ain't my fault.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0020.jpg
Asking much of an old SID.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0043.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0011.jpg
Gratuitious man ass. Wife requested that I wear the tighties this day, so I obliged.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0247.jpg

Playing around in town today...
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...oed/wall-e.gif

26mi of gravel this a.m....it was just as exciting as it sounds.:rolleyes:

I did get to jump in/out of the in-laws ditch for a while. Biffed a take-off & did a front flip. (well...1/2 of one anyhoo)

A quicky spin yesterday, to de-stress a bit.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...IMG_0012-2.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_0025.jpg

Night ride @ Trumbull tonight!

I started my coworkers on a Thursday Night right. It's on a chat MUP. (they're all beginners...at least it's not paved:lol:) I took the Parker last night and did 15mi of MUPping...LOL...that thing is not a stellar pedaler:lol: I spent 1/2 the time jumping through the ditches and humps off the trail. I'm considering a longer crankset and a 400mm x 5" GD.

^^ My AS-X was not a MUP-star. It seemed to do a lot of reverse accelerating on the flat stretches.

Went for a little ride today to scope out the new structures at SMP in OP, KS.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...IMAG0204-1.jpg
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http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...IMAG0200-1.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...d/IMAG0207.jpg


Dropped of the shorter one several times, rolled the bigger one. Gonna have to drop the big one another day...snapped my zip tie on my front hydro tubing...it was rubbing my tire on compression. Oh well. Had a good time on the Parker. (apparently the tree is 'unregistered':lol:)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ed/MyMovie.gif

The jealousy never ends...

Weather finally let me take my maiden ride today on the Hardrock (it was rainy and cold every day since I bought it). It's sunny and about 60 degrees today. 'Twas awesome. There's some surprisingly good trails criss-crossing the creek that goes through a local park nearby. It's heavily wooded with lots of roots and drops since it goes parallel with the creek bed. Bike felt awesome - definitely feeling good about getting the Hardrock Sport. Great workout. I still can't believe how much more worked you feel doing this than road biking. I mean, I CAN believe it, since you're doing so, so much more, but the difference is still amazing to actually feel. Now I need to start the search for real trails.

I didn't get to ride today, but apparently someone did:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=221139

You mountain folk probably think I'm loony for taking a picture of a truck just because it has mountain bikes in it, but this is literally the first time I've seen a dual crown DH bike in person! I followed him 5 miles out of my way hoping to get a better look, & I finally caught him at a stop light with a turn lane heading back in my direction. Upon closer look, it was a Specialized Demo x & a DJ I couldn't immediately identify. What I want to know is where the hell they were riding those things? They were coming from the direction of my local trails, but there's nothing out there worthy of 6" of travel. I wish there was, but I've looked, & there isn't. Maybe they're members here & will see this & let me know what they were doing..

I rode with a guy in Topeka that used to take his Giant DH bike with an 888 downtown to jump off stairs.


Watch the movie "Jib". (not jib-2)