RIC0

I just ordered a set of Next low rise carbon bars for my Trek and was wondering who uses them and if they've had any problems???

I"ve always looked at easton bars but I've become kinda partial to Race Face products after I bought my atlas crankset and the deal I got was pretty good so I said what the hell and ordered them...

GreenLightGo

Nice 4300 you have, I have a 3700 myself.

I use a Race Face Evolve XC riser bar - it's been a nice, stiff bar. My only complaint is the paint scratches easily but I've got numerous dings forming on the Trek anyway from the trails here in Kansas.

I'd like to hear more on how you mounted rear discs and some info on the Race Face crank and bottom bracket (i.e. like the advantages, sizing, etc).

erhan

Next bars are really high quality. I have the flat one, and I have been using it for over a year. I am very happy with it.

RIC0

My 4300 came with disk brakes so there wasn't any mounting for me to do. I did replace the front with an Avid bb7 and plan on replacing the rear over the winter.

Reason for going with Race Face is pricepoint had the evolve XC crank for $130 which seemed like a great price, after reading reviews on it on MTBR.com I changed my mind and figured why not go the next step up and get the Atlas, which got awesome reviews.

I read your sig and our bikes are called entry level but that's only because of the parts they come with can't withstand hard riding, well some parts. I ride with several guys on full suspension santa cruz, turner, giant, etc and they are amazed that I keep up with them in rough sections. The fact that we can upgrade our bikes to the parts WE want makes it that much better too, we have custom bikes in the end.

GreenLightGo

really - I thought discs started at the 4500 level. I'm looking at going to discs this off season as well - either the BB5s or BB7s, preferably the 7s. Only problem with doing brakes is I need to do shifters and drivetrain at the same time since I have combination Shimano stuff on there now. 7 speeds isn't cutting it anymore either

You're absolutely right on the customizing part. The reason I had that comment is about a year ago when I joined this forum, I was asking a few part questions and kept getting the "why are you spending money on an entry level bike" questions.

I'm working my way through replacing things as I find good deals, Pricepoint has some killer deals too. My fork was a steal on ebay.

BTW - when I bought my Panaracers this spring, I contemplated the gray sidewall but went with black b/c I wasn't sure how it would look -but your rig looks great so next set, I'm going gray!

RIC0

I have shimano shifter/brake combo levers and used them for my disk brake so you should be fine. They even say V-brakes on the shifters so you won't have to upgrade.

I raced my first race today against 60+ other riders on some of the baddest bikes on the market and got 1st in my class and 5th overall. It's 90% rider 10% bike. It feels good passing guys on $4,000 full suspension bikes on my "Entry Level" Trek.... The tires I used sucked because the trail was pretty slick and I also went over the bars about 3/4 into the first lap... Overall I had a blast in my first race and can't wait for the next one.

GreenLightGo

good race! I can't zoom in too much on the pic but it looks just like what I have, the EF 50 shifters. They work for now but will have to go when I upgrade the gears.

The Panaracer Fire XC Pro is a best of product on MTBR.com, they also make a mud specific tire - maybe for the rear.
https://mtbr.com/reviews/Tire/product_23300.shtml
https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tire/product_23299.shtml

RIC0

I"ve got 2 other sets of tires but I rode the track on Friday and they worked great. But we had a heavy dew this morning and the track was really wet and slick unlike it was at 6 PM friday night. I'll also eventually upgrade shifters and brakes but I have more important things to upgrade first....

vw addict

why would you ask this question after buying them?

RIC0

mmmmmmmmmm Carbon....

RIC0

I forgot to add that the box felt empty when it showed up. The bars weigh nothing.

taylor p

i love carbon, i want to get a carbon seat post for my bike

LowCel 

Be careful with carbon posts on a mountain bike. I am a big carbon fan, huge weight weenie. I still won't risk a carbon post on my mountain bike. I've seen too many people break them in races. If you can get by with a 330 mm post go with a Thomson Masterpiece. Only 192 grams and very durable. If you need longer than a 330 check out Extralite, I just ordered one of their posts. You can get the 400 mm for about $180. It only weighs 178 grams, I can't wait to receive it!

RIC0

I"d like a carbon post too but have read WAAAAAAY too many times that they are not mountain bike friendly so I"ll be sticking with the bonrager I have on there right now.

Twins Fan

If you can't spring that much for a seatpost, FSA makes a good alternative with their fr-200 seatpost. It's slightly heavier than the Thomson's weighing in at 220 grams but it's also only $40. I just got one and I love it, feels very solid and the clamp is just like a Thomson.

ScareyH22A

I just ordered a new bike and it comes with Easton 50 seat post. The sales guy showed me a carbon post and a Thomson aluminum post. I could barely tell the difference between the carbon and Thomson post so I shelled out $30 extra to get the Thomson over the Easton. Great buy imho.

LowCel 

That post may claim 220 grams, however actual weight of it is 258 grams. FSA is known to seriously exagerate their weight claims. Still not extremely heavy, just not nearly as light as claimed.

Twins Fan

That kinda ticks me off, if it was only 5 or so grams heavier than claimed I could accept that, but 38 grams is a bit much. Makes me wonder how many other parts on my bike are heavier than claimed? I hope Race Face doesn't exagerate like that 'cause I just bought the deus xc flat bars mainly for the weight {135 grams-claimed}. Heh, bet my orbit xl2 headset ain't 116 grams like FSA says it is neither...Well, thanks for the heads up lowcel, appreciate it.

RIC0

You wieght weenies are funny as hell. Don't eat lunch and you just saved yourself X amount of grams and it will increase your ride by 2 blinks of an eye. Skip dinner and you'll be a fuggin rocket ship on the trail. Cut your hair and good lord hold on, you might blast off into space.

LowCel 

Thanks for the advice, I'll consider it. Oh wait, I already do most of that. I generally watch what I eat. I'm lucky to eat dinner since I am normally out training until late. Once I get home I generally have something light and a protein shake. I also keep my hair extremely short and <gasp> shave my legs. I should be blasting off any day now.

Just so you know being a weight weenie is a hobby within it's self. A lot of people just enjoy light bikes. There are actually web-sites dedicated to it.

If you don't care about having a light bike suit yourself. No need to be a smart arse about it though.

LowCel 

Just to give you an idea my FSA K-Force Mega EXO Carbon crankset is claimed at 750 grams. Actual weight is 859 grams. I was a little dissapointed with that one.

DrugCoder

What stems are you guys using with this bar? Any good lightweight recommendations for stems?

MattP.

Thomson.

RIC0

I"m using the bontrager that came on the bike. Wieght of it. Don't know, Dont care.

DrugCoder

Any specific Thomson?