dminor 

Why yes . . . a Bicycle Butler.

ed 

Oh clever

Actually, I noticed the noise OTW to the skills loop prior to the "over the bars" experience, haha.

I'd done several taboo things prior to that day though...I'm sure

junkyard

I think you read that wrong. I said, "You have a butler?" Implying that he had only one. Remember, I'm from CT. I've had a personal servant since I was born. Now I have five that help keep my life in order.

ed 

Talked to Jensonusa today and he said he'd try to get the ball rolling with a warranty. I got him the pic's and info he needed. Fingers crossed for another quick warranty fix.

dminor 

There's really a guy AT Jenson USA NAMED Jensonusa? Wow!

junkyard

^^^
Well, that's just getting nit picky.

ed 

Well...USA was his middle name

dminor 

Of course it is - - there wouldn't be any sport to it otherwise

Now, I talked to Yeti the other day; and the Yeti told me . . . .

(Actually, it was Chris Conroy of Yeti. I told him he should sponsor Ed "just because;" but I don't think he's going to do it. I tried.)

ed 

Yeah...I'm not into racing anymore. If I had a DH course 'round here, I'd probably change my tune but XC is too much work

Lemme throw this out there to anyone listening:

I will gladly take your sponsorship if you don't make crappy weak crap. If you sponsor me with a big 'ol stout frame, please include a big 'ol stout frok and some DeeMax wheels b/c I obviously need the toughest most advanced checkbook available.

I have brakes though. Big freakin'g fat ones. I'm thinking about getting a Shore approved unicycle to put them on. 7" Codes would go very nicely!!

Okay, I'm done.

I will take donations too. Even from Richard Simmons.

Thanks

scrublover

Good luck on the warrantee for a beefier frame!

And get these. Seems simple, but they really can help stiffen things up in back compared to a standard QR lever. Barring going to a solid axle or some sort of thru-axle, it's a good way to go.

ed 

U forget something scrub?

mcoine

Its not a guy.. she's a woman.. her name is Jen Sonusa.

scrublover

Probably.

That's right, you've got the Hope Pro II hubs that can run the 10mm bolt thru... Right?

ed 

No, I meant there's no link, haha.

ed 

What do you think of this one? (18"---1.5 HT)

scrublover

if the sizing/pricing/geometry is there for you, go for it. looks like it's mant for a burly setup. your fork and so on may steepen it up more than it was meant for.

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...y+Skewers.aspx

https://www.ridesoul.com/icong1.html

maybe look at something like a voodoo shango, dmr trailstar, or azonic steelhead. sure, they're heavy, but they'll lasy ya, and they tend to be cheap. budget minded, steel.

https://www.bti-usa.com/public/catego...?page=6#NS1501

https://www.bti-usa.com/public/catego...?page=6#NS1561

Dannihilator

+10 on the DMR Trailstar, I'm beating the snot out of my dmr and it's definitely tougher than that joke of a Gary Fisher that I had.

scrublover

Yeah, they look like good little frames. Not sure what Ed's budget may or may not be, so was trying to list some of what seem to be the better budget frames out there.

Dannihilator

The next bike is likely to be a DMR Exalt here and mate it with a 36 Van.

scrublover

That should work well. Still digging my ti monster with the Lyric. FunFunFun!

ed 

I haven't seen any Azonic Steelhead or VooDoo Shango frames that have a 17'ish seat tube. The one pictured above is an 18".

I don't mind riding a bike smaller than my 19...actuallly, I think I will enjoy it. I still need something I can pedal though. As far as the fork...if I got something like that...I'd end up saving for something bigger like a 55, 36, or even a Domain.

ed 

I'm perusing the $450 HT market.
There's obviously the Vagrant, Woodman that I pictured, Surly Instigator, DMR Trailstar.I don't want anything that shares the label XC. Norco's Shore hardtails like the Manik. I'm still loving the Banshee Scirocco and yes...even have the Morphine in the back of my mind.

I went to the DMR site and they said the Trailstar only weighs like 3.1lbs. That just scares me. There's also no vertical support strut on that left seat/chain stay jcnt. That sorta bothers me too. (opinions?)

ed 

I like it, but I think 16" may be a tad too small for me. I'm not totally nixing the Trailstar though...I just like what Surly did with their rear Tri versus DMR after this brake issue I'm having.

scrublover

go by the toptube length and don't worry about seat tube, unless you have absurdly long legs. so long as you have a long enough post in the frame, you're good to go.

ed 

Well, my legs go all the way down to the floor.

There'in lies the problem. I've always closed my eyes to ETT for some reason, haha.

I'll have to google my last few bikes and see what the TT is so I can compare. Good point though Scrub...good point.