Cannondale rush the seller offered to me almost 6 months after I first offered to buy, I bought it even though I had moved forward, planning to just flip it on the bay for a small profit, but after one ride it is a keeper

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...7/abb03bf1.jpg

This. The bolt-on bit has ISCG-old and ISCG-05. Nice option. Remove if not using, replace if it gets mangled. The interface is pretty stout, so I think the bolt-on bits would get destroyed way before you mess up the frame/bolt interface.

ended up junking the pantera.

instead i polished up this steaming pile of forgotten bike:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7...5fa15700_c.jpg
with these
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7...51887e82_c.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7...4e092b3a_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7...e25ca06b_c.jpg
going to ride a big long wet trail tomorrow

New whip...frickin love this thing!!
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=255130

^^^ Good looking bike,enjoy it. I like the color.

I'm sure it'll grow on me, but you can't tell from the pic that it's actually a glossy, metallic finish. From the Trek website, the black and orange would have been a matte finish.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=255669
09 Trek Fuel Ex 8: Thomson upgrades, SLX/Deore XT, Fox Shox
http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/09-trek-fuel-ex-8-2996

Somewhere in Palmer?

After a couple days out of town for non-riding tomfoolery, things are back to normal. All set with the fit/feel. It's fabulous.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_0200.jpg

Scrublover,

Just out of curiosity, what is the chainstay length on the chromag?

16.5"

My 2.1 ADvantage has a pretty decent amount of room. 2.2-2.3 (depending on brand/actual width) ought to fit fine, and still give me decent clearance for mud/wobbly rims. Though the size of this tire is pretty much my go-to XC tire size at this point.

http://www.chromagbikes.com/frames/kamui

I'm running my 150mm fork with a fair bit of sag, and a bit more (-) presure to suck it down a bit, but a little more compression damping than I used to run on the TransAM. Nice smooth feel on little stuff, still sucks up bigger stuff nicely, isn't divey or wallowy on the slow speed stuff, and gets my head angle peeeeeerrfect for what I like.

Seems like a great chainstay length for an all around hardtail.

Yep. It's my preference. I've played around on some shorter ones, and they are awesome on the slow speed and trialsy stuff, but when things get rougher and faster, for sure don't feel as stable. I prefer them with wheelbases in the 42-43" range as well. Keeps them snappy, but still long enough that they don't feel too sketchy or unstable at speed. Since I'm having to move the bike around a lot more on fast descendy bits anyhow, having the rear end shorter works well - really snappy to move it up/over/around.

I now try to get my rear suspension to be fairly close on those measurements as well, though they all end up a touch longer, just by their nature. I'd leave the Reign-X alone, but if the Trance-X could magically have things shortened by a 1/2" it'd be awesome.

The worst was my Pitch - very nice riding bike, but long stays, and looooong wheelbase for what it was. Excellent once going fast, but took a lot more thought on the tight and twisty trialsy stuff.

A custom frame front and rear, with Giant's Maestro setup would kick ass, but cost way more to have made than I want to pay for a frame. I have thought of a front only though - they'd be able to mess with the pivot and rocker placements enough combined with custom bends up front to in effect lop off a half inch of effective stay length, but keep the rest of the numbers I like... Still stupid amount of money for something I'd like but absolutely don't "need" at all.

I'm asking because I've been cleared to hit the trails finally, and am looking at something along those line.

Whelp, I've got a size small TransAM frame I'd let go pretty cheaply. :) Versatile, cheap, tough, heavy.

Yes sir! Templeton trail....was a damn good time!!

I would need a medium.

After seeing that incredible Chromag, today I decided to get rid of all the decals on my Crapper Bike and complete it's paint job. (ie. even more green)
The Very Important Question...Now I've been thinking this evening (and my brother agrees) that I should remove the rest of the decals from the fork. I removed two of them today, but maybe the rest should come off tomorrow.
Agreed? (don't worry commenting about the overspray on the headset...new one coming shortly ;) )

Before...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...8/DSC_0360.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...8/DSC_0358.jpg

After...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...8/DSC_1044.jpg

(in night commute mode)

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...8/DSC_1042.jpg

Rest should come off and left (nicely) nekkid - - or e-mail James Huang (Cycling News' tech editor) and see if he still has any 'Angry Asian' fork stickers left.

Ok, nudie style it will be. I may still email that dude...the Angry Asian sticker may be a goer.

My newly refinished Trek, I've decided to keep it mid school as it's still relatively light and handles like a champ. I've only owned the frame for two years but it's seen about five different configs. I think I finally found the parts I'm happy with.

http://i.imgur.com/tkegt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/LiA3L.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FUYco.jpg

^Very clean fizzaly.

And giant, I agree naked would look best.

96' Giant ATX 760 MTB Currently running Nashbar 1.5" streetwise tires.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...-00-52_596.jpg

Done, and happy...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...8/DSC_1046.jpg

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=256195
Kona Raijin, E.Thirteen SS crank and PF BB, White Ind. dingle cog (34/17 and 32/19 are my two gears) Surly hubs, Mavic 719 rims, X-Fusion Slide 29, Crank bros cockpit, Brooks Swift, WTB tires. Feels faster than my road bike.

Wow, now tha`s groovy.