Hey scrod, is the cretin frame drilled for a rear brake?

i saw that but wasnt sure how good it was with a feeler on only one side. would i be able to check the dish on a wheel accurately with that?

I have never built a wheel, but I would think you could turn the wheel around to measure the other side.

Ride Safe,

Joe

Yes, the Cretin has a rear brake mount on the seatstay bridge.

If I order the $4 roll of velox rim tape from Retrogression, will I have enough tape to do two standard 700c wheels? LBS says that they don't have any rim tape for individual sale, and probably won't any time soon.

In my experience a roll of rim tape is made for one rim so one would need 2 rolls for a wheelset. (Unless it's a big bulk roll but I don't think that's what you are talking about).

What kind of bike shop doesn't sell rim tape???

If you buy one roll, you'll only have exactly enough to tape one rim regardless of where you purchase it.

I wouldn't be surprised. Most LBSs have nothing in stock, over price what is in stock, and want nothing to do with you unless you want to buy last years product at the current prices.

One shop in my area didn't even have frame prep tools and would not let me demo saddles (that I wanted to buy from them)...

The shop said that when they carried rim tape, they never sold any. All the customers just wanted the shop to tape any new rims for them. So, now they have one massive shop roll of rim tape, and no small ones for sale to customers.

The way they phrased that, it made sense to me, idunno. Thanks for the prompt answer though!

Sounds like Kansas is way out in the boonies. I've never in my life been to a shop, and I've been to many, that didn't have a box right on the counter with single rolls of Velox or Jantex cloth rim tape for sale.

I just don't understand why they couldn't cut you the length you need and sell it to you.

Some shops don't like money?

I went in again, and a different guy sold me multiple rolls of rim tape from a big box they had.... I guess the first guy didn't know where they were but didn't want to admit it :( idk

Hey scrod I've heard you talk about leaders before, I was wondering what the difference between the 721/725/735 were. Outside of the aesthetics. Like the geometry of each and what that means in terms of riding and what to expect with each of those frames.

And if there are any other frames in that price range I should be looking at.

All three frames share the same geometry.

The 721 was their best frame in my opinion because aside from it being lighter and made from 7000-series aluminum (the 725 & 735 are made of 6000-series), it also doesn't have that stupid new seatpost clamp design that is prone to cracking like so:

http://i.imgur.com/77kab7tl.jpg

In true Leader "shooting-myself-in-the-foot" fashion, they stopped making the 721 last year.

If you're looking for something with aero-style tubing and more traditional geometry, don't rule out the Aventon Mataro because of some **** you've previously seen me say on the internet. Their frames have improved a great deal over the past couple of years and are very good for the price.

Dave you know very well this was isolated and unfortunately yours were shipped early because you are local, to you with some parts missing. Since then we have not had any issues. We did take care of the handful of customers who you sold a Leader to with the correct parts in the seat clamp and they are quite pleased. We have sold many of these frames with no issues at all. Lets not make this personal.

You're right, Sal. I shouldn't be honest with people about the FACT that every single 725 and 735 frame we sold ended up failing at the seatpost clamp. Instead, I should just powder their asses and tell them what they want to hear.

Unlike me, you're publicly lying to people (which doesn't seem like a very smart business move). As has been posted right here in this thread and in the Leader thread, a customer of yours from Boston was recently given a 721 to replace his cracked 725. I'm sure there have been many more instances.

The fact that the structural integrity of those frames relies on a 2mm nylon washer to keep them from self-destructing should definitely not be overlooked.

Now get the **** out of my thread.

Fact you stopped selling Leader 725 and 735 the moment you had the issues. Understandable. To this day you have not sold or wanted to sell the frames with the correct parts on the frame. So you have no experience commenting on the the current frames. We want to thank you for your continued support. You are an amazing bike shop and mechanic.

Okay you two please take it over to the feedback forum. Better yet, please put each other on ignore.

Thank you

Been a while since I've peeped here.

So now Leaders are terrible and Aventon's are cool?! Topsy-Turvy, yo!
Muy Game of Throny.

I've yet to see a broken Aventon frame and their owner doesn't openly bull**** people on the internet.

But dude, Leader has the MUNITIO collab.

+1 Scrod

The love affair is over, apparently. I remember so much hate on Leader on these forums, and eventually they "grew" in quality. I suppose Aventon has reached that level of quality now.

Wonder how long before Micargi or Pure Fix attain Critastic levels of Fixie Foo.

Lol that was awesome.

So I was going to PM this to you scrod, but apparently I don't have enough posts so I'll leave it here.

hey scrod i had a quick question and needed help from someones opinion on who i trusted with this, since I'm new and still learning


I'm riding a 58/59cm state bicycle (don't know which and can't find an email with the order information), and was looking to upgrade to a leader frame since I've been riding for around a year now and wanted something nicer now that i know i like riding bikes.


i found a nice leader frame on eBay, brand new 735 with fuji carbon fork for 350. He had it listed as a 56cm, which seemed like the perfect size. Because my current bike seems like a tad too big. I wanted something a little smaller, compact, and responsive (I'm 6'0). But I can't seem to find any information that says Leader produced a 56cm 735 frame. Just 55 and 58. So I think the add might be wrong, and I fear 55cm is too small.


So my questions are:


1) Did leader produce a 56cm 735 in 2014?


2) As someone who is 6'0 and coming from a 58/59cm frame, do you think 55cm is too small? I know a lot of it is personal preference - but have you seen 6'0 people ride a 55 and be content? How about 56?


3) If the leader frame isn't 56, and I have to look to another option, what would you suggest? In one of my posts you said the Aventon Mataro has gotten a lot better in the last few years. City grounds has a Mataro with light carbon fork complete bike for 499. I'm not opposed to the price, but I want to know quality wise what I can expect. It's around the same price as my state bicycle, so I'm worried it won't be a big upgrade. The whole reason I'm buying a new bike is because I want something nicer, and I'm worried the matter won't be enough of an upgrade. My other option would be a 725 complete for 699.


Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm still a newb to all of this, and trying to make sure my purchase is a wise one, with a good bike, that will last for a while. I do like the look of the frames with the larger aerotube (i think thats the word I'm looking for).


Thanks for your help.

What is a fixie foo and why would I want to kill them?

That notch should angle up and away from the weld. But you could probably get rid of the whole second clamping screw, unnecessary.