Hey Scrod,

Just got the KMC K710SL chain from you, and wanted to know if it's safe to just press a pin out to shorten the chain and then back in to install the chain instead of using the supplied missing link. I'm asking because I've never installed a chain with hollow pins before.

Thanks,
TT

I've managed to do it successfully a bunch of times but I've also done it unsuccessfully more than once. I usually recommend using the master link.

I've grown very tired of dealing with Leader's customer service, and being sent multiple damaged frames from them. As such, I've been looking into other companies.


I seem to recall your saying that Aventon has made great leaps in their quality, and their new Diamond frameset looks to be within my price range. There's nowhere in my area to look at the frames, so how are those Diamond framesets? What difference, if any does the tubing shape make? Fit and finish quality, etc?



Thanks.

I was just talking to someone about the two companies the other day and it basically goes like this - Aventon has made every advance over the past two years that Leader was expected to. Their product is great, their customer service is top notch and as I've mentioned elsewhere on this forum, it took me by surprise. They've made HUGE leaps in overall quality and are pretty much doing everything right.

The Diamond frame is a little wacky looking for my taste but it's nice. The tubing is supposedly pretty stiff (I haven't ridden one but that's the frame they chose to put their track team on) and the pint/finish has been nice on every one we've sold. The new Team Edition model is especially cool with a matte reddish orange color.

Throw that Leader in the trash!

I just sent your shop an email inquiring about my order and got a shipping confirmation email the very second I hit "Send." How did you do that?

Let me guess; "It's Science" :p

Thanks for the quick response, that's exactly what I needed to hear. Mid to late next week I'll be grabbing one from you!

Hi Scrod,

I'm looking to update my heavy cromo fork to a carbon one on my Raleigh Rush Hour.
The Rush Hour has a 40mm rake with 385 A-C length. (Results in 57mm trail)
Will there be a noticeable difference switching to a fork with 372.5 A-C length and 43mm rake?

Probably not.

To scrod and everyone,

I'm aware that the miche advanced used to be iso and are now jis. How can i tell which one mine are? The only thing on the back of the cranks are: "165 1109". I shot miche an email on their site but haven't heard back yet.



For what itsit's worth, i was about planning on going with a qb-55 bb if it was jis, and most likely not the miche iso bb if it is iso due to various feedback over the years...

The JIS version says 'JIS' near the crank arm bolt (on the front of the arm).

Thanks a lot looks like I got an iso one. Any bb you can suggest? I recall you not liking the miche one.

Also would one with steel cups be ideal with a steel frame? Could an alloy cup really sieze in a steel frame?

The Miche BB isn't necessarily bad once you learn how to finesse it. I've found that putting blue Loctite on the cup threads makes a big difference when it comes to keeping the cups in place.

The only bottom brackets I've ever seen that were seized into the shell were on crappy roached out bikes and one very old Cannonade MTB. It was so stuck, my old boss and I actually cracked the frame trying to get the BB out. Oops!

I'm still debating a new wheelset or a new frame. The mid 2000s Pistas aren't the greatest of bike but a part of me wants to run this frame into the ground before I upgrade.

Like a set of Mavic Elipse versus a used Samson that I can swap everything over to.

Whats the name of the chili mango you guys send? I got some at a local mexican store but its lacking on the chili department and its hard not soft

Does Retrogression actually have Mavic Ellipse wheelsets in stock? I have placed orders with other vendors and they have all been cancelled.

Ellipses are in stock and we sell them quite often.

Thanks! Just ordered a set!

Just wanted to say the new Retrogression site looks pretty darn cool beans Scrod! You guys have some killer clearance deals on there too!

Also noticed the updated site. Looks great!!

I just sold my Aventon Cordoba frame, and ordered a Leader 725. I was going to get the Mataro before, and I think now after reading this, I'm going to cancel my order and get an Aventon. So my question now is, I'm 6' 1" and have previously ridden a 58 frame. They have the Mataro Low in the color I want, but only in a 57. Will this make any difference?

stainless steel fork ? Retrogression | Worldwide Track Bike Shop
new item, or did i just not notice it before?

A 57cm Mataro Low will ride like a 55cm Mataro. It will be too small for you.

Thanks, guys!

Thanks for the swift reply, man! I'm just going to keep my order of the Leader, I can't find a Mataro in my size in a color I like.