tashi profile

If there's a non rounded edge somewhere on it, any knife has a bottle opener using the lighter technique.

Nope, those were nice but can't hold a candle to the m636 for best platform SPD.  Sorry.

I'm with you, I run Flites on all my high-performance bikes, most of them pretty ancient.  I seem to like the ones with a little gel pocket in em the best.

I've done some re-covers on em, and am curious about replacing the padding with something a little thicker for a SLIGHTLY softer feel.

So envious.  I'm still choked I let my set of DT/Hugis go.

Was it as bad as the early Eggbeaters?

This is the way.

So, I’d still choose a large, but it would be a shorter feeling bike when standing than something with a 475-480mm sagged reach?

Reach seems kinda short relative to similar bikes, no?  

I hone in on about a 475mm reach unsagged, which is generally a "large" but that's a XL in these bikes.

I’m no mountain bike engineer so I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it.

You COULD, but your only stated reason for doing so is to eliminate complexity.  But your solution involves a fair amount of (unproven) complexity.

Or you could just use the existing drivetrains.

Sounds great but it’s currently we’re not likely to get new basic vehicles. 

Manufacturers make more money selling expensive, highly optioned cars and they have plenty of buyers so they’ve been eliminating basic options for a while now.

I mean I’d snag myself a Rivian so I can have a fancy fast pickup if I had the $$ for $100k cars but a hybrid Ford?  Paaaaaas.

Nobody probably knows about it because it only comes on trucks that cost over $100k.

Posted by: Fast-Orange

What are some of the valid purposes for owning one? 

Who determines which luxury purchase (remember we’re talking about personal vehicles here, not anything anyone actually needs) is done for a “valid” reason and why should the owner of said luxury item give a shit?

Posted by: AndrewMajor

Posted by: fartymarty

Also shame on the shop for not trying to repair it.

Just to jump in with a different perspective, as someone who earns a wage doing things like rebuilding dropper posts, there are many projects that are worthwhile for me to take on at home that are non-starters in the shop.

It’s not even a matter of giving a customer a choice as it’s impossible to quote on work that could take hours and end up with a no result. 

For example, there are a number of dropper posts from before the Wintek craze that don’t use a cartridge but rather a Reverb-style IFP with zero factory information on oil, IFP depth, etc. folks can slam me on the internet all they want, that’s not a project I’m taking on.

.

Once we’re talking 2-3hrs of shop time someone can also buy a pretty nice dropper, or is well on their way towards a beautiful, truly rebuildable, lifetime serviceable product like a BikeYoke. They’re awesome to service.

To add to this: there’s a lot of work that’s fine to do for yourself or a friend, but if it’s a “this will probably work, let’s try it” kinda repair/work than it doesn’t make sense to charge good money and possibly trash your reputation by trying it.

For example I love old red brick for walkways but I’ll never install one for a customer again since they require far too much upkeep to stay in good condition and safe and the odds of the customer not understanding this are high.

Posted by: heckler

https://na.tranzx.com/collections/service-parts/products/replacement-cartridges?variant=32036313661475

Snowsnake, read the reviews and decide if you will support your LBS or your HBS. (Home Bike Shop). I think I already know your answer.

Among other projects, I have fully disassembled an out of warrantee broken washing machine to replace a cracked drum mounting arm. It is well worth the effort and quite rewarding to fix instead of trash or pay someone to repair. Many parts are found online, or direct from the manufacturer.

Right to Repair affects many, and is supported (on paper at least) by highest levels of government.

https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/competition-bureau-canada/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/learn-about-right-repair

I can build a whole freaking house but I get so much satisfaction from successfully servicing my washer and dryer. 

(Which unfortunately is regularly necessary, don’t buy Electrolux washers and dryers folks)

Posted by: snowsnake

Posted If people can't be bothered to do the little things then it's going to be much harder to do the bigger things that require more effort anf have bigger costs. I see it all the time in the way people treat most things as disposable and think garbage just magically disappears once they put it in the bin.

One worker at my LBS has been trying to convince me that because it’s not that simple to replace the cartridge in my TranzX dropper post, and including labor the refresh will be nearly as expensive, I should just buy a new one, but I’m not having it. Why trash the post I have if it’s just a cartridge away from full functionality? I know cycling is far from environmentally friendly but I’m reusing and repairing anything I can.

He’s being practical, but your bike is there to make you happy so the way I look at it is if having a bike with a bunch of repaired parts makes you happy than that’s the way to go. I appreciate all my old, serviced, repaired and adapted parts much more than the fresh ones.

I feel ya man, hold tight and your time will come.

This is the way of the dad and to be honest most of the time I don’t even mind. I’ll get my fancy dream ride once they’re moved out, right?  RIGHT?!?

You know it, just 20 years ago when he was harder to catch!

Posted by: fartymarty

I'm sure there are a few "Too cool for School Endurobros" who would turn their nose up at them.

It would almost be worth going full euro DH with full lycra under pads just for the reaction....

Good homie of mine would drop the baggies on hot days, leaving him in (eventually splitting) denim print bike shorts, pads and full face. 

Got some hilarious comments, but always from folks that didn’t stand a chance of keeping up!