Losifer profile

As terrible as the feeling of coming out of the hotel to all of your material life gone must have felt, you’re inspiring us so much with the rebuilding process! Thank you for letting us tag along.

And om looking forward to reading your thoughts comparing the  Twist and Murmur- considering picking one of them up.

Yeah, it's a real grind.

Nope.

It's an acronym, SRAM is the correct way to write it.

Do I need a new bike? Of course not, my Knolly Chilcotin rides just great, handles the chunky New Mexico trails well, and holds up to the odd lift-assisted days at Pajarito and Angel Fire with aplomb.

But the feel and aesthetic appeal of steel tubes...

That beer foam shootout is one of my fondest memories of Bike Magazine.

Two things: first, would We Are One please STOP making such good looking bikes?!? I bought my Knolly Chilcotin to have for more than a couple of years, this lust for an Arrival is not helping.

Second, do we now need to stand on everything, Leo?

Waaaaay back when (@mikeferrentino probably remembers this) Trek used to make aluminum lugged, carbon tubed bikes. Those lugs were anodized, but only on the outside. So riding in the real world, you'd get a bit of water incursion, and there would be a corroded BB shell. 

I'll never forget the first time I removed a customer's Dura Ace BB only to find a BB shell that was barely there...

Sorry, but you're 100% wrong.

(There's not enough of them still actually running to be more common in the shop!)

Interesting. I had side knobs peeling off on my Eliminator T7, but I had a lot more miles on it. I’m in a rocky area as well.

I just put a semi-worn 2.6” Butcher on the back, and I’m liking it so far! not as fast rolling (obviously…) as the Eliminator I usually use, but the grip on snow and wet rocks is worth it right now.

I ordered a few Butcher/Eliminator sets on sale from Specialized last month. I know I’ll likely prefer the Eliminator when things dry out, but I have some doubts now that I’ve been on the Butcher front and rear!

Posted by: PembyRocks

Chromag Phase 30. Best rims I've had. Broke 3 rims (XT, Flow mk3 and Giant carbon) before running these. I've beaten the snot out of them on my hardtail for the past 18 months and, apart from an initial re-tension after the first couple of rides, haven't touched them. No dents, stayed true. Highly recommended. 

I know a few people that run the beefier one (BA30) in the back too for a bit of extra security. I haven't felt the need though

Seriously considering a set of those as well!

Los

Posted by: craw

You're 40 now. Probably should buy a Chromag.

Too close to home, man (although I was 46 when I got my Chromag...)

Los

The sapphire 34 wasn’t available when I built up the rootdown. I had a 2016 diamond on it and upgraded to the newer version about a year ago. If I were to do it today I think I’d still go with a 150mm fork on the rootdown to maintain the geometry, but with that spacer it sounds like you have that covered.

Thanks for the background info. 

After your input, taking into account the burliness (or lack thereof) of my local trails, and reading the design philosophy behind the Doctahawk (on a site I’d rather not admit to reading,) I think the Sapphire 34 might be a good fit. 

I can maintain the geometry with a spacer crown race, and have slightly less impact on that geometry with less travel. Doesn’t hurt that the Sapphire is slightly lighter and a little cheaper...

Los

Posted by: ols55

I have a sapphire 34 @ 140 on my marin rift zone and a diamond @ 150 on my rootdown. I’m about 195 and wouldnt hesitate to put the sapphire on your rootdown. It’s a stiff and supportive fork!

Thanks! I appreciate the response. One question, though: did you choose theDiamond on your Rootdown because of the travel, or another reason?

Los

Anyone tried a DVO Sapphire 34? Thinking of putting one on my Rootdown (with a 20mm crown race to make up for the shorter travel.)

At 185 lbs. and not super gnar, I think the Diamond might be a bit much...

Los

I would reach out to them, see if there’s a dealer in your area.

New “shadow” paint job on the Rootdown has me drooling...

Los