MEAT Engines 2024...

Posted by: fartymarty

High Rise Bars / Stems - 

Andrew - following Pinkbikes (in my opinion terrible*) review of the BMB Raised Reverse Stem are there any plans for it to be tested long term by anyone at NSMB?  I think there is something in the concept but it needs time and thought.

*PB didn't give the stem enough time or tweaking of bike setup to give it a fair review.  From my own messing around  with bars and stems it takes time for your body to adapt to different setups and the bike setup needs to be adjusted as well.

Looking forward to Andrew's "first ride impressions" down his favorite shore trail 😅

Posted by: leverfingers

Gee, I like your pants.

Keep it up Andrew.  I enormously enjoy reading Meat Engines.

The other side of the story.

A different perspective.

A grain of salt with which to take the bike industry.

Thank you.

Posted by: fartymarty

**High Rise Bars / Stems - **

Andrew - following Pinkbikes (in my opinion terrible*) review of the BMB Raised Reverse Stem are there any plans for it to be tested long term by anyone at NSMB? I think there is something in the concept but it needs time and thought.

*PB didn't give the stem enough time or tweaking of bike setup to give it a fair review. From my own messing around with bars and stems it takes time for your body to adapt to different setups and the bike setup needs to be adjusted as well.

I don’t know of any plans to review the BMB RRS, but that would be a question for Cam & Pete.

When I first saw it I did try to track down one of those 10mm Mondraker On/Off stems thinking to combine that with the ProTaper 76mm riser to experiment with a similar idea. Doing it via stem opens up a few bar shapes in that ~3” rise world and also, while I don’t think the BMB RRS is over priced for what it is, should be a much less expensive way to achieve the same goal.

Essentially this setup but a 10mm stem and headset spacers as needed:

I know I get laughed at in the wider world of bike reviewers, but I do think a rigid bike is again the best test vehicle for something like this in terms of speaking of the product in isolation. At least initially. Riding the BMB RRS without retuning suspension for the weight redistribution doesn’t work, but then suspension settings become a real factor. Especially as a BMB RRS sag setup for neutral will have a relatively softer fork and that will potentially make for a bigger weight shift forward in really steep terrain.

Posted by: mutton

Looking forward to Andrew's "first ride impressions" down his favorite shore trail 😅

Hahahaha. 

For some reason I usually take new things down Boundary first.

Posted by: Blofeld

I think we all know that the ME Stem of the Year for 2023 is going to WZRD and it is having no stem at all. 😀

Happy New Year everyone.

Ha. Wish I’d thought of that!

HNY!

Andrew - I would go as far as saying a rigid bike is the best bike to test products on as you are limiting variables.

Firstly geometry needs to be right and the rider is in a good position. Then you can start adding suspension. I still don't think we are at a point where geo is sorted - it's closer than its ever been but there are brands who don't do balanced CS lengths across sizes. Ditto HT lengths.

Therefore with less variables on a rigid bike you are closer to getting to to a point of sorted geo.

I (and I'm sure you do) would ignore what other bike media say. The only people IMO pushing things in the right direction atm is Paul Aston / Chris Porter (altho I haven't heard much from him in a while).

Back to the stem - I need to revisit the 31mm stem and Surly Sunrise bar once the Murmur is back up and running (in spring).  I've run it with a 40mm stem and 0mm spacers bit not 31mm with 20mm spacers.  I reckon I could get close to the BMB stem.  I know @roil runs a similar setup on his 161.

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!

Posted by: tashi

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!

I was going to say that's HAS TO BE Sam, but not sure the "keeping up" comment still fits.

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

I have a list of Andrew's gear recommendations that contradict the common EnduroBro and Old School Racer wisdom.

I'll start with lube (which could also be a lube of the year award category)

Turns out Andrew was right when comparing RocknRoll with DumondeTech (classic original not lite).

I started using RocknRoll because that was the only lube being used in a 2009 Stage Race in Kamloops silt that could last a day. But I found that RocknRoll wouldn't last more than a day of Arizona bikepacking.

Picked up some DumondeTech Classic Original and found it lasts much longer and is much quieter and feels like it has less vibration through my feet, so much so it makes the chain feel sexy.

.

What is your lube of the year recommendation and/or what are your experiences with Andrew and/or North Shore wisdom that contradicts the EnduroBro or Old School Racer standards?

Sadly, we can't get the real dumond tech up here in canada. :(

Posted by: cooperquinn

Sadly, we can't get the real dumond tech up here in canada. :(

Which Dumonde Tech product can't you get in Canada?

I have a fresh bottle of Pro X Regular, I have freehub Oil and Grease on hand. I even have liquid grease. Can't think of what else they make.

Posted by: AndrewMajor

Posted by: cooperquinn

Sadly, we can't get the real dumond tech up here in canada. :(

Which Dumonde Tech product can't you get in Canada?

I have a fresh bottle of Pro X Regular, I have freehub Oil and Grease on hand. I even have liquid grease. Can't think of what else they make.

Curious about what we are missing too. As far as I can tell ProX is ProX, Canada or not.

**Stems / Bars - **

Andrew - the video by Rulezman makes the most sense to me in terms of bar position wrt the steerer tube.

https://youtu.be/oCi9LzaMm10?si=alDo_KFj75QhC2YX