Hugor
Likes Dirt
I bought a Salsa a year ago for commuting. It was all rigid with slicks, a bag rack and flashing red tail lights. When my Intense 6.6 trail bike became sick, the Salsa became a mountain bike.
It grew 120mm forks, riser bars, and a pair of WTB Weirwolf 2.5 inch balloon tyres. This bike hauled arse on fireroad training rides.
My mates abused it no end calling it "retro" and "gay", as it as it flew past them on Perth's finest pea gravel.
At that point I became a 29er convert.
The Salsa's only weakness was on the tight, rocky technical stuff where the hardtail would buck me over the front, and the steering felt like I was driving a tourist coach in a shopping centre.
Enter the Niner - guys who specialise in this.
With this bike I'm hoping to sort out these issues and use the advantage of the big rolling wheels.
Frame - Niner R.I.P. Large Raw colour
Rear shock - Fox RP23
Front shock/fork - Fox F120 RLC tapered steerer tube
Handlebars - Truvativ stylo World Cup
Stem - Truvativ AKA 100mm
Headset - Integrated with frame
Grips - Lizard skins lock on
Saddle - Selle SMP Pro
Seatpost - Thomson Elite
Front brake - Avid Elixir CR 160mm hydrolic
Rear brake - Avid Elixir CR 160mm hydrolic
Cranks - Truvativ Carbon Noir XC 3.3 Red
Chain - Shimano Dura-Ace
Pedals - Crankbrothers Candy Black
Front derailleur - Shimano XT
Rear derailleur - Sram X0
Front shifter - Sram X0 carbon
Rear shifter - Sram X0 carbon
Front hub - Chris King Red
Rear hub - Chris King Red
Front rim - Stans Arches 29
Rear rim - Stans Arches 29
Spokes - DT swiss competition
Nipples - Pro lock brass
Tyres - Maxxis Ignitor 2.1 (front), Crossmark 2.1 (rear)
Tubes - tubeless
Total weight - 13.2kgs
The bike has done about 50kms of tight rocky singletrack so far including a whole lot of stairs. I love the way it handles.
The front end feels responsive like a cross-country bike and the rear feels alot like my trail bike.
I haven't used propedal yet even when grannying up long technical climbs.
It has done better than my expectations.
This will become my XC event and race bike, while my Intense 6.6 becomes my play bike.
It is slightly on the heavy side but then again so am I. Its 2kgs lighter than my trail bike so my legs are enjoying the holiday!
I'm going to play around and break the 13kg barrier but overall its not a huge priority.
Big cheers to my ever faithful bike mechanics at TBE Belmont.
N + 3
It grew 120mm forks, riser bars, and a pair of WTB Weirwolf 2.5 inch balloon tyres. This bike hauled arse on fireroad training rides.
My mates abused it no end calling it "retro" and "gay", as it as it flew past them on Perth's finest pea gravel.
At that point I became a 29er convert.
The Salsa's only weakness was on the tight, rocky technical stuff where the hardtail would buck me over the front, and the steering felt like I was driving a tourist coach in a shopping centre.
Enter the Niner - guys who specialise in this.
With this bike I'm hoping to sort out these issues and use the advantage of the big rolling wheels.
Frame - Niner R.I.P. Large Raw colour
Rear shock - Fox RP23
Front shock/fork - Fox F120 RLC tapered steerer tube
Handlebars - Truvativ stylo World Cup
Stem - Truvativ AKA 100mm
Headset - Integrated with frame
Grips - Lizard skins lock on
Saddle - Selle SMP Pro
Seatpost - Thomson Elite
Front brake - Avid Elixir CR 160mm hydrolic
Rear brake - Avid Elixir CR 160mm hydrolic
Cranks - Truvativ Carbon Noir XC 3.3 Red
Chain - Shimano Dura-Ace
Pedals - Crankbrothers Candy Black
Front derailleur - Shimano XT
Rear derailleur - Sram X0
Front shifter - Sram X0 carbon
Rear shifter - Sram X0 carbon
Front hub - Chris King Red
Rear hub - Chris King Red
Front rim - Stans Arches 29
Rear rim - Stans Arches 29
Spokes - DT swiss competition
Nipples - Pro lock brass
Tyres - Maxxis Ignitor 2.1 (front), Crossmark 2.1 (rear)
Tubes - tubeless
Total weight - 13.2kgs
The bike has done about 50kms of tight rocky singletrack so far including a whole lot of stairs. I love the way it handles.
The front end feels responsive like a cross-country bike and the rear feels alot like my trail bike.
I haven't used propedal yet even when grannying up long technical climbs.
It has done better than my expectations.
This will become my XC event and race bike, while my Intense 6.6 becomes my play bike.
It is slightly on the heavy side but then again so am I. Its 2kgs lighter than my trail bike so my legs are enjoying the holiday!
I'm going to play around and break the 13kg barrier but overall its not a huge priority.
Big cheers to my ever faithful bike mechanics at TBE Belmont.
N + 3
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