The MTB thread

Ok .... killed the FSA headset that came with the bike , I knew it wouldn`t last long from the look of it , so I slung a Chris King one in that I`ve had lying around for the last 3 months .

how did you kill it ? my FSA pig has been fine for the last 2 years

[northwind]

How much more black could that be? None

I've decided, on balance, I ****ing love mine... Friday, did 6 runs down the fort william "nevis red", the gondola-uplift allegedly red route. Feeling brave so did the world cup downhill route for my last run, well, did get off and push twice But still, it ain't a downhill bike and I ain't a downhiller.

Then the next day, instead of gnar we went and did 30 miles on the west highland way, which was lovely. But it ain't a cross country bike...

Then finished up today with 2 laps of the red then black at laggan, which wasn't lovely, actually it was ****ing mental, built by deranged people for the express purposes of hurting overenthusiastic mountainbikers. Took it all in its stride, didn't even blink. But it ain't a freeride bike.

Love it. Hope you get on with yours as well!

<edit- if that seems a bit waffly and out of tune it's because I'm utterly, utterly knackered>

Originally Posted by barwel1992

how did you kill it ? my FSA pig has been fine for the last 2 years

It is a weird headset that has no cartridge bearings in it , the bearings are loose ones held in a race , something I would only entertain on a XC bike or commuter , there was a rubber seal underneath it which I find worrying as well , it`s there to stop the ingress of cack . To me a Cartridge Bearing should only be seated on a brass or ally shim ring , this thing had some weird setup , when I got home after my forst ride I was checking the bike over and noticed I could see something under the headset . Dropped the forks out and the race was bent all over the shop in a waffle pattern like it was almost too big and had been bent in to fit although it went together fine . I can only think that the rubber seal that went underneath it allowed some movement and the hammer it got on Friday just distorted the bearing race . I have an FSA Orbit XL II that has been totally hammered on my Patriot , is only sealed on the bearing itself and has no play in it after 7 years of use . I decided to play it safe and put the Chris King on the Hemlock .


Northy , I absolutely love it , back end takes a bit of getting used to , and under hammer , I managed to get the front end to twitch a bit but that will be down to some very soft settings I had for a Snow Bound ride I had a while back . Will stiffen the front up a bit with 10 psi in the Air Chamber and take it out .

ahh ok fair enough, i think my pig is ball bearing/race (not sure havn't had it apart in ages) will check mine now when i get home

[northwind]

Heh, just sorting through the weekend's videos, couldn't resist this one...

Nice one Andrew

[northwind]

I just did the numbers and it turns out my time down the DH wouldn't have placed me last in the world cup, I was only about 5 seconds down on Dan Atherton Though I think he stopped for a nap halfway down. I wonder what I could manage with a downhill bike and a pair of testicles?

Nice vid... Always nice when a rock sneaks up under your front wheel like that


Some other cool video's. Think I might have to one day come visiting!

Yeha I liked the way that rock grew arms and threw him off ........ looked a bit of a "target fixation" there as well . "Oooohh rocks" heads right for them .