Posts
4956
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID
US
Edited Date/Time
7/22/2020 12:09am
Are you still having to hack, tweak and improvise on your current bikes and setups. Are you having to make your own tools to work on your bikes? Or are those days long gone?
Mountain bikes and their technology have come a long way in recent years. Tubeless tires are the norm on mid-to-upper level bikes, 1x drivetrains are refined, chains aren't derailing with just a sideways look and suspension, out of the box, is next level.
While hanging out with Sean Griz McClendon the other day, he was building up a new DH bike and putting on tires. He was still using the *ghetto tubeless* technique on his wheels and tires. The term "ghetto tubeless" comes from the technique of using a 20-inch diameter BMX inner tube that's filleted and stretched around a mountain bike rim to create an airtight seal, resulting in inflated tires that don't require inner tubes. The valve from the BMX tube is used to inflate the tire. Griz was able to inflate the system with a floor pump, not needing a compressor, which isn't always the case.
Tubeless mountain bike tire technology today is pretty darn dialed. Rims, valves, rim tape and tubeless-ready tires usually allow for easy install and inflation, but Griz still swears by this old method from a time when tubeless MTB tires weren't the norm.
That got us thinking. Improvising, tinkering and being part mad scientist used to be a significant piece of the mountain biking life. Now, bikes are ready to roll, out of the box, with the twist of a few allen wrenches and we wonder if the DIY days are gone.
Dave Camp (along with many others out there) improvised by making the entire bike. You can see his custom BoXXer modification, which is a schraeder valve from an inner tube, JB-welded into the coil spring side of the fork (he can elaborate more on the details).
A few years ago, Joe Barnes created this sketchy-but-efficient DYI Coke Bottle Air Compressor. Proper eyewear required LOL
Erik Saunders is always tinkering whether he needs to or not. Inspiration for days.
Nigel Reeve, Canyon Factory Racing mechanic, created this epic DIY brake-bedding system.
Don’t even get me going on suspension hacks. (Replacing IFP rubber caps with Schaefer valves, repairing damaged shock shafts with filler and some polish time, etc etc.)
Came up with this reinforcement that seems to be holding just fine, since the plate I made supports the side of the lever under compression.
To make sure everything stayed solid, I removed the pivot in the lever clamp and replaced it with a screw which holds the lever and the plate together.
A slight bonus to the plate is it makes a nice spot to put my thumb when doing longer fire road climbs, I might keep it even after I get new levers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7eUeAllT9N/
https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Homemade-Hall-lock-for-Sram-S…
Simple but effective.
This is a great thread, and for my money, a modified Shimano front shifter is the best feeling dropper post lever ever invented. https://www.instagram.com/p/BcN-E35nvoP/
Hacksaw to cut it down and I'm set for weekend shreds!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxNWiLQKxOs
and Neko Mulally's priceless tip to use a shop vac extension tube to seat a headset race onto my fork:
(can't find the link but it worked like a charm!)
In the meantime, I'll be running a low end shimano caliper my shop had laying around with my XT8100 lever. I'll get to the install tomorrow or over the weekend. Not the hackiest repair but it fits
OneUp upper guide, with the outer plate dremelled off to clear my bash ring. I like the idea of a taco bash, but those little ISCG tabs don't take it like a crank spider can.
(Why don't people use bash rings anymore? Somehow they went from the new thing only groms used, to old school thing only dads use... Am I old?)
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