For a while I'd been using the wheels off my Optic on this while I waited for my Nextie's to arrive. They eventually turned up last Friday so I set them up with a 2.35 soft Magic Mary up front and a 2.35 Force AM out the back. I had to convert the Hope hubs to microspline which was educational, I've run DT's on everything for the last 10 years so I was shocked that I actually needed tools (which I didn't have). The lack of a seal driver tool wasn't going to ruin new (sort of) bike day so I used a bit of plumbing pipe and a medium sized persuader and installed it without too much trouble.
I took it for another longish ride on Saturday from my place to Errol's loop near Yarra Glen and back via Smiths Gully it's about 60km and 1400m of climbing I think and riding a hard tail again feels like cheating. Nextie wheels are good, no issues and although a bit heavier than my LB wheels of the same dimensions there's no real difference between them that I can notice.
I'm not a massive fan of the Force AM out the back as a tyre, it seems to have almost zero braking traction but I need to muck around with pressures a bit more to see if I can find the sweet spot. I'm not sure if it's because I have a total lack of ability (likely), that I'm spoiled because although my Optic doesn't pedal that well the rear grip is outstanding even with a Minion SS or it's a actually a just not a great tyre. It also doesn't have as large a 'bag' on the tyre as I'd like for a hard tail.
The Pike Ultimate on this bike has the new 2021 air spring in it and I have to say, I prefer the 2020 on my Optic, it's like butter but this one is just not quite right. I'm running 8 psi less pressure but it just doesn't have that magic carpet feel, but it's only got 150km on it so I suppose it could need a break in period. I can only assume it's got fully lubed lowers because the fork got fitted with the new air spring at Cyclinic before they shipped them to me, you'd hope they lubed them up.....
I'm a card carrying member of the Shimano Haters group, I've had most of their XTR groups over the last 10 years and they've always lagged behind the Sram stuff for me with vague shifts and a lack of 'feel' in the lever. But how good is the new 12 speed! I'm totally converted, best group I've ever ridden and there's no difference between XT (Banshee) and XTR (Optic) in shift quality and it's only the nicer feel of the XTR lever that sets them apart. My only complaint with it is that when it's muddy and shitty they are very sensitive to a dirty chain. I even fitted an SLX 12 speed mech to my sons 11 speed bike it's shit loads better than the GX POS that came off it.
Looks like I'll have a quiet day at the office with the new lock down rules so I'll grab some pics this arvo with the new wheels.
I took it for another longish ride on Saturday from my place to Errol's loop near Yarra Glen and back via Smiths Gully it's about 60km and 1400m of climbing I think and riding a hard tail again feels like cheating. Nextie wheels are good, no issues and although a bit heavier than my LB wheels of the same dimensions there's no real difference between them that I can notice.
I'm not a massive fan of the Force AM out the back as a tyre, it seems to have almost zero braking traction but I need to muck around with pressures a bit more to see if I can find the sweet spot. I'm not sure if it's because I have a total lack of ability (likely), that I'm spoiled because although my Optic doesn't pedal that well the rear grip is outstanding even with a Minion SS or it's a actually a just not a great tyre. It also doesn't have as large a 'bag' on the tyre as I'd like for a hard tail.
The Pike Ultimate on this bike has the new 2021 air spring in it and I have to say, I prefer the 2020 on my Optic, it's like butter but this one is just not quite right. I'm running 8 psi less pressure but it just doesn't have that magic carpet feel, but it's only got 150km on it so I suppose it could need a break in period. I can only assume it's got fully lubed lowers because the fork got fitted with the new air spring at Cyclinic before they shipped them to me, you'd hope they lubed them up.....
I'm a card carrying member of the Shimano Haters group, I've had most of their XTR groups over the last 10 years and they've always lagged behind the Sram stuff for me with vague shifts and a lack of 'feel' in the lever. But how good is the new 12 speed! I'm totally converted, best group I've ever ridden and there's no difference between XT (Banshee) and XTR (Optic) in shift quality and it's only the nicer feel of the XTR lever that sets them apart. My only complaint with it is that when it's muddy and shitty they are very sensitive to a dirty chain. I even fitted an SLX 12 speed mech to my sons 11 speed bike it's shit loads better than the GX POS that came off it.
Looks like I'll have a quiet day at the office with the new lock down rules so I'll grab some pics this arvo with the new wheels.
