The Brig

Insta tells me the 1299 cassette is in stock if anyone needs one.

Screenshot_20240228_103503_Instagram.jpg
 
Well, there you go.
https://www.mtbdirect.com.au/products/sram-xx1-eagle-xg-1299-12-speed-cassette
A $727.95 pricetag for any sort of long term consumable part like a cassette is a tad pricey unless your race team buys it for you.

Makes an unfashionable 11 speed 11/51T Sunrace a huge bargain at around $80ish in comparison.

Meanwhile the bike industry ponders its own existence in 2024.
Yeah, I've got a one bike that still has an original X01 Eagle cassette (10-50t) and while they used to be worth the price for longevity, not so much any more. 12sp Shimano Cassettes are super cheap comparably, even cheaper on Ali, and even factoring in the hub driver change, you're still ahead. The cassettes work fine with an otherwise Sram setup, but then again I've gone Shimano deraiileurs across the board nowadays as they work fine too on an otherwise Sram setup.

I very much appreicate that the 12sp stuff is effectively interchangeable now, like the glory days of 9 speed!

Plus, now that I've used a few of the Shimano 12sp cassettes, the 39-45-51t setup of the easiest three gears are much nicer jumps than the 36-42-50 and much much much nicer that the newer 36-42-52 jumps on the Eagle cassettes...
 
A $727.95 pricetag for any sort of long term consumable part like a cassette is a tad pricey unless your race team buys it for you.
In my experience these Eagle cassettes seem to last forever, so normally I'd wear the price but...
12sp Shimano Cassettes are super cheap comparably
This really hurts the value prospect when you can get an XT cassette from a bike shop for $180
Plus, now that I've used a few of the Shimano 12sp cassettes, the 39-45-51t setup of the easiest three gears are much nicer jumps than the 36-42-50 and much much much nicer that the newer 36-42-52 jumps on the Eagle cassettes...
I also find that 45t cog is a really useful gear, for when the 50s are too spinny but you don't have the grunt to push anything higher.
 
Well, there you go.
https://www.mtbdirect.com.au/products/sram-xx1-eagle-xg-1299-12-speed-cassette
A $727.95 pricetag for any sort of long term consumable part like a cassette is a tad pricey unless your race team buys it for you.

Makes an unfashionable 11 speed 11/51T Sunrace a huge bargain at around $80ish in comparison.

Meanwhile the bike industry ponders its own existence in 2024.

Oh yeah. I am in no way endorsing the stupid prices of components these days, but relative to the prices anywhere else in Australia for the same cassette, they are at a fair discount.

In my experience these Eagle cassettes seem to last forever, so normally I'd wear the price but...

This really hurts the value prospect when you can get an XT cassette from a bike shop for $180

I also find that 45t cog is a really useful gear, for when the 50s are too spinny but you don't have the grunt to push anything higher.

45T is my bail-out gear, hence why I’m usually on that ‘rhythm step’ cassette. I’m experimenting with 50T and big boy chainrings.
 
This really hurts the value prospect when you can get an XT cassette from a bike shop for $180

I get the XT value proposition, but... how sexy is the one piece CNC of the X01/XX1 cassettes?

The closest I have gotten to that life goal, is the Leonardi cassette extender I had back in the 2014... that was a work of art that I regret throwing out instead of keeping it as a coffee table piece:

DSC_4731.jpg
 
Oh yeah. I am in no way endorsing the stupid prices of components these days, but relative to the prices anywhere else in Australia for the same cassette, they are at a fair discount.
Yes, fair enough. I just get a bit narky at a price tag that seems pretty ambitious. They will charge what they can get - capitalism at its finest!
 
I get the XT value proposition, but... how sexy is the one piece CNC of the X01/XX1 cassettes?

The closest I have gotten to that life goal, is the Leonardi cassette extender I had back in the 2014... that was a work of art that I regret throwing out instead of keeping it as a coffee table piece:

I've still got my Leonardi at the bottom of my parts bin. Was made of cheese - I wore mine out within 1000km.
 
I've still got my Leonardi at the bottom of my parts bin. Was made of cheese - I wore mine out within 1000km.
Can't remember how long mine lasted, but definitely wore out much quicker than the rest of the cassette which is made out of steel. At the time, it made a world of difference when Shimano made nothing bigger than a 36T, and Oneup expander cogs resulted in a bigger jump from 2nd to 1st gear.
 
My young ‘un bought some Magura brakes from Eugene last week, which arrived earlier this week. So hopefully more like a stock or systems problem than anything else - that said, radio silence after taking payment is a terrible customer experience that feels scammy.
 
Codes have arrived, one month after the ETA when I ordered them.

(Something something) let down by a third party (something).

I think the ‘pre order’ thing doesn’t work without a reliable supply chain.

One of the brakes was brand new with sealed (albeit OEM) packaging, so they exceeded expectations there.

A mixed experience, but they delivered what they promised in the end.
 
Codes have arrived, one month after the ETA when I ordered them.

(Something something) let down by a third party (something).

I think the ‘pre order’ thing doesn’t work without a reliable supply chain.

One of the brakes was brand new with sealed (albeit OEM) packaging, so they exceeded expectations there.

A mixed experience, but they delivered what they promised in the end.
I had a similar experience with their Raild wheels company. Wanted a hub they didn’t have in stock but they promised they’d have it in a week. Can’t remember how long it took but was something like 8 weeks after promised it finally came in. After a while communication dropped off and I had to work hard to get any response. They seem to be fine if what you want is a stock item.
Seems over promising is their main issue.
 
At the end of the day, I got new Code RSCs for $295 so I guess ‘you get what you pay for’ sometimes refers to more than just the product itself.

On the other hand, if they only sold products that they had in stock and the brakes arrived within a normal timeframe I would probably be stopping strangers in the street to tell them about ‘The Brig’.
 
Anyone purchased anything from Rails or Brig in the last 8 weeks? Socials are quiet and non responsive to their is usual prompt email replies.
 
My first experience with The Brig went well. Ordered 2 Lewis rotors on Sunday , they arrived Thursday.
 
Anyone order from the brig recently? Their prices are unbelievable.. I'm thinking ordering a set of Lewis from them as they are by far the cheapest I can get a set for. But am a bit worried parting with $525 knowing I may not see dem brakes for months...
 
Anyone order from the brig recently? Their prices are unbelievable.. I'm thinking ordering a set of Lewis from them as they are by far the cheapest I can get a set for. But am a bit worried parting with $525 knowing I may not see dem brakes for months...
Then don't do it. Easy. IMO, more than a few 'good' businesses went bad and gipped people out of their money, with a practice of not having any stock but "maybe" it was in stock at the OS supplier, or they had NFI and just happily took your money regardless.
Too Good to be True........maybe.


Some Euro stores might have them

Locally, Try Rushys. I bought a Banshee frame from Leon, and there was a regular communication and I found the process to be good.

 
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