29lb Trek Session 9.9
- Thread starter Konabumm
- Start date
Anyone know what chain ring that is? Looks like sram but I can't tell
Nice bulid, but the tires need to go (ad 1kg) + no pedals are stated in specification. I'd like to try out a DH bike as light someday...
This was posted on Vital in September, do you really think it hasn't been posted on RM yet?
The chainring is an e13 guidering
The chainring is an e13 guidering
someone built a 29.8lb session aluminum with 2 ply tires and a coil rear shock. 29.0 with single ply, no pedals, and an air shock is not very impressive, really.
yep. and as Christian mentioned, with his V10C build, it could be nuts
yikola on the wheels. at least you can switch from your XC bike on over to your DH sled without concern...
Would an i-beam post/saddle combo lighten that up even more?
Let's be realistic here though. 99% of people will be riding that with a coil shock, Al cranks, and Al post (sdg/thomson). While it's not a lot, that's still going to clock you back over 30. While the weight is amazing, let's be realistic about usable weight.
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reminiscing the days when we put effort in to getting under 40 lbs. 29-33 lb sleds is pretty impressive.
No bashguard... that pretty chainring might be the first thing to fail.. Closely followed by the air shock 
Check the specs. It's got chainring protection, an MRP G2 chainguide. http://www.pinkbike.com/news/MRP-G2-Carbon-Sea-Otter-2011.htmlNo bashguard... that pretty chainring might be the first thing to fail.. Closely followed by the air shock
Using the LG1/G2 type of guides as "protection" is the same as using a busted condom for "protection". Your sh!t's still hanging out.
having ridden my V10 that is slightly heavier, I think it is too light, I may even go heravier tires on my v10, it def takes some getting used to.
In which way you get problems out of it? Is it just a suspension problem and where is it noticable?
Well, in the air it is def less stable, and takes some getting used to. Also, when there are a lot of brake bumps, repeated hits, etc it doesn’t hold it’s line that easy. It is livelier. This may be partly due to me now running a Vivid Air and Boxxer WC, and I was on a Dorado and CCDB for years, so I may need to change the fork and shock settings. Also, the EXO tires roll on the rim I feel, as the side walls are not that rigid as with dual ply tires.
On the other hand it is easier to manouvre on the track, and hop, etc
See quite a few vivid airs at Northstar these days. So I don't see that as a gimmick to get the 'theoretical' weight down. As for the taco, I bash the hell out of my LG1+ with no issues, hack that I am.
What's more interesting is the discussion with Christiaan about how a bike this light rides.
What's more interesting is the discussion with Christiaan about how a bike this light rides.
I think the most attractive thing to me about these ultra-light frames is that it opens up the possibility of running heavier or more reliable critical parts. I know everybody else wants to go sub 20lb DH bikes that fold twice a year, but if you could take the carbon session frame and throw coil suspension front and rear, big fat disk brakes, and massive, high volume low pressure tires on it, you'd have a bike with a 38lb (ie competitive) weight, and ultra reliable parts with no compromises....THAT's where I think the big payback is.
If the frame holds up, yes. If not, then not.
But seriously, if the carbon frames out there are at least as durable as the aluminium versions of these frames (and I have no doubt about it), you are free to build a sub 30 lbs dh bike or save some money, buy a few burlier bits and get a bike that will rest for a really long time.
But seriously, if the carbon frames out there are at least as durable as the aluminium versions of these frames (and I have no doubt about it), you are free to build a sub 30 lbs dh bike or save some money, buy a few burlier bits and get a bike that will rest for a really long time.
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Why do people pretend that this is a DH bike? Tires, wheels, brakes, cranks are ALL for XC only. That bike would be dangerous on a proper DH trail.
That shouldn't be called project "flyweight" it should be project "Uselessly long travel xc bike".
That shouldn't be called project "flyweight" it should be project "Uselessly long travel xc bike".
i agree.
id love to try and break one of these light weight bikes....just not have to pay for it when i do.
The build on my Nomad is burlier than that.
this is because you are on tires that are barely stiff enough to be ridden tubeless on a TRAIL bike.
The wheels are Bonty's AM model.. not exactly burly by anyone's standards, but just as heavy duty as some of the lighter custom built race wheels that I've seen out there. The brake's are Elixir's w/ 8" rotors - what's not DH ready about those (for most riders)? Nope, they're not Codes, but loads of riders don't need Codes. The cranks are XO DH cranks, which I have tons of time on, and I easily have more faith in them then pretty much any aluminum crankset out there. They are light given their intention, but up to par. Yes, I know the majority of riders out there think that they chuck harder, go faster and slam stuff so hard that none of the stuff would last, but as a fellow hack I'd have no issues in running any of it (minus the tires). Calling the bike dangerous is a massive overstatement.
I'll give you the point on the tires though.. The EXO casing can roll over, is more prone to punctures and is also much, much more pressure sensitive than a proper dual ply model.
they havent started shipping yet
yep. apart from the tires there's really nothing on there that isn't up to pro level use. yeah the rim longevity is most likely limited, but am rims are pretty standard wc fare, so evidently not off the mark in terms of race run strength.
very well said
Nope, I was told they wouldn't start shipping until Oct 24. Bike shop said I should have mine late Oct early Nov
Elixir brakes, XO DH cranks and heavy duty trail wheels. The only ****box parts on that bike are the tires. Give me a break.
They're calling those cranks DH cranks now? Lulz. I had the good fortune of swinging a leg over the carbon session that trek is floating around for the pro reviewers this past weekend. It had basically this same part build (but with fox). I don't think I've felt a pair of flexier cranks on a mountain bike before. The brakes felt like dog sh!t too, the 40 hybrid air was a joke, and well, ya, no thanks on half those parts. This thing was essentially brand new too. I would imagine (hope?) that Trek would be sampling only a bike that had primo parts and was put together perfectly. But maybe I'm wrong?
Frame is sick though.
(P.S. Most of my thoughts were mirrored by the other people testing this bike as well, so its not just me)
Frame is sick though.
(P.S. Most of my thoughts were mirrored by the other people testing this bike as well, so its not just me)
I've heard more bad than good about elixir brakes with people switching back to codes after riding with them. I have the same design wheels on my trail bike...say what you will, but I'd want something sturdier/designed for DH and not xc/trail riding. No comments on the cranks, but you don't see them on a ton of DH bikes, there's got to be a reason for that.
It's not that people don't go harder, its that they wreck and don't have a trailers worth of stuff to replace anything that breaks. We've beaten this to death, and there are two camps, it's that simple.
It's not that people don't go harder, its that they wreck and don't have a trailers worth of stuff to replace anything that breaks. We've beaten this to death, and there are two camps, it's that simple.
the xo cranks are 30g lighter than an e13 or descendant or mrp camber, or whatever.
the xo elixirs may not the ultimate brakes, but they are no lighter or heavier than, say, formula the ones...
plenty of folks run 470-500g rims (ex500, flow, wtb tcs AM race, etc).
the xo elixirs may not the ultimate brakes, but they are no lighter or heavier than, say, formula the ones...
plenty of folks run 470-500g rims (ex500, flow, wtb tcs AM race, etc).
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care to elaborate on the fork?
Those brakes are what most of the world cup ran all year as DH brakes. For some courses they ran code calipers, but the majority of races were on xo calipers. The new Elixir 9s were what was branded as blackbox brakes all season. I've been on mine for a few months and they work great.
Those cranks are stiffer and stronger (as well as lighter) than the majority of Dh specific aluminum cranks on the market.
The reason you do not see the cranks on many bikes yet is that they are not shipping. They are still waiting for them to arrive in stock at SRAM. They will be stock on a bunch of 2012 bikes.
Those cranks are stiffer and stronger (as well as lighter) than the majority of Dh specific aluminum cranks on the market.
The reason you do not see the cranks on many bikes yet is that they are not shipping. They are still waiting for them to arrive in stock at SRAM. They will be stock on a bunch of 2012 bikes.
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what pros run on the circuit doesnt mean much for us mere mortals. i ran Elixr CR's then Elixr CR levers w/ Code calipers and besides for the nice lever, i didnt like them at all. they certainly didnt have enough power for someone my size. i also just put a set of Elixr 9's on a customer's Firebird and they feel just like my Elixr CR's.....plus we all know how reliable Sram's brakes are
and the XO DH cranks have been shipping for several weeks now....at least with QBP
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Typical seal drag of a 40. Adjusters broke for seemingly no reason at all. Lack of LSC. The "hybrid air" seems (not certain, I haven't pulled one apart) to just be an air preload like zoke forks. Which as anyone knows, tends to feel like complete sh!t compared to a properly sprung coil or properly designed air spring.
Exactly. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that I drag my brakes just a tiny bit more than say...Danny Hart. I know, I know, crazy. But I bet I need a little bit heavier duty brake to stop my ass.
Alls I know is that everyone remarked how flexy the cranks felt compared to the saints we all run.
I just hate when companies build up some light bike and compare it to all the other builds that mfg. use. How bout you just tell us the weight of the frame, with hardware, sans shock? Why is that so hard when its the only thing that matters?
also, I've always been curious as to where the major amount of flex in a crank is. My instinct tells me its at the spindle junction and a twisting from the spindle itself. I'd be curious to see quantified measurements from some of the major cranks and see what makes crank from brand A stiffer then brand B. I know based on my experience, that unless a crank is a noodle (see, gravity lites) they all feel pretty stiff. Although I can definitely tell the difference between xt, say, and saints, the difference between two DH cranks seems alot more blurry to me.