[Metal]

So with Big Bear closed to bikes that are over 35lbs, and my love for Big Bear, I decided to weigh by Inedible today to see how close it is to the cut-off. I have yet to weigh my bike all season, and my local shop has a digital scale, so I weighed it. To my suprise, my bike was 40.0lbs. I always thought it was more because I have DH tubes, steel springs, and normal DH parts. Other than the SDG I-beam seat/post combo, nothing is lightweight.
So right now I have 5lbs to drop, seems do-able. Below is a list of what I have on the bike, and what I am planning to do. I have a very tight budget to work with, so this might take a couple months to finish.

Frame: BCD Inedible w/ FSA integrated headset, Romic w/ steel spring
Fork: 2002 Rock Shox Boxxer w/ Romic crown/stem and paint stripped
cranks: Truvativ 170 Holzfeller w/ 38t Truvativ sprocket
BB: Truvativ 100mm DH team
Tires: Kenda Nevegal 2.5" front and a Blue Groove 2.35" rear
Chainguide: Integrated into the frame w/ E13 bashring
tubes: Dh
bars: SIC Race bars cut to 25"
seat/post: SDG I-beam with the lightest seat they have
pedals: Weighed the bike accidentaly with a set of Atomic flats I had on there, but I would normally have Shimano m-646 clips
Wheel: Hope Bulb front laced to a Mavic d321 w/ straight gauge spokes and brass nipples, Formula rear laed to a Mavic d321 w/ straight gauge spokes and brass nipples (the spokes are too long and were twisted)
Brakes: Hayes 8" mags
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore shifter with broken off display, Dura-Ace derailleur, Sram R9 12-26t cassette, Sram PC-99 chain
grips: GT moto


Right now I am thinking of:
1. converting the bike from tubes to Stan's or ghetto tubeless
2. getting a Ti spring for the rear if I can find one for cheap
3. swapping from Holzfellers to Stylos
4. switching to double-butted spokes
5. relacing the back wheel to a pro only yellow Mavic d521 that I aquired
6. maybe going for slightly smaller tires, but right now I am happy with these
7. Shimano m-424 pedals instead of the m-646's I normall run
8. Maybe getting the E-13 guard shaved down on a lathe by someone in the ME department at my school
9. I might also swap out some of the steel hardware on my frame for aluminum like the shock bolt clamps and whatnot.
10. Maybe do the Boxxer spring mod that Vitoz did with a Firefly Ti spring. Does Rock Shox make a spring for a 300lb rider. If so, maybe I could just go 1 steel spring.


So my question is, do you think doing this will make my bike sub 35lbs, or should I just not waste my time? I really want to continue riding Big Bear on my DH bike. I actually like it better than Whistler, and almost as much as Plattekill. I could always ride my Intense Spider, but I don't think it could last a year of pounding there.
Some of the mods listed above would be free, or cost very little. Do you think I will need them all done, or do you think doing a couple of them will drop enough weight.

Pictured is the bike as it was weighed.

 

[buildyourown]

I wouldn't go spending lots of $ yet. That 35# thing looked more like a casual comment than a firm policy.

My comments:
Tioga makes some light rims, something like 500g each
6" rotors, cheap, saves 1/2# and guys like you don't need real brakes anyways
Switch from a bashgaurd to a chainguide plate. Think thin. If you don't hit it, it isn't an issue.
Even with that, you'll probably have to run lighter tires to break the 35# mark

 

[binary visions]

Is that their only criteria for determining the difference between a DH bike and all other bikes?

Seems pretty silly... I mean, my first thought would be to look at it and say it has a 7" DC fork on it - it's a DH bike.

Just something to think about before you go spending money and find out that when you get there, they turn you away. I'm sure there must be more criteria than a weight class.

Tubeless & lighter tires will probably be the biggest way to save weight, though...

 

[leprechaun]

That bike looks DH no matter how much it weighs.
Show up on a mountain cross bike and NO armour and they might let you ride.

It's not like they will be weighing bikes at the bottom of the lift...

my ASX is 35 with a Sherman Breakout,single ply Stans tires,buttes spokes 721's hadleys,old XTR cranks,DRS with superlight bashring,etc.
Best part,looks kinda XC with sc fork!

 

[LOOnatic]

From reading the TBB release i don't think the 3 main DH runs will be open at all sadly.
IE, the exercise of putting DH bikes on a diet is moot.
You guys read it closely and discuss please.

Shoot, i hope i'm wrong about it.
Just think, TBB may have accidentally started the next fad with the evolution of burly xc bikes\bulemic DH bikes.

 

[neversummersnow]

Sanjay, I'd be close, but I think 36 is about as light as you'll get her short of XC tires.

 

[narlus]

Just think, TBB may have accidentally started the next fad with the evolution of burly xc bikes\bulemic DH bikes.

but if there are no decent trails to ride 'em on, what's the point?

 

[Pegboy]

Is your pixie bike considered a DH rig? How about the "Paperboy" ride?

 

[Jimmy_Pop]

just tell the ticket office that you read 35 pounds on the internet, they'll allow you on the lift for sure.

 

[LOOnatic]

but if there are no decent trails to ride 'em on, what's the point?

Exactly my point if the 3 main DH runs are closed.
It is worth it if they remain open to cough,cough "XC" bikes.
In the past XC bikes would occasionally ride the 3 DH runs but not very often so i would think that it still might be okay to ride them if your bike fits their criteria (weight wize or whatever the std.)

My original point was that the TBB release makes it seem as if the only trails to stay open to bikes is the XC crap off the back.

 

[LOOnatic]

Sanjay, I'd be close, but I think 36 is about as light as you'll get her short of XC tires.

Oh he could just take the chain off then.
Ain't the first time.
Brakes too.....
Yeah i'm serious.

 

[Metal]

Well if there aren't even going to be any DHish trails to ride, than, yeah it isn't worth the effort. What trails are open off the mountain? I still have plenty of fun riding that stuff.

To BV, what about a bike with a 7" single-crown. I think of the Sunday I rode at Mt. Snow to be just as much of a DH bike as my Inedible.

 

[dw]

Oh he could just take the chain off then.
Ain't the first time.
Brakes too.....
Yeah i'm serious.

ahahha

seriously though, taking the drivetrain off would save some weight for sure! Why bother with the drivetrain and some pinner plate, when if you hit it and your chianring folds its useless anyways, right?

Good thinkin outside the box, I like it!

I dunno though, maybe somethigs better than nothing, I guess Im torn, but I still like that idea.

dw

 

[dw]

Where the hell is Seb? He would have this thing dialed up for you in abut 1 minute flat with actual weights and everything!

 

[Metal]

Oh he could just take the chain off then.
Ain't the first time.
Brakes too.....
Yeah i'm serious.

Ha, yeah, I have done my fair share of chainless Big Bear runs. Also without the chain, there is no need for the cahinguide, sprocket, cassette, shifter/cable. That would be a couple pounds right there, and the best part, it would be free.
I have also been know to ride without a rear brake, and even when I do have them, I guess they don't get used. I found out after looking at his picture.

 

[heikkihall]

Sanjay wants to make his bike light? Either hes this is a joke or Im going nuts.

 

[heikkihall]

Put a SID on there and youll be all set!

 

[pZyteX]

Hide your saddle under your body armor, when they ask why there's no saddle say: added motivation when praticing no footers.

 

[-BB-]

That bike looks DH no matter how much it weighs.
Show up on a mountain cross bike and NO armour and they might let you ride.

It's not like they will be weighing bikes at the bottom of the lift...

my ASX is 35 with a Sherman Breakout,single ply Stans tires,buttes spokes 721's hadleys,old XTR cranks,DRS with superlight bashring,etc.
Best part,looks kinda XC with sc fork!

I doubt that they would EVER turn someone away b/c they were wearing armor.
THAT is asking for a lawsuit.

Mr. Judge... I initially came with my moto-X helmet and some pads, but they told me I couldn't wear them. Then I crashed and busted my head open b/c they made me wear a helmet w/ less protection. :nuts:

 

[binary visions]

Well if there aren't even going to be any DHish trails to ride, than, yeah it isn't worth the effort. What trails are open off the mountain? I still have plenty of fun riding that stuff.

To BV, what about a bike with a 7" single-crown. I think of the Sunday I rode at Mt. Snow to be just as much of a DH bike as my Inedible.

I think a Breakout+ would be a great "disguise" - it's lighter than your Boxxer I believe, and you can knock it down to 5" travel with nobody the wiser until you flip the travel adjust on the top of the mountain and rip your way down neaky:

 

[heikkihall]

I doubt that they would EVER turn someone away b/c they were wearing armor.
THAT is asking for a lawsuit.

Mr. Judge... I initially came with my moto-X helmet and some pads, but they told me I couldn't wear them. Then I crashed and busted my head open b/c they made me wear a helmet w/ less protection. :nuts:

Yea but in reality a DH bike is safer to be riding down a mountain than an XC bike will be. So its actually the same kind of thing only to a lesser extent. I know steamboat in colorado wont allow dh bikes but Im really not sure how they enforce it. I think their rules state now tripple crown forks and no chain devices. Bikes are starting to get so versatile that its going to be next to impossible to tell what is classified as a dh bike vs a trail bike or xc bike.

 

[leprechaun]

I didn't mean to sound like a tard by saying not to wear armor and a full face but i heard that for a while peeps were riding in colorado on dh bikes w/o full gear and getting on the lifts.

 

[-BB-]

I didn't mean to sound like a tard by saying not to wear armor and a full face but i heard that for a while peeps were riding in colorado on dh bikes w/o full gear and getting on the lifts.

Nor did I think you were a tard.
I just assumed that it was a off-the-cuff remark.

 

[Jm_]

stick the DH tires in your backpack, along with the coil shock to replace the air shock, real pedals to replace the eggbeaters, real seat and seapost to repalce the SLR and carbon seatpost...

I can see it now, going "off in the woods" set the bike up for DH, get to the bottom, switch the components again, ride up, get off, go back into the woods to "change"... :evil:

 

[-BB-]

I didn't mean to sound like a tard by saying not to wear armor and a full face but i heard that for a while peeps were riding in colorado on dh bikes w/o full gear and getting on the lifts.

Oh...
The guys not wearing the armore of FullFace (Sanjay excluded of course) are the "tards".

 

[-BB-]

stick the DH tires in your backpack, along with the coil shock to replace the air shock, real pedals to replace the eggbeaters, real seat and seapost to repalce the SLR and carbon seatpost...

I can see it now, going "off in the woods" set the bike up for DH, get to the bottom, switch the components again, ride up, get off, go back into the woods to "change"... :evil:

Or like back in theday when people (roadies) would "drill" all their chainrings, derailers, brake levers... to save weight.

 

[TheInedibleHulk]

Or like back in theday when people (roadies) would "drill" all their chainrings, derailers, brake levers... to save weight.

Speed holes dude, speed holes. It wasnt just the roadies either.

 

[Rabie]

Well if there aren't even going to be any DHish trails to ride, than, yeah it isn't worth the effort. What trails are open off the mountain? I still have plenty of fun riding that stuff.

To BV, what about a bike with a 7" single-crown. I think of the Sunday I rode at Mt. Snow to be just as much of a DH bike as my Inedible.

If you pursue this, let me know what you find out (what trails will be open, etc.). I could knock a few pounds off my Helius, and with the Breakout +, it doesn't look like a dh bike. I'm down to ride my ht up there next year, but it'd be cool if I had a choice.

 

[OGRipper]

You guys are nuts if you think you'll be able to get out there and ride like before so long as your rig is 35 lbs or less. If they're serious about stopping DH they will have all kinds of restrictions, including speed limits, etc., and they will enforce them.

That said, it would still be cool to have a 35 lb DH bike, so go for it. Just don't expect to ride much DH at Big Bear.

 

[Silver]

I know steamboat in colorado wont allow dh bikes but Im really not sure how they enforce it. I think their rules state now tripple crown forks and no chain devices. Bikes are starting to get so versatile that its going to be next to impossible to tell what is classified as a dh bike vs a trail bike or xc bike.

That makes me want to show up there with a Nucleon with a Breakout+

 

[bikenweed]

You guys are nuts if you think you'll be able to get out there and ride like before so long as your rig is 35 lbs or less. If they're serious about stopping DH they will have all kinds of restrictions, including speed limits, etc., and they will enforce them.

That said, it would still be cool to have a 35 lb DH bike, so go for it. Just don't expect to ride much DH at Big Bear.

Yeah dude. Way to go. Completely give up already and try to tell everyone only the worst possible scenario will occur. I hope you have a fun time crying into your pillow while we figure out a way to ride our bikes and have fun. Dork.
Anyhow, wonder what this news means in terms of the national? Will they still do 4x or slalom? hmmmm...

 

[Mike B.]

On the tubeless end of things if you're running full-on downhill tubes, they're probably about 400 grams. A Stan's DH rimstrip is about 110g and you'll need at least 60 grams of sealant, more or less to taste. That means a savings of about 230 grams per wheel or about a pound overall. Something you might be interested in too is the new Stan's DH rim that comes in at 545g while being 32mm wide.

 

[Sir Happypants]

maybe its time for a biker exodus, of semi-biblical proportions (meaning like 50-60 people), from big bear to dh freindly mountains.

 

[SoCalsurfer]

So is Team Big Bear no more? Moving away from the mountain Fontana has some downhilling no!

 

[Metal]

Sanjay wants to make his bike light? Either hes this is a joke or Im going nuts.

Hekki,

Don't take this the wrong way. I am in no way trying to drop weight because I think it will make me faster or help me do better racing. I would be doing this soley to have the ability to ride my big bike at Summit.

 

[MikeD]

The 35 lb thing was just a random idea quoted by a BB guy, not an actual rule yet...I doubt it'll be the final criteria for what gets on the lift. In any case, there's not gonna be crap to ride. The big 3 trails will be closed, and I'm sure they will ruin the others so that it's just not possible or worthwhile to try and ride them.

 

[SoCalsurfer]

Where there's a will, there's a way! (i.e Where there's a will there's a trail)

 

[MikeD]

Where there's a will, there's a way! (i.e Where there's a will there's a trail)

Not when they cover the trail with logs, there's not, sorry.

MD

 

[TYM]

Boycott Snow Summit. Don't pay them a penny next summer.

We'll just organize an underground shuttle run up and ride all the illegal trails. What's to lose now? They already think downhillers are just a bunch of punks.

F*** them.

 

[MikeD]

Boycott Snow Summit. Don't pay them a penny next summer.

We'll just organize an underground shuttle run up and ride all the illegal trails. What's to lose now? They already think downhillers are just a bunch of punks.

F*** them.

I'm not gonna risk the tickets the forest service will be handing out. I'd rather just go somewhere else...

MD