[BurlyShirley]

Nobody mentions the Cove handjob?

Great bike, cheap and made in Canada. Love mine, but haven't ridden much lately.

 

[MMcG]

You're one to talk about bike whoring.

I go through my fair share of bikes.....but when someone asks for advice I try and give good advice.

He's got a Cove Stiffee FR frame and people are recommending Sovereigns, Chameleons, Ridges etc. - essentially the same thing he's already got. Sure his frame is older and was labeled FR then - but now his frame is basically an all mountain hardtail.

Why by a whole new bike when he can save his frame and just get a newer/lighter fork and maybe a newer/lighter/snappier wheelset and achieve the same results?

 

[proglife]

I go through my fair share of bikes.....but when someone asks for advice I try and give good advice.

He's got a Cove Stiffee FR frame and people are recommending Sovereigns, Chameleons, Ridges etc. - essentially the same thing he's already got. Sure his frame is older and was labeled FR then - but now his frame is basically an all mountain hardtail.

Why by a whole new bike when he can save his frame and just get a newer/lighter fork and maybe a newer/lighter/snappier wheelset and achieve the same results?

I'm into this line of thinking as the fork is too burly anyways. I could replace the fork first and see how I do. I just won't hack down the steerer too much.

See my last post...any suggestions?

 

[HAB]

I go through my fair share of bikes.....but when someone asks for advice I try and give good advice.

He's got a Cove Stiffee FR frame and people are recommending Sovereigns, Chameleons, Ridges etc. - essentially the same thing he's already got. Sure his frame is older and was labeled FR then - but now his frame is basically an all mountain hardtail.

Why by a whole new bike when he can save his frame and just get a newer/lighter fork and maybe a newer/lighter/snappier wheelset and achieve the same results?

What you said totally makes sense, I'm just giving you sh*t.



I agree that if you're going to get a new bike, it might as well be something different, i.e. lighter/ steeper angles, if you're looking to speed things up a bit. Otherwise, like MMcG said, a lighter wheelset and/or fork might make a lot more sense.

 

[jimmydean]

I'm into this line of thinking as the fork is too burly anyways. I could replace the fork first and see how I do. I just won't hack down the steerer too much.

See my last post...any suggestions?

Get yourself a nice new Fox. Something light with adjustment. I need burly forks because I'm fat and old. But I have accepted that and deal with a heavy front.

 

[proglife]

Get yourself a nice new Fox. Something light with adjustment. I need burly forks because I'm fat and old. But I have accepted that and deal with a heavy front.

what's up with the QR15? Would I need a new hub (have 20mm now)?

 

[HAB]

what's up with the QR15? Would I need a new hub (have 20mm now)?

It's a pointless new standard. No lighter than a 20mm axle, barely stiffer than a 9mm QR, and yes, it does require a different hub, unless you happen to have one that's convertible.

 

[proglife]

It's a pointless new standard. No lighter than a 20mm axle, barely stiffer than a 9mm QR, and yes, it does require a different hub, unless you happen to have one that's convertible.

seems like a bad move, but what do i know? I started looking at RockShox just because of the qr15.

 

[Mattoid]

Transition TransAm
On-one 456 Summer Season

 

[MMcG]

The one thing to remember - your Cove was designed around a longer travel fork - I'm guessing 130mm at a minimum - so I wouldn't go lower than that. With that said - there are a slew of forks that would fit the bill and probably be a pound or two pounds lighter than your Z1.

Also your current wheelset is a bit heavy.

 

[proglife]

The one thing to remember - your Cove was designed around a longer travel fork - I'm guessing 130mm at a minimum - so I wouldn't go lower than that. With that said - there are a slew of forks that would fit the bill and probably be a pound or two pounds lighter than your Z1.

So maybe a Pike or Revelation?

Also your current wheelset is a bit heavy.

Any suggestions? Planning on picking up some Nevegals to replace the Tioga DH's. What's the sweet spot on wheels? Is there an Ultegra/Open Pro equivalent? A disc wheel you can't beat for the money?

 

[MMcG]

How much do you weigh and all that kinda stuff -and how do you currently ride that Cove? Do you do drops? Jumps? hucks? or do you just ride it with wheels on the ground for the most part?

 

[proglife]

How much do you weigh and all that kinda stuff -and how do you currently ride that Cove? Do you do drops? Jumps? hucks? or do you just ride it with wheels on the ground for the most part?

I'm 6'1, 190 lbs or so. No jumps (at least not dirt jump style). Definitely no hucks. Mostly wheels on the ground. I like technical climbs and fast downhills. I never go super fast XC racing.

I guess you could say I dick around in the woods

 

[proglife]

if it makes any difference: I don't like the feel of full suspension. I do like running larger tires.

 

[J-Dubs]

You'd better lay out some budget constraints before some people here tell you that the only way to go is with Industry Nine and Edge Composites.

I will give a suggestion that your fork have adjustable travel, i.e. u-turn, talas, etc. that way you can play with the amount of travel that you like on your frame. They are more expensive though.

 

[proglife]

You'd better lay out some budget constraints before some people here tell you that the only way to go is with Industry Nine and Edge Composites.

I will give a suggestion that your fork have adjustable travel, i.e. u-turn, talas, etc. that way you can play with the amount of travel that you like on your frame. They are more expensive though.

don't want I9's, Chris King or anything that fancy (and no carbon).

 

[MMcG]

I've heard nothing but positive reviews about these Easton Havoc wheelsets.

You could maybe compare their weight to the weight of your current wheels. It might be all you need to change actually.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/WH501A02.aspx

 

[proglife]

I've heard nothing but positive reviews about these Easton Havoc wheelsets.

You could maybe compare their weight to the weight of your current wheels. It might be all you need to change actually.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/WH501A02.aspx

thanks for the link...those look perfect! wish they had a 20mm version!

 

[proglife]

derrr

"Converts from 9 mm axle to 20 mm through in seconds — no tools required! "

win!

 

[jimmydean]

I haven't gotten a whole new bike in forever, it seems. I go through cycles where I'll get a new frame and swap over, or a new fork, or a new build kit.

My current bike started as a used frame and fork with new build kit. I didn't like the fork, so I sold it and got a new one. Then I decided the frame was too much, so I sold it and got another used one. Then the cranks and guide didn't work on the new frame, so I replaced those.

Now I'm happy until next year when I decide to get something else. I will change the tires soon because these suckers are like 8 pounds each.

 

[proglife]

sorry 'bout the hand-holding....appreciate all the advice. how does this sound?

current **** to swap: Z1 FR QR20, Singletrack/Ringle 20mm, Rhyno Lite XL/XT Disc, Tioga 2.3 DH

replace with: RS Revelation Air (maxle), those Easton AM wheels, 2.5" Nevagals

worthy upgrades?

 

[MMcG]

you will be fine with 2.35 Nevegals if you are set on those tires.

 

[Jeremy R]

you will be fine with 2.35 Nevegals if you are set on those tires.

Yep. I would get some fast rolling 2.2 tires to go along with his other upgrades which are spot on.

 

[proglife]

WORD

thanks guys

 

[proglife]

one more question. i swear

thinking of trying a Stan's setup with the wheels. Will those Eastons work well with Nevegals? I'm sure I'm reaching here, but maybe someone has had that setup

 

[EastCoaster]

WORD

thanks guys

Cracks me up...
I'm from the Philly burbs... Say WORD all of the time... Just saw that you're in MD.
Did you look up any of Scrublover's bikes?
He's the mofo of burly trail hardtails.

 

[proglife]

i have not, i don't think.

ended up getting the Z1 rebuilt and picked up the Havoc AM's and Nevegals. Works good enough for me.

 

[EastCoaster]

Nice choice...
And, you're probably lovin' trail ridin just as much as ever...
WORD!

 

[Leppah]

the absolute best trailbike frame out there right now is the Transition Trans-Am, i have been riding this bike for the past 2 months and basically dont ride anything else in the stable. It is well priced and a rock on the trail and i have ridden both Evil's and Santa Cruz trail bike frames in the past:

that looks nice. what's the head angle on that bad boy?

 

[kazlx]

68.5*