New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
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New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby willsmother » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:56 am
Will be in Darwin in March. Cycle Zone have recommended Giant XTC 1 in XS size but because they have to order that size in specially I would have to pay a 10% deposit and commit to buying it sight unseen when I came to Darwin. I know this is fair enough on their part and this is definitely not a complaint, but I am a bit anxious about committing to something that costs $1500 without trying it first, because all the threads say go to your LBS and try as many bikes as you can, but we don't have a real LBS here in Dili, and my requirement for an XS frame makes it harder to walk into shops elsewhere and find the size in stock.
Advice very welcome.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby silentbutdeadly » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:58 am
If you do want to keep gunning for the XTC....check out the geometry measurements and compare them to that of your Iguana. You could even make a simple frame out of timber or bamboo that represents the XTC that you can again compare against the Iguana and yourself.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby grasshopper » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:05 am
And are you happy with the gearing of the Iguana, so is the XTC equivalent or better? How does the weight compare? Just thinking that if the frame fits (and budget allows), it might be worth upgrading a few bits to drop some weight if necessary. And maybe plan to replace a few important screws with ti or stainless.
Hope someone can help.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby willsmother » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:08 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby CommuRider » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:00 pm
http://www.this link is broken/Mode ... elID=70672
Suggested height a bit taller than you but it has fat tyres and an 8 speed internal hub
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby grasshopper » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:11 pm
I'd still be checking the XTC specs - weight v Iguana (for an idea of how much you want to shed, if any), crank length (lots of shorties on 165s), gearing, geometry etc. The shop might happily swap out a couple of bits, or you might end up leaning towards buying the frame and getting them to do a custom build and upgrade as funds permit.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby Sydguy » Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:03 pm
When you upgrade to a different bike you really want to try it. Contact the bike makers through their socal media pages and see if they can match you up to a bike. They might be able to find people of similar stature who can help you make the decision based on their experiences.
Merida had some kind of relationship with the Tour De Timor, they might be willing to help in some way.
Best of luck in the tour, take care on the "roads" they are dangerous at best.
JM
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby silentbutdeadly » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:59 pm
willsmother wrote:Wow, replies already, thanks! The problem is that to upgrade my much loved Iguana would require technical skills I do not possess. The bike shop in Dili tries its best but you would not let them loose on high tech jobs or with sensitive or expensive parts. A hammer is one of their more used tools. I could do with one lower "granny" gear for the hills, plus a better (?lighter?) shock. definitely shorter and lighter cranks, the cranks I have on were put on in Mandalay (I lived in Burma for six years before Timor) and they are too long for me and quite heavy. The V brakes are actually OK and for Timor easier to maintain than discs. Its headset is a $9.50 version put on in Dili, its hubs were put on in Rangoon after I wore the old ones out riding in silt in the wet season. A good rebuild would probably solve a lot of problems but I thought sadly that might cost more than a new bike, and in any case I have the problem of getting it to Darwin then back. A lot of keen riders here rebuild or otherwise tinker with their own bikes, but that's more a boy thing really.
If the shop in Dili is basic in their treatment of bikes AND you aren't keen to tinker then the XTC is probably not for you. Highly strung suspension forks, discs, Dili's legendary weather and Timor's legendary roads will mean maintenance will be frequent and frequently specialised. So you may loose either way...
I re-equipped a similarly aged bike with a Shimano Deore 9spd driveline and V-brakes for around $350. Add another $250 for wheels and you're away. Of course these prices would only apply in Darwin. But if you can get them sent there ready for you to pick up then all is good. If there's some one there who could fit them all the better. Just strip the Iguana frame before you go and take it with you.
Otherwise I can't help but think that a steel framed touring bike frame with 700C wheels, fat 35mm tyres, a carbon fork and a 9spd MTB driveline would be a better 'simple' option for someone in your location and temperament for bicycle tinkering!!
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby skull » Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:18 pm
It is timor, the local riders apart from about 5 are a rough and ready style of rider. I remember the first TdT and they were riding barefoot because they had only been given shoes and spds and didn't like them.grasshopper wrote:hmmm. If you know any of the local keen riders well enough to ask advice, they might be able to give you a ballpark on upgrade cost. Or is there a club, where you could ask if there's a member who would do the rebuild for you? It does sound like a fair bit of work though, and parts, as well as getting it Darwin and back.
\
As for a local club I will say again this is Timor.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby willsmother » Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:12 pm
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby trailgumby » Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:20 pm
Most competitors will be on something like an XTC, so if you get stuck you could probably get some help from one of their support teams.
Coil sprung forks with decent damping and an appropriate spring for your weight are pretty hard to come by these days, air sprung forks have come down in price so much that most hardtail bikes in your price range will have them. The advantage is that setting the spring preload so that it suits your weight is a doddle using the shock pump that (I think) comes with the bike: just set the pressure so that you get 20-25% sag when you're in the "attack position" (pedals level, bum off saddle) and you're done.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby willsmother » Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:19 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby silentbutdeadly » Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:49 am
Not really. Air sprung forks are hydraulic forks - they are partially oil filled and they use air chambers as the springs with the oil providing damping (control over compression and expansion of the spring).willsmother wrote:Sorry for basic level question. Are air sprung forks different from hydraulic forks??
Your forks probably have steel coil springs with grease and elastomer pads providing the damping.
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby skull » Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:58 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby grasshopper » Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:18 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby mitzikatzi » Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:38 am
Short people always play the Willow on a 29er card. Her Team mechanics have modified the head set to lower the front end.
I would look for a bike with Avid BB7 brakes ( more than likely you would need to swap them) they are cable brakes.
Other wise I would use disc brakes with mineral oil ie Shimano.
I would also consider using a square taper crankset. Either with a sealed bottom braket bearing or a Phil Wood one which is easily serviced. External bottom brackes do not like being dunked in water and most are difficult to service. Chris King are easy to service but cost a lot.
It would be difficult to find a new fork that fitted your old bike that didn't mess up the handling.
I am unsure if you would be better with an Air or Coil fork considering your location and access to bike servicing
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby willsmother » Tue May 15, 2012 11:05 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby silentbutdeadly » Tue May 15, 2012 9:56 pm
Otherwise...enjoy the Tour!!
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby grasshopper » Wed May 16, 2012 9:52 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby willsmother » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:32 am
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Re: New mountain bike for Tour de Timor-extra small size
Postby grasshopper » Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:23 am
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