Ali C

ahh, k

wat? higher bb is easier to spin, you have to raise the bars as well though. If you raise the bb height and not the bars, firstly you are a fool and secondly it would be harder to pull up for hops which in turn is harder for spins, but a low bb and low bars will still be harder to spin and hop than a high bb and (comparable) low bars.

since when has TGS been "proper" street? I meant long chainstays and low bbs are bad for bmx type street where spins and hops are used.

as long as you don't want to do spins , long chainstays and low bb = bad news for "proper" street.

or a Hex

if the snow goes a bit I wouldn't mind going, not been for ages and never on my Hex.

either of those bikes will be good on the rear wheel, perhaps too good! I am a big believer in learning all the techniques in trials, bunnyhops, backwheel stuff, front wheel stuff and even streetier stuff like manuals and spins, even if you don't need to use them that often, it will make you a better all-round rider. The two frames you mentioned have pretty extreme geometry in that the bottom bracket is very high, this means the bike will be very bias for rear wheel stuff sacrifices a lot of other stuff. This is all well and good if all you want to do is rear wheel hops, but there is a LOT more to trials than that. It's not like other frames are bad on the rear wheel either and learning all the moves on a less extreme frame will put you in good stead for the future. Something worth considering anyway, plus it's no coincidence that most riders with a nice style learned to ride on "normal" frames even if they then later went to high bb frames.

I don't have much experience with the new SL hubs, but I know the older Echo splined hubs were a fairly tight fit with no play.

just been out in the snow and bedded in my bb5, I have it combined with a 200mm saint rotor I had (alloy arms) and its pretty dam good! it's a LOT better than my 180 mono trials on my other bike. I must admit I only got the bb5 because Tarty didn't have the bb7 in, power wise I think they are about the same, but the bb7 is obviously more adjustable (though I think the bb5 is stiffer and stronger).

does the sprocket still have play once the lockring is tightened? The axle is meant to be like that so it doesn't spin when the bolts are done up.

take your blinkers off and smell the beef.

I had a bb5 once and it was possibly the most powerful brake I have had. I have just put one on the front of my natural bike too. To make them pull easier, there is a grub screw on the activating arm on the caliper that adjusts the spring tension.

that already exists

yeah you can use the metal washers on any clamp that uses plastic washers. TNN clamps are good and would be my choice if I was going for washer-less clamps.

most people die because they are either idiots and just wander on without testing or to try and save their dog which has already gone through the ice. I went on with extreme caution testing before every foot was planted, it was also a small bit of water compared with most lakes people usually die in. But yeah, I wouldn't recommend anyone follow my actions.

my bro and I took a walk up the river today and he took some pics on his phone this is a mill pond frozen over enough for my bro and I to stand and jump on it, good job it was strong as it's about 6ft deep. Some waterfall completely frozen iiccee

haha, just found a folder on the computer I didn't know I had, it happens to have a lot of photos of you mr Bongo, including these three I found.

I know Rowan, I have ridden his bike, I had an Echo Pure, it's deffo a pure. He does have an effect, but some riders are super keen on cirten geo and some sponsors allow riders to sticker up their fave frames.

the Neon and Born frames have very high bbs, I would definitely say try before you buy! in a comp situation you may find it hinders you rather than helps you if you don't have much experience of extreme geo AND the whole comp riding lark. A higher bb will mean your weight is higher and more top heavy, balancing won't be as easy, plus you may find you start riding like you are on a pogostick and just backhop everywhere, this will use a lot of energy nad knacker you out quicker in comps. You may also find that when you land something to backwheel, you will fall off the back (I know I did). Unless you KNOW you will like the more extreme geo and are willing to sacrifice rideability for ease of rear wheel control, I would recommend something less extreme and as much as I hate them, the Onza Limey 3 doesn't have too bad geo. Also worth considering are the Because simple (cheapest on Tarty), Ashton Justice (heavy but nice geo), Echo pure (bb is a tad low, but not a bad frame), the Zoo Piranha (only the short left and ugly, but nice light strong frames).

that bike pictured is an Echo Pure 04

haha, yeah, couldn't find a single way for getting the bearings out and eventually destroyed the arms.

I didn't really use the Cane Creek arms, once I found I couldn't get the pads to hit properly, I sent it back.

in what situation are you hitting them? I LOVE vee brakes, but I found when riding street with spins and stuff, I could hit the brake from time to time and landing with any side force would make the brakes hit too. I just went to Magura despite my hatred for them. There is a couple of things you can try, the narrower rim as you said (and yes, the weight will be correct). The ultimate arms are not all that great in my eyes, I found the bearings go notchy after being applied to forces in directions the bearings are not designed for thus making the brake impossible to setup with both pads hitting at the same time. Plus they are quite fat, replacing them with some Shimano LX or XT arms will make you able to move them more out of the way, I tried Cane Creek cantis before, I also found it impossible for them to be set up so the pads hit together, one arm would always hit before the other. What pads do you have? TNN backings are the narrowest you can get plus they have the recess in the backing which takes the place of one of the conical washers allowing even more room.

just screw a new helicoil piece in (no tools needed) but use some red loctite to keep in place.

My fave clamps are either Magura's own ones, or the Echo SL (the cnc washer works really well)