Rising from the Ashes of Cracked Dreams

I choose my words carefully when I say I love the Yeti SB-66c. It's not just a crush, but a full on infatuation so it is with a very heavy heart that I say the Yeti build is no more!!! Let me explain...

As you may have read, I was recently on a skills course with the guys from Pro Ride Guides. They do a lot of product reviews for the likes of MBUK including the review of the SB-66. They ride Santa Cruz Nomads themselves and were of the opinion that the SB-66 was more of a trail bike that wouldn't be capable of big hits like other similarly priced options. Believe me when I say I was crying on the way home...I wished I hadn't asked!

Fast forward a few weeks and the seed of doubt had been sewn, so I took the pragmatic approach and emailed Yeti with my concerns including whether the frame could cope with big hits and spills. As you would expect, their response was quick and encouraging. Then this happened...a forum post about the frames cracking and a number of people claiming "me too".

I do not have thousands of pounds to spend on a frame every month and the idea of a frame cracking whilst out in the middle of nowhere does not appeal. So, I've heeded the advice of people far more in the know than me, and arranged a test ride on a Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon.

The proposed spec is similar to the SB-66c with changes here and there (headset, longer travel seatpost, front mech, and bar grips!)

• Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon
• Fox 34 TALAS 160 FIT CTD w/Trail Adjust
• Industry Nine All Mountain (Black Stan Flow Rim, Black spokes, Gold Hub)
• KS LEV 430mm Adjustable Seatpost
• Hope M4 Evo Brakes
• Shimano XTR M985 Shadow+ 10sp Rear Mech
• Shimano XTR M985 Top Swing 2x10 Front Mech (Low Clamp, 34.9mm)
• Shimano XTR Shifters 10sp Direct Attach M980
• Shimano XT M771 10 Speed Cassette
• Shimano M810 Saint Bottom Bracket (73mm)
• Shimano SLX M665 Double Chainset (175mm - 36.22t - 68/73mm)
• Cane Creek 110 Upper Assemblies Separates  ZS49/28.6 8mm SH 1.5-1 1/8 inch Conversion, Zerostack, Short
• Cane Creek 110 Lower Assemblies Separates  EC49/40 SH 12mm 1.5 inch steerer, External, 49mm headtube bore
• SRAM PC1091 10 Speed Hollow Pin Chain
• Fizik Gobi XM MTB Saddle 2012
• Point 1 Split Second 50 (in black of course)
• ODI Rogue MTB Lock-On Bonus Pack
• 2 x Continental Mountain Queen Protection Folding MTB Tyre - 26 x 2.4

That Flat Feeling

Many moons ago, before getting my Cube LTD Pro, I used to ride with flat pedals. Once I started riding with the guys from work, I got into the idea of being clipped in. The reason was three-fold (although misguided)

1. I could cheat at bunny hopping (true, but bad practice)
2. I could pull as well as push on up hill pedaling (bad idea as it turns out)
3. You stay attached to the bike on jumps (true)

The downside to clipless pedals are that it's easy for your technique to get lazy. So I've done it - I'm back to flats with a set of Superstar Components Thru-Pin Nano pedals and 510 Impact Low shoes.

On my first ride, I'm loving them and I feel as secure as I do clipped in. A good move that is bound to bring on my riding.

I thought this might be a good time to update you on the Hope M4 brakes as well. I had some trouble fitting these. The fronts were perfect, but the backs just didn't seem right. I emailed their excellent support team and went through the motions though it transpires I'd followed the instructions to the letter. So, I stripped them off and refitted them and I can only imagine that I hadn't centered the calipers properly the first time round. These things are amazing!

They never grab, the reach and bite point adjustments are a revelation and they don't fade. I've heard the sintered pads are even better so I'll try those when it comes time to replace. I couldn't be happier.

Pro Ride Guides

In November 2011, myself and two friends attended a private course at Hamsterley with Pro Ride Guides. It was Joe Rafferty taking the course - if the name sounds familiar, Joe and his brother Alex are the guys responsible for the MBUK skills pages and a good share of their bike reviews too. It was fair to say we were going to get a lot out of the day, but things turned bad when one of our group had a insignificant-looking that actually resulted in a broken ankle and 8 months off the bike!

Joe kindly offered to finish the course at a later date, and that took place at the end of July 2012. The setting was Stainburn in Yorkshire this time. We rode the trails a few times and did a huge amount of skills training in and around the car park and finally headed back to the trail.

Joe used an iPad to replay various features and show where we could improve and reinforce what we were doing well - very high tech but it worked well.

As someone who enjoys buying gadgets and bike parts, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that no bling or bike will improve your performance more than a private skills course. There really is no better "bang for your buck".

Below are some shots and a video of the day. Anyone who has tried videoing or photographing a mountain bike will know how difficult it is to show the perspective. This rock looked FAR worse from the top than it does here!

All in all, a fantastic day and I would highly recommend the friendly guys at Pro Ride Guide.

The Wheel Debate

It's amazing how much time I've spent window shopping for the right wheels and now, finally, I've made my decision. My requirements were the ability to run 2.4" tires, direct pull spokes, high points of engagement, available in 15mm QR at the front and 142x12 at the rear and good reviews on mtbr - which is a website I'm finding has a fan-base that's particularly difficult to please. The obvious choice was the Mavic Crossmax SX but there is one more requirement that I've not mentioned; THEY HAVE TO BE BLACK! I refer you to the picture on my very first blog post. Can you really imagine that sleek work of art with it's black and gold theme with white wheels? I think not.

Industry Nine are not a well known brand in the UK, but there are raving reviews on mtbreview and mtbr. But the most impressive part is that their appearance is infinitely customizable. Their website has a nifty tool that can waste hours of productivity (by their own admission).

Cop a load of these!

Now, they are not cheap, and you do pay a premium for any parts that are outside of the few standard colours (black, white, silver etc.) so a gold hub is at a premium. All in all, we're looking at around £855 from the friendly guys at Prestige Cycles. Yikes!