Bicycle Bits! - What’s your latest acquisition?

When I got my new bike recently it came with a 100mm/7º. We tried a 100mm/17º stem on it instead. I didn't like that since it put me too high and didn't feel right for riding trails. I swapped that for a 110mm/7º, just a little longer, but with a lower rise. Today I rode one of my favorite singletracks. On the first loop I rode with the 110/7 stem. For the second loop I changed it for the original 100/7. The latter gave me more control (especially for turn-ins on switchbacks) and my hands and back felt better.

After the ride the extra 110/7 stem went back to the LBS for store credit. I ended up brining home a new Bontrager floor pump in exchange.

I am thinking about getting a Fizik Aliante XM Gamma mountain bike saddle on a recommendation. Anyone here used one?

I have them and use them for the harshest of weather. They do keep my feet warm, but not dry. They delay, but don't prevent the ingress of water. When the weather is "interesting" enough for neoprene overshoes, the looks don't really come into it! It's all good!

Dear Debs,

I tried those mudguards on the Carlton, and they caused a problem. Broth the brake callipers are too close to allow for them to clear 700 23c tyres. Yes I could get them to clear but after a mile they were shaken into rubbing again, and the coupling is necessarily not rigid for safety reasons, so that if the tyre catches the guard then it will all break away and shatter rather than unseat the rider. I never quite believed that would work either!

With my 700-28c Schalbe Marathons - winter tyres - there would absolutely no hope of even getting them into the gap.

I just accept that if it is wet, I go slow enough not the irrigate myself with dirty water from the pathway!

ATB from George

1) A 17 degree stem should put your bars lower, unless you have it on upside down.

2) I can't imagine being sensitive/good enough to detect 10mm in stem length difference on the handling of a mountain bike. But admittedly, I am a totally cr@p mountain biker. I really am rubbish.

No, the stem is designed to go both ways. There is no upside down. It can rise up or drop down, depending on what you want, how the bike fits you, and the style of riding you are doing. In fact, the branding (Bontrager RXL) is printed on both sides to look right either way you mount it.

I have not been mtn biking long, but I was able to tell a difference between the stems. I did 5 miles with one stem. Stopped and changed to the other stem and did the exact same 5 miles again. There was a noticeable difference for me in the way the bike turned in, especially on tight switchbacks. ALso, where my hands were starting to hurt with the first stem, they stopped with the other. The shorter stem worked much better for me.

Also, I had ridden the same trail previously with the shorter stem. When I arrived today with my bike I had the longer stem and the ride just didn't seem as satisfying. When I restored the original stem on the second loop, it felt right again (in terms of comfort and handling).

I was also surprised that a mere 10mm of stem length could make such a difference, but when I took the stem back to the store, the experienced mtn bike riders agreed with me, and were impressed I even did that test. FWIW: I noticed the difference less when riding on a paved path in the local city park yesterday.

Not quite, but I have an Alliante carbon railed road saddle which I've had on the commuter bike for the past two or three years.  It's pretty good however, I am more inclined towards saddles with cut outs such as the Specalized Romin or Toupe.  I find these are more accommodating for the male anatomy over longer rides even though they feel pretty rigid when you first sit on them.  I've found that the S Works and Pro models are a bit too stiff (the S Works is like a brick!) and I'm about to try the expert version of the Romin Evo which has titanium rails and I'm told, had a little bit more padding and flex than the carbon versions.  Saddles have proven to be a nightmare for me to find one that I could honestly say is comfortable!

Peter

i have used various iterations and still have one on my hard tail. fizik have a test progam and if at all possible, I'd try the Kurve, if you confirm to Fizik's Bull shape (see their website). I find it much better, but also more expensive! One of the things with Aliante is that it really flexes. It makes it very comfortable but I think it also adds to inefficiency in power transfer, but that's just my opinion and not based on data.  I am sure your LBS can make some non-Fizik recommendations and probably have loaners. 

I have recently bought a Kaota Kharma race, full carbon frame and forks, mavic wheels, chimano 105s and just added a trax turbo trainer, I  can now ride my bike whilst listening to my uniqute and sbls.   best of both worlds

I have tried the Aliante but found like Northpole that i preferred the Romin or Toupe. I found that i found a flat saddle much more comfortable. Even the very slight curve of the fiziks i found very uncomfortable after a short period of time. I have found the Charge a good cheap saddle for short rides. I found it a real journey to find a saddle that was comfortable saddles. If you can borrow one from a friend or a shop and try for a bit that would be worth doing.

I tend to like hard saddles. I have ridden SLRs for years.

What I don't like about Fiziks is the poorly conceived engineering. The pointless pointy bit out the back (on some models) and the snake/bull/whatever marketing garbage just put me off. They might be comfy, but there are plenty of other options.

The Crud road racers are shite! all the people I know who bought them have killed them far too quickly. If you want guards for minimal clearance no eyelet bikes try the SKS raceblades. They use the QR for the stays & have a bayonet fitting at the brakes to clip/unclip the guards...

Oh dear. Well, at least they're appropriately named. If I kill mine soon, I'll bear your recommendation in mind, thanks.

SLR Superflow is excellent. Moved to it from a Spesh and it is a revelation.

An incredible product. I rarely would say this about anything but it is. Retro looks but mounts well (I have both the old and new mounts - some prefer the former but I have had no problems with either) and the build quality is superb. Like having a motorbike headlight. Makes a complete mockery of the race for lumens. Made by lighting experts. Doesn't dazzle other road users like most of the LED torch derivatives do.

http://www.philips.co.uk/c/bic...ux-bf48l20bblx1/prd/

The first review sums it up. If you buy one and don't like it I'll refund your money (well, I won't but you get the drift).

Rod

They do need to be treated a little with kid gloves as they aren't the most robust of devices!  I got a good two seasons out of mine but neglected to regularly check the thumb turn screw connection between sections of the guards.  This resulted in me losing the rear most section of the back guard which turned out to be the critical bit in terms of keeping my back and bag dry!  They are a bit heath robinson but as long as you periodically check the fixings they work a treat in the wet, protecting rider and drive train components in equal measure.

Peter

Thanks all for the various replies.

An experienced MTB rider at my LBS that recommended this seat for me. They carry the road version of the Alliante and can order the Mtn version for me. I am aware of how the seat flexes a bit, but with full suspension, I'm already on an inefficient bike. I'm more interested in having fun with it comfortably.

I'll research the other models suggested here. The SLS Superflow looks like you can pee while riding. I guess it's aptly named. 

I ended up getting a Fizik Alliante Gamma Gummi in black from my LBS today, rather than the mountain XM version. I still have to go back with my bike so they can get the proper fit adjusted for me. I also bought my wife a Terry Butterfly Gel saddle. The Fizik is pictured

I really don't care about keeping stuff dry when it rains. It all gets wet anyway.

One of these arrived today : )

Blackburn - Road Mirror [ £9.40 ]

Very quick n easy to fit around a brake hood and secure with provided velcro strap.

Looks very well made albeit bit bulkier than expected but it’s feather-light at 76 grams.

Should come in very handy on my usual course ride sortie giving advance warning of enemy fighters on my tail vehicles approaching from the rear.

Will try it out later : )

Debs

If you start shouting "Incoming, incoming, incoming" panic...

Joff

Got a red flashing light and flight radar screen for that!  

Meanwhile - that bloody mirror!,

The reflection is a useless blur of mush on all but the smoothest of road surfaces [which don’t account for much on my usual ride]. Have made an anti-vibration adjustment and will give it one more trail but don’t expect much or think it will be remaining on the bike for long.

There is another bike mirror product called the Bike-Eye which looks a better arrangement - lots of vids on you-tube.

btw - Welcome to the forum, Joff

how are you getting on with your new bike?

Debs

While I don't use a mirror, those goofy-looking helmet mounted ones would minimize the vibration issues.

I try to ride predictably, take the lane where necessary but otherwise provide room for overtakers coming from behind. I use my hearing and look-around where required. I've never really felt the need for a mirror.

It's already cold enough to use my ski-hat, so helmet mirror is not for me.

But this is interesting...

Bike Eye Rear View Mirror

A couple more new aquisitions today.

A Light and Motion Taz 1200 headlight and Serfas seatstay taillight.

And a set of tires riding trails with all the loose leaves and damp/moist soil of Autumn and Spring. Maxis Ignitor EXO 29x2.1.