Whoa...SRAM's XX

http://www.velonews.com/article/92426/sram-launches-20-speed-mountain-bike-group

Click the link.

Ok the spoiler: its a 2x10 and the rear cassette weigh about 185-210g and the brakes weigh 288g about 2 grams lighter than the much touted Magura Marta SL Magnesiums...hmm.

I am a little discouraged by the BB30 system, not because it a bad or heavy system (it isn't) but rather I'd need a new frame to accommodate/upgrade to the BB30 system.

Sooo just shooting from the hip...I run a 3x8 (I know...just don't believe in the 9 speed...I do now but intial 9 speeds suffered chain snaps and I was snapping chains with a sturdier 8 speed sooo I just never got around to converting.....anyway,) so convert to a 2x10 that means: shifters,f&r deraillieurs,chain rings, cassette and chain...anything else?

Initally the sytem looks light BUT as always I never by 1st generation products...let someone else get all the glory AND headaches with working out the unanticipated problems of real world ownership. Hey if SRAM wants to give me a XX system sure I'll gladly convert to a 2x10 because if something goes wrong with the $2400 system I won't feel as bad. I need to see how it works before I drop the greenbacks.

At suggested retail of $2400 for the complete system...it doesn't seem so bad...granted I've only mulled over the news for about 15 minutes so this opinion could change. (The SID price from yesterday's rant has brewed for the last decade or two).

But its all folly for me at this point as my own recovery...continues. It may be a while before I am out on trail. Baby steps.

PRICE:
Suggested Retail Prices
Group price starting as low as $2430 (not including suspension)SRAM XX Rear Derailleur $265SRAM XX Front Derailleur $106-119SRAM XX Shifter Trigger Set w/Discrete Clamp $276SRAM XX Cassette 10 speed $328Truvativ XX Crank Set $430-470Truvativ BB BlackBox Ceramic Bearings $195-205SRAM Chain PC 1090R HollowPin 10-speed $84SRAM Chain PC 1090 HollowPin 10-speed $76Avid XX Brake per wheel $373-377Avid MatchMaker X Pair $45
XX Suspension ForksRockShox SID XX World Cup 32mm Dual Air 100 Motion Control XX Remote Carbon Crown/Steerer $1,120RockShox SID XX 32mm Dual Air 100 White Motion Control XX Remote $789RockShox Reba XX 29er Dual Air 100 White Motion Control XX Remote (left) 9mm QR $754RockShox Reba XX Dual Air 120 White Motion Control XX Remote (left) Maxle Lite $741RockShox Reba XX Dual Air 100 White Motion Control XX Remote (left) 9mm QR $724RockShox Revelation XX Dual Air 150 White Motion Control XX Remote (left) Maxle Lite $741RockShox Revelation XX Dual Air 140 White Motion Control XX Remote (left) 9mm QR $724

WEIGHTS:
Preproduction WeightsAll weights in grams, provided by SRAMShift Lever Set, 183Rear Derailleur, 181Front Derailleur Low Mount, 118Front Derailleur High Mount, 120Cassette 11-32, 185Cassette 11-36, 208Crankset 39/26 GXP, 730Crankset 42/28 GXP, 754Crankset 44/30 GXP, 779Crankset 39/26 BB30, 670Crankset 42/28 BB30, 694Crankset 44/30 BB30, 734Chain, 260Drivetrain Total, 1597Brakeset** 613Grand Total 2210**Weight for brakes is for a front and rear brake set, 160mm rotors, post-mount front, bracket-mount rear*PressFit 30 bottom bracket weighs 28 grams more than BB30

SID Update

http://www.velonews.com/article/92373/sid-gets-a-new-crown

Interesting News from Rock Shok...although the Manitou MRD R7 is lighter and cost a quarter of the suggested retail of the SID. It used to really piss-me off...just who the fuck do these cycling assholes think they are charging that kind of money for a fucking BICYCLE fork?
Seriously...lets just look at a couple of examples...Park Tool shop stool with wheels & the Par logo on it suggested retail over $75 bucks...Pep Boys equivalent ?NASCAR branded under $30.00...hmmm. CO2 replacement by i.e. Innovations close to $9-12 per pack of 4...Crossman CO2 from Walmart $12.99 for a 24-pack, Brand X MTB or Road Premium Tire (total 'rubber' weight sub 2-pounds/considered a heavy tires) over $50-75 versus a premium AUTO Tire (total rubber weight over 50 pounds) $90. WTF?
Funny this was suppose to be a 'buzz' of the lighter weight SID fork but...I guess it still bothers me that a simple & beautiful sport is soo expensive. Oh sure I could afford the new SID but really...this is a part that cost more than its worth..at least SIDs have a decent reputation unlike some other stupi crazy/no name bike parts out there now.
the cycling industry charges too much money to sustain iteself they must be magicians or alchameists. How else are they able to squeeze blood from a rock?

Steve Larsen

My God he's dead, former National NORBA Champion Steve Larsen at age 39. I'm 39! Holy cow! I was shocked when I read the news, the former Olympian hopeful died during a training run for a triathalon a few days ago.

Initial reports stated heart attack as the cause however VeloNews was reporting a respitory problem as the cause of death.

It made me think of my own mortality for a few moments and saddened me that there's one less rider on trail. I thought he had been screwed at the 2000 Olympics selection via USA Cycling.

USA Cycling has shown a consistency of fucking up the Olympic selection process time after time...the most recent had been illustrated in the documentary "Off Road to Athens." I kind of liked Tomac's idea: Select a National Coach who has total descretion as to who makes the mountainbike team. In my opinion: ideally I think it'd be great if each country could send 6 racers to the MTB Olympics: 3 Men & 3 Women w/alternates: 2 racers & 1 alternate for each gender.

I saw Larsen race the year of the Olympics at Mt Snow...you could see the anger in his racing for being overlooked for the Olympic Team. Anger pays, he won National Champion that year.

Its just unbelievable. Rest in Peace.

Vicarious

Podium Envy: n. watching others win while injured.



Our mountainbike racers had a great weekend of race on ROOT 66 WINSTED WOODS on Sunday. Syl winning CAT 2 Mens 40-49, Jeff taking 2nd CAT 2 Mens 30-39 and Curtis capturing 3rd CAT 1 30-39. Obvioulsy I wished I raced with them, although I don't think my results would've been as impressive as theirs. I'd like to think of it as being a top 10 contender.



With my injury and its slow recovery its painful to watch your freinds go off and race. Race events that you have raced yourself for the past 13 or more years. Mount Snow will probable be the toughest one to endure...haven't missed that one in 14 years. This year will be a 1st. I will most likely go there as a...(gasp)...a spectator.



I'll need to do what I need to do to get proper recover for this injury and get back racing. Racing is all that matters (aside from the obvious: Family Friends). I'll deal with a permament limp if I have to, I'll deal with the loss of speed while walking...just as long as I can get on a bike and race. I don't care how I finish (for the time being) I just want to race.



So for now...I'll have to take comfort with my Team's sucesses and triumphs and look forward to the '10 Season...year of the Mountain Phoenix.