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So I guess it has been a while since I bought my GF 293, and after one cracked frame (known problem replaced under warranty) I have had no real problems with it until now. The hold-down for my rear gear shifter popped off the CF rear stay.

Anybody have a glue they recommend for fixing it or is this a LBS job?

Thanks.

Life has a way of kicking you in the face, and my Canfield Yelli Screamy which has given me loads of fun unfortunately has to go... think it's pretty much a "one of a kind build", even if we discounted the colourways! :cool: :thumbsup:

Canfield Yelli Screamy, Fox 34 150mm CTD Talas, Hopetech, Rockshox Reverb, complete bike - Buy and Sell and Review Mountain Bikes and Accessories

Hello all!

Here the last production of SKYDE (http://www.skydecomp.com).
It s an AllMountain 29er frame for 120/140mm fork.

- Custom geometry
- 44 headtube
- Double Butted CWSR tubes
- here with a Rohloff hub, but available for classic geared.
- handmade in Taiwan, not in France. Sorry.
Handmade in France will be in the next step...



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https://www.facebook.com/pages/SKYDE...5447552?v=wall

Thank you! ;)

Rony

Several years ago, I was at a track day in Fontucky Ca... Auto-club speed way.. I was on a liter-bike, Yamaha R1, hence the name YamaDan.. anyway, the way the track is set up, you can go into turn 1 really quick, coming off the straight, off the banking, there's a chicane... turn 1, 125mph.. now, with the R1, you can get up to 170mph on the front straight, just touch 6th gear then drop two down to 4th to let the back end step out a bit to set you up for the turn 1 chicane. There's a feel going into it that's hard to describe... The front end gets heavy under the deceleration, the rear rises up a bit, you hug the bike and coax it to the left, you feel the front start to push, you feather back on the front brake, you swing your body weight to the right you let off the brake and ramp up the throttle, the rear spins a bit, you feel the bike underneath you as it pivots, the rear spinning faster than the front as you now shift directions through the chicane. The bike feels balanced and stable, even though you're sliding at 125 miles per hour through a corner...

I call that bike feel and feedback. The bike will let you know what is doing.. pushing, sliding.. chattering.. For a racer, nothing is more important than having a bike you can feel with..

So Monday, I had my follow up with my orthopedist, clavicle looks great, you're not going to hurt it, just don't fall on it or lift heavy weights. Say no more.. I have a new Czar I need to go ride!!

I put 100 pavement miles on it already, the bike is fast. But I really wanted to get it in the dirt. I figured a good fire road climb and decent would be the ticket! Up Blackstar we go..

It's a moderate climb, and as expected, the Turner Czar really wants to go.. Middle ring please!!!!! The bike feels most at home spinning up the trails, like the 5 spot I had before, climbs like a scalded cat!.. The difference is this is 5 pounds lighter...and, has wheels that like to roll. The climb was a treat, a joy.. I pushed the last mile and really saw my potential with this bike..it's really fast! So, we hung out at Beek's for a bit, then started the decent.. hardpack, ruts in the corners, and gravel..

I'm 170lbs, front Fox CTD 120, 70psi, rear fox CTD 155psi .. Forte Pisgahs, 25psi front 28psi rear. This bike gives me feedback!!! Going into the first corner, feels super stable, give it two cranks out, whoosh!! Off to the races, up to speed hauling ass! Brake heavy for the next corner, good planted feel..huh..let it roll a little more, mid apex, front feels lighter, weigh a little more, all good, next corner, off camber, rear feels light, weight and go. did this the whole way down. Bike was talken to me before anything bad happened!! It was awesome! 29er's just want to freight train and build soo much speed, yet the Czar just feels planted.

Hard to describe other than this is the first non motorized bike that gives me this kind of feedback. For a first dirt ride, I finished with a big stooopid grin ear to ear! So far, I'm really digging this bike!

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I just got my Vassago Verhauen built and out on the trails over the weekend and here is what I thought.

The Black Label frames are spec'd with US tubing, US hardware, US powdercoating and welded up in the good. old USA completely in-house by folks that know what they are doing. Nothing is outsourced.

The first thing I noticed out of the box is the really cool paint. I got the green one and the paint has a kind of candy effect to it, You can see through the color to the steel below. It features sliding dropouts, a 44mm headtube and a nifty stainless steel insert in the seat tube to prevent unintended seat post stickage.
After building it up with a Whisky #7 fork, SS drivetrain and I9 wheels, it was time to ride. Vassago vets will notice that this bike (like the Black Label Optimus) "ain't your daddy's Vassago".. It is stiff! Much stiffer than any of the other frames from Vassago. Stiff in a good way though. The bottom bracket (73mm now over the old 68mm) does not budge and the 44mm headtube really adds to a solid feeling front end. On the trail, the Verhauen really handled well. I have mine set up with WTB Bronson 2.2 tires front and rear and they seemed to enable me to use the best of the frame to the fullest in tight singletrack (eastern rocky, rooty, loamy to hardpack). I love the way my bike turns.
Climbing offered the same kind of good vibes. Standing and grinding out steep, long climbs and there was no drama, no unwanted swagger from the bottom bracket, nothing but forward motion. I can't wait to get more saddle time to really get no know the new frame.

I also own a Black Label Optimus (geared) and a 2nd gen (Lynskey made) Optimus (SS). The Verhauen currently is tied for first with the BL Opti for alpha bike status in my stable and the 2nd Gen Opti is....... uh, well it's a spare bike for now.

I haven't weighed any of them but the Verhauen actually feels slightly lighter than the SS Opti (both similar build except whisky fork and I9's on the V and Rock Solid fork and Stan's/Hope wheels on the O). Not a huge issue with me either way but interesting nonetheless.

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Hey guys I demoed a few 29ers a specialized stumpjumper fsr elite and a giant anthem x 29er 1. Really liked the 29er feel. I was getting ready to upgrade my fuel ex 8 but now I want to swap it out for a 29er. Unfortunately the shop was an out of town shop. Locally I have access to Niner, Trek, Santa Cruz, Jamis, and Intense. Having local shop support is very important to me and the next closest shops to me are near 4 hours away.

The bikes I'm looking at right now are the new Trek Remedy 9 29er. The bike is near perfect but comes with a very heavy wheelset and is at the upper limit of my budget.

Next I was looking at building a Niner R.I.P. 9 full XT 2x10 build, with a 140mm rockshox pike, and Reynold alloy wheels.

Finally I was looking at a Santa Cruz Tallboy LTa SPXAM 29 Mostly out of my price range unless the dealer gives me a decent discount. I don't like that the alloy version does not come with a 142x12 rear axle. I would like the carbon but the R AM 29 build really does not appeal to me.

I Ride Aggressive XC and rough trail lots of rocky and loose terrain in the High high desert of New Mexico.

Big wall of text I know I appreciate it if anyone reads it.

TLDR Rip 9, Remedy 9 29er, Tallboy LTa Spxam 29 or something else.

I see Lenz has the PBJ...any others?