I'm not a better biker, but I play one on FS

[noise_is_life]

OK, I know everyone is sick to death of this topic, but I can't help myself.

Thanks to one of life's little twists of fate, I am now the proud owner of a Jamis Dakar XLT 2 Double Boinger.

So first thing this morning I buzzed over to Brownie to see if I wasted my money.

HOLY S**T!!!

I was able to do things on this new bike that I've never done after many attempts, including an tricky uphill log and and a couple of steep technical climbs.

I'm sure some of it is just the fact that it is a better bike in general than my GT, but I am really impressed.

P.S. Anyone have any tips on converting a GT Avalanche to single speed?

[martini]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
P.S. Anyone have any tips on converting a GT Avalanche to single speed?

Uh, yeah! Take parts off!

Really though. buy single ring chainring bolts for you crankset. Buy an 18T BMX cog and a bunch a spacers. Use your der as a tensioner, or buy one. Take off all parts relating to shifting, and proceed to suffer like you never have, but yet strangely enjoy it! That should do it for ya.

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
OK, I know everyone is sick to death of this topic, but I can't help myself.

Thanks to one of life's little twists of fate, I am now the proud owner of a Jamis Dakar XLT 2 Double Boinger.

So first thing this morning I buzzed over to Brownie to see if I wasted my money.

HOLY S**T!!!

I was able to do things on this new bike that I've never done after many attempts, including an tricky uphill log and and a couple of steep technical climbs.

I'm sure some of it is just the fact that it is a better bike in general than my GT, but I am really impressed.

P.S. Anyone have any tips on converting a GT Avalanche to single speed?

(Standing in front of post, drastically covering it with his arms)

Nothing to see here!

This man is obviously delusional, no time to let his remarks about being a better rider on FS sink in! Nothing to see here!

[Kingbozo]

I am now the proud owner of a Jamis Dakar XLT 2 Double Boinger.

Nice Bike!

[jaybird]

Anakin.... welcome to the dark side of the force.

[noise_is_life]

Originally posted by martini
Use your der as a tensioner, or buy one.

Is it worth it to buy a tensioner? What are the benefits, if any?

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
Is it worth it to buy a tensioner? What are the benefits, if any?

Mountain bikes don't have straight-back dropouts, which were designed for BMX bikes so you could adjust the chain tension that way. Therefore, you need a tensioner to prevent the chain from being too loose, otherwise it'll skip off the gears at speed or going over bumps or by looking at it funny. ;)

[noise_is_life]

I just realized I left myself open for that answer, I was just going back to edit my post. :)

I meant versus just using my derailleur as the tensioner.

[manual63]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
Is it worth it to buy a tensioner? What are the benefits, if any?

The benefit is that without a tensioner of some sort, it won't work. Only if you have straight dropouts that allow you to adjust the rear wheel, like on my P.2 or a BMX bike, will you be able to run single without a tenstioner. You don't have straight dropouts, so you need a tensioner or just use your current derailleur as a tensioner. You just use the little screws to align it with the rear cog so everything works and it will not move an pull your chain off.

[manual63]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
I just realized I left myself open for that answer, I was just going back to edit my post. :)

I meant versus just using my derailleur as the tensioner.

A tensioner is already set to line up with the cog and will probably be lighter as to where a derailleur must be set up to line up to the rear cog, which might be kind of tricky, but should be easy......which ever comes first.

[martini]

Though, you could get lucky and have the right combination of gears and chainstay length to not need a tensioner. On my old bontrager, a 36-18 slipped in perfectly, eliminating the need for a tensioner.

[SuperClydesdale]

Pat

Congratulations on the new Dakar XLT. Where on Earth did you find one this time of year??? I have only seen 2 other 2.0s and no 1.0s (besides mine) out on the trails.

I got an XLT 1.0 earlier this year. I wanted the 2.0 but was leery of air shocks for a rider of my, ahem, *stature*. After swapping the included coil for a 700, then 800, pound spring it rides like a dream. I too was amazed at how much better I could ride on it, especially climbing; the rear suspension really increases the uphill traction. Does your QR seat collar slip? Mine did, so I replaced it with the non-QS Salsa Lip Lock; seatpost no slide no more.

As far as converting your GT to a SS, I strongly recommend having Gene Ovberpillar and the experts at One On One Bicycle Studio do the conversion. I just picked up my M2 Chumpstomper from them last night after they did the conversion. Total tab for the conversion was a little over $100, including labor. I removed all of the gear crap, Gene took care of the rest: new Singleator, chain, chainring bolts, cog spacers, rear BMX cog and single-speed specific chaingring. Well worth the cost for me.....

And, you can take the fat, though crappy, Hutchinson tires off your Dakar and put them on your Avalanche and get better rubber for your XLT.

Enjoy you XLT and your SS.

Cheers
Mark

[KleinCrazy]

Tensioners are needed on some bikes and nice on others. They alow you to run different ratios without changing chains.

My Klein can run 36X17 without a tentioner but that gear is not the best for riding around here. I might be able to run something else depending on how a quicklink changes chain length, but I liek being able to just flip by rear wheel and not have to change a chain.

[noise_is_life]

Where on Earth did you find one this time of year??? I have only seen 2 other 2.0s and no 1.0s (besides mine) out on the trails.

I got lucky, a friend of mine works at Now Bikes and Fitness in Arden Hills, he told me about it when we were riding the river bottoms on Monday. Gave me a sweet deal too. I think it was the last one they had.

I got an XLT 1.0 earlier this year. I wanted the 2.0 but was leery of air shocks for a rider of my, ahem, *stature*.
We're in the same class stature-wise, so I was worried about that too. But it seems like those Fox Shocks really have the stuff.
The parking lot at Now was under construction, so I was able to get in a couple of high speed 1 foot drops to test it out. I'll have to see how it does when I go bigger, and what the long term durability will be.

Does your QR seat collar slip?

Haven't had a QR problem yet, but I only have about an hour in it so far.

As far as converting your GT to a SS, I strongly recommend having Gene Ovberpillar...
Yeah, I was thinking about that. I was just down there for the first time attending the MOCA meeting. That sounds like a good deal.

And, you can take the fat, though crappy, Hutchinson tires off your Dakar...
What problems have you had with the Hutchinson's? They seemed to hook up pretty well in the sketchy stuff at brownie.

[SuperClydesdale]

Pat

We're in the same class stature-wise, so I was worried about that too. But it seems like those Fox Shocks really have the stuff.

I think the Floats probably wpuld have held up, but I was "off the chart" vis a vis recommended air pressure. In consultation with my dealer (Larry Mettler at Mountain High Cycles in Loveland, CO) and the folks at Fox, I decided that the smart choice was Vanillas. Besides, now I have a clear upgrade path.....

Haven't had a QR problem yet, but I only have about an hour in it so far.

Your seat collar will *probably* slip. Might as well order a new seat collar in advance so as to not have to deal with it on a long ride. 32mm Lip Lock works fabulously if you want a non-QR version.

What problems have you had with the Hutchinson's? They seemed to hook up pretty well in the sketchy stuff at brownie.

I felt really uncomfortable behind the Python front tire, especially going in to corners too hot. I felt it wash out a few times at Leb, a really sick feeling. I like Mythos XCs and now have them on my Dakar. I am taking advantage of the extra volume provided by the Hutchinson's on my M2 single.

Yeah, I was thinking about that. I was just down there for the first time attending the MOCA meeting. That sounds like a good deal.

I am all thumbs, mechanically speaking, so I prefer to have experts work on my bike. Gene's gang are definitely SS fanatics and expert mechanics, and the beers are only 75 cents at One On One. Pricing on parts is very aggressive and it is just a cool thing he has going on down there.

I drive a white Audi Quattro Coupe. If you see me at Leb drop by for a post-ride loiter/brew.

Cheers
Mark

[noise_is_life]

Comments after last night's ride:

The stock bar is way too wide, I had lots of trouble at Theo Wirth. It put me on the ground more than once. Of course Wirth is tighter than most, but I ride it frequently, so I'm going to have to cut it down or change it.

I did notice the seat post slipping already.

Other than that, it rocked.

[SuperClydesdale]

Pat

Doh! You encountered width problems at Wirth as well? I have cut mine down by 3/4" per side and I still managed to get thrown to the ground by a tree at Wirth. Ouch! Landed on my shoulder, stretched all the muscles that attach to the back of the shoulder blade.....

Mark

[Trevize1138]

Someone's gotta show me Theo Wirth one of these days. It'd be nice to have a trail that close to ride if it's ... uh ... Wirth the trip...

HAW HAW!! I slay me!

[noise_is_life]

I think it's "Wirth" it.:) It's no Lebanon, but it's fun. Most of the singletrack is very tight and twisty so it's pretty slow going most of the time.

Your run out of trail pretty quickly, and it's hard to ride a regular loop, but it's fun to mix and match. You can also put it together with Brownie for added enjoyment.

[noise_is_life]

Originally posted by SuperClydesdale

Doh! You encountered width problems at Wirth as well?


I never had to much problem with the flat bar on my GT, so I'm thinking of measuring it and seeing if I can cut it down that much and still fit everything on.

[martini]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
I never had to much problem with the flat bar on my GT, so I'm thinking of measuring it and seeing if I can cut it down that much and still fit everything on.

be carefull on this one. If your new ride has risers, you may cut off enough that you can't get all your grips/brakes/shifters back on! I've seen it done before. Could be an expensive mistake.

[TML]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
Comments after last night's ride:

. . .

I did notice the seat post slipping already.




Dang, those seatpost collars must really be sub-par. Especially if you've got slippage on a full suspension bike. I could have a little understanding if it was on a hardtail. Hmmm. . .