|   Rigid disc EBB Hunter first ride report- graphic content | tamjam
Apr 17, 2002 9:17 AM | | My new CK disc wheelset and Avid Mechanicals came in last week so I finally got the Hunter fully decked out- Hunter rigid fork and 2.3 Conti Vert Pro up front now instead of the Morati. Took it out for a spin a couple days ago on my usual "60 minute" loop. It's temporarily set up 34:17, since a 17 is all the shop had in stock, but will soon be back to my preferred 34:18 ratio, so the first climb involved more standing than usual. No worries there. Get to the top, and this is where the fun began. First, Avid Mechanicals must have a break-in period, because the rear rotor was squealing like a pig and had less braking power than the old under-mount U-brakes from the early 90s. The front was much quieter, so I was using more front than rear while braking. The fork/fat tire combo feels great, actually absorbing more of the bumps than the Morati/2.1 did. Down the little fire trail I proceed towards the Tenderfoot trailhead, which is the only legal singletrack on Tam. Here's where the laugh comes in...as I slow down to get around the gate, I apply the front brake, and WHAM! on my face. I got up, blood dripping everywhere, thinking what the heck happened there?? Did the dropout on the fork snap off? No. Did the QR axle break? No. Neither. My front wheel just CAME OFF. The QR wasn't even un-done. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. I've been riding Mtn bikes on Tam since 1990 and have never had an accident or mechanical like this. Luckily, I was only 100 yards from the mid mountain fire station, so the guys there were able to start getting me cleaned up. A few hours at Marin General, a few stitches, and I'm back at home. Well my face at this point is a complete mess, and there is no way I'm going to work the next day, so I snap a picture of myself and fire it off to my boss, saying I'll see him in a couple days. Well I also showed this picture to DAS, who being the sypmathetic sort of guy he is, busted out laughing so hard, beer out the nostrils kind of laughing, he insisted I needed to post it here.
How's the equipment? Well, my new Giro E2 helmet is cracked (always wear a helmet!) and the fork is bent from the direct impact into the ground. I spoke with Rick yesterday, and in 2-3 years of making disc mount forks, he has never had this happen to anyone. After discussing it with him, we decided that since it was the first ride on the fork, and the QR had only been clamped down once, the thick fresh powdercoat wouldn't let the QR really bite onto the steel. He's going to either repair or make me a new fork. Great guy.
And now for the pic. |
| Ouch! (nm) | Usedtobfast
Apr 17, 2002 10:06 AM | | |
| Avid disc setup | shiggy
Apr 17, 2002 10:25 AM | | New pads and/or rotors do need to break in but it takes less than 25 miles to do it. Set up is everything with the Avids. They are very tuneable, especially when used with Speed dial levers. It is as easy to set them up poorly and it is to do it well.
The brakes you tried may have been set up the way he likes them and not for max power. I can do nose wheelies from a walking pace while staying on the saddle.
To get maximum power, set the Speed Dial levers with the cable closest to the bar (maximum power.) Adjust the inner (fixed) pad to just clear the rotor without rubbing. Then adjust the outer pad to get the lever engagement point where you like it. If you set both pads as close as possible the brake can toss you at any speed.
Do not use the barrel adjuster for pad wear, always use the red pad adjuster knobs. Set the cable tension just enough to remove slack. It should not move the brake arm until you pull the brake lever.
To get a softer feel, move the inner pad a click or two out and/or move the Speed Dial farther from the bar.
Also be sure the rotor and pads are clean of oil. Use a automotive brake cleaner. |
| Doh! Similar thing happened to me (heal up fast!) | martini
Apr 17, 2002 1:58 PM | | I was out dinking around on my new toy. Pulled hard on the front brake to pop up the rear of the bike and do a pivot turn. Instead of pivoting, I hear this horendous noise from the front of the bike. Nothing quite as catestophic as your incident, as I managed to step off the bike, but I started looking the bike over trying to see what I cracked, and the force of stopping so suddenly and hard pulled the wheel out of the dropout! I had been riding the bike for a week or two, and things were breaking in quite nicely, so I tested it.
Nothing broken, or injured thankfully. I did figure out that it happened 'cause I was being stubborn and keeping the QR's on the 'right' left side of the bike. Cosmetics are important, you know?! I guess I wasn't getting enough clamping force on the QR on that side, as I wouldn't grab the disc for fear of losing all that wonderful power, so I tried as hard as I could to lever it down tight.
I promtly put the lever on the other side and haven't had a problem yet. It sure looks goofy though.
Hope you heal up fast Tam.
ML |
| Was this on the new 29er... | tamjam
Apr 17, 2002 2:37 PM | | ...with the custom Hunter fork? I am convinced his drops are too angled. I would like to see them more vertical, like any number of suspension forks I've seen or my old Morati, so there is not only the pressure of a tight QR holding the wheel on, but a nice slug of steel too. Rick says the rake of the fork should compensate for this, but I'm still skeptical. I bet I'll ride quite tentatively even after he repairs the fork, since it's not the sort of thing I'll want to "test" to see if it's likely to happen again. Bummer. |
| Yep, if there was ever a time I longed for.... | martini
Apr 17, 2002 2:45 PM | | lawyer tabs, that was it! Did you have your QR on 'backwards'? Like I said, I made that switch and now have NO problems. Grabbing the spokes makes a large difference in how tight the wheel is in. I'm even contemplating using standard XT qr's instead of the Salsa's I've got on there now. If I run into trouble again, the switch to XT's is as good as done. We'll see.
Marty~other wise oh-so-happy with the Hunter! |
| Backwards, yes... | tamjam
Apr 17, 2002 2:53 PM | | ...after one of those PacNW guys mentioned it the other day. And I think I'll also switch the Salsa QR out for an XT.
What's a lawyer tab? |
| Little hoopty tabs on the dropouts... | martini
Apr 17, 2002 3:07 PM | | that force you to screw out the qr nut a ways to get the wheel off. Lawsuits in the 80's forced manufacturers fto put these on to protect us from ourselves =). Or rather to protect the morons who don't know how to use a QR and just twist them on. I was very fond on shaving them off for a few years before I just decided to put up with them.
ML |
| dude, that sucks | moschika
Apr 17, 2002 2:51 PM | | that looks pretty harsh. but i can see the humor from this side of the accident. my nephew crashed like that on a borrowed bike and when he told that story it was the funniest thing i ever heard. i'm laughing now just thinking about it. even though i know it really sucks to have it happen to.
when you get better and get your rig going again let's hook up again for a ride. |
| oh, so funny | DAS
Apr 17, 2002 3:01 PM | | It's very funny, assuming you're not hurt too bad. That expression on your face is hilarious.
I checked the dropout angle on my TET fork, it's mostly vertical, slightly facing back. I bet it has to do with keeping the QR very tight. Those disc brakes create a lot of force.
OK, time to go riding...oh wait, it's too muddy! Going running AGAIN. AHHHHHHH!!!!! |
| Too Muddy!!?? | shiggy
Apr 17, 2002 3:26 PM | | That is what you get for living in a city! Sparti and I are off to our secret winter riding grounds shortly. It is night ride time! |
| Ouch! | Monte
Apr 17, 2002 6:19 PM | | That sucks. Glad to hear you got some attention quick from the firefighters.
I've given myself a blackeye a couple times (way before bmx was a buzz word) slamming the handlebar with my face after a cased jump. Never any stitches though.
Monte |
| lawyer tabs - can save the day | jr
Apr 17, 2002 6:33 PM | | I'm running a Psylo Race on geared.
Messed up a jump over a log last week, collected myself, rode about 50 feet when I realized that the front QR had released.
Was thanking RockShox for those deep counter sinks for the QR. |
| Yeah.... | Monte
Apr 17, 2002 6:39 PM | | they might be a bit of a hassle, but I think they're okay.
Monte |
| I don't get it? he looks normal! | red-haze
Apr 18, 2002 7:33 AM | | wow! looks nasty, glad your bike is mostly ok and yer gonna get a new fork.
bob |
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