|   some 04 FS data: Epic-S-works / Genius RC etc... | nino
Oct 16, 2003 9:54 AM | | also from latest german BIKE magazine.they tested several new bikes on the trail and in the lab.also DATA-RECORDING was used to determine the effectiveness of all those "intelligent" FS systems (SPV,5th element,Brain,Pro Pedal...)
and here's some REAL weights.I added the numbers from below:
frameset (frame incl. shock)
Rocky Mountain ETSX-70: 2941g (18")
Santa Cruz Blur: 2692g (M)
Scott Genius RC 10: 2401g (L)
Specialized Epic S-Works: 2837g (XL)
Votec NC-1 Carbon: 2376g (48cm)
sorry for the poor quality scan...
from left to right the weights are for
komplett: complete bike including 350g XTR pedal
Rahmen: frame (no shock!)
Dämpfer: shock
Gabel: Fork
Laufräder: wheelsets
on the right you see the measured stiffness data.the Santa Cruz is stiffest...the Rocky weakest!
 |
| Data logging info ? | Andystrike10
Oct 16, 2003 11:57 AM | | What was their conclusion regarding the SPV, Brain etc? Was it regarding the elimination of bobbing or the difference in efficiency?
Cheers
Andy |
| Data logging info ? | nino
Oct 16, 2003 1:31 PM | | they say nothing beats a well designed bike with "regular" shock.
the Fusion they tested beat some "intelligent" bikes in anti-bobbing as well as in shock absorbtion.
they say "intelligent" shocks take away some of the suppleness over the small stuff.this is a lack of comfort for those who need it (longer marathon rides or all those who don't race...).racers take good profit and also those long travel "freeride" bikes now can be pedaled uphills much easier.
what you need with an intelligent shock is a similar working fork on the front too to level the ride.(Manitou Minute or Fox Terralogic) |
| My thoughts exactly! | Andystrike10
Oct 17, 2003 2:39 PM | | It should say " a well designed bike, set up properly!". Having ridden full suspension for 8 years I don't feel the need for lock-outs, never mind SPV etc. My own view is that suspension shows up poor pedalling technique!
The best aid I've found for my pedalling/suspension is OVAL chain rings! Honestly, they are great. I'm not talking Biopace here, these ones are custom made, don't knock it till you've tried them! |
| serious?... | nino
Oct 17, 2003 10:24 PM | | hmm - sounds as you could take profit out of some of those fancy cranks such as BIKEDRIVE or ROTOR or alike.those all help to overcome the dead-spot and make for a rounder pedaling. |
| serious?...Yes deadly! | Andystrike10
Oct 18, 2003 3:27 AM | | A few years ago, one of the Brit mags MBR run a review on the Cannondale Raven, they slated its suspension action, it seemed that with the required sag it bobbed badly and only stopped with copious preload and turning the damping up full.
As a project they set about to remedy it, the main remedy was an OVAL granny ring which they raved about, on the strength of that they were going to fit an oval middle ring as well but I never heard any more.
Chris Bell at www.argonet.co.uk/highpath/cycle.htm is your man, an avid cyclist, I think he made the chain rings for Chris Boardmans HOUR RECORD Lotus bike. He can make any chain rings.
I've been running ovals for over a year now, the granny is a 21@ 14%, which is equivalent to about 19.5t over the dead spot and 22.5 on the power stroke and a 32@ 7%. I still use a DA 11/27 cassette and don't have a problem with gearing, even in the Alps last year.
His website explains all the theory and is definately worth a look, in practice, well, initially you can feel the difference and it feels great. Once your used to them you don't really notice them until you encounter steep climbs, I find myself grabbing granny at an early opportunity because it "feels" so efficient, combined with the geometry change at the front by the Marzocchi ECC it feels like a totally different bike, almost wooden, but with no changes to damping or preload.
There are no shifting ramps and I expected shifting to be poor. How wrong was I! Because of the ovality the chain is, in effect, hooked up and dropped on the granny and vica versa very smooth. Of course their light too, 18g for the 21t and 32g for the 32t. The rings are lasting well, they've out lasted the top 4 gears on the DA cassette anyway.
I'm looking to change cranks soon, probably be 4 arm, and will be replacing the chainrings only this time I will go for all three ovals. That alone says alot, however, they are not cheap! |
| |
