To mention a desire for a full suspension bike to Matt B at NBX when you stop by after getting the Sub-dermal Mod #1 (code word for that particular brand of 2 part vax that everyone should get).
He found a frame in my size from one of our brands that was going to be ready to ship in early May. Everything else I was looking at is like August 2022. Or 300-400 day lead times.
Of course I was looking at complete bikes and not the high end. Dreaming about Santa Cruz but those are even crazier priced and more spottily available and the only stuff really coming in are the tiny 27.5 wheel sizes. Everyone wants 29r size. Duh.
So... after barely explaining to E, she said just to order it.
So.
I ordered a frame. Fancy carbon full suspension frame. Gonna have gears. And now I can be just like ThomP from Dirtwire. Singlespeed Hahd Tail and fancy full sus. Mine won't be as fancy as his tho. And is more of a XC bike than a all mountain trail. Not a ton of travel but a good place to start and hopefully decent resale value next year (soonest you're allowed to sell the bike per the discount program agreement).
So.
Now I have to do all the parts. Like. All. The. Parts. And probably only shimano cranks, if i can find a pair. Worst case is I have to get the Dura-Ace for the Crocket. Fuck might as well 'emonda' that bike and call it a road bike, slam the stem and put gears back on and 28s.
So...
basically I have something productive and fun to distractedly obsess over, and overthink, and search for parts and combinations and what not. Stick the NX sram stuff on that came off the Stache or go with something new like Microshift (can't get Shimano), and just like that instead of scheduling and dealing with emails (or finishing this blog post) I got sucked down a parts hole trying to figure out if the cranks that Shimano says they are making are for sale ANYWHERE (the answer seems to be no). Fuck. That's like a $200 swing more expensive if I can't find a set of XTs, but then it does take MTB cranks off a CX bike that really should have road cranks on it anyway. No, GRX is all cool and shit but isn't long enough. And then the cranks - the 53-39 i'd prefer is out of stock and 52-36? Fuck should probably just go that route - although single ring is probably what i'll go with and maybe the 52-36 rings are easier to sell.
I'm not tired by all these little twists and turns but it is pretty frustrating. I was actually thinking about putting a dropper on the Mantra but I guess maybe that'll wait? need a saddle too, shit, will I be able to find another Concor? Ugh. Probably should get two just in case, or three. Who knows, well I do but then I'd have to decide, and that's the tough part. I mean if I'm getting three why not four? Maybe they are cheaper by the case? Are they even available? Probably a good thing I don't have my own QBP login. Oof. That would be trouble. Might have to take an extra day off just to sit at the shop computer ordering it all.
Assuming anything is in stock.
And yes, I suppose I can always decommission a bike or two. Not like i'm riding all of them at the same time. It is true that until this time last year not all of them were functional or together and now they are finally for the first time... ever... Hard to change that and go back to the swappy times.
Tossed a new used chain on the Surly. The old one had stretched so much that I needed to move the wheel forward. Oops. I put on one of the 50% worn chains from the E-bike. Played with the Topeak tools, the Alien X works but the Ratchet Rocket NTX+ is the best. So good.
The EcoDegreaser from Finishline smells like it always has - or like all the rest of the eco degreasers, like oranges. Cleaned the bikes up - hit it and the Stache with both lube and some pledge.
Pedals. Shit. Need some pedals. Shimano has only the really short spindle XTR in stock for EP. Maybe something with a pair of 540s is gonna get the old 535s...Probably gonna leave the XTs on the Stache - they're getting shredded there.
Oh and tires - do I go with the tried and true XR4 or something else?
CRAZY. G SHUT UP ALREADY YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE FRAME YET
right.
Best move on and get going - but puzzled at the total lack of reply from people who had absolutely critical immediate needs that I responded to. Strange.
Update from inside shimano - no 180 XTs fuck... D-A it is.
And the search narrows down.
will catch up more on the rest later...
be good, take care,
Heddwch
G
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