Epic Marathon Carbon. (update pics, 3/3/11)

2

Comments

  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    sweet :)
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    I've mounted the tyres, fitted discs, cassette etc and put the wheels on.
    I have the OS 28 end caps on to match the Future Shock forks which stiffens the front up quite nicely, but I have a spare set of DT RWS axles, so I may look into converting the front to suit. Roval use a DT240s rear hub, so that's straightforward to convert.

    The seat is a little heavier than the standard (230g which is on par with a Gobi) but the padding is twice as thick and a lot more forgiving, so I was willing to forgo 30g to help save my ageing arse.

    Just need a decent chain and I'm pretty much done. Thinking of a KMC 9L but the silver version to keep in with the rest of the colour scheme. I'm not too sure how much difference the coating on the gold version makes, something for me to look into in a little more depth.
    hardcorerider wrote:
    The jacket is lovely. I love Gore stuff but it's rather expensive.

    I paid £90, which I consider to be pretty reasonable.

    Gore stuff is top notch, and the Phantom 2 is especially nice because you can either lessen the zips on the sleeves for a bit of cooling, or remove them completely and it has tee shirt style sleeves built in so it becomes a short sleeve top, rather than just a gillet.
  • beanfield
    beanfield Posts: 26
    love you bike sir and well done on the non smoking as this is the best upgrade for you biking and your wallet, been looking at getting some rovals, the sl ones! roval do seem to be very good for £ for lb
  • allthegearnoidea
    allthegearnoidea Posts: 4,077
    the coating on the inner and outer plates does wear a little but the gold dows stay on them! and looks Uber pimp!!!! but mostly its just a coating to look good!!
    wouldnt go back to any other chaion now! kmc ones are the nuts!
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    Ordered a KMC 9L silver version, possibly a little less durable then the gold version, but the silver is a little more in keeping with the bike's colours.

    Also ordered an Avid bleed kit so I can tidy up the brake hoses, they're a little on the long side along with the gear cables which will be tidied up too.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    the gold ones always look rusty i think.
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    sheepsteeth wrote:
    the gold ones always look rusty i think.

    I agree

    Chain's on (looks a real quality item), just need to index the gears, shorten the hoses and cables and I'l get some 'finished for now' pictures up.
  • Dickeniffer
    Dickeniffer Posts: 68
    dont know enough to pass comment however those wheels look amazing.
    Specialized Epic FSR Carbon Comp (10)

    Carrera banshee (10) the heaviest bike in the world, but my god is it strong....grrrrrrrrr

    http://original.justgiving.com/richardeniffer
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    edited August 2010
    One pair of XTR M970 skewers for the Rovals;

    IMG_3669.jpg

    and a Thomson Elite X4 stem (110 x 10 degree) to match the seatpost;

    IMG_3677.jpg

    IMG_3675.jpg

    Also ordered some carbon stem spacers , a Thomson top cap to match the stem and a Ribble repair stand just to make life a little easier.
  • road_donut
    road_donut Posts: 284
    You been spending again *AL*?

    When we gonna see some pics of it all fitted ... been waiting ages to see it!!!!!!!!!
    Santa Cruz Blur TRc now a 5010
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Did you get the X9SL chain, or just the X9L?

    I always used to use the former, (totally agree that the gold looks naff, silver all the way) and whilst they're good chains they do wear out more quickly than PC991s etc, worth keeping an eye on if you're one of the 'change the chain before 1% stretch' folk, not tried the X9L so can't say if that's the same.
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    The Spesh stem is adjustable and the insert adds 3mm to the stack height, so I need a 3mm carbon spacer to fit the Thomson stem.
    Otherwise if I cut 3mm off the steerer, I can't put the standard stem on again should I need to in the future.

    Other than that it's ready to go back out and get dirty :D

    njee20 wrote:
    Did you get the X9SL chain, or just the X9L?

    'Twas a X9-L in silver.

    The L is supposed to be more durable than SL, only time will tell how long it lasts, but I will keep a careful eye on it.
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    Thomson top cap.

    IMG_3690.jpg
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    edited September 2010
    Finished pics;

    IMG_3908.jpg

    IMG_3966.jpg

    IMG_3969.jpg

    IMG_3914.jpg

    IMG_3960.jpg

    IMG_3910.jpg

    IMG_3931.jpg

    IMG_3939.jpg
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    Continued;

    IMG_3917.jpg

    IMG_3948.jpg

    IMG_3990.jpg

    IMG_3919.jpg

    IMG_3949.jpg

    IMG_3988.jpg

    IMG_3947.jpg

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  • road_donut
    road_donut Posts: 284
    YAY..... pics . :lol:

    That looks cracking *AL* :D
    Santa Cruz Blur TRc now a 5010
  • Spugnut
    Spugnut Posts: 128
    That's lurverly man! Blindin' spec too.
    Happy trails.
  • Nickelarse
    Nickelarse Posts: 11
    I have to say you have a real cheek posting up so many pictures of that shed.......what a heap............wouldn't be seen dead on that :wink:

    Now to be honest............

    Seriously nice build, bet you can't wait to get it smothered in mud. If it were mine I think it'd be going on the lounge wall. Piece of art 8)
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Foam grips for an easy 100g saving!
  • Nickelarse
    Nickelarse Posts: 11
    njee20 wrote:
    Foam grips for an easy 100g saving!

    I'll second that, Ritchey WCS foam grips go on all my bikes, brilliant grips :D
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Bontrager XXX lites are good too, or the nitrile foam ones Poshbikes do.
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    njee20 wrote:
    Foam grips for an easy 100g saving!

    This is true.

    There's a few substitutes I could make to save a few g's here and there, the Thompson stem for instance is hardly the lightest,
    but this isn't a race bike, and I'm not a young featherweight racer, so I'm willing to sacrifice a little weight for the sake of comfort or reliability.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Fair point, well worth considering though if you're not too enamoured to those grips. A lighter stem will likely flex more, or not be as tough, but lighter grips needn't be any different after all. Nice bike though.
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    njee20 wrote:
    Nice bike though.

    Thanks, appreciate that.

    I used Spesh grips even before I had a Spesh bike, they just kinda suit my hands.

    The saddle also gets a big thumbs up too. It has 150 odd miles on it now and it get comfier the more I use it.
    I've ordered one for the HT too.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Which saddle is it, a Henge? Always got on with the Toupe and the Phenom SL, definitely think Spesh are doing something right on saddles!
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    It's a Alias.

    I have a Phenom SL on the HT which is a very nice saddle, but the Alias is much kinder to your parts if you're on an all-dayer !
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Interesting choice having the more padded saddle on the HT!

    Did a 12 hour solo on my Phenom and my arse survived fine luckily, although I wasn't sure beforehand! The new Romin looks good, but as it's heavier than the Phenom, with which I have no complaints, I'm in no hurry to change!
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,185
    njee20 wrote:
    Interesting choice having the more padded saddle on the HT!!

    How does that work ?
    The Phenom SL has less padding than the Alias :?

    Managed a couple of hours after work on Bodmin Moor tonight, bike is running like a dream.
    The brains and suspension and now dialled 100% so it rides as good as it looks.

    Now need another project to focus on, I feel a long-ish travel steel HT coming on......
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    The Phenom SL has less padding than the Alias

    You're quite right, what I meant was having the less padded saddle on the hardtail was an interesting choice!
  • Andy
    Andy Posts: 8,207
    *AL* wrote:
    njee20 wrote:
    Foam grips for an easy 100g saving!

    This is true.

    There's a few substitutes I could make to save a few g's here and there, the Thompson stem for instance is hardly the lightest,
    but this isn't a race bike, and I'm not a young featherweight racer, so I'm willing to sacrifice a little weight for the sake of comfort or reliability.

    Foam grips are generally far more comfortable than lock ons.

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