Nukeproof Mega TR

rockmonkeysc

fizik wrote:

will be interested to hear how it rides with a 35mm stem, I am mid way through building up an xl TR with the same

It made quite a difference. Just felt a bit more balanced with me in a better position. Just a bit easier to get over the front end.
Tested in the nastiest race conditions I have ever seen and on the wrong tyres.
I'm finding the Mega takes a similar riding style to my Scalp, it seems to respond well to getting over the front end in the twisty bits.

rockmonkeysc

Photo by Mark Evans Photography.



Hopefully these pics work... :roll:

Twelly

Cool picture, where and what event?

rockmonkeysc

Forest of Dean mini enduro.
Stage 3 I believe, one of my better stages. Overall a fairly disastrous race, dry tyres on a track which resembled a ploughed field in places.

poah

RockmonkeySC wrote:

dry tyres on a track which resembled a ploughed field in places.

that was me last weekend

ilovedirt

Rockmonkey - how tall are you and how is the XL working out? I'm 6ft1 and considering one of these

Edit: just seen, you're 6ft1 same as me - mind if I ask what your inseam is?
Also, how did you do at FOD? I went to that one too - muddy doesn't even cover it!

rockmonkeysc

I think I ended up around 60th in Masters out of 120 so fairly average. I fell off on stage 4 and had to let two riders go through before I could get back on. I had a good stage 3, shame they lost the times!
Im finding the size pretty good, I'm using a 35mm stem and it feels spot on now.
I have also found theres a very narrow sweet spot in the shock set up, it's working really well now.

The Northern Monkey

Great action shot!

Unlike the guy at Antur who stood watching the lamest parts of the entire trail this weekend... such a let down!

ilovedirt

Yeah that Wayne chap is pretty odd.

rockmonkeysc

Time for a spot of shopping. I have had it with the Superstar freehubs cracking so first thing on the list is a pair of Hope Tech Enduro wheels
http://www.hopetech.com/product/hope-tech-enduro/
Im going for black hubs since the orange ones aren't available yet. From 18 Bikes they come with a free Stans tubeless kit, they even fit the rim tape and valves for free.
Next will be some transmission upgrades. The 2x9 SLX is getting upgraded with a xt mid cage shadow+ 10 speed mech and xt shifter. The front mech is going in the bin along with the granny ring. I'm going to fit an xt cassette and a 34t think thin Superstar chainring.

BloggingFit

CRC seems to be best value for XT transmission at the moment as the sale prices are good plus they're doing an extra 10% off all Shimano right now. Got Brakes, Rear Mech, Rear Shifter, Chain and Crankset for around £300.

rockmonkeysc

Just ordered the XT bits from CRC. Wheels on order from 18 Bikes (good prices for Hope) and chain ring from Superstar.

felix.london

BloggingFit wrote:

CRC seems to be best value for XT transmission at the moment as the sale prices are good plus they're doing an extra 10% off all Shimano right now. Got Brakes, Rear Mech, Rear Shifter, Chain and Crankset for around £300.

brakes better than this price?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/showPart.asp?part=SHIMBRAM323000000000&bike=

EDIT : they are as well, just checked. By a couple of quid and you get free delivery. Nice

rockmonkeysc

This morning I have been busy.



Now finally gone to 1x10.
XT Shadow + mech with XT shifter. XT 11-36t cassette
Superstar 34t IO chainring.
New Hope Tech Enduro wheelset and Stans tubeless kit.

And here's a photo of me and my (chainless) Mega at the Mondraker Gravity Rally on Exmoor last weekend. I lost my chain near the top of the first Sunday stage and had the choice of drop out or man the funk up and do the rest of the transitions and stages chainless. It was hard going but hilarious racing without a chain.

Dawesy92

Have you got a short or medium cage mech??

rockmonkeysc

Medium. Possibly going to fit a 40t cassette ring so a short cage might struggle a bit.

rockmonkeysc

OneUp 40t and 16t fitted. No noticeable step in the ratios and slick shifting. B screw is wound right in and just about adjusted right.

Dawesy92

Same upgrade as what I wanna do.... very tempting..

Ryan Jones

Thanks for taking the time to write this thread, helped me justify the decision to plump for one of these ! £1900 for the complete TR comp and some 0% finance seems a steal for such a capable machine needing no immediate, expensive upgrades.

I'm going to be swapping over my current bike's 40t expander setup like you've done, so no excuses going forward

Cheers !

rockmonkeysc

I'm glad it's helped!
These bikes are so much fun to ride! I have had several full suspension bikes and this one makes me grin like an idiot more than any other. It may not be the lightest or have the most sophisticated suspension but it just makes me do stupid things!
I'm sure you will enjoy it!

Antm81

How are you finding the superstar chainring?

rockmonkeysc

Antm81 wrote:

How are you finding the superstar chainring?

Haven't even thought about it so I guess it's working exactly as it should!
First ride today with the OneUp 40t kit fitted. It was the Exmoor Explorer ride today so approximately 30 miles and 1300 metres of climbing with a severe case of bubonic plague / man flu. A reasonable test for how im going to get on with it and at no point on the ride did I feel that I needed any more gears.
The only problem I had was getting stuck behind people using their granny ring and riding slower than I needed to be going to keep a reasonable cadence in my taller gearing.
I'm now convinced that spinning away in an ultra low granny gear uses more energy than cranking up the same climb in a higher gear.

BloggingFit

Less is definitely more.

Can't stand spinning up steep climbs personally. I find you're more likely to lose traction on the rear while a taller gear gives the option of using the increased resistance to balance power and traction out.

rockmonkeysc

Rubber Queens now replaced with Specialized Purgatory grid 2.35. The Contis were finished off by a trip to the lakes but I also wanted a little more volume to help keep it a bit more manageable through long rock gardens.

Another enduro race this weekend. Enduro1 at Greatwood this time. Hopefully I can actually finish this one!

ilovedirt

I've had a hope retainer ring on mine for the last few weeks, dropped the chain loads. Fitted the top guide back on now - really irritating. I'm told other brands are better, so I might give it a try with a raceface/blackspire ring or something. Doesn't help that the SRAM type 2 mechs are shite as well. Gonna go back to Zee ASAP.

rockmonkeysc

Mine hasn't dropped the chain once, even with the clutch off

paul.skibum

ilovedirt wrote:

I've had a hope retainer ring on mine for the last few weeks, dropped the chain loads. Fitted the top guide back on now - really irritating. I'm told other brands are better, so I might give it a try with a raceface/blackspire ring or something. Doesn't help that the SRAM type 2 mechs are shite as well. Gonna go back to Zee ASAP.

I have blackspire on my Bronson and RF on the hardtail - no issues with chain drop.

rockmonkeysc

Cane Creek DB Inline ordered. Hopefully that should sort out the harsh damping issues.

rockmonkeysc

Sooo much better than the Monarch. Just better in every way. It really does feel like my CCDB coil.

HardtailZero

Just purchased a frame and finishing kit to transfer my bits from my on one 456 evo. Love my hardtail and upset to be letting it go, however i have a torn lower vertebrae disc and i think climbing on a hardtail is giving it some gip!
Really looking fwd to this coming through the door I feel like a kid on xmas eve ( im 30 ) lol.
Ordered the xl and simply swapping all my parts over, just worried about my seatpost really its a X-Fusion hilo 27.2 with only 100mm drop, im going to shim it in so it'll fit i just wonder if i will get enough drop to be comfortable descending?