Me Bird

mike hunts alpine

Bird zero.3
Color: Acid yellow/hot pink
Frame: Large 6061 T6 aluminium
Forks: X-fusion streat rl2 130mm tapered steerer
Headset: Cane creek 40 series tapered zs44 zs46
Wheel set: Dt swiss e1900 spline 27.5 f: 15mm r: 142x12mm
Tyres: Front&Rear Maxxis high roller ii exo tr dual compound 2.3 Tubeless setup
Chain set: Shimano deore m615 with superstar N/W ring black 34t
Shifters: Deore m615
Front mech: N/a
Rear mech: Deore shadow plus sgs
Cassette: Xt 11:36
Bottom Bracket: Xtr bb93b 73mm
Chain: KMC 10speed
Brakes: Shimano Deore
Rotors: Shimano rt 66 180mm f 160mm r
Bars: Race face evolve 750mm
Stem: Race face evolve 50mm
Grips: Raceface half nelson black
Seat post: Raceface ride 31.6mm
Seatclamp: Hope QR 34.9
Saddle: Charge spoon
Pedals: superstar nanos black
Chain stay protector: Bird

She's been built tonight and should have her on Friday the latest. Can't wait to get out and let it rip. They threw in a free chain stay protector and tubeless set up, along with the fact its on the cyclesheme this bike has to be bargain of the century. Also ended up getting better wheels as well for free. Very happy indeed.

wilkij1975

Very nice but I'm biased! Very similar to mine bar the wheels. Really great bike though so hope you enjoy!

BloggingFit

Looking good and you should really enjoy it.

mike hunts alpine

Loving it already and I've only used it for commuting so far, planning to get a few hours on my local trail this afternoon after work.
Really happy with the quality of the build and finish. The paint job is excellent, the frame is sleek, shes nice and light and setup 99% how I want it. The only thing I'm planning on doing is ditching the front mech like the alpine with a ss n/w ring.

schmako

Nice, looks like it'll be fast on the trails!

mike hunts alpine

So first off road excursion today on my local trail, weather was horrendous last night and this morning so it was a little flooded. Wet wet wet. Had loads of fun though it really is so much more involving and physical riding a mid travel hardtail when compared to the big boy. One thing that throws me off though is the lower front end compared to the orange, going to move one or two spacers and see if it feels more comfortable. I can see it really improving my riding a lot though as I'm consciously seeking for the smoothest lines compared to on the full sus. The forks still need to be broken in, small bump is a little firm with 6 clicks of rebound and 30% sag, think I read a review saying they become very supple After around 5 hours of riding when the seals break in. Weight wise its so light and flickable, brilliant on the climbs, nearly had a few major crashes but were easily corrected after some wrestling of the controls and some feathering of the brakes. All in all I'm very pleased with it. The plan is when the Orange is sorted to alternate every ride on them to mix it up a little.

benpinnick

5 Hours? Velvet bedding in is measured in Fox service intervals Give it 30 hours or so and they'll be good to go. Glad you like it!

MrBikerPanda

Congrats, nice bike !!

mike hunts alpine

Some pics from my local loop yesterday in 22°c it was a scorcher.

dirkpitt74

Very nice.
Loving the yellow!
Can't decide between the zero and the Aeris though for my next bike.....

BloggingFit

Get both?

New shipment of Aeris frames arrived yesterday so should get mine up and running fairly soon. Can't wait.

mike hunts alpine

+1 on both haha

dirkpitt74

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19624295#p19624295]BloggingFit[/url] wrote:

Get both?

New shipment of Aeris frames arrived yesterday so should get mine up and running fairly soon. Can't wait.

Not sure I could get two new bikes past the O/H lol

arigold

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19624295#p19624295]BloggingFit[/url] wrote:

Get both?

New shipment of Aeris frames arrived yesterday so should get mine up and running fairly soon. Can't wait.

Same here! I'm itching to get my hands on the Aeris!!!!

mike hunts alpine

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19625510#p19625510]DirkPitt74[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19624295#p19624295]BloggingFit[/url] wrote:

Get both?

New shipment of Aeris frames arrived yesterday so should get mine up and running fairly soon. Can't wait.

Not sure I could get two new bikes past the O/H lol

"Babe you wouldn't believe the value, so that's why I got two. I'd have been had just buying the one"
Wife: " I'll get your blanket for the couch, night night"
Bring blanket downstairs. "Oh and I'll take the kids to school in the morning because you've got TWO bikes to return."

dirkpitt74

I wouldn't get the sofa & blanket - it'd be shed, garage or car lol

mike hunts alpine

Still really enjoying this bike loads, got a lot of KOMs on my local route, so my riding has really improved. Getting the orange back next week and I'm going to really push my effort on that now my confidence, skill and fitness has grown. Ditching the front mech as it was tested on the day the post man dropped the bike off and that's it, Making it just unnecessary weight, going for another superstar narrow wide. Question is though what size the 38t chainring on the bird with 11-36 and even with loads of insanely steep climbs I rarely use the 36t cog. Compared to the 32t chainring on the orange which I find I spin out on quite a lot. I know obviously the weight difference to account for between the two bikes. But do i stick with same size or drop to 36 or 34. I'm planning on getting a new one for the orange as well as I've replaced all of the drivechain but the chain ring. Any helpful insight welcome.

BloggingFit

36t if you plan to keep it away from the harsh weather, otherwise 34t as it's sometime useful in the muck.

mike hunts alpine

So I had a brilliant day out at hamsterley Forrest on Sunday, came away with a bell helmet worth £150, goody bags and a cheek to cheek smile. Ended up taking the bird as the orange has had to be sent back as soon as I got it due to paint damage in transit, had a lot of "a knife to a gunfight" looks from plenty of people though, but from what I seen reassures that a £5k dh bike won't make you a better rider than you already are. Me and my brother both rode the red and black loop before doing 4 uplifts. Even though it was 25°c the rain from Saturdays thunderstorms left the entire course wetter than an otters pocket, which made for some interesting and tricky riding. Hamsterley has to be without doubt the most difficult trail and dh track I've ever ridden, the crucial thing being that they weren't like pave roads and 10 foot wide with every rock or obstacle removed, full of roots, rocks and huge drops, only real unnatural parts were the road gaps and a few sections of the loop. Which in my opinion is a good thing. Really surprised myself riding the dh parts on the zero, it was able to take it all in its stride and remain pretty fast, didnt bottom out the fork once either with 30% sag. All in all a good day and place I'd recommend anyone to try out, good value as well £7 for uplift day pass and £5 for members. If you dont have a free pass like we did.

mike hunts alpine

I'm going 1×10 because I've got the thighs that will roll your eyes.

mike hunts alpine

It appears I have no luck with suspension forks aaaaaargh, the xfusions have started leaking fluid from the compression cap, also the compression cap has also been migrating from open to locked mid ride, which is pretty dangerous. Being picked up today and shipped to Upgrade bikes to sort the issue. Hopefully a fast turnaround as ill be without my commuter.

mike hunts alpine

Little update had the xfusion streats on for around a month or so now, they are worlds apart from the previous velvet's. Just shows suspension is coming on leaps and bounds and becoming more affordable for better technology. i thought that the previous forks were brilliant for the money but these blow them out of the water in terms of suppleness and damping.
In other news however the rear wheel bearings i discovered on stripping the wheel for its monthly clean and re-grease after my last ride.... are FUBAR, notchy as hell and the grease is Orange with corrosion :x. Haven't and wouldn't even dare look at a bike with a hose or pressure washer either so that's slightly disappointing, Had the same routine with my orange now for almost 3 years and the bearings are now only just starting to feel a little worn hence another reason fro a new wheelset aswell as tubeless ready. Hopefully Bird sort this out on warranty for me, especially after only 6 months as well.
Here's some updated pictures.

mike hunts alpine

A few better pics!

POAH

WTF is that pink thing lol

mike hunts alpine

POAH wrote:

WTF is that pink thing lol

to match the magenta pink decals of course :roll:

POAH

its doesn't match :P

given your past history with colours maybe you should get your eyes tested lol

mike hunts alpine

Thewaylander

Looking good, (apart from the pink )

how are the high roller 2? looking at new tyres, want to keep the volume from onza 2.4" but drop off a little tub from the 950g a tyre..

mike hunts alpine

Thewaylander wrote:

Looking good, (apart from the pink )

how are the high roller 2? looking at new tyres, want to keep the volume from onza 2.4" but drop off a little tub from the 950g a tyre..

The photos dont do it any justice its a very close match to the frame decals under propper light. Tyrewise, You know what they have been brilliant all year even in the worst winter slop, havent had a single puncture, no damage to side walls. I ride some rocky and rooty trails aswell and no complaints, they have fared very well no excessive wear and no squirmyness from the exo carcass at low pressures, they are much less draggy compared to my minion combo on the orange, Also predictable when they do lose grip so no sudden loss of control. All in all i cant really fault them especially for 845g each and £33.99 an end.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/maxxis-high-roller-ii-62a60a-exo-tr-650b-foldingtyre/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360592349&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=5360592349uk&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Components&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid%7csOaf9SOaO_dc%7cpcrid%7c67090789142%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7c%7cprd%7c5360592349uk

POAH

i got my HR2's from bike-discount. pretty good for most surfaces except for anything remotely muddy.