Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

My Lapierre Zesty and Devinci Wilson:

 

Going to jump on in here with my Patrol, custom build:



also spent yesterday with a buddy at his fab shop working on a custom shuttle rack. Made with stainless.

 

Still in the garage, but she's sold. Doesn't fit into the road trip plan.

 

Old picture but here shes is, 2014 demo 8

 

Thanks for the replies! I finally made my mind and went with the Norco. I installed dmr flat pedals, a wtb seat, mucky nutz face fender and I have lock-on grips on the way and a few other things. I am really happy with the 29in wheels, only thing "bad" I could say about them is that they are slower when you want to explode out of the hole but they are so great for everything else that I soon forget that little aspect

 

Got the Salsa a little dirty this morning

 

Dig the single speeds.....here is a pic of my KONA Unit.

 

Just got my Ragley Marley frame.. building up my first full rigid mtb

 

Showing Bellingham some love from down here in Bend! Here's my Smuggler

 

I bought a thing today .... yes I have the seat.

 

Question for anyone who may have some input. I have a '16 Specialized FSR 650b (comp). Awesome bike but since new, I've hated the rear brake. It has a weak feel and really no grab. Last summer, I broke the bike in and then took it back for the free, dealer check up thing. I mentioned the brake and he bled the line and said it was good. I got it back and it had much better feel in the lever but still no grab, plus some noise. I dealt with it for the rest of the year. Over the winter, I cleaned the rotor and took the pads off to inspect. They have tons of pad left. I scuffed them and put back on but nothing has changed. So should I just get a new set of pads or what? I rode last night and I just can't stand how it feels and it really effects my riding.

 

Ride it don't slide it!!

Deore brakes? You could upgrade to XT for about $100 or go super powerful with some avid elixers or maguro.

How much do you weigh? Maybe you need a 180 or 200mm rotor? You generally want to have some slide in the rear brake and learn how to use the front brake in conjunction with the rear like a boss so you don't skid a bunch.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Ya it has the Shimano Deore brakes. I'd like to not have to upgrade the whole system, at the moment, if I don't have to. The front works great and I use it appropriately. A lot of the places that I ride are really hilly and sometimes tight, so you need to be able to use the rear (and sometimes the front isn't an option, aside from lightly feathering). I'm just totally bummed on them. Plus, they are really loud. I don't use any solvents on the bike to clean it, so I wouldn't think the pads are glazed but not sure. I weight about 170lbs. My old Stumpjumper was an '07 Elite with Avid brakes and they were dialed. It was great. I got the new '16 last year and the rear brake is garbage.

 

The deore brakes are a decent setup so I don't think that's our problem. It's weird you are having issue with the rear and not the front. Once while oiling my chain I got some oil on the pads and all of my stopping power went away. Even after sanding them down. Pads are only $15 or so. Try a new set out and if they don't work maybe it's time for an upgrade. Good luck.

 

I'd also suggest trying new brake pads since they're cheap. Also, when you cleaned your rotors and pads, did you wear gloves? The oils from our skin on the brake rotors can make your brakes squeal and not bite as well as they should.

 

Deore brakes are actually really good for the level they're on. Whatever you do though, NEVER go to Avid Elixirs. I'd try new pads and rotor first, something is likely too contaminated.

 

I have the same exact bike (carbon comp) and mentioned the same concern to the selling dealer. Hey told me the brakes actuate just fine but to me, they simply don't bite well. I currently have XT components, which I believe is a decent setup.

 

Like SoCOTaco said, don't ever go Elixers, those are Sram's garbage brakes. The newer Guide brakes are much better and they just released the Code brakes, BikeMag has a good review up on them. Before you replace the pads, make sure the rotor is perfectly in the center of the caliper because if not you won't get an even pull from both pistons. If they're still feeling mushy after that, you may have air bubbles in the brake line. GMBN just put out a great video on brake hacks you could try - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWX8D0aPrcQ

 

^^ I follow them on YouTube. They offer a lot of good advice.

 

2017 Trek Fuel EX 9.9 custom build, hands down the best bike I have thrown a leg over.