Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

Business card in the tire works well too. That's what I do. I have done the same with the bb in and a milled out section in the stem. I'm paranoid. I work at a bike shop and have seen 3 thefts this week

 

Well, I finally got to hit the trail yesterday with the newly installed Hammerschmidt on my Butcher.

Cliff Notes: HOLY SHIETTTTT.

Unabridged: Ultimate trail crank. Bar none. Zero activation time between each ratio(1:1 to 1:1.6). It's a damn on/off switch, literally! As advertised, you don't even need to pedal or anything to switch between modes. If you enjoy climbing now, the Hammerschmidt will make you fall in love with it(and subsequently your bike) all over again.

Drivetrain specs on my Butcher:
-Truvativ Hammershcmidt AM 170mm crank w/68mm-73mm Hammerschmidt bottom bracket
-Truvativ supplies both 24T and 22T chainrings, I am running the 24T. When activated in 1:1.6 mode, it functions as a 38T chainring
-SRAM XG-1080 11-36T cassette
-SRAM 2012/13 10-sp Type 2 X0 med cage rear derailleur
-SRAM PC-1071 10-sp chain
-SRAM 2012 X0 trigger shifter(right side)
-SRAM Hammerschmidt X0 trigger shifter(left side)

Observations:
-For this particular trail, I found myself LEAVING the chain in the middle gear of the cassette and working the crank shifter (left trigger shifter) pretty much the whole ride
-for the climb/drops, this thing is awesome! Throw it in 1:1 on the climb, power off the drop IMMEDIATELY by clicking into 1:1.6. Just crazy.
-CRANK CLEARANCE FOR DAYS. Kind of redundant to say, just look at the pictures!
-free pedalling(backwards) during 1:1.6 mode on the Hammer has a LOUD, distinctive click----imagine someone amplifying the pawl sound on your rear hub haha
-the chain has no way of dropping or skipping out of the chainring of the crank. Truvativ supplies 2 separate top guides: 1 sized specifically for the 24T and the other sized for the 22T chainring
-Weight weenies, stay far, far away!(worth the gram penalty IMO)

I have sold a few people on this crank already based on a test drive alone haha. We'll see how it holds up over time, but man it's super tempting to outfit all my bikes with a Hammer now. Super flexible(can be run as 2x9 or 2x10) and compact package size on the bike. Thumbs up on the Hammerschmidt! [for now, ha!]






I've seen a few people run these cranks on a DH bike....and now I see their reasoning!

 

I guess I lean towards less is more. Hammerschmidt just seems like a device that adds unnecessary drivetrain weight. However, I've never used one. I'm still in the dark ages running 1x9 (32t x 11-34t). You got a lot of steer tube going on there...my sternum hurts looking at it.

 

I've had 1x9's and 1x10's on all my bikes over the last 2 years...If anything "less is more" takes on a whole different meaning on the Hammer. Test drive one, and you'll see. Instant engagement, packaging of a 1x crank setup, and functionality of a 2x without ever dropping a chain or having to worry about chain cross tension? I'll pay the weight penalty any day over single crank setups.

The steertube isn't too bad. I had to place the stem lower on the steertube because the previous owner had the brake lines routed SUPER taut...which meant moving some of the spacers above the stem(which you see). My sternum feels just fine.

 

I think you're going to like your upgrade. I got one just as they were coming out (the Blacklite that is) and I've never turned back. Great seatpost. The reviews I believe are inacruate because I don't have any issues with mine. Have fun.

 

gay fucking gay my forks won't hold air pre load so I have to replace super pissed

 

Rebuild. No need to replace them-unless of course they don't hold air because one of the tubes is bent/badly scratched.

 

how tough is it to rebuild a fork?

 

I was told I would have to send it in to be fixed by Marzocchi, to replace the cartridge, then I would be 150-200 into keeping the old fork alive, or send in the fork to marzocchi to be replaced at cost with a 2012 new one...

 

ive got the same bike

 

new bike will be here by Tuesday! Ill post pics when it shows up

 

NICE dude!!!

Christmas is tomorrow for me

 

ahh so the SC's are coming how about my super sweet package deal with everypart for a bike except the shocks you still want it? haha

 

A few updates!

Finally got my new wheels for my Nomad. Went with a set of Enve AM clinchers running as a tubeless setup laced to Chris King hubs. 2.35 Maxxis High Roller in the rear and 2.5 Maxxis Minion in the front. Spokes are white DT Swiss Aerolites. Took them on the trail yesterday, night & day difference. Turns way more crisp and the bike is crazy responsive on the switchbacks. Hucking it is a freakin' dream too. Official weight: 32.01 lbs. down from the old weight of 33.15 lbs. Yes, with the monster Fox 40 fork too.



ALSO on the Nomad I changed to an MRP S4 chainguide/bash setup, switched to a new Chris King ceramic bottom bracket, a new Chris King inset headset, a gold KMC 10sp chain, and threw in a new Shimano cassette in the back(the small gear had a bent tooth on the old cassette lol).

An artsy-fartsy picture of at the end of yesterday's test ride with my cousin



Last but not least, NEW PROJECTS came in!

My new 2012 Blur LT carbon frame and my Dad's new 2012 Heckler frame came in straight from the Santa Cruz frame clearance a couple days ago. Stoked. I should be about 60% done with Dad's Heckler build by today, keeping it pretty basic. He doesn't ride trails, but wanted a legit full suspension mtb. My SUPER EARLY birthday gift to him.

My Blur will be a MUCH slower build like my Nomad but I've already got a list I'm putting together for that.

 

Your dad doesn't ride trails but wanted a FS? Can I haz?

 

Haha he's a commercial farmer so he's got SOME stuff to ride on when checking on his field operations.

Note why I opted for the "JOHN DEERE" green frame for his bike lol.

 

That Nomad is BAD ASS! Those effing wheels are BAD ASS! and big $$$$$$

 

Crap nice Nomad man. How does that thing climb with the double crown?

 

Thanks man!

Climbs surprisingly well! It basically all depends on your fitness level. It can be a byatch because it's a 1x10 but if your body is conditioned, it should be just fine. My cousin decided to climb with my 1x9 v10 on our last ride and smoked me lol.

 

I was surprised by how well it climbs too.

Anyway, it's an awesome looking bike!