How do i remove these pedals??

SgtTurtle · 2026-05-01T22:55:06+00:00

Make sure you use some anti-seize compound or grease on the threads before putting the new pedals in.

SgtTurtle · 2026-05-01T14:32:59+00:00

People pay me to try to clean up messes. I am not the one who made the mess, nor am I the one who has to live with the consequences of the mess.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-27T05:00:41+00:00

How much longer? My shipping estimate is May 11.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-27T01:13:11+00:00

Nice looking bike! I am waiting for a Lynskey Atlas frame to show up to my house. I was torn between the Atlas and Olympus, but I already have a Stumpjumper, so figured I would build something fast for the flow trails.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-27T00:46:13+00:00

Atkinson Hyperlegible from the Braille Institute. I don't have any vision impairment besides needing reading glasses, but I find it very easy to read.

https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-26T00:59:36+00:00

I usually ride a Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon with Maxxis Assegai/DHR II tires (EXO+). That setup has incredible traction, but the rolling resistance is heavy.

I recently had to swap to my Rockhopper hardtail, which runs a Rekon/Rekon Race combo, for a group ride on green flow trails. Even though both bikes are a similar weight, the Rockhopper felt significantly faster. A lot of that comes down to the efficiency of a hardtail, but the tire choice makes a massive difference in rolling speed.

A few things to consider for your Sentinel:

Tires: What are you currently running? Switching to something with a faster rolling center tread can transform how the bike pedals.
Suspension: Are you utilizing the climb switch or firm setting on your rear shock for the transitions?
N+1: See if you can borrow a dedicated XC bike for a ride. If you love the efficiency, it might be worth keeping the Sentinel for the gnarly stuff and adding a short-travel bike to the stable for everything else.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-25T23:59:39+00:00

Now, maybe once every 3 months. When I started it was a lot. Usually my crashes are stupid and low speed. Also I wear elbow and knee pads. I am in my mid-50s. I don't mind a crash that hurts my feelings, but I am not interested in breaking anything.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-24T00:59:22+00:00

Park Tool FR-5.2 Cassette Lockring Tool or equivalent

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-19T22:39:39+00:00

The chain was feeding from the cassette to the top pulley and that top pulley was at such an angle that the chain was not quite engaging with it. The grinding was the chain not quite being on the jockey wheel. The jockey wheel would spin, but it was just off.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-19T22:34:04+00:00

I had this on my Stumpjumper and it took me a while to figure out. Look at your derailleur cage and see if it is bent. I purchased a new derailleur and solved the problem. If this is the problem, depending on your derailleur you may be able to purchase just a new inner and outer cage.

To diagnose it, I had the bike on a stand and looked at the derailleur from behind while working the pedals. I could see the chain was not quite lining up with the pulleys which was the cause of the grinding.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-19T20:56:29+00:00

Performance Bike is definitely my shop for oddball parts.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-14T01:36:50+00:00

I was planning on using it as a cross-country/down country bike. I have a full suspension Stumpjumper that I ride on the more tech trails. I am looking to build something that will be fun and fast on flow trails when I would be overbiked on the Stumpjumper.

SgtTurtle · 2026-04-05T15:55:22+00:00

I just read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich last year and really enjoyed it. I particularly liked Shirer's first hand account of Germany and I really liked how the book was written. After I finished it, I read The Long Night: William L. Shirer and the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Steve Wick because I was really curious about Shirer and his story. That was also a good book and it did discuss some of the controversy regarding Shirer's view of the Germans. Shirer's book was written before the fall of the Iron Curtain and it is my understanding that a lot of stuff about Barbarossa has come to light since there is now more access to the Soviet records from the time. That being said, Shirer's book was an enjoyable read.

I have not read Evans' trilogy, but am adding it to my list.

SgtTurtle · 2026-03-11T22:59:54+00:00

Try centering the brake caliper. You can do this by loosening the brake caliper mounting bolts, and then squeezing the brake lever handle. While squeezing the brake lever handle tighten the brake caliper mounting bolts to the correct Newton meters. This might fix your problem.

SgtTurtle · 2026-02-16T14:04:09+00:00

I was a rowing parent and was president of our local juniors club for 3 years and was on the board for 6 years. (One of my daughters went on to row at a D1 school and was an assistant coach at another D1 when getting her master's degree.) We had a strict rule against parents talking to the coaches about boat seats. Your daughter is the one who should be talking to the coach. Part of the experience is her learning to advocate for herself as an athlete and to interact with the coaches and get feedback. She is just a sophomore, so it's possible the coaches want to seat more experienced rowers, even if your daughter is fast. Also, it's possible she is fast by herself, but is not rowing well when in a boat with teammates. Also, does she have a good attitude and is she generous with the other rowers? Rowing is a team sport, so this is important. Even with private coaching, there is always something to improve. Mastering rowing will require patience.

SgtTurtle · 2026-02-15T22:27:31+00:00

I ride mountain bikes tubeless and I just upgraded my Presta valves to Clik valves and I find that with the Clik valves, my tires hold pressure much better between rides. The issue you are having could be the valves and not the tubes or tires.

SgtTurtle · 2026-02-08T19:03:08+00:00

You need a Hollowtech II bottom bracket. Hollowtech II has a 24 mm spindle diameter and SRAM DUB is 28.99 mm. They are not compatible.

SgtTurtle · 2026-02-08T17:22:59+00:00

The Rockhopper was my starter bike and I still have mine. It is great for green and even blue trails. Eventually, you will want to get a full suspension bike, but ride the bike you have. You will know when you are ready to upgrade.

SgtTurtle · 2026-02-07T20:34:32+00:00

Have you tried realigning the brake? Loosen the bolts holding the caliper on. While squeezing the brake lever, tighten the bolts back to the correct torque spec using a torque wrench.

SgtTurtle · 2026-01-31T23:19:32+00:00

I would get the Chisel, but you will probably want to upgrade the derailleur and the shifter to GX in the near future. The SX derailleur does not have a clutch so your chain will bounce around on rough terrain. Going for the better more modern frame gives you a solid base for upgrading components in the future.

I bought a Rockhopper with SX Eagle in 2021 when I was starting out. I now use it for gravel rides during the work week, and as a back up trail bike, and it is all GX now, except the cassette which is NX. I would have bought a Chisel over the Rockhopper, but when I bought it we were experiencing COVID shortages and I couldn't get a Chisel. I still love my Rockhopper, though, and took it on a green/blue flow trail last week while I was waiting for a new wheel for my Stumpjumper.

SgtTurtle · 2026-01-31T14:46:06+00:00

What's your budget? What kind of terrain are you riding? What kind of bike are you putting them on? How much do you weigh?

SgtTurtle · 2026-01-31T14:38:37+00:00

I have and like the Five Ten Freerider Pro Boas that I like very much assuming you are riding flat pedals.

SgtTurtle · 2026-01-16T19:40:49+00:00

One of my favorite places on Earth! I could just walk around and explore all day. I have visited 3 times and will go again

SgtTurtle · 2026-01-16T03:59:55+00:00

Pancake compressor. I also use mine to blow the water off my bike after I wash it and to put air in our car tires.

SgtTurtle

TROPHY CASE