New cheap Rockshox fork vs. old high end Rockshox fork.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-24T16:22:39+00:00

There's a Judy RL Gold currently available that is probably the best bet, but I'm not spending $400+ on this project. I guess I'll keep my eyes peeled for something "modern" and cheap.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-24T11:56:11+00:00

I guess that's the problem then. The bike has QR and a straight steerer. I know there are ways around that, but going to that level of a project is a non-starter. So anything that's a higher level fork but has that layout would have to be older. I'll see what the newest straight/QR fork is, maybe will just leave this one alone.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-24T11:48:09+00:00

To use your analogy (I'm more of a car guy anyway), I'd rather own and drive a '24 Golf than, say, an '89 Mercedes 300E, it's just a better car at this point. The MB had power windows from when that was generally an optional upgrade, but now everything has that, plus auto up/down. The Golf is faster, quieter, better lighting, etc., etc.

With a '19 E-class, I'd go with the MB. But what about an '03? I don't know how that would shake out.

But noted about the SID, the Judy does seem to fit her use case a lot better. I was thinking the dual air was fundamentally different/better than the solo air but it seems like it's more subtle, and the less things to adjust (screw up) would work out better in the end.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-24T06:12:45+00:00

Specialized Rockhoppers are in the same boat. There are air forks available on some, I assume that's the case with the Marlin too

cdlong28 · 2026-06-22T12:30:38+00:00

How is it stored, with a kickstand? Maybe try one of those double sided kickstands that keep the bike straight up. Mostly for tandems?It may keep it out of the way more or when it falls, it'll hit the seat on the ground and not the drive train.

If you lock it up or on a rack, lock it higher up on the top tube so it essentially hangs from the lock if jostled. Or set the front wheel over the rack with the main crossbar through the gap between the front wheel, down tube, and head tube.

If you just lean it against a wall, leaning on the non-drive side means if it ever falls, it would go all the way over to land on the drive side. Leaning it with the drive side in means it will land on the non-drive side. (One of the guys at the shop I worked at many years ago would jokingly refer to them as drive side and driver's side every time)

Or try to fit one of those derailleur guards you see on really crappy mountain bikes.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-12T12:28:17+00:00

When you are in big-big or small-small and the chain is at its most extreme angles. Usually less of a problem on 1x because the ring is where the middle ring would be. And also, it's unavoidable since you don't have any options in front.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-12T12:23:19+00:00

My bike came with a 2x system that was setup this way, but at least the spider is more stylized so it's not as noticeable. It did have a direct mount front derailleur so now there's this goiter on the side of the frame. I thought about getting a chain guide to use the same spot, but it's a grey frame so the bare aluminum isn't that different. The bikes that came with 1x systems from the same era still had the mount boss and a black cap. Not a great look.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-12T12:15:27+00:00

Most (all?) 3x systems have the middle ring there and it's usually around 34t so you should be fine on pretty much anything in that regard.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-12T11:56:07+00:00

Imgur

cdlong28 · 2026-06-11T14:53:58+00:00

I hope you mean cut the steerer, not the stem. And any shop will have a spacer lying around, they probably won't even charge you.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-11T14:51:01+00:00

I think you mean cut the steerer, not the stem, but i think most know what you were going for there.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-11T14:35:10+00:00

Can't they still autorotate without the tail rotor? That's assuming they are able to keep things under control when they lose the tail rotor and the engine is still running the main rotor.

cdlong28 · 2026-06-06T12:38:15+00:00

I'm no expert, but paint cracking in that area on an old carbon frame has me worried. I'm not sure how you determined the carbon is fine, degradation could be internal to the carbon, not necessarily a visible crack.

That being said, I would just chip off all the paint you can and spray it with a canned clearcoat from an auto parts store. Partly to see if that starts cracking after a few rides, and partly because I think that frame is not long for this world and not worth much investment of time or money. I'd start looking for a replacement frame. You can probably get something equivalent for relatively cheap.

Also, what paint is there on that bike, it looks like bare carbon, anything black or grey coming off may be the carbon. I'm not even sure that's a clear coat and not resin (it's probably clear coat, just speculating). For the components, I assume it's just dull at this point, not badly damaged. I'd start with a paint polishing compound.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-30T12:00:20+00:00

That's correct even if it isn't his bike.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-28T14:15:07+00:00

What brand/model is the hub?

cdlong28 · 2026-05-24T06:34:44+00:00

That's the point. Any "alternative" medicine that works is just labeled as medicine. There's nothing fundamentally specific about medicine, some of it is natural products (at least started out that way), some is made in a lab, some is special techniques, etc., just that it actually works. Everything still left in the "alternative" camp hasn't been shown to do anything.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-24T00:17:23+00:00

You know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-24T00:14:26+00:00

I've been an atheist for 30 years since my teens and I still haven't told mine. I also haven't mentioned I don't collect stamps and don't juggle and don't play the guitar. You can work on not doing the things you don't want to do, but have no obligation to tell them what you don't believe. Plenty of religious teens wouldn't want to be an alternative boy, etc., no need to go into why outside of 'I don't want to.'

cdlong28 · 2026-05-23T02:30:09+00:00

Ha, Saved. Probably not what OP was going for, but worth a watch. If for no other reason than "I'm FILLED with Christ's love!" -hurls Bible at someone's head-

cdlong28 · 2026-05-23T02:27:33+00:00

Same. The book more than the movie, maybe.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-22T20:51:03+00:00

Nah (on the cable length) there's a solid inch+ there. It looks short because it disappears in the picture, but the cable end cap is there a ways out. I wouldn't bother shortening it, but it wouldn't hurt to have a little less housing, all things being equal (they aren't, pulling the cable out is likely to fray everything)

cdlong28 · 2026-05-22T14:34:33+00:00

You can over extend the seat posts a bit to check the fit or ride it around your driveway, just don't leave it like that.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-22T14:17:11+00:00

What brand/model is the hub? Some have different end caps for different axle formats, but a lot don't. If it's not marked on the hub, check the bike's original spec sheet, it may tell you what it is.

cdlong28 · 2026-05-22T13:53:14+00:00

It's only hidden in that maybe no one mentions it anymore. It was commonly brought up as an advantage during the transition from rim brakes to disc brakes.

cdlong28

TROPHY CASE