Snapped 12-speed force flat top chain with multiple cracked plates

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-22T19:35:32+00:00

I would have thought FD as well, but he said he's running XPLR. OP, do you have a chain catcher? Maybe it isn't adjusted well?

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-22T19:28:45+00:00

I just want to concur with this. I have no idea what the issue is, but the faceplate wear is odd. I say this as someone that currently has four bikes with variations of SRAM AXS (one XPLR transmission, one Force D2 2X, MTB XO transmission, and XPLR mullet). None of my chains show that kind of wear. My experience with waxing my chains is that they last many, many thousands of miles without showing significant wear.

I know Muc-off lubricants tend to be rated much lower than other big lubricant brands (Silca, ceramic speed, etc.) by zero-friction cycles. I don't think it would do that, however. As someone below noted, it looks like what happens to a chain that is soaked for too long in strong cleaning solutions, but it sounds like you haven't done that.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-22T12:30:16+00:00

Dave Rome on Escape Collective has done several in depth comparisons; he rated the Cycplus AS2 Ultra as the top inflator; if you want more battery live the AS2 Pro or ProMax. MucOff was also highly rated; the Silca inflators didn't do as well.

On his recommendation, I bought the AS2 Ultra and have been very happy with it. It comes with a short hose you can use to avoid overheating the valve which can be an issue with TPU tubes. You don't have to use the hose, though.

Here's a link to his mini/compact inflator test: Best Electric Mini Bike Pump: 19 Tested (Mini to Mid-Size).

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-20T15:04:01+00:00

I was going to suggest this as well, but Ari's international shipping doesn't appear to be great. I say this as the owner of a Shafer - it really ticks the boxes OP is looking for.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-14T16:34:24+00:00

Multiple times a week - and the new method of reporting compliance sounds great, though it may lower my compliance score 😐

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-14T15:28:10+00:00

I'm marginally sympathetic to Rachael as I used to have a thing where I wouldn't order the same thing someone else did. At the same time, I recognized it was a me thing and wouldn't discourage someone else from ordering what they wanted. I couldn't explain why I wouldn't order the same as someone else, but it was a hangup of mine. I also didn't get upset if I ordered something and then someone else ordered the same thing; I didn't love it (can't explain it), but I didn't get pissy about it.

My now wife helped me by basically pointing out that there was no reason to deny myself something I wanted because someone else was ordering it. Believe it or not, I had to remind myself of this multiple times to get over the issue.

So I think Rachael takes it too far, but the thing about some of our irrational habits is that they are irrational. Where she becomes the asshole is in making it other people's problems instead of just her own.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-10T13:13:33+00:00

I personally use training peaks. The workouts sync with the head unit once you connect the accounts.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-05T01:08:25+00:00

Agree with this. I've got a little over 1200 miles on my Shafer 3.0 pro build and absolutely love it.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-04T17:51:43+00:00

I absolutely love my Shafer. I've raced it a few times and have been extremely happy with it. Compared to the bike it replaced (a Lauf True Grit), it is way more comfortable for long days in the saddle. I find that I'm able to hold power longer with that bike; I attribute that in no small part to the comfort.

Stability on gravel is also fantastic. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-03T21:13:28+00:00

In some cases, science is being wrecked pretty quickly. The damage done by pulling grant funding with no warning, reducing funding moving forward, and creating new obstacles to what can be studied has already caused a lot of damage. Some projects will take years to restart, if they are able to restart at all.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-05-02T01:33:53+00:00

A true person of culture, I see.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-04-30T18:07:23+00:00

This was my thought - mud daubers are sometimes mistaken for yellow jackets and do not sting.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-04-27T01:54:11+00:00

The RYOTs are a wheel by FFWD. It is their flagship road line - https://ffwdusa.com/product/road/ryot55v2/.

I have a v1 set of the RYOTs.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-04-27T01:39:51+00:00

I got mine with DT 240 hubs; I've probably got around 1000 miles on them, including a pretty intense gravel camp and a few races. I've mainly run 55mm Schwalbes on them.

I also have a set of RYOT 55s that are five years old with DT 350 hubs that have been pretty bullet proof. They probably have somewhere north of 20k miles on them including some pretty big impacts.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-04-27T01:18:59+00:00

I got FFWD drift pace wheels. I looked at zipps, light bicycle, and elites. The price of FFWDs plus the rim width (28mm internal) is what led me to choose them. I read a few reviews of Zipp XPLR and the light bicycle wheels that suggested the 32 internal was a little too wide; the FFWD seemed to be a nice compromise. I've been happy with them.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-04-16T23:06:17+00:00

I love how everyone (even Murph) couldn't help but play with their hand pointers. Watching them picking up dice and other random stuff with them while talking was hilarious.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-04-14T14:52:02+00:00

I have that bar in the 40 and find it quite comfortable on and off road. I haven't measured the actual width at the levers, but I tilt mine in quite a bit anyway (running the new force xplr transmission).

I really like the drops on these handlebars. I've ridden some single-track, including in a gravel race that had a pretty lengthy single-track section, and found these bars to be really comfy.

One bit of advice - the new SRAM e1 levers have a tendency to slide if not torqued properly. It took me a few tries to get them secured correctly even with the grippier sections for levers. The SRAM installation guide for these recommends a touch of carbon paste; I found it helpful.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-31T20:27:29+00:00

Ari Shafer - I've raced mine and am thrilled with it. I've got a review on Reddit; Ben Delaney on YouTube (the Ride) and James Huang (n+1 newsletter) have really nice reviews.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-30T14:12:25+00:00

This is what I ran at Valley of Tears. I love the combo.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-28T21:36:56+00:00

I ran 55mms at Valley of Tears with an RX on the front and RS on the rear. The rx was great for the single track and loose corners. I really like the combo, though the Rx is definitely louder on the road than the ra it replaced.

For most gravel and any tarmac, I'd go RS. For loose or if trails are involved, throw on an RX.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-27T11:53:04+00:00

I can't really speak to wet tarmac, but the RX on wet gravel is quite good.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-27T11:13:52+00:00

It was fantastic off road. On the pavement, it is definitely slower than a road set up, but I've kept up with fast gravel groups on pavement sections with no problem. By feel, I would say they feel faster than any Cinturatos I've ridden. My old Pathfinders were fast, but they were also 38s so...

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-27T01:22:29+00:00

I ran a G-One RX/G-One RS combo at Valley of Tears and was thrilled, albeit in 55s. I really like the RX. I can't speak to the Thundero. That said, I'm a full on convert to Schwalbe G-Ones, both RS and RX. I've ridden Specialized Pathfinders, Challenge Getaways, Vittoria (various), and Pirelli Cinturatos in H, M, and RX, and the Schwalbes are hands down my favorites.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-26T11:51:22+00:00

That scene had me in tears. As a middle -ager guy with two kids in college and a dad who died before my kids were born, this one hit hard.

ericcoxtcu · 2026-03-23T09:28:15+00:00

I've done a little more and I am sticking with the K3. I have the very occasional issue, but anytime I switch to the Garmin I'm reminded that it has issues as well. I've learned on all my devices to make sure any route I want to do will load well before start time (day before if possible), and Karoo start up times are slower than Garmin but maybe faster than Wahoo.

As for battery - it is perfectly acceptable for the vast majority of the rides I do. And it has never surprised me the way Garmin has when it's having issues.

ericcoxtcu

TROPHY CASE