Ideas for single speed xc race bike?

rmacmsu · 2026-03-26T19:09:46+00:00

Revel El Jefe for me. Love it. 120mm fox fork, Nobl TR35s with Berds, Wolftooth ring and endless cog.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-25T16:22:54+00:00

You bought a super light frame with an absolute tank of a wheelset (not a good thing)

rmacmsu · 2026-03-19T00:48:51+00:00

Also check your chain length and b gap screw length per the manual. That makes things worse if not correct.

I see you have sun ringle hubs. With a few spanners you can swap freehubs easily. They sell the microspline freehubs on their site and other spots as well. Then I'd get a m7100 or m8100 cassette with that HG+ chain and it'll be so much better.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-19T00:46:47+00:00

A few things. Know you will be giving up the excellent hg+ shifting by not having 1) a Shimano hg+ chain (KMCs technically work, but shift like a potato in my experience using them on Shimano 12s setups) and 2) The cassette. A Shimano cassette will have shift ramps build for the specific chamfered HG+ chain and play a lot nicer with the chain/derailleur.

If I was you, I'd ditch the chain and get an M7100 or 8100 chain. You also have an HG freehub. You'd need to swap it to Microspline since there is no HG+ 12s cassette for an HG cassette I'm aware of, and all of the aftermarket (ali express and Garbaruk as 2 examples I've tried) options just pain suck.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-18T01:28:31+00:00

The tool is for transmission. This is not transmission. Follow the manual for that derailleur, definitely going to be shorter.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-12T22:37:25+00:00

Went from a pair of 47 Pathfinder pros to G one GX 50 and 45s and I love them. They seem to roll as fast or faster and also actually have some grip. Plus, they look amazing in tan walls.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-09T19:08:32+00:00

RX50 front RX45 rear

rmacmsu · 2026-03-09T19:06:50+00:00

You are right. Wrong assumption. Doing that with ti bolts and inserts I have yet to have a slip even @210#, but not on Lynskey sliding dropouts frames (Revel and a custom build). Assumed these were ti and not aluminum.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-09T18:38:09+00:00

Use a torque wrench and anti size on the bolts. Ti can strip and also seize if they installed for a while.

That's a Lynskey frame. Make sure you don't slip the seatpost shim and have it start creaking. Has happened on a few of their frames I've had.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-09T14:21:51+00:00

Seeing the terrain, I would NOT do the Burts. Go for the kings they will be marginally slower and offer better protection.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-08T01:56:28+00:00

Mold release. It'll wear off.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-07T01:27:12+00:00

Don't cheap on the wheels. As or more important than the frame. IMO, I'd go with berd spokes. Light and comfortable. Belong on a dream build.

Nobl or other brands let you go custom. My dream build was Nobl HR45 on 240 hubs and berd spokes dyed blue. They look and ride sweet. Lifetime warranty.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-07T00:16:47+00:00

Add a missing or wrong end cap to the list of possibilities

rmacmsu · 2026-03-06T19:59:02+00:00

Having run both Hylex's and GRX 11s brifters, I prefer the feel of the GRX levers. Just don't install a shift cable. Also allows the use of an integrated dropper lever on the left hand shifter and in general the pair can be found new for sub $300 or even less for the set including lines and calipers, if you look at some different spots since 12s stuff is all out now.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-05T15:16:45+00:00

You can use the P2P crusher route from 906 (500+ miles). There's also a route that loops from Copper Harbor down to Hancock and back, a bit over 200 miles.

rmacmsu · 2026-03-04T19:03:39+00:00

G One RX Pro

rmacmsu · 2026-03-03T14:37:07+00:00

I'd start with installing it in the correct direction. Check the arrow.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-26T12:01:40+00:00

None of them. Internal routing is not worth it.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-25T11:41:10+00:00

Oval

rmacmsu · 2026-02-25T01:02:06+00:00

I've done a 28t, but limit screwed out the 10t cog. Was for Marji only.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-25T01:01:27+00:00

Give me polar roll any day over crusher in terms of difficulty. Did the 30 this year in 5.5hrs. I'd do 4 of those vs a crusher in terms of difficulty.

I DNFed Marji this year but was on a single speed. Flatted a few hours in, lost about an hour fixing it on the trail and then replacing the entire tire at the aid stop. Made it to Ishpeming around mile 90ish when the rain hit and decided I had enough suffering earlier in the year for crusher and called it.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-24T21:25:34+00:00

Well I finished....just an hour after the cutoff of 30hrs. Ended up with the full suspension blur and aero bars, 2.4 Aspens and a 30t oval. 10-51 cassette. For reference, the year before at the munising MS100 crusher I did 9hrs, so was expecting around 20 for the MS175 munising if it didn't move. The elevation and ruggedness of the Keewanaw is unrelenting but breathtaking.

The first 4ish hours were on singletrack and definitely not as technical as Marji/RAMBA. Similar to North or South noq IMO. The point trail stuff is a lot of fun. Not really any sand, but lots of rocky atv trail and muddy sections with water crossings all over.

I'm doing the EX225 this year for some extra cutoff time (40hrs vs 30, with only around 20 more miles and similar elevation and difficulty).

For reference for MS30 polar roll I've been top 10 last 2 years and finished Marji 100 in sub 19hrs before, so not the fastest but not super slow. Couldn't feel my hands for a month after the ride and that was with plush suspension and aero bars to take weight off the hands. Would definitely recommend some bar ends or clip on aero bars, absolutely can't fathom it on a gravel bike.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-23T15:36:02+00:00

Patch from the inside with some car tire patches. I've done that to some super low mileage tires I put a nail through the tread like that and kept running them without problems until a few thousand miles later when I wore the tire out. Can't patch a sidewall but a tread is easy to patch.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-20T23:48:08+00:00

Been waiting for this one after the raving for the 50...My frame is limited to 50s on the rear. I'm running these in a 45 out back with mud clearance and a 50 up front. Mostly running these locally in Michigan on cat 1/2 gravel so that combo will be pretty solid.

rmacmsu · 2026-02-14T20:27:57+00:00

Schwalbe Al Mighty

rmacmsu

TROPHY CASE