REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

BigShot revised

3559 Views 20 Replies 10 Participants Last post by shiggy, Dec 27, 2005

shiggy

Discussion Starter · Dec 14, 2005

3

Been enjoying the ride of the BigShot.

Note the Specialized Fast Trak 29x2.00 tires.

With the 36t chainwheel I rarely moved off the big half of the cassette so I swapped to a 30t. Was looking at the Profile ti so Padre's garage sale timing was perfect.

Also switched to an 8-speed cassette (from 9). A bit easier to use with a friction shifter.

Quick take on "how does it ride?"
Like no other bike. It is a rigid bike and pedals like a rigid bike - only better. Does not feel like a suspension bike either. It does track and hug the trail in a very good and fun way. Sort of flows with the terrain rather than reacting to it. Can not really describe it.

The frame does not feel flexy or like it wags. At the Big Fat Tour in Bend OR I was able to push hard and fast into the corners. Leaning the bike over it felt like the rear wheel was sliding out a bit but I was not losing traction. Realized the frame was flexing giving me two-wheel steering. After that I adjusted my steering input, gained a bit of front traction and could push even harder in the turns. Fun!

It was asked if it works better with a rigid fork vs a sussy fork. I have no idea. Never ridden a 'Shot with a suspension fork.

Bar setup in part two.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

JMKM

· #2 · Dec 14, 2005

Nitto Bar? Cut off.

Is that what that bar is? Just curious. I commuted with a northroads turned upside down like that all winter. Ultimately I found that because of the relatively static position while commuting the bar wasn't good for my shoulders and back. It rolled my shoulders very far forward and I started to have some neck and back problems. I like the ride though and have been constantly trying to figure something else to put them on. My thought right now is to put them on my road fixie.

Nice drivetrain setup. Lately I have been thinking of building something using the Profile rear microdrive 135 spaced hub with a super small chainring up front, like a 22/12. Not for any functional reason, just because I can.

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 14, 2005

4

Part Two: the bars
First posted pics with these bars in "Look Mom! No dropbars!"

They were not quite right then. Reach to the brake levers was not good so I made a few adjustments.

The bars are Nitto North Road. Thin wall cromoly, mtb lever and stem diameter. I cut about 5" off of the ends. By running the brake levers far forward in the bend my grip is in the "hook", similar to being in the "hooks" (bottom and forward) of dropbars. Can not get this position with the bars in the "rise" direction.
To move the levers closer to the bar I replaced the short reach adjustment set screws with longer bolts from my parts jar.

I also carefully bent the lever blades down to better match the curve of the bars.

The shifter is a circa 1985 Suntour XC rear friction lever. Because of the curve of the bar the shifter would hit the brake lever. Fix that with a piece of brass shim between the mount and bar on the outside (right) only. Tipped the lever just enough to clear. Brake levers are flipped left for right for shifter clearance.

Easier to shift with the lever underneath while maintaining a grip on the bar. This was a Pro rider trick in '85-86 and was the inspiration for the RapidFire shifters.

Padded and wrapped the bars with Fiz:ik Gel and tape. This stuff is awesome! Will be using cork tape less often from now on.

See less See more

DirtDad

· #4 · Dec 14, 2005

Outrageous!

shiggy said:
Been enjoying the ride of the BigShot.
Note the Specialized Fast Trak 29x2.00 tires.

Where do I start???!!! I can't decide, so here is all my input in no particular order.

What took you so long to get the tires, geez! It must be good to be the tire King, eh?

Nice paint job and blatant self-promotion, and I mean that in a respectful way, it really is nice. Who did the paint?

Style points are off the chart - stem choice (is that Ti?), the entire crankset, cable housing color, etc.

What is up with the green headset spacer?

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 14, 2005

DirtDad said:
Where do I start???!!! I can't decide, so here is all my input in no particular order.

What took you so long to get the tires, geez! It must be good to be the tire King, eh?

I got the tires in June as one of the twenty. Three or four people rode them before I had a chance too. I have posted about they since the day (before) they arrived.

Nice paint job and blatant self-promotion, and I mean that in a respectful way, it really is nice. Who did the paint?

The graphics are all sign vinyl I designed, cut and applied myself. I have a vinyl cutter (a plotter with a blade).

Much less subtle is the wheelset I did for my Coiler:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=119256&

Style points are off the chart - stem choice (is that Ti?), the entire crankset, cable housing color, etc.

Moots stem, hand polished. Going to put chrome scuff guards on the saddle

What is up with the green headset spacer?

It was what I had in the parts box. Use to be on the Chester.

bigwheelboy_490

· #6 · Dec 14, 2005

Why are your brake levers mounted that way?

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 14, 2005

bigwheelboy_490 said:
Why are your brake levers mounted that way?

It is explained in the posts.

frankenbike

· #8 · Dec 14, 2005

Shiggy,

What rims did you use to build up those wheels? Are they road 19mm wide rims?

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 14, 2005

frankenbike said:
Shiggy,

What rims did you use to build up those wheels? Are they road 19mm wide rims?

Da Vinci V-22 tandem rims.
http://www.davincitandems.com/comp.html#rim

22mm wide, 36 spoke on White Industry hubs.

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 14, 2005

Links to previous threads about this bike:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=119850&
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=127351&

C-Hog

· #11 · Dec 26, 2005

Shifter options w/ NorthRoads???

Shiggy,

I am very intriqued with this bar setup. It just might be what I've been looking for. But I'm wondering what other shifter options one might have with the North Road bars. I'm a gripshift diehard, but I'm sure those wouldn't work. Do you think a guy could get trigger shifters to work very well?

Thanks,
C-Hog

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 26, 2005

C-Hog said:
Shiggy,

I am very intriqued with this bar setup. It just might be what I've been looking for. But I'm wondering what other shifter options one might have with the North Road bars. I'm a gripshift diehard, but I'm sure those wouldn't work. Do you think a guy could get trigger shifters to work very well?

Thanks,
C-Hog

The other option I considered was a bar end shifter. GripShift may work on the end of the bar. Triggers would be difficult.

Cleve Lansteamer

· #13 · Dec 26, 2005

DirtDad said:
Where do I start???!!! I can't decide, so here is all my input in no particular order.

What took you so long to get the tires, geez! It must be good to be the tire King, eh?

Nice paint job and blatant self-promotion, and I mean that in a respectful way, it really is nice. Who did the paint?

Style points are off the chart - stem choice (is that Ti?), the entire crankset, cable housing color, etc.

What is up with the green headset spacer?

yeah i was thinking about where to start...
where to start making fun of it

Guitar Ted

· #14 · Dec 26, 2005

Shiggy, How do the bars ride?

Would you say these bars have much give, or are they on the stiff side. Did I read somewhere that you cut the ends down?

What approximate angle of flare, if any, do they have?

Have you ever heard of anyone making a titanium drop bar? (Just wondering)

Thanks!

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 27, 2005

Guitar Ted said:
Would you say these bars have much give, or are they on the stiff side. Did I read somewhere that you cut the ends down?

What approximate angle of flare, if any, do they have?

Have you ever heard of anyone making a titanium drop bar? (Just wondering)

Thanks!

They have a couple of degrees of flare. Not much at all. I would like a bit more but I am reluctant to bend the thin-wall cro-moly. I did chop ~5" off the ends.
Solid ride. No obvious flex but not punishing.

No ti drop bars that I know of. Would be a heck of a job to bend them!

See less See more

Guitar Ted

· #16 · Dec 27, 2005

Thanks!

Shiggy, thank you for that pic and answer! I am building a new Inbred 29"er and was considering taking a look at the North Roads. I'll be going single speed, so shifters are not a concern. The picture you posted reminds me of a mustache bar that I think Nitto made for Bridgestone that was compatible with mountain bike controls. I had an aquaintence loan me some to try on my Karate Monkee for awhile. They were aluminum and had some nice give to them when ridden out at the ends of the bar. Perhaps these North Road bars would be slightly more forgiving if they were not cut down?

My other option would be an H-Bar, more expensive but more forgiving, I'm assuming. Ah! Choices!

shiggy

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 27, 2005

Guitar Ted said:
Shiggy, thank you for that pic and answer! I am building a new Inbred 29"er and was considering taking a look at the North Roads. I'll be going single speed, so shifters are not a concern. The picture you posted reminds me of a mustache bar that I think Nitto made for Bridgestone that was compatible with mountain bike controls. I had an aquaintence loan me some to try on my Karate Monkee for awhile. They were aluminum and had some nice give to them when ridden out at the ends of the bar. Perhaps these North Road bars would be slightly more forgiving if they were not cut down?

My other option would be an H-Bar, more expensive but more forgiving, I'm assuming. Ah! Choices!

The mustache bars have much more forward reach than the North Road.

You need a much longer stem with the NR, especially if you are running the levers on the straight section.

See less See more

Cloxxki

· #18 · Dec 27, 2005

Ted, if you can live with a low handlebar, why not a flipped Mary for somewhat similar looks, plus preferable sweep and width?

Guitar Ted

· #19 · Dec 27, 2005

Primary concern is comfort

Cloxxki: I could go with a flipped Mary bar, but by some accounts given here, it is a stiff bar. I am not only wanting the sweep/ flare of a Mary or Midge, but something more forgiving, like my old Titec titanium 118 flat bar was. The more I think about it, the more I feel that I am going to have to get a titanium bar like the H-Bar or something equivelent, if it exists.

Sorry this has turned into a discussion on handlebars versus Shiggy's Big Shot bike! Returning thread to you now! Thanks for your help!

OneGearGuy

· #20 · Dec 27, 2005

Custom!

Nice customizing job, shiggy. As usual, heheh.

Have you always run your brakes moto style?

OGG

1 - 20 of 21 Posts