[glenzx]

Figured it was time to start letting all my mtbr.com buddies know what was happening regarding bike/race schedule next season. My new 2006 Yeti ASR-SL Carbon is on the way, but a few select bling-bling items arrived this past week that will go onto the bike when she arrives. The box from Italy had me salivating before I even opened it! Inside were the stem (120mm = 101g), post (154g), headset (62g), and seat post collar (9g!!!). Made the XTR derailleur look so crude for being a high end part.... which I got the day before with the funky kevlar derailleur cables by Power Cordz (7g for the set!) I've been wanting to try for a while now. To say the Yeti will be zoot is an understatement! My Magura Marta's, CK ISO / Stans Wheels, Easton carbon bars, new Time Carbon ATAC's, and XTR cranks & 11-32 cassette will also be included in the build. Still looking for a good light seat - and have been liking the Specialized "Toupe" on the roadie. Not the lightest - but light and comforatble. A few more weeks and I'll know if it'll be the seat for both bikes...

Anyhow, here's the booty!

The workmanship is incredible on these Italian parts:

Anyhow, when the bike is built, I'll update the thread! Hope to have it in the next week or two.

As for racing, I'm only looking at 8-10 events, with only 5-6 on the calendar now. Events like my solo debut at Old Pueblo, the three days of mania at Iron Horse, the Snowmass Nationals, and a couple of Mountain States Cup events - then finish up with the NM Off-Road Championships in Las Cruces in September. If time and money work out - I'm planning on trying to get back east for the Sugar Mountain NORBA event - heck, maybe I can fly into Atlanta and catch a ride with one of the mtbr.com locals from there . THAT'd make it a sure-thing!

 

[514Climber]

Oh yeah, baby!

That's some SERIOUS bling.

I don't have the seatpost, but here's what I've experienced with my Extralite parts:

1) The stem is indeed flexy. This will take some getting used to, but a honed rider like you shouldn't experience too steep of a learning curve. Don't be too surprised, however, if you go back to a stiffer stem. This, of course, will be dictated by personal preference and the type of trails you plan to ride with your new build. I can see it being a great stem, for instance, for the non-technical short track races.

2) The seat post clamp is very strong. However, if the seat post slips on your new frame, take care not to overtorque the Ti bolt on the clamp (if you did get the Ti bolt). What I did was put some blue semi-perm loctite on the bolt and tighten just enough to keep the post from slipping.

3) The headset, regrettably, has less than stellar bearings. Check the "Save some weight" forum; it's pretty much a roll of the dice if yours will last or not. Make sure your wrench follows the directions to the letter! My experience with Cane Creeks are more consistent (I just got a Cane Creek S8 for my 29er build). The good news is, the headset cap is the nicest looking one in production, IMO. You can keep that for future builds and it is much lighter than the stock cap/bolt combo from Cane Creek, King, etc.

p.s. You can shave a few grams from your XTR front derailleur by replacing the clamp bolt with Ti and the bolt that holds the cable with an aluminum. Be sure to use the semi-perm loctite. I've got close to a 1000 miles (including a solo 8 hour of White Rim) on that set up.

Be sure to post pics of your complete build!

 

[glenzx]

That's some SERIOUS bling.

This, of course, will be dictated by personal preference and the type of trails you plan to ride with your new build. I can see it being a great stem, for instance, for the non-technical short track races.

Great feedback 514! I researched and mulled over the purchases, and figured with an expert wrench (me) and some TLC, I'd at least get some good life out of the parts. Not too worried about the flex in the stem with 4" forks! Funny, in my experience with STXC races I've done - it'd seem to be where I'd want less flex, as every ounce of energy that can propel you efficiently forward for the 20-30 minutes of anaerobic hell will help survive! Seems like a little flex on longer rides/races may help - might drive me nuts too, we'll see. Guess the cumulative effect over a longer ride would be worse than a short race.... ah, so much to figure out! I'm something of a maintanence freak, and will take the time to make sure everything stays adjusted, lubed, and is carefully watched.

Ti bolt for the der. is on order, along with some others - like for the caliper-to-frame & fork mounting, brake lever clamps, rotor-to-hub boltset, and XTR crankarm pinch bolts .

And of course, the MOMENT she's built, and on the scale - pix will appear here!

g

 

[514Climber]

That's a really good point...

in my experience with STXC races I've done - it'd seem to be where I'd want less flex, as every ounce of energy that can propel you efficiently forward for the 20-30 minutes of anaerobic hell will help survive! Seems like a little flex on longer rides/races may help

g

And you obviously have much more experience at the competitive level.

I think I'll follow suit and put my extralite stem on my epic ride build and the raceface on my short track build.

The extralite stem is very resilient. And, IMO, the most elegant design out there.

 

[Tracerboy]

what are those straw type things in the seat for? are they just threre so u can take them out and thats where u put the seat rails?

 

[en are es]

what are those straw type things in the seat for? are they just threre so u can take them out and thats where u put the seat rails?

Yes. Correct me if im wrong.

 

[SkinnyJimmy]

Nice

I love my extralite post and clamp. Using with SLR saddle for almost 2 years now. I went with a Syntace F99 stem though. Cheaper, lighter (withTi bolts) and supposed to be stiffer. At my 135 pounds I couldn't tell. I need all the light parts at my weight to keep my power ratio up! Going to be a sweet build. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[forkboy]

My new 2006 Yeti ASR-SL Carbon is on the way

I'm curious as to what you will think of the ASR as a race bike. I actually bought a different bike becuase I thought the ASR was too inefficient - I can run my K2 and hardtail a couple gears higher most of the time.

I've had one since '01 - it's about a 1/2 pound heavier in the frame. Mine isn't built as a superlight race bike either - 01 X-fly, Sram 9.0SL / X.0, avid BBDB... it should be lighter than it is - I just can't figure out where all the weight is hiding. Probably in the gunk on the chain...

I'd like your thoughts on a comparison to the blur when you get it rolling...

 

[rapwithtom]

This is all quite surprising to me! I thought you were a SC fanatic...is there something that drove you to this bike? Is it a hook-up or something about the bike? What about your SC, still got it? And what sort of HT will you be on for 2006?

And which MSC races? My schedule might be similar to yours...starting off with crashing on Forkboy's floor for the IronHorse...ForkBoy, got that hotel built yet?

 

[forkboy]

This is all quite surprising to me! I thought you were a SC fanatic...is there something that drove you to this bike? Is it a hook-up or something about the bike? What about your SC, still got it? And what sort of HT will you be on for 2006?

And which MSC races? My schedule might be similar to yours...starting off with crashing on Forkboy's floor for the IronHorse...ForkBoy, got that hotel built yet?

Glen said he's getting rid of the HT - consolidating his life, so to speak. I think he's just getting old and can't take the pain anymore

I've got about 2/3 of the siding on... hopefully by spring I'll have indoor plumbing hooked up and maybe even heat.



<img src=https://student.fortlewis.edu/mwmages/house/05Nov/Picture-031.jpg>

Tom - are you planning on both the MTB and RR this year? I know Glen is, and I'm a glutton for punishment (and huge ass-bruises)

 

[rapwithtom]

Tom - are you planning on both the MTB and RR this year? I know Glen is, and I'm a glutton for punishment (and huge ass-bruises)

Yep! And, if there is tequila involved, maybe even Sunday's Crit...

I think that the IronHorse is one of my 2 favorite biking weekends...the other being the Crested Butte race, of course!

I'm still on the lookout for a decent Fruita and/or Moab weekend, but it hasn't happened yet because of weather and/or my schedule.

Now, back to your regularly programmed thread about GlenZX's new bling.

 

[glenzx]

I'm curious as to what you will think of the ASR as a race bike. I actually bought a different bike becuase I thought the ASR was too inefficient - I can run my K2 and hardtail a couple gears higher most of the time.

I've had one since '01 - it's about a 1/2 pound heavier in the frame. Mine isn't built as a superlight race bike either - 01 X-fly, Sram 9.0SL / X.0, avid BBDB... it should be lighter than it is - I just can't figure out where all the weight is hiding. Probably in the gunk on the chain...

I'd like your thoughts on a comparison to the blur when you get it rolling...

Huh. The few parking lot tests felt awesome - maybe it's the RP3 shock... dunno. It came down to a Racer-X 100 or the Yeti, and the Yeti was lighter, um, and I may have gotten some sort of, um - you know, agreement (that I'm not supposed to discuss) with a certain company in Golden, CO.

Anyhow, I'm buggin' out in anticipation! I am about to sell the HT on eBay this evening and the Blur is long gone. And yer right - simpler life with ONE bike and some spare parts...

 

[glenzx]

This is all quite surprising to me! I thought you were a SC fanatic...is there something that drove you to this bike? Is it a hook-up or something about the bike? What about your SC, still got it? And what sort of HT will you be on for 2006?

And which MSC races? My schedule might be similar to yours...starting off with crashing on Forkboy's floor for the IronHorse...ForkBoy, got that hotel built yet?

SC Fanatic? Noooo.. nice bike, but after 3 seasons, I'm ready to try something new - and substantially lighter. As noted to Mark above, the test riding came down to two more or less similar bikes - the Titus RX and the Yeti ASR-SL Carbon (the HT is almost gone, and the Blur is residing in Cali. now). Yeti was lighter - and there may have been a hook-up. Let's just say that I'll be wearing a Yeti Jersey at the races I show up at!

MSC races indeed. I like the reduced schedule thus far - though am sorry to hear Moab is likely to not happen. I'd rather there not be a Moab event than to hold it at the dreaded Behind the Rocks 24 hr. course though. But definately Nathrop and Angel Fire, and maybe one or two others. We'll see how the calendar fills up in the coming months! Iron Horse I'm in for a pound - all three races most likely - and as a licensed ROADIE too! Yikes. Hoping to get the points to formally CAT up to 3 next year. The local NORBA guy said he was OK with taking ACA race results and "interpolating" that data if needed, to CAT up. Anyhow, chez Forkboy is looking swanky!

 

[merlin]

I'm also doing the simple life thing. The stable will be down to 3 bikes after get everything on e-bay. Good luck on the new build, sounds like it will be sweet. No Sea Otter?

 

[glenzx]

I'm also doing the simple life thing. The stable will be down to 3 bikes after get everything on e-bay. Good luck on the new build, sounds like it will be sweet. No Sea Otter?

Ah Sea Otter! Almost forgot.... I'll do it it if I can find a couple of folks to hit the road with. My wife likely cannot make it, and I ain't gonna fly out and all that fancy stuff without her - so it'll have to be an el-cheapo road trip with the fellas - provided there are any willing to go! Forkboy? Tom? Anyone else in the region want to make the spring-time odyssey?

 

[rapwithtom]

Ah Sea Otter! Almost forgot.... I'll do it it if I can find a couple of folks to hit the road with. My wife likely cannot make it, and I ain't gonna fly out and all that fancy stuff without her - so it'll have to be an el-cheapo road trip with the fellas - provided there are any willing to go! Forkboy? Tom? Anyone else in the region want to make the spring-time odyssey?

Ahh, Sea Otter...yes indeedy, I have been eye-balling that...it's a possibility, TBD a couple of weeks before. But wait, it sells out, right? Merlin, what's your recommendation re: camping or whatever?

 

[forkboy]

maybe it's the RP3 shock...

That could be it. Mine originally had the old Fox Float RLC. I got sick of spending $100 to rebuild it every year, and now I'm running one of the newer CC Cloud 9's. That cloud 9 is a rockin shock, but it doesn't have the lockout.

Congrats on the (( cough cough )) deal that is not to be mentioned.

I hope you got it in Pink. That is a badass color. The competition would run in fear of anyone masculine enough to sport a pink bike on the starting line. Besides - isn't pink like the official Santa Fe color? That and Adobe....

 

[glenzx]

That could be it. Mine originally had the old Fox Float RLC. I got sick of spending $100 to rebuild it every year, and now I'm running one of the newer CC Cloud 9's. That cloud 9 is a rockin shock, but it doesn't have the lockout.

Congrats on the (( cough cough )) deal that is not to be mentioned.

I hope you got it in Pink. That is a badass color. The competition would run in fear of anyone masculine enough to sport a pink bike on the starting line. Besides - isn't pink like the official Santa Fe color? That and Adobe....

I wanted to get pink - but my wife thinks it would be silly, AND it'll likely be out of style way before I get rid of it. Thery're also hardest to come by!

And ah yes - I had an old Spez Enduro with a Fox Float that had a similar propensity for rebuilds. Of course it didn't help that I averaged 250 pounds most of the time I owned that bike (surprise surprise - I broke it!)

 

[glenzx]

Ahh, Sea Otter...yes indeedy, I have been eye-balling that...it's a possibility, TBD a couple of weeks before. But wait, it sells out, right? Merlin, what's your recommendation re: camping or whatever?

What's this crap about commiting a few weeks prior? Let's get the Motley Crew that Never Was (Moab) and hit the road to Monterey! I'll be in lousy shape early April, but screw it. Sounds like a great event and NO WAY am I paying for a hotel room that costs as much as the host hotels. $150-$200 minimum per night. Pffft. My air mattress is A-O-K, and it looks fun to be able to camp right by the venue in a decent looking developed campground....

Here's the Plan: Tuesday Night / Wednesday morning we converge at Forkboys La Plata Mansion, load up the three amigos' gear into one of the vehicles - hit the road, and do as many of the races as we can possibly fit in the schedule! Hit the road sunday evening and drive some, completeing the journey on Monday evening. The Jeep might be a good mix of speed (lol), cargo capacity, and (relative) comfort. Unless you spring for the pimpin' Hummer Escalade with DVD players and twin screens in the rear, with a mini-bar of course. I'll start saving for the gasoline now!

 

[merlin]

What's this crap about commiting a few weeks prior? Let's get the Motley Crew that Never Was (Moab) and hit the road to Monterey! I'll be in lousy shape early April, but screw it. Sounds like a great event and NO WAY am I paying for a hotel room that costs as much as the host hotels. $150-$200 minimum per night. Pffft. My air mattress is A-O-K, and it looks fun to be able to camp right by the venue in a decent looking developed campground....

Here's the Plan: Tuesday Night / Wednesday morning we converge at Forkboys La Plata Mansion, load up the three amigos' gear into one of the vehicles - hit the road, and do as many of the races as we can possibly fit in the schedule! Hit the road sunday evening and drive some, completeing the journey on Monday evening. The Jeep might be a good mix of speed (lol), cargo capacity, and (relative) comfort. Unless you spring for the pimpin' Hummer Escalade with DVD players and twin screens in the rear, with a mini-bar of course. I'll start saving for the gasoline now!

I hope you guys decide to make it, you will love it. It is the biggest Bicycling event in the US! Your welcome to say stay at the Merlin home and then we could caravan down there. As Glen knows, I don;t camp! But I will have a huge hotel room at the embasy suites that you can share.