REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

New SS, First SS

2058 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by 2sharp7, Feb 11, 2022

2sharp7

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2022

4

Well I got the SS bug and got my first SS hard tail built up last week! Was able to get a couple of rides on it too. Not quite the right gear to start, but I’ll get it figured out.
Here’s the details on the bike.
Pipedream Cycles Sirius S5 (thanks Steve HardTail Party)
Rockshox Sid Ultimate fork, 120mm
WTB i35 29er wheelset
Specialized Butcher front, Eliminator rear, both 29x2.6
PNW range handlebar 31.8 cut to 760m
PNW range 50mm stem
PNW loam mismatched grips
Cane Creek headset, Chromag Spacers
OneUp 150mm dropper, WTB Volt saddle
Praxis BB
RaceFace Turbine crankset, 175mm crank arms, RaceFace 32t oval chainring.
Surley 20t cog
Reverse spacer kit
SRAM 8sp chain
OneUp composite pedals

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Reactions: 5

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

DeoreDX

· #2 · Feb 7, 2022

Did you use Chromag headset spacers? I can't quite tell

I dig it!

Reactions: 2

JoePAz

· #3 · Feb 7, 2022

Nice bike.

That is alot of tire for Prescott however. In 29x2.6 an XR2 or Ikon are much better for that terrain. Lighter and less rolling resistance. Those are the kind of tires I run on my Ibis Ripmo for enduro use.

Reactions: 1

SSsteel4life

· #4 · Feb 7, 2022

Awesome ride! Every time I see a build of the Sirus, keep telling myself just order one! Just love the way it looks.

Reactions: 1

2sharp7

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 7, 2022

JoePAz said:
Nice bike.

That is alot of tire for Prescott however. In 29x2.6 an XR2 or Ikon are much better for that terrain. Lighter and less rolling resistance. Those are the kind of tires I run on my Ibis Ripmo for enduro use.

Well, I hate flat tires! These Specialized tires do seem to be a lot more voluminous than the 29x2.6 Dissector/29x2.5 Agressor combo I have on my other 29er.

BrianU

· #6 · Feb 7, 2022

Nice bike! 32/20 is a typically a good starting point for gearing.

Reactions: 1

jay91_ss

· #7 · Feb 7, 2022

Nice pipedream 👍

Reactions: 1

2sharp7

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 7, 2022

BrianU said:
Nice bike! 32/20 is a typically a good starting point for gearing.

A little harder than I want on the climbs. I can hammer out the shorter ones with it, but the longer ones no dice, not quite. I'm 56 and still have good knees (sort of, knock on wood) and I want to keep them that way. I only walked maybe 5% of all the climbs on my Sat ride, so maybe I'll grow into it? IDK, but that's what the experts are telling me on my other thread. I'm sure they're right, but I think maybe at my current fitness I'm not quite ready for 32x20. Thinking about trying 32x21 or 32x22 for a while.

Reactions: 1

2sharp7

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 7, 2022

DeoreDX said:
Did you use Chromag headset spacers? I can't quite tell I dig it!

Yeah, it does look kinda dorky with all the logos lined up to the front.

gsteitz

· #10 · Feb 7, 2022

Yep, I just commented in your other thread but walking only 5% on your first ss ride is excellent. Stick with the 32x20 for a bit!

Ducman

· #11 · Feb 8, 2022

Awesome bike, you did a nice job speccing it out. If you want to try an easier gear, then go for it. Easy and cheap enough to try to see if it is better or not. Gear it so that you are having the most fun on the ride, that might mean being able to climb the climbs or it might mean having the "right" gear on the flat sections. Try different gears to see what fits you the best.

Reactions: 2

Karmatp

· #12 · Feb 8, 2022

I don’t know if you realize or not but you have the butcher rear and eliminator front, your specs have them reversed. I would want the butcher front with the eliminator rear, that butcher to much tire for a SS rear.

If you want some help on the climbs, I would run 2.35 ground control t7 front with a fast trak 2.35 t5 rear.

Reactions: 1

2sharp7

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 8, 2022 (Edited)

Karmatp said:
I don’t know if you realize or not but you have the butcher rear and eliminator front, your specs have them reversed. I would want the butcher front with the eliminator rear, that butcher to much tire for a SS rear.

If you want some help on the climbs, I would run 2.35 ground control t7 front with a fast trak 2.35 t5 rear.

Yes, the pics are from my first ride and did not discover I had messed up mounting tires until after the ride. Switched them before my ride the next day. 😊

eri

· #14 · Feb 10, 2022

2sharp7 said:
A little harder than I want on the climbs. I can hammer out the shorter ones with it, but the longer ones no dice, not quite. I'm 56 and still have good knees (sort of, knock on wood) and I want to keep them that way. I only walked maybe 5% of all the climbs on my Sat ride, so maybe I'll grow into it? IDK, but that's what the experts are telling me on my other thread. I'm sure they're right, but I think maybe at my current fitness I'm not quite ready for 32x20. Thinking about trying 32x21 or 32x22 for a while.

I was quite surprised to find that hard ss climbing helps my knees. Have heard that high weight on cartilage causes fluid 'respiration' and helps healing. Could also be developing the knee muscles from all the standing. When I started I had to recover for 2 days between ss rides, deep pain in tendons, knees and sore glutes/hips/abs but that sort of pain only lasted a month or so.

Reactions: 1

2sharp7

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 10, 2022

eri said:
I was quite surprised to find that hard ss climbing helps my knees. Have heard that high weight on cartilage causes fluid 'respiration' and helps healing. Could also be developing the knee muscles from all the standing. When I started I had to recover for 2 days between ss rides, deep pain in tendons, knees and sore glutes/hips/abs but that sort of pain only lasted a month or so.

I believe it. I believe riding in general is good for my knees. I've had a few random bouts of right knee pain over the years, and it always seems like riding helps it. I also believe squats help keep them well.

BrianU

· #16 · Feb 11, 2022

eri said:
I was quite surprised to find that hard ss climbing helps my knees. Have heard that high weight on cartilage causes fluid 'respiration' and helps healing. Could also be developing the knee muscles from all the standing. When I started I had to recover for 2 days between ss rides, deep pain in tendons, knees and sore glutes/hips/abs but that sort of pain only lasted a month or so.

Not only has it helped my knees, but seems to stretch out and loosen my lower back.

Reactions: 1

eri

· #17 · Feb 11, 2022

2sharp7 said:
I believe it. I believe riding in general is good for my knees. I've had a few random bouts of right knee pain over the years, and it always seems like riding helps it. I also believe squats help keep them well.

I got a ss as a training tool. Then found that I had a huge buzz after each ss ride. Partly its the fear but I think the other big part is that I'm forced to pay attention so I can use the trail for speed. With geared bikes I can just put my head down and space out, ss forces me to be in the now. The enjoyment is the most unexpected thing for me and nobody could have convinced me before I tried it.

My rule for gearing is that if my ride doesn't have me improbably grunting and almost giving up then its time for a harder gear. But when I was fit I found the increment from 34x21 to 34x20 was too large, I was ok on the 34x21 but just couldn't get comfy on that 34x20. Maybe my weight or something but I felt stuck not improving and so much pain.

If I must walk then I'll consider an easier gear. Right now getting back into it after winter and I find I need to catch my breath on a certain climb, literally I can't go slow enough and still make it with 32x23! (which is my easiest gear) I'm on the 'every other day plan' until I can ride it continuously. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

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2sharp7

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 11, 2022

eri said:
I got a ss as a training tool. Then found that I had a huge buzz after each ss ride. Partly its the fear but I think the other big part is that I'm forced to pay attention so I can use the trail for speed. With geared bikes I can just put my head down and space out, ss forces me to be in the now. The enjoyment is the most unexpected thing for me and nobody could have convinced me before I tried it.

My rule for gearing is that if my ride doesn't have me improbably grunting and almost giving up then its time for a harder gear. But when I was fit I found the increment from 34x21 to 34x20 was too large, I was ok on the 34x21 but just couldn't get comfy on that 34x20. Maybe my weight or something but I felt stuck not improving and so much pain.

If I must walk then I'll consider an easier gear. Right now getting back into it after winter and I find I need to catch my breath on a certain climb, literally I can't go slow enough and still make it with 32x23! (which is my easiest gear) I'm on the 'every other day plan' until I can ride it continuously. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

I think it will be an excellent tool for me as well, and I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the fun factor of SS.

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