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Top Tube Bash guard?

701 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by toothpuller, Dec 2, 2005

toothpuller

Discussion Starter · Dec 1, 2005

Setting up the RX for XC racing and singletrack carving means a low, narrow flat bar and a stretched out position. The problem is that this position places the brake levers in a precarious relationship to the top tube. If by some chance I pull a self induced T-bone and launch over the bars I run the risk of having the brake levers smash the top tube. I've seen many a frame ruined by this. If I add headset spacers to the steerer tube to get the bar high enough it defeats the purpose of a lower front end. Does anyone have an idea about how to make a bash guard to protect the top tube? I was thinking about fabricating one out of some PVC pipe and an old inner tube and slipping it over the tube. It'll look lame but it will work. Any ideas?

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demo_slug

· #2 · Dec 1, 2005

toothpuller said:
Setting up the RX for XC racing and singletrack carving means a low, narrow flat bar and a stretched out position. The problem is that this position places the brake levers in a precarious relationship to the top tube. If by some chance I pull a self induced T-bone and launch over the bars I run the risk of having the brake levers smash the top tube. I've seen many a frame ruined by this. If I add headset spacers to the steerer tube to get the bar high enough it defeats the purpose of a lower front end. Does anyone have an idea about how to make a bash guard to protect the top tube? I was thinking about fabricating one out of some PVC pipe and an old inner tube and slipping it over the tube. It'll look lame but it will work. Any ideas?

hopey steering damper?

http://www.merchantmanager.com/timhopey/

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heatstroke

· #3 · Dec 1, 2005

Dont bolt on the shifter and lever on too tight so that they give before the top tube does. That is what I do and it works. You'll need to loctite the bolts to prevent them from backing out.

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TommyKlein

· #4 · Dec 1, 2005

heatstroke said:
Dont bolt on the shifter and lever on too tight so that they give before the top tube does. That is what I do and it works. You'll need to loctite the bolts to prevent them from backing out.

I agree with heatstroke. Definitely don't overtighten brake lever clamps. Usually the lever will spin on the bars before it causes any damage to the lever or frame.

I guess you could always just not crash and it should be fine.

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toothpuller

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 1, 2005

Got one

hopey steering damper?

Got one of those, it sucks. Doesn't do much for XC riding. Downhill, different story.

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Homebrew

· #6 · Dec 1, 2005

toothpuller said:
Got one of those, it sucks. Doesn't do much for XC riding.

I thought it might help with wandering while climbing. No?

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toothpuller

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 2, 2005

I thought it might help with wandering while climbing. No?

Yes, it did help a bit with climbing. I just found that if I turned it up to where it worked, it threw off my timing in techy situations. If I turned it down, it did barely anything. Overall, not worth it in my book.

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