using Avid Mechs with X-5

You have full length housing and no binding. That eliminates basically all the cable related possibilities right there. Here is my experience anyway...

On Barny's XCE we ran into a few issues with the mech. First, at full compression the housing would loop up and snag on the seatpost binder collar. This would tug the housing out of the upper seatstay housing stop and the brake would lock briefly until it popped back into place. Solved that by shortening the housing and reorienting the collar to face back. The same issue could arise if suspension compression pushes the housing forward through the top tube housing guides, and then has to pull it back when the suspension rebounds. This would be especially true of open guides like Ventana uses where you don't snug the hose in the guide with a zip tie or something. Sounds like you have already ruled this issue out though.

Also, the Avid mechs don't take a housing end cap (ferrule) where the cable housing enters the brake. The naked housing is supposed to slide right down into the brake's stop. This is hard to see because it's down inside that rubber boot. If you use a housing end cap, the housing just sits perched at the entrance to the stop and can bind if the housing moves (not usually a prob with horst-link bikes where the brake sits on the seat stay, but could be an issue with non-horst 4-bars).

Love my mechs, but love my Juicys more.

Completely off of the subject of AVID/X-5 issues ... it sounds like your woes are taken care of anyway.

Is snowbowl making a valiant attempt at establishing trails, and obstacles ? I might have to make it up there sometime to check it out ... Sheep mountain on the otherhand .. i've endured that heinous 4 hour climb before, OUCH !

Today's ride was rough ... Reimel Creek (pic #1) is rocky, and the trails don't see much useage. So the riding is slow, and technical. We took Reimel on up to the Continental Divide trail (pic#2) and rode the ridge for a dozen miles or so. Eventually we took off down the Nem-eh-pooh trail that spurs off of Gibbons Pass road and enjoyed a very steep, rocky, and at this time rain drenched decent ( no pic )

anyway ... give me a call when you think you might be down, and i can arrange to hook up with you guys for a ride...Camas is always a treat.

later, Chad
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://redbarnbicycles.com/

Snowbowl was fun, but I wouldn't risk the trip -- unless you have a craving for the Last Run Inn's food, drinks or pretty bartenders (go Sara!). Only two trails, one is just a jeep road that's not really any fun at all. The other is a singletrack that's sorta fun, but someone messed up the switchbacks. Every corner exit is climbing, as if it were built for motos and not MTBs. In other words, it needs work. No obstacles/stunts/etc., but the Lolo Ranger District is soliciting suggestions on where to build such things (other than the ones that they let us build on Deadman's Ridge Trail at Blue Mountain).

Sheep Mtn yesterday was gruesome for me, I'd ridden hard on Friday and Saturday and I ended up walking about 60% of the climb -- dead legs wouldn't respond to pedaling. The descent was excellent as usual, though. Today's my day off riding, but from the looks of the weather outside, I don't mind skipping the day.

If the weather eases up tomorrow or Wed I'll call you to see about a shop visit & ride.

Sean

PS- is that a 5-Spot in Picture #1?