Showing posts with label XTR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label XTR. Show all posts
Monday, May 14, 2012
weighed: Shimano Yumeya YM-SL81 shifter clamps
Shimano Yumeya YM-SL81 Shifter clamps for XTR SL-M970
Monday, May 7, 2012
weighed: Shimano Yumeya YM-SL82 barrel adjusters
Shimano Yumeya YM-SL82 barrel adjusters for XTR SL-M970
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Buying a new crankset. Shimano XTR FC-M985
Here is a quick guide on how to figure out if your frame is compatible with Shimano's new XTR Cranksets.
Currently Shimano offers two variants of the crank. Trial and Race.
Race FC-M985
chain ring sizes: 40-28T/ 42-30T/ 44-30T (all double)
crank arm lengths: 170/175/180mm
Chain line: 48.8mm
Trial FC-M980
chain ring sizes 42-32-24T (triple) / 38-26T (double)
crank arm lengths: 165/170/175/180mm
Chain line: Triple: 50mm Double: 46.8mm
For the Hack Racer in you the ideal setup on a 26" wheeled bike is the Race crankset if it fits. The M985 is 3mm narrower in Q factor than the M980 (I do not know the exact Q factor as calling both Shimano Canada and Shimano USA could not get me an exact number). The Q factor is how wide the crank arms are from outside face to outside face. A narrow Q factor in theory increases pedaling efficiency as well as better knee angle tracing.
For my bike I was looking on replacing the Middleburn RS8 DUO crankset I had on it for several years. The RS8 was a good crankset but the downfall was the ISIS bottom bracket. 3 years ago Middleburn did not offer their external bearing version. So I was forced to choose between ISIS or square taper. I chose ISIS and went with an American Classic BB which has replaceable bearings. After replacing them every 2 months for 3 years I said enough was enough and decided to run a reliable crankset.
With modern day double cranksets they get tricky because the axle is integrated. This means the width of the crankset can not be changed by selecting a different bottom bracket like in the past. Past being ISIS and Square taper, or even Octa-link. So now you need to measure exactly and purchase the correct crankset or else you are stuck.
Shimano actually acknowledges that the M985 may not fit on all frames. So they have this paper template. The only cavet is that you have to have the Bottom Bracket (SM-BB90-A) installed in your frame. Luckily I had a spare.
Take this template (click here for PDF version).
Print the PDF version of the document 100% size with no scaling. Then glue the printout to a stiff piece of bristo-board (the brown stiff paper back on note pads or cereal box or go to Staples). Then cut it out exact. Install the drive (right side) bottom bracket cup from a XTR or XT crankset. Stick the paper template into the bottom bracket and see if any bit of the paper will touch your frame.
Once you confirm, you can order what you need.
Currently Shimano offers two variants of the crank. Trial and Race.
Race FC-M985
chain ring sizes: 40-28T/ 42-30T/ 44-30T (all double)
crank arm lengths: 170/175/180mm
Chain line: 48.8mm
Trial FC-M980
chain ring sizes 42-32-24T (triple) / 38-26T (double)
crank arm lengths: 165/170/175/180mm
Chain line: Triple: 50mm Double: 46.8mm
For the Hack Racer in you the ideal setup on a 26" wheeled bike is the Race crankset if it fits. The M985 is 3mm narrower in Q factor than the M980 (I do not know the exact Q factor as calling both Shimano Canada and Shimano USA could not get me an exact number). The Q factor is how wide the crank arms are from outside face to outside face. A narrow Q factor in theory increases pedaling efficiency as well as better knee angle tracing.
For my bike I was looking on replacing the Middleburn RS8 DUO crankset I had on it for several years. The RS8 was a good crankset but the downfall was the ISIS bottom bracket. 3 years ago Middleburn did not offer their external bearing version. So I was forced to choose between ISIS or square taper. I chose ISIS and went with an American Classic BB which has replaceable bearings. After replacing them every 2 months for 3 years I said enough was enough and decided to run a reliable crankset.
With modern day double cranksets they get tricky because the axle is integrated. This means the width of the crankset can not be changed by selecting a different bottom bracket like in the past. Past being ISIS and Square taper, or even Octa-link. So now you need to measure exactly and purchase the correct crankset or else you are stuck.
Shimano actually acknowledges that the M985 may not fit on all frames. So they have this paper template. The only cavet is that you have to have the Bottom Bracket (SM-BB90-A) installed in your frame. Luckily I had a spare.
Take this template (click here for PDF version).
Print the PDF version of the document 100% size with no scaling. Then glue the printout to a stiff piece of bristo-board (the brown stiff paper back on note pads or cereal box or go to Staples). Then cut it out exact. Install the drive (right side) bottom bracket cup from a XTR or XT crankset. Stick the paper template into the bottom bracket and see if any bit of the paper will touch your frame.
Once you confirm, you can order what you need.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Don't pay full price... Surf for deals and Haggle
I'm sure there has got to be someone who follows my blog who is in the cycling industry or own even a store. So this might offend them.
Bottom line: Money in my pocket is better than money in your pocket.
This statement is what I believe to be the cardinal rule for a consumer. It doesn't matter if you have got millions or just pennies. Don't settle for paying high management expense ratios on mutual funds. Just find the stocks the mutual funds hold and buy them yourself in your discount brokerage account. Don't pay full price for a car. Call 10 dealerships with the exact trim level and color and ask what is their best price.
This holds true for cycling goods. Cycling for many is a hobby or leisure activity. You want to maximize bang for the buck.
It's too bad that the amazon app doesn't exist for blackberry phones running OS7+. I'm surprised to find that amazon.com is making such a big push into cycling. It will dramatically change the business model of bike stores and distributors. Amazon.com's pricing is amazing to say the least. For example Shimano XTR FC-M985 28/40T crankset stocked and shipped by Amazon.com themselves is $438.51 USD. Next closest price is JensonUSA @ $445.00. JensonUSA and other online discount retailers in the past always
had the best price.
Now if only http://www.amazon.ca/ would follow along. That would decimate the Canadian distributors and lift the strangle hold they have on local bike stores. Allowing the local bike store to at least come close to USA local bike store pricing.
this is a repost from: http://www.dirtragmag.com/
Specialized is warning local bike shops that a new app from Amazon.com could seriously undercut their business. In a letter to dealers from Specialized's founder and president Mike Sinyard warns that the app, which allows customers to scan a bar code and find an item for sale online and make the purchase from their phone - often cheaper than in the store - would effectively turn a local bike shop into a fitting room for online retailers.
The Amazon.com cycling storefront includes "featured brands" Mavic, Crank Bros., Yakima, Thule, Diamondback, and Schwinn. Shimano and Pearl Izumi are other major brands sold through Amazon.
In the letter, Sinyard tells dealers that by ordering, stocking, and servicing these brands, they are supporting Amazon.com's sales while undercutting their own. Specialized even produced a video demonstrating exactly how the app is used.
As a sign of Amazon.com's commitment to cycling sales, it recently hired Paul Calandrella away from Specialized and named him Senior Vendor Manager for Cycling.
On of the major brands also sold on Amazon, Easton-Bell Sports - maker of Bell and Giro helmets and apparel - recently brought a lawsuit against Specialized, alleging that the Specialized was encouraging dealers not to stock Bell and Giro products. That lawsuit has since been withdrawn.
Bottom line: Money in my pocket is better than money in your pocket.
This statement is what I believe to be the cardinal rule for a consumer. It doesn't matter if you have got millions or just pennies. Don't settle for paying high management expense ratios on mutual funds. Just find the stocks the mutual funds hold and buy them yourself in your discount brokerage account. Don't pay full price for a car. Call 10 dealerships with the exact trim level and color and ask what is their best price.
This holds true for cycling goods. Cycling for many is a hobby or leisure activity. You want to maximize bang for the buck.
It's too bad that the amazon app doesn't exist for blackberry phones running OS7+. I'm surprised to find that amazon.com is making such a big push into cycling. It will dramatically change the business model of bike stores and distributors. Amazon.com's pricing is amazing to say the least. For example Shimano XTR FC-M985 28/40T crankset stocked and shipped by Amazon.com themselves is $438.51 USD. Next closest price is JensonUSA @ $445.00. JensonUSA and other online discount retailers in the past always
had the best price.
Now if only http://www.amazon.ca/ would follow along. That would decimate the Canadian distributors and lift the strangle hold they have on local bike stores. Allowing the local bike store to at least come close to USA local bike store pricing.
this is a repost from: http://www.dirtragmag.com/
Specialized warns dealers of new price-checking app
By Adam NewmanSpecialized is warning local bike shops that a new app from Amazon.com could seriously undercut their business. In a letter to dealers from Specialized's founder and president Mike Sinyard warns that the app, which allows customers to scan a bar code and find an item for sale online and make the purchase from their phone - often cheaper than in the store - would effectively turn a local bike shop into a fitting room for online retailers.
The Amazon.com cycling storefront includes "featured brands" Mavic, Crank Bros., Yakima, Thule, Diamondback, and Schwinn. Shimano and Pearl Izumi are other major brands sold through Amazon.
In the letter, Sinyard tells dealers that by ordering, stocking, and servicing these brands, they are supporting Amazon.com's sales while undercutting their own. Specialized even produced a video demonstrating exactly how the app is used.
As a sign of Amazon.com's commitment to cycling sales, it recently hired Paul Calandrella away from Specialized and named him Senior Vendor Manager for Cycling.
On of the major brands also sold on Amazon, Easton-Bell Sports - maker of Bell and Giro helmets and apparel - recently brought a lawsuit against Specialized, alleging that the Specialized was encouraging dealers not to stock Bell and Giro products. That lawsuit has since been withdrawn.
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