u/carlov_sky

...ghost rings? Acceptable? Heresy? Acceptable heresy?

This time I had to make changes because I want to sell this bike, but had me thinking, do you change stuff after the build is finished? Like, just to change it, or try some new stuff?

Saw this for sale and thought you guys might appreciate it.

Edit: For those who asked: Laiti Mono Navajo

Let’s see how many downvotes I can get with this one, now that it is for real. Just in case you read up to this point, with the stem forward facing the reach to the hoods is too great, so this way I get them closer to a comfortable position.

So I've been riding this Pine Mountain for a while now, and I felt I missed having the ability to downshift using the thumb, something the XT shifter I had in it before was missing (old Shimano shifters were single action, pointing finger action only). So I decided to install a newer XTR shifter I had removed from another bike, which were the first Shimano (to my knowledge) dual action downshift lever shifters. And since I would be going through all the trouble, why not install the derailleur too? It was just there picking up dust after all.
Well, after trying to get it to shift for 10 minutos, I decided to check the hanger, and what you know.... as straight as a wet noodle. So got it in shape, and installed everything back together, and after some finagling got it shifting perfectly.

So, what's the thing? It was shifting perfectly before with a STX-RC older derailleur, I mean it didn't even care...
Don't know why it would make such a difference, but it did.

Also got another Selle Italia Flite, less billboardy this time.

So, just trying to find some similar experiences to mine, no need to tell me about how bad aliexpress is and I should buy ocidental only.

So, some months ago I bought a couple RideNow tpu tubes, installed them in my tubeless prepared rims (rim tubeless tape), got them on the bike and left it basking in the sun. After a few minutes I heard a hissing sound coming from the front wheel, and a few seconds later the tire was flat. While still trying to process what happened, the same thing happened on the rear tire.
Asked for a refund, and went on with my tubeless life.
A month ago I decided that maybe the tubeless tape was the problem (it was visible the rim spoke hole indent in the tube where it burst, in the tube seam). So, I decided that maybe I was to blame, and bought a new set of tubes, still from Aliexpress, this time a different brand Motsuv (recommended by a youtuber, that should be a signal of quality, right?).
Installed then, this time I installed a rim band I used to use, above the tubeless tape. The more protection the better, right?
Well, what you know, it happened again. Same thing, sat the bike down in the sun, went for a drink of water, came back and both tires flat.

Upon examination, both tubes had burst at the seam, on the inside where it contacted the rim. Same thing as the previous tubes, but it was a different set of wheels, different tires, different tubes. So, the question is, am I cursed?

Finally got the red Ritchey pedals to go with the color scheme. Installed the red ODI grips back, and I think the Red/Black colors work really well. This is the lightest bike I own, and steel frame mullet, and that is really counterintuitive. Still have to ride it, but I'm having trouble keeping the rear wheel true, and the V-brakes are really aggressive on the aluminium, after riding around the block, the tires are covered with metal dust, and the noise while braking is louder than it should be. Could the pads be too hard because of time?