The journey from small guy to teenager...

[weeksy]

Iccy left, however screwd really really worked at it

[MingtheMerciless]

You have to work really hard to get banned from here.

I'm told for a fee,tips from Screwd and Iccy are available.

In best Short Round voice "You very bad man Dr Skub"

[weeksy]

The dropper post discussion reared it's ugly head yesterday again, the boy was out with Katy and Hattie and several comments of "bike looks tiny, why do you run your post so low", with the simple answer being that he has to for descending, but that means it tops out pretty low as it's only a 150mm on his bike. So i got semi-conned into a One Up 210mm from Merlin. I should arguably have bought one before now for him, but it's done and on it's way now anyway.



I'll get it fitted for next weekends insanity

Boy has a fitness test today, which i'm not sure a day riding Risca/Cwmcarn was the ideal rest day for him yesterday lol.

[weeksy]

The boy was out at Strength Factory yesterday doing testing, there were sprint tests and a ramp test.

I was blown away by his figures, it's no wonder he kicks my arse. LOL. It was also quite interesting that on Zwift on our turbo (Zwift smart trainer) neither of us can hit 1000w, but yesterday he was over 1700w on a wattbike, which i assume by definition of their name are accurate for measuring watts lol. It potentially explains why i get destroyed in EVERY sprint on Zwift though. Not so bothered that i'd swap/change the trainer, but was an interesting metric to see measured Even at 75% effort he stuck in a 1500w effort.

However the only thing that really comes into play is the before and after, rather than what he measured. It's a long winter and a lot of planning/training.

We're coming up with some plans for 2026, which i quite like, but my wallet isn't necessarily a plan of

[weeksy]

This really is the coolest way to buy a bicycle

polished by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[cvilla]

A bit like Airfix;) you'll remember not sure about your lad
Do you need a jig or a man in a workshop to put it together...keep um coming.

[weeksy]

A bit like Airfix;) you'll remember not sure about your lad
Do you need a jig or a man in a workshop to put it together...keep um coming.

There was a good one on Instagram but i can't link from laptop i saw yesterday showing the tubes being bonded (glued) into the lugs, there were multiple jigs and spacers to ensure they're all aligned correctly. I'll try and find it and add it shortly on this post via laptop.

I find the whole process utterly intruiging and it's massively already influenced my next manual bike decision that WILL be an Atherton.

[cvilla]

Carbon tubes? did some early Raleigh frames have these...very careful with the glue;)
Be good to see it develop.Cheers

[weeksy]

Carbon tubes? did some early Raleigh frames have these...very careful with the glue;)
Be good to see it develop.Cheers

Yeah carbon on this type, they do 2 types.

the A200 is Carbon into Titanium
the S200 is Alu all round, but a similar process.

A200 use 'additive' which is that it's 3d titanium process and 'builds' the lugs.
S200 is subtractive as it's alu lugs that are CNC'd from a piece into a smaller piece.

[weeksy]

As always, the work continues, even though it's not actually being ridden at the moment, it makes sense to have it 100% when it is.

One of the jockey wheels on the GX 7sp mech was a bit horrible, so that's whipped out and replaced now with a new one. Bottom bracket stripped out and cleaned, i think the little flower shaped tensioner was actually a little tight and making the BB slightly draggier than it should be. But that's now re-done and happy...

All sweet and feeling good

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Yes, the pic is before the cleaning/sorting

[weeksy]

The dropper post discussion reared it's ugly head yesterday again, the boy was out with Katy and Hattie and several comments of "bike looks tiny, why do you run your post so low", with the simple answer being that he has to for descending, but that means it tops out pretty low as it's only a 150mm on his bike. So i got semi-conned into a One Up 210mm from Merlin. I should arguably have bought one before now for him, but it's done and on it's way now anyway.



I'll get it fitted for next weekends insanity

Boy has a fitness test today, which i'm not sure a day riding Risca/Cwmcarn was the ideal rest day for him yesterday lol.

Arrived and 10 mins later it's all fitted and happy. I do love a OneUp dropper having had them before, but i don't really need my seat as low as he does due to not riding the steepness he rides lol. Maybe if i try his i'll end up wanting one, but that's for another day.
Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[weeksy]

Went into the garage to send the shock to TFTuned...

Turned out the main pivot bearings were dead.....

Turned out the rocker pivot bearings were also dead...

Turns out that beers in the garage with music and a wet evening in winter is LOVELY !!!!

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[MingtheMerciless]

Finally......someone that kills bearings quicker than me!

[weeksy]

Finally......someone that kills bearings quicker than me!

Not honestly sure how long this was as for a while he was on the other frame. But we obviously jet wash this one a lot due to mud and racing, so yeah we go through bearings for sure.

I know this was ok though when I built it 4-5 weeks ago so pretty surprised it was dead yesterday

[weeksy]

Shopping time this week as the boy is off the bike for a few weeks and getting ready for the Atherton which is getting closer to being built.

I'm debating whether it gets all new parts for the build, but i'll likely use a mix of some old and some new.

Build plan is
Atherton A200 frame size 7, 470 reach
Rockshox Boxxer 35
Rockshox Vivid air.
SRAM Maven Silver brakes.
DMR 35dia O-Dub bars
DMR Defy 35 stem, 50mm reach
Rimpact TMD medium spring
DMR Stage 2 saddle.
SRAM GX 7 sp rear mech
SRAM GX 7 sp cassette
SRAM X1 chain 11sp
MRP G5 chainguide
Shimano Saint BB 83mm
Shimano Saint Crankset 36T
DMR Vmax pedals
Burgtec axle
Burgtec UDH
Wheels will be a mix of various hubs running STANS Flow rims.

I think overall it's a pretty solid build and although not many people run the Rockshox stuff on Athertons, we know the RS well and it's worked perfectly for us for ages.

I'm also now in the process of picking up some bearings and removal tools, 698, 11197, 3802 are all sorted, along with the various bolts and fixings for the frame just in case.
We did have a plan where we'd pick up the frame and head to Dyfi the next morning after building it in the hotel, but in truth i'd like a little longer to build it just in case we missed anything in the planning, arguably it should be a built bike in a couple of hours, but there's always a little something with bikes that you miss

[MingtheMerciless]

50mm stem? Bit roadie that.

Dropper?

[weeksy]

50mm stem? Bit roadie that.

Dropper?

Well they're usually either 45 or 50mm on the DH bike, the theory is you run the stem close to the fork offset. The boxxer 35s are 56mm offset, so we're running a 50mm stem

Dropper... Ummmmmm no... it's a DH bike

[Mr Moofo]

Shopping time this week as the boy is off the bike for a few weeks and getting ready for the Atherton which is getting closer to being built.

I'm debating whether it gets all new parts for the build, but i'll likely use a mix of some old and some new.

Build plan is
Atherton A200 frame size 7, 470 reach
Rockshox Boxxer 35
Rockshox Vivid air.
SRAM Maven Silver brakes.
DMR 35dia O-Dub bars
DMR Defy 35 stem, 50mm reach
Rimpact TMD medium spring
DMR Stage 2 saddle.
SRAM GX 7 sp rear mech
SRAM GX 7 sp cassette
SRAM X1 chain 11sp
MRP G5 chainguide
Shimano Saint BB 83mm
Shimano Saint Crankset 36T
DMR Vmax pedals
Burgtec axle
Burgtec UDH
Wheels will be a mix of various hubs running STANS Flow rims.

I think overall it's a pretty solid build and although not many people run the Rockshox stuff on Athertons, we know the RS well and it's worked perfectly for us for ages.

I'm also now in the process of picking up some bearings and removal tools, 698, 11197, 3802 are all sorted, along with the various bolts and fixings for the frame just in case.
We did have a plan where we'd pick up the frame and head to Dyfi the next morning after building it in the hotel, but in truth i'd like a little longer to build it just in case we missed anything in the planning, arguably it should be a built bike in a couple of hours, but there's always a little something with bikes that you miss

I thought you were a Fox weenie not a RS fanboy?

50mm stem? Bit roadie that.

Dropper?

The boy wonder doesn't even bother with saddle

[weeksy]

Nope, the Session has always been on RS, the FGT Fury were either RS or XFusion. He's never run Fox DH. Both our Trek Fuels came with Fox, but only because that's how they were sold.

image001 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Lugs have now been machined and ready for cleaning and then tubes being bonded in there.

[Mr Moofo]

Nope, the Session has always been on RS, the FGT Fury were either RS or XFusion. He's never run Fox DH. Both our Trek Fuels came with Fox, but only because that's how they were sold.

image001 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Lugs have now been machined and ready for cleaning and then tubes being bonded in there.

I know the Athertons have a fantastic reputation - but glued bike frames just doesn't seem like a hi impact option ...