Always the simple stuff
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I've been ready to call the Epic E-Faux (aka Shenzhen Experiment) a failure. The Chinese (Airwolf?) made an amazingly good copy of a Specialized Epic frame. For 700$. It works flawlessly: performance really is undistinguishable from the real. But it creaked every time the rear triangle flexed. It drove me absolutely hot redhead nutz -- so bad that I ordered a 2025 Epic Evo 8 frame last week.
At first I had assumed it was the cheap saltwater-lubed bearings it came with. Replaced them all. Still creaked. Pedals? Nope. Seat-related (a mystery creak in my Niner turned out to be a seat rail issue a few years ago)? Unh uh. Nothing solved it. Or even helped.
Today as I started to strip the E-Faux for parts for the new frame, I couldn't let it go. I had to at least locate it (I was pretty sure it was main pivot). When I put the bike on the stand to go thru it again one more time, I noticed the rear brake had a little drag. The disc was pretty true, so I loosened the caliper to adjust it. The top bolt was not very tight. Like, 1/4 turn past finger tight. Hmmm. I adjusted the brake, properly torqued the bolts and ... silent bike.
Brake caliper bolt. That's a new one on my mystery noise list . . .
View attachment 3867998
You finally got brakes that work!!! Resin or metal pads?Went and had my friend Jenna install some new cranks, CR, and new brakes on my SS.
She gooood…..
View attachment 3872492
View attachment 3872494
View attachment 3872495
View attachment 3872496
View attachment 3872497
You finally got brakes that work!!! Resin or metal pads?
Curious about the raceface choice vs shimano…
That's a nice saddle, and your bike gives me serious eggplant. But my pref for the MTB is a short seat. I tend to throw the bike around a lot, and I don't want it retaliating by tangling its long-nose seat in my clothesif yall don’t know that an imba membership gets you expertvoice access with a bunch of pro deals, you’re missing out.
New saddle today, this thing was like 60% off
View attachment 3876933View attachment 3876934View attachment 3876935
Did you make it out the the SRS? Any pictures? Been a while but the area north of factory butte just south of middle wild horse mesa is one of the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen. Amazing on the moto but it had to be brutal on a pedal bike.Getting ready for a trip next weekend to the Swell in Utah. It's crazy how much stuff you can fit on your bike-and how quickly the weight adds up!
View attachment 3866335
View attachment 3866337
Such a cool ideaInstalled the daughters new bike seat this weekend. We upgraded from the Thule Yepp mini seat where shes strapped into it with a harness. I was expecting her to not want to ride on this one so quickly but after 30 seconds of getting used to it, we were off on a 2 mile ride.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Dude she absolutely loves it. All she wants to do now is “go fast.” She’s 2.5 years old hahaSuch a cool idea
Did you make it out the the SRS? Any pictures? Been a while but the area north of factory butte just south of middle wild horse mesa is one of the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen. Amazing on the moto but it had to be brutal on a pedal bike.
Yeah I’m also accepting the fact that SRAM brakes sort of suck…. Every set of codes I’ve had didn’t last and the The maven ultimates I had on my enduro were awful.I took off more brakes that don't work! Amazing how many sets of these I've gotten rid of...
View attachment 3880331View attachment 3880331
Is it the plastic piston issue?
Surprisingly, I didn't hate the mavens I tried the other day when I demo'd a Stumpy 15... they were certainly better than the current DOT fluid offerings and I like that they are going mineral oil on the new stuff... but the levers were still much too stiff in the freestroke. May too much hand fatigueYeah I’m also accepting the fact that SRAM brakes sort of suck…. Every set of codes I’ve had didn’t last and the The maven ultimates I had on my enduro were awful.