the Blur is done! sorta, in all the customized ordering and related confusion of running a shop with my nagging for something that is not exactly their core business, Adventure sent me home with non-Stans’d wheels. I discovered this today when I had a slow leak on my ride. WTF why won’t it seal? figured it out back in the garage when the valve core was moving – I thought oh this came unseated and that’s the leak. Nope, its not tubelezz. Another two trips to the shop. No worries. No worries I will not let this stress me out. i am not happy about it, but it will not stress me out.
Cause I have been getting stressed about bikes a lot the last few days. The Prescott Monstercross of course took some attention and time. and then the final closing of getting the Blur ready and some fixes to the Heckler and 3 trips in 3 days to the shop. and oh i gots to start my xmas shopping, and that means some parts and such to research and buy and then wrap so Beckie can give em to me. It feels like I have been completely and totally fixated on bike parts and setup and purchases for months now, which basically I have been. But it is actually very close to the end for a long time to come. Both financially and learning-wise, I am ready to topoff and let all this new knowledge and whatnot just sink in.
It has been beautiful for a few weeks now, other than this latest burst of upgraditis, and it has been a ton of fun. It is so awesome having a bike setup for specific things, and i have been enjoying every ride on every bike. It has been worth it, and now i am coming to view these efforts with sanguine. They are part of the process, and i should find enjoyment in the geekery and the process and the shopping. i understand what Beckie means when she says she enjoys shopping for furniture, and in her not giving a flying fuck about my bike shopping, i understand that it is not for her and perhaps she gets why i do not give a flying fuck about furniture.
The point is: the Blur is now FAST!
The improved efficiencies are numerous. The newshock has no play in the du bushings. while it feels like i have a stiffer less-travel bike, and along with a new seat, my anus has been busy re-acclimating (see previous post). it is wonderfully tight. I put a King hub in rear, and it is true that the 72 points of engagement do in fact engage more efficiently than 20 points. I was crusing at 15 and stopped and then started pedalling to try to get the cranks to clunk, and they simply would not. Its amazing. The wheels are stiff stiff stiff and i can rip through corners faster than ever before.
The tires roll well, but they do feel a little sluggish. the mutanoraptor is a good tread pattern for traction and hookup and roll overall, but it is a heavy tire. i might still opt for something a little faster and lighter. When I drop the tubes, the wheels will each drop maybe 2 oz which is easily 10%, so that should help the feel.The bike is now 28.5, after having been 29, and will be closer to 28 after tubelezz. the roll and hookup is more significant than the weight, imo, but its great to know a different tire selection would improve both further still.