As Jess can attest, I really do have a one track mind. Every once in a while (ok, almost every day) she catches me staring into space and asks, "What are you thinking?" She usually follows this with, "Bikes, right?" And she is almost always right. Lately I have been preoccupied with what bike I will be racing for 2011. My trusty F1 is a bit tired and as I will be racing for the shop's team, I will have to race on a Trek.
My original pick was a Superfly Elite. This carbon 29er hardtail is the first 29er to place in a World Cup and World Championships. That's pretty slick. However, I am not a fan of how the bike handles. Yeah, it's light, well spec'd, and has a racing pedigree. But it just feels sluggish.
The other bike on the table is the Top Fuel 9.8. This is a carbon 26er 100 mm fully suspended race bike. The spec isn't what I want, but the XT components are easy to sell and switch to an XO/X9 mix. Here is my plan.
Buy the 9.8 and sell off the XT components before I even ride the bike (this might be difficult for me to pull off). Purchase the follow tasty bits.
XO Crankset (carbon crankset that is slightly stiffer and lighter than X9)
X9 Rear Mech (not much different than XO other than price)
XT Front Mech (gota go with Shimano for front mechs)
X9 Chain (ummm- almost the same chain as the XO for half the price)
XO Cassette (100 g lighter than X9 + half the price of XX= winner)
XO or X9 Shifters (this is where I have some issues, XO are identical to X9 but have adjustable reach for the levers)
Other changed tidbits will be ESI Chunky grips, possibly a flat handlebar and different saddle.
Wheels may get upgraded with something hand built of my own creation (thinking Stans Crest rims, DT Swiss spikes, DT Swiss 240 s hubs).
So let me know what you all think of my build.
You can save a bit more money if you go with an X-7 chain, the heavier chain tends to perform better shifting under load (not that you would do that of course, but it is a mtn bike and it has been known to happen) and see if you can get an industry price on stans custom wheels, you can't beet the prices and I know guys that have had them last through multiple frame, and even multiple race seasons at a really fairly light weight without any complaints about stiffness.
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