Wheel Testing or, a Great Ride

Deflowered the new wheel build at GB today. Started from the Williamson Valley trailhead, left at gate to technical singletrack, left to second gate, then up Mint Wash and around the entire basin.

No Flats despite going off trail over every rock I could find.

I was on again, and not afraid of anything. I even went up and over the big rock to the side of 349 after clearing the difficult uphill switchback. You know this one:




(sorry I cut your head off Dan).

No hesitation, up to the tabletop, bounced a few times to turn the required 90 degrees, then ba-dump BA-DUMP! On to the trail. Felt good. I haven't had the balls to hit that since those photos were taken well over a year ago. (click for full photo)

Descending off 349 down to Cayuse, the again descending back to Wmson Valley, I felt like I was on God's own pump track. Just hauled, totally spun out, getting a boost off everything I could.

Flow. Flow on a very familiar trail. Felt more like surfing/skiing than riding.

I love how when you lean way, way over, the Nevegal just comes through for you.

Wheels ended the ride straight, but were hard to evaluate since I lost a little bearing pre-load during the ride (due to moving innards around from hub to hub) So, the hubs were slightly loose and that clouded any impressions. I still got the distinct impression that the front and rear were flexing more than I liked. More flex than the del tacos, and way more than the DT TA wheel I previously used. I think this was due to building at too low tension, and put another 1/2 turn of the spokes into both wheels tonight. That noticeably tightened things up in the "bend the wheel in the drop-out" test. We'll see if it is noticeable on the trail.

These wheels will never be as stiff as the DT's because:
1. The rim is just too light, and can't touch the TK.
2. They won't hold any where near the tension of the DT rim.

I hope the Flows are at least the match of the TK 7.1

The IMV TA fork suits the bike although I think the IMV valve does essentially nothing except increase compression damping slightly. Easily overwhelmed with vigorous climbing even on the stiffest setting. I only get 95mm of travel out of it so far. Maybe it's broken? I liked the fork more on this ride, didn't feel as clunky, I have just a slight bit of rebound and about 80 psi in it.

The best part of this build is NO FLATS!! I just realized I went through a box of 100 patches in about 6 months. I deserved this tubeless system.