Author Archives: Justin Fox

X0 cranks and Hope DH chainring.

Tuned up and ready to go!

Found an 83mm SRAM X0 carbon crankset cheap on FB Marketplace. Ordered a new BB, but when the cranks arrived I realised they’re GXP so had to order a GXP BB.

Got the Hope 34T DH chainring on using a Stone 3-bolt to 104 BCD adapter from AliExpress. Was on the piss when I installed it as I’ve just realised I installed the chainring on upside down.

All good though as I want to replace the OneUp chain guide and bashy to a chain guide and bashy with a lower roller (for a more period correct vibe more than anything!).

I’ve zoomed in to a lot of Sunday pics to figure out how people have done their chainstay protection as the rear stay has 2 tabs for zip tying the rear derailleur cable directly to the chainstay (putting it in harms way). I ended up using a protective sleeve which is pretty much what Sam’s mechanic did to his 2008 bike.

Chainline is good, gears shift great! Just got to cut the brake cables + bleed.

Shimano XT Trail BR-M8220 (303g/319g).

Shimano XT Di2 M8250 Medium Cage (468g). Shimano Deore Di2 SW-M6250 I-Spec EV (100g).

Dropper: FOX Transfer NEO, 30.9mm, 125mm (576g).

Dropper Lever: FOX Transfer NEO (62g).

I-Spec EV is annoying to set up, but I admit it’s got a lot more adjustability than SRAM MatchMaker.

Carbon wheelset came in too from ZEN Carbon Bike! Dynamic 32mm tubeless (17g) tape went on easy and the trusty Airshot did the job.

ZEN Carbon Bike 30mm int, M340/Hope Pro V, Sapim CX Ray (1413g).

Geo is actually looking good sitting next to my Amflow!

Cranks came in the mail, same short 155mm carbon cranks that I have on my Chisel.

Will look really nice once the fork decals are on and the orange is gone.

I totally fucked up the brake install and crushed an olive. I’ve never bled brakes before but fuck it I’ll drop into CCACHE next week to get it done right!

I settled on SRAM GX DH groupset. Figuring out how to get the end cap off in order to fit a cassette removal tool was interesting! Turns out the end caps screw off. The cassette is interesting (to me) too; 11-speed spacing, uses an 11-speed chain, fits onto an HG freehub with the included thick spacer.

SRAM GX DH derailleur.

Thank Jesus for SRAM Matchmaker.

Hope 40mm 31.8mm 0 Degrees direct mount stem. I swear they had “gold” in the dropdown menu, but turns out they don’t make gold, and the box it came in says “bronze”. Pretty annoying as it’s a completely different colour to the gold Hope chainring I also ordered (these things piss me off!).

Robert (guy I bought the bike from) gave me a Ti spring which came off a small, or extra small DH bike. Can only assume that it’ll be better suited to my weight so I thought I’d swap it out (thank fuck I paid careful attention to him when he told me how to remove the rear shock).

Robert also just found the Sam Hill rear shock decal. He’s posting it to me so I might leave the shock out for now until the sticker gets to me (not a massive deal though as I’m not really trying to make an exact Sam Hill replica here and you can’t really see the shock piggy anyways).

Adam’s Dad Santo is in town for Adam and Josie’s wedding this weekend and he flew his Colnago Art Decor over! He’s not ridden it in 6 years and it was badly out of tune. Derailleur cage was straight, turns out the first gen Di2 must have lost it’s tune. Easy fix!

FOX 36’s came in the mail today! Didn’t have the balls to cut the steerer down to slam the stem, so I have a 10mm spacer installed atm.

Kashima!

No Wife Happy Life!

I actually missed the DHL delivery of these forks yesterday when I was out at Avalon Beach to pick up the Iron Horse Sunday. Kinda freaked me out as I’ve lost some pretty valuable packages when couriers have left them outside my building.

These required a signature though, so I rescheduled for today and voila! They got to me from the USA safe and sound.

I’ve got some decals on order; “FOX Kashima” for the FOX and 36 typography and “almost black” for the other design elements. Should look great!