Category Archives: Bike

Just like that!

The Murmur is the Vital MTB Bike of the Day for May 13, 2026!

Heavy as, but that’s expected for a coil shock.

All the dials.

30mm front and 35mm rear Cane Creek fitting kit made the install very easy.

So happy with how it’s turned out!

Really awesome news. I was already having an amazing day, but just got an email from Joe at Starling who let me know that whilst he’s already ordered the Ohlins shock he’s sure he’ll find a good home for it, so he’s processed a refund for me. Now that’s how you do business! Fan for life (I already was!).

I instead decided to fit the Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Coil G2 as it comes in a limited edition silver (wheras the Ohlins would have been gold with a very bright yellow coil). I also decided against a white progressive Valt coil and instead went for a standard black Valt coil.

I’ve got some black PNW risers on there for now, but have Pro Taper bars in polished silver coming from CCACHE (will see if I like them, or if it’ll be too much silver). Waiting on a custom painted Starling stem (same colour as the frame) and also have to bleed the brakes (which I’ll get the guys at CCACHE to do when I pick up the bars).

Project 321 hubs.

They feature an interesting system to allow for the use of either centrelock or 6 bolt.

No need for tyre levers. Hands down the easiest tyre/rim I’ve ever had to set up tubeless.

Love how thin HT ME03 pedals are, super light too at 260g a pair.

Starting to look like a bike!

Custom silver Wingman rims + silver spokes and silver Project 321 hubs came in from The Brig. Heavy AF at 2263g for the set, but really happy with how they look, especially on the bike!

Fabric Scoop Elite came in the mail today. Hefty at 256g but I had to have silver rails!

Hope dropper lever with shifter mount to mount it to the brake levers.

Hope braided brake lines and blue Nissen mesh cables for the dropper and rear mech.

External cabling never looked so good.

Garbaruk silver cage + Garbaruk oversized pulley wheels. Finicky job but I got it done without issues.

As the sun goes down.

Goodridge braided lines made for Hope came in from the UK.

Patience is testing me so I thought I’d install the Chris King crown race onto the Lyrik.

I thought I’d try a pipe cutter instead of sawing the steerer this time, not as clean IMHO, but definitely faster.

Not often I get to hammer a star nut in these days.

I dug through the parts bin and found a 35mm clamp stem with the same stack height as the Starling stem I’ve ordered (will take a while as I’m getting Starling to paint it the same colour as the frame).

I’ve fitted it up for now with a 35mm Renthal bar but I will be running 31.8 Renthal bar in the final build.

Brakes are on, turns out the rear caliper won’t work with the Hope 180mm IS mount adapter I bought so I’ll have to go for a 203mm rotor in the rear (super annoying as I just ordered a silver adapter that won’t work with these calipers).

Still waiting on a wheelset from The Brig (been a few weeks and they’re not responding to my email with any updates) and coil shock + stem from Starling too. Patience you must have.

Spent some time dialling in the rebound and air pressure on the fork + rear shock too and finally feel like the bike is super dialled in now. Only took me 5 months, but we’re there!

Garbaruk 11-Speed cassette.

Very nice.

TRP RS01E 2.3mm 203mm/180mm (235g/183g).

Shimano XTR Rear RD-M9100-SGS (242g). Should be the same pull as 11-Speed, just waiting on a Garbaruk long cage + oversized pulleys in silver.

Nissen mesh cables from Blue Lug Japan (I bought a LOT of it in silver and blue, will decide which I’m going to use (or both?), later.

Chris King Threadfit 24 BB + #4 Fitkit (87g/5g).

BB went in real easy.

Chris King InSet 7 (143g).

Headset also went in real nice.

Middleburn RS8 165mm + X-type uno boost chainring 30t (597g).

Them old school vibes!

I went for a Velo Dynasty link over a Cascade as the Cascade link doesn’t work unless you use the 27.5″ flip chip setting when running a 27.5″ rear wheel. Like the Cascade, the Velo Dynasty link increases travel by 10mm (from 150mm to 160mm) and also increases the progression of the stroke.

Was a straight forward install as all bearings were pre-fitted to the link. Now to go out and play!