Yeah, that term is used frequently to distill its significance. I will use it to describe my new Industry Nine Hydra hub laced to We Are One carbon 35.5 rim with aluminum straight pull spokes. Yesterday the UPS tracking read “delivered” to copy center in Moab. And Poison Spider called telling me the crash replacement rim arrived. Last night I tossed and turned maybe thinking about a new wheel so that I could ride with my usual carefully planned reckless abandon. Klonzo was riding, Klondike is riding.
Hard frost overnight, furnace ran ll night to keep temp inside just below 60 degrees. Batteries were drawn down because of lack of solar gain but sufficient to keep juice flowing. Completed the breakfast event then drove down to Moab. I figured a plan for putting the new wheel on my bike. First was to pick up the replacement rim at Poison Spider which was still in unopened box. Paid $200 for the rim. Drove further down Main st to the copy center where my new wheel was awaiting. Pay $5. to receive shipment. l9 emailed me a prepaid shipping label that I had to get out of my computer then send to shop to print. Amazing things they are doing with computers. I took the undamaged shipping box outside to my waiting operating open air suite. Lined out the required instruments. Took the bike down and hung on vice on the Jobox. Removed the rear wheel. First task was to remove the cassette which almost needed a cheater bar to loosen, thanks Barb at Sunnyside in Bend, she tightened it beyond my strength. Put the cassette on the new hub, success I9 figured the driver I needed. Snugged it on less than Barb tight. Removed the tire from old rim and sucked up the Stans. Slipped tire onto new rim then attached air chuck from floor pump. I began pumping but only heard air as the tire was not beading. I needed shop air. I was parked almost at a bike shop. But all my stuff was unlocked, I couldn’t leave. A guy walked up and struck up a conversation. He said he would watch my stuff. I trusted him then walked to bike shop. Wrench used shop compressed air causing the tire to bead right up. Hmm, floor pump can’t seat. Walked back to van, guy still there as was all my stuff. I squirted 1 squeeze bottle of Stans down the valve, installed the valve core, then pumped the tire up. Held air. Removed brake rotor then installed on new hub and torqued the bolts to 9nm. I put the wheel on the bike and gave the wheel a spin. Hmmm, no famous l9 noise. Good to go, wheel set up, now a sprint out to Bar M trails for a mid afternoon ride.
A pick up pulled in behind me. Driver got out and said nice Turner, He said he had one in the truck box. I walked over to see, it was a Flux just like my first Turner. That bike introduced me to nothing rides like a Turner.
Bar M is on way to Willow Springs. Trails are built for mtn bikes, there is a mix of upper blue tech challenges and lesser challenges. I headed for Deadman ridge which is challenging with lots of rock moves.
Right off I noticed the absence of freehub coasting angry bees famous l9 sound. And the back pedal seemed like there was no resistance. At the first rock feature I noticed the almost instantaneous pedal engagement almost like riding a fixed gear bike. Also immediately noticed was a less harsh hit at the rocks, a much better damped feeling. Amazing what they are doing with composites these days. The wheel is much faster than Torch hub. The .52 degrees of engagement that there was constant pressure on the pedals. I rode stuff so much better today than with old wheel. The almost supple rim was enjoyable.
I should have changed this wheel purchase from a want to a need last year instead of buying the PUSH Elevensix shock as to me this wheel is a greater improvement than the coil shock. I now have both making for a super ride.
Test ride completed and very favorably evaluated. Fist full of thumbs up for the engineering and manufacturing of the met and nomet parts.
Slick rock here eats knobs off the tires.
Some poor sot drove away leaving a front wheel where he was parked. I relocated it to the kiosk, may the rider return to retrieve it.
Back out at Willow Springs spot. Pick a less desirable spot and nobody will crowd me.
The old wheel and the new rim are on their way to l9 in Asheville.