I've been spending some extra hours working on special projects. I built a wheel for Chain Superteam member, J-dog. His Merlin is now ready to race at the 12 Hours of Razorback.
This is the coolest looking wheelset I can imagine. XTR965 shiny hubs laced to Mavic 217 Gunmetal rims with double butted DT spokes and pimp-ola XTR970 rotors. Thirty-six holes and brass nipples--this set is built to last!
Retrogrouch no more! I've got a twenty-speed race machine. Using a flat-bar "road" R770 shifter, Ultegra 10-speed chain, and Miche 12-27 10-speed cassette, I've got a 2X10 drivetrain to test at Razorback. This prototype drivetrain, in addition to hydraulic XT/XTR disc brakes, dual-control shifting, and Fox suspension represents a big departure in my choices of equipment from my years as a hardcore singlespeed, rigid bike toughguy. We'll see if it's fast. It's under 25lbs for anyone keeping track, with the only carbon fiber part a 10mm headset spacer.
