6 Gnarly Days of Bike Abuse, How Did My Bike Fair? - Trans BC 2019

What is needed/recommended for Trans BC
Maxxis Tires - DH Casings (Assegai/DHR 2)
Big Brakes - 203 rotors/Shimano XTR 4 piston
Gear Range - Shimano XTR 12s 10-51T

[@mravocadoman2999]

Hey Alex, keep the high quality content, low budget iPhone videos coming

[@alexthemtbr]

Glad to hear they are worth someone’s Time!

[@danielbroadstock4583]

Finally an upload, love ur vids man keep it up 😀🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@ziobersan]

Coffee and low budget high quality content with Alex, mmmm perfect morning nothing beats that :P keep it coming!

[@alexthemtbr]

Maciej Ziobro 🤣🤣🤣 glad I could assist!

[@xolis_nrw6849]

Great to see you back on youtube!

[@raulgarafulic3313]

Please make a video summing up the race! It sounds awesome and would be cool to hear your thoughts on it and how was your fitness, the performance of the bike, etc. Also would be great to make a review and bike check of the megatower! Keep it up.

[@whaletaleproductions7669]

The bike in the garage / on the stand vids are cool, but let’s balance them out some race/ride footage!

[@Connor-ds4ft]

Beaut of a low budget film. See ya next year for the next upload!

[@alexthemtbr]

Connor Link dead 🤣

[@IslandBikeLife]

Great finish! Hoping to run the Trans BC next year. I have an SB150 for it now but am considering switching to a MT. Still on the fence about it.

[@alexthemtbr]

Island Bike Life both are rad! Can’t go wrong

[@HeretiCflow]

I'd love to check out 223 Rotors being just over 200lbs myself, but you wanna make sure that your forks have clearance for that.

[@alexthemtbr]

Any Fox 36, Lyrik, boxxer, Fox 40 will have clearance for even as big as 246mm rotors up front. Most rear brakes as limited to 203mm tho unfortunately

[@HeretiCflow]

@@alexthemtbr sure. Better find out first before slapping it on i.e. a Fox 34...

[@AtlasEnduro]

Great Video.

[@alexthemtbr]

Atlas Enduro thank you 🤙

[@th_js]

Keep up the great content 👍🏻

[@stephratsimba5746]

aside the suspension performance, how does the specialized enduro stacks up to this one? mostly on the agility/ poppy side of things as well as cornering. Happy to see you back 👊👊

[@alexthemtbr]

steph ratsimba this blows the 2018 enduro out of the water in every category. Idk how this one is so lively and playful. But it is very poppy and fun, but honestly still soaks everything up and monster trucks. I have zero complaints on suspension performance. But also no complaints on handling. Probably the most dialed geo I’ve had Before. Wish I could get 10mm more out of the chainstay maybe. 455 would be sweet! Rode an xl Yeti SB150 last week: 505reach/433 chainstay?? (I think) could not maneuver or manual that thing at all

[@alexthemtbr]

Also, look out for the new enduro at Crankworks this year. So many updates and it looks like a very solid bike this time!

[@sendit6683]

always super content, thanks Alex, much appreciated. keep it up. thanks to you I switched to saints. now another next week spot are thin shimano rotors, I ditched finned pads immediately. would love to hear your feedback on galfer rotor. 223mm is also thicker than shimano, 2mm instead of like 1.8. curious if and how would it work with shimano caliper...

[@carsonjames8902]

I’m gonna be attending CSUCI in the fall. Ive been racing mtbs for 4 years now. I’m not sure what to expect from the collegiate league. Do you have any insight for me?

[@alexthemtbr]

Channel Islands, right? And the West Coast Conference is by far the most chill in the US. It’s more about drinking beers and playing on bikes than it is serious racing. Which depending what side of the spectrum you are on, is a good or bad thing... 😂

[@carsonjames8902]

Alex Chamberlin yeah Channel Islands. That’s sweet I’m more of a chill guy and I’m serious about going big but not super serious racing, but I still enjoy it. looking forward to it. Thank you

[@HarryBack]

1:21 that would hurt If you know, you know

[@imperialred]

Yo Alex when are you jumping back onto a Yeti, since they have an internal water bottle mount now 😁

[@alexthemtbr]

imperialred when they make chainstays that are 445mm+ and get rid of the Infinity link

[@briangong007]

Congrats

[@blakcloud2561]

Very informative, thank you! What's your opinion on the new XTR with regards to shifting under power? Can you really shift while mashing the pedals? Is it really any different or just marketing?

[@alexthemtbr]

BlaKClouD you can shift under a ton of power. No joke, so much more easily than eagle. I actually bent a tooth on my cassette because of it :/ It was in a race run and I just powered out of a corner way too hard. May have took that shift under load thing too seriously. I bent it back and it’s been flawless since

[@capitolraceworks]

What's your current go to setup for tire combos ? I just switched from the aggresor dd to a dhr2 dh out back because there not being a dh aggressor made. I loved the aggressor in the turns but not so much with braking . Now with the dhr2 I have good breaking and less rolling speed.

[@alexthemtbr]

The aggressor rolls much faster than the DHR. But my preferred combo is Assegai/Aggressor. I do wish the aggressor came in DH casings tho

[@stevenboelter4702]

awesome!

[@obi-wankenobi9871]

How do people shred their tyres like that? While I am only 70kg, I am sigificantly faster than the average trail joey, but my tyres still look really good after the 5000km I have on them so far.

[@barefootmtb1338]

Please put up some footage of your races 😃🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼. Oh and what’s the entry fee for that one?

[@waldchiller4695]

Can you do an EXO+ vs DD review?

[@alexthemtbr]

Wald Chiller sure! But for now, just ride DD if you are trying to rip descents!

[@jahanwatson2423]

Yo dude like seriously why is your seat so high dude that’s insanity

[@jasonoberfest]

Great post- I thought you were a Yeti guy, why Megatower over the SB150?

[@dewalele7186]

I´m very interested in your experience about having a rockshox shock and a fox fork. Do you notice the different manufacturers while you ride?

[@alexthemtbr]

Dewalele CSGO I really don’t notice. As long as a shock is tuned well, than I can’t really tell. I will say that RS products have always been easier to get that supple feel out of than Fox products. Always liked the super deluxe and vivid air from RS. I like the dpx2 from fox as well, the float is just so difficult to get it perfect

[@jaredgulaga8367]

I think the Assegai front and DHR2 rear is the perfect setup for enduro. 32T and the 51 also pair perfectly. Surprised to see that you aren't running saints tho. Not familiar with those rims? Don't you usually run 471/511? I personally think you should bite the bullet on some TR38 rims. From personal experience carbon wheels are the way to go :)

[@alexthemtbr]

Jared Gulaga I’m not a fan of carbon wheels at all. Love the feel of aluminum and obviously the reliability These are an ex1501wheelsey, uses an ex511 rim

[@boylagz]

Hows the Assegai as a front man? Any noticeable diff. vs DHFs in terms of transition grip on corners?

[@alexthemtbr]

I like the DHF more in corners, but the Assegai is just so versatile and deflects so much less on rocks/roots. The Assegai makes you feels comfortable, the DHF makes you ride more precisely to get the most out of it

[@nicoofner85]

I just tried the galfer 223mm rotors front and rear on the 29er dh bike with shimano metallic pads. They have a lot more bite and it really took a few runs to get used to the power, but now I would not go back to the 203 ice techs. Even the 203 galfers might have more power than the shimanos, at least it felt like that.

[@alexthemtbr]

Nico Ofner good to know!

[@dho]

dude just post more riding footage!

[@ziobersan]

Alex, do you consider using any other brand of tires? I hear only Onza can compete with Maxxis. About brakes, You said you believed icetech work. I learned about "heat transfer and heat exchange" and in theory that shimano rotors should cool down faster. You didnt have problem with them but you felt diffrence between xtr/trp/saints and rotors without this finned surfaces? I consider going for some xt/xtr 4 piston cuz my guide rs are a little bit inconsistent. I go for Fox Transfer dropper due to yours recommendation and I cant complain. cheers

[@alexthemtbr]

Maciej Ziobro I much prefer the “Freeza” style dinner rotor over then non finned rotors I’ve tried. I have tried freeza rotors plenty of times before and they are always quiet and resist fade much More than others. I’ve tried TRP/XTR/Saint all within the last year. And honestly it’s all in the lever “cam” (servo-wave) on how power is delivered. That adjusts how hard the bite is and the leverage curve. TRP is a super linear feel. (No bite) XTR is closer to Saints for sure, but just slightly less bite (I was told this was for more “modulation” to closer compete to Sram, but they still have the Saint model for riders who prefer the aggressive bite point. Saints, the hardest biting of them all. So you feel the pad contact through the lever. But the curve gets regressive slightly to avoid locking up. Hopefully some of that makes sense 😂

[@ziobersan]

@@alexthemtbr Thanks, not really fun of 0-1 brake but maybe give it a try. XTR look like have it all from all worlds.

[@panipu]

Have you tried the Pivot 29er? You said you would try it if they came out with one.

[@alexthemtbr]

PaNiPu I have. It’s ok. Much better bikes out there rn. They kind of did a half job in my opinion

[@tristanpetrykievicz1077]

Question, I’m only 15 and have about 1500 bucks from working. I want to get the Specialized enduro comp because it’s on sale for 2600. Do you recommending buy it or do you have any other bike recommendations for that price. And great video man🤘

[@RiderP411]

maybe check out transition, or commencal, specialized's good though and I don't think you can get better specs with that price, commencal do have some very nice enduro bikes for around 3000

[@tairny]

I would definatly check comencall, you get a great bike for not a whole lotta money

[@TrailFeatures]

XTR in the rear, saint in the front? 🤔

[@alexthemtbr]

Trail Features honestly I was thinking about swapping the lever out... But I hope people understand that I am being extremely hyper critical and the XTR works great! I’m just looking for a very very slight upgrade in bite.

[@panipu]

Comming from the X2 what do you think about the super deluxe?

[@alexthemtbr]

PaNiPu I’m a fan. Feels like a lot less stiction and was easier to setup. Both are good tho

[@panipu]

@@alexthemtbr Less stiction? ok interesting

[@alexthemtbr]

PaNiPu combo between the actual seal head and more importantly, the shock bearing mount instead of bushing

[@john450]

how did train for the race? I am curious about doing that race or one similar to it someday.

[@alexthemtbr]

john otero I just ride a lot 😂 no specific training. The race is just 6 long Days on the bike. I’m sure 2 after work rides a week (doing intervals) and some longer endurance rides on the weekend would get you prepared well

[@useport80]

thoughts on the joystick carbon handlebars?

[@alexthemtbr]

They have a great sweep, comfortable, not complaints on ride quality. But honestly, idk if it’s the Shimano brakes and how they mount. But with carbon paste and properly torqued bolts, if I hit a huge g out or something very unexpected, sometimes the lever will slip and move a bit on the bar. Kind of frustrating. It rarely happens normally riding. But this week it happened twice during a stage and I would prefer it never happened

[@onawave]

did you do any training for this? was thinking about doing this, in my mid 40's and reasonably fit and ride single to doubel black trails.

[@alexthemtbr]

Brook Ferguson not specific training but I already ride 15 hours a week ish. I think if you are reasonably fit and can be on the bike for 6 hours a day for 6 days, than you would love Trans BC! Megan, the race organizer does not put many blue trails in the race. For the most part they are on the gnarly side single of single black. And she definitely throws in 5-6 hard double blacks that she specifically says “don’t race” on. Trans is basically a tour of some of the best trails, freshest loam, and local Gnar! You don’t have to race all out. You can just enjoy it as one of the best weeks on a bike if that’s more your style. Or... you can be as competitive as you’d like. No matter how your approach it. It’s a week I look forward to every year!

[@roberthowells4014]

Brook Ferguson I hope this helps. I’m 51 and raced this year. My training was 5-9 hours a week. Mostly 5 hours lol. By all means this race is very demanding and the better shape your in the better, though you may have to rely on mind over matter and smart riding on the climbs if your not optimal shape. As a disclaimer I have been riding events like this for a long time so my base and experience help were my fitness fluctuates form year to year. If you can ride 5k of vertical per day you can make it.

[@florihupf]

Top 20!! Woot!!

[@carsonjames8902]

Do you ever ride down in SoCal?

[@alexthemtbr]

Carson James not super often but winter time i try to get down for a week!

[@carsonjames8902]

Alex Chamberlin there is some super sick riding in my area. If you ever make it to the Temecula or Menifee area

[@willkirschke5865]

A video!

[@Coors1974]

What's the fee to race?

[@alexthemtbr]

seacarmelkings quite a bit

[@bradywhite520]

Finned or nonfinned pads?

[@alexthemtbr]

Brady White I don’t want to point out the obvious... but non-finned. Idk if you watched the video 😂

[@Romanistamessicano]

How well did the super deluxe shock worked?

[@sidharthramasubbu3221]

yo dude how does the yeti sb6 corner and handle?

[@alexthemtbr]

Sidharth Ramasubbu it won 3 EWS championships... so id say it’s not too bad 😂

[@ernestfrigelj2876]

Dudeee finally.....what took you so long....your bike building skills got worse or?

[@alexthemtbr]

The video or what?? Haha

[@ernestfrigelj2876]

@@alexthemtbr haha ye....you need to post regularly.....hope you have some race footage

[@alexthemtbr]

Editing skills got worse 😂

[@bennetthazard4582]

Hey which rims are those??

[@MartianGopnik]

@ 1:20 - :( Nobody likes losing a knob!

[@alexthemtbr]

Monkius I think I know where it happened. Amazing I didn’t flat. My back wheel drifted out on this off cambered lava cap, kind of cheese grater rock slab. It’s amazing it held together honestly!