The Best $109 Upgrade for the Giant Anthem 29 | Orbea Squidlock

In this video I discuss one of my favorite upgrades for the Giant Anthem 29. It is actually made by Orbea but transforms the Anthem into 3 different bikes. It is very similar to the Scott Twinloc system.
Orbea Squidlock 3 pos - www.orbea.com/...
Orbea Squidlock + Dropper - www.bikebling....

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Be sure to visit my website at www.blackwatercyclist.com Subscribe: tinyurl.com/yyd6vb6k Follow me on: Instagram: instagram.com/blackwatercyclist Facebook: facebook.com/BlackWaterCyclist1 Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/179615

[@Cees1984]

I agree, i have it in my orbea oiz m30 and works great! Going to try running lower pressure in the shock after watching this video 😁🤙

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

The Oiz is a beautiful bike! Let me know how it works for you after you try it.

[@Cees1984]

I did try a lower pressure but does not work for me. Im running slightly more pressure with the sag now about 20% front and rear. The last year i was riding a full rigid Bike for fun so that also made me ride different lines Anyway. The Bike feels great and efficiënt and next month going to ride a 70km marathon in the belgium Ardennen 😁😁💨🤙

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

@@Cees1984 That sounds like an amazing event and glad you found the set up for you. Let us know how it goes!

[@davidcarroll4150]

I had no idea the fox dps could do that… I will definitely try it …. I feel like the anthem is ok as it mostly just occasionally on those steep rocky uphills I tend to ride them fully locked out …. Because of the bounce is too bad when the shock is set up properly for the downs …. And if you harden the shock to compensate then it’s compromised on the down. Normally it’s not an issue just occasionally …. The effect is probably worse when the rider is heavier ….. Now, if there is a fix that’s awesome!

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

That was exactly my experience with the stock rear shock. With the Squidlock, now that issue has gone away and in my opinion it makes the bike even better since you do have more options.

[@XCRiders]

I have the squidlock with dropper lever on my Orbea Oiz TR M-team it’s great 👍🏼

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I agree! I tested a Scott Spark and the lever took so much more movement to engage the different settings while the squidlock is so much easier and ergonomical

[@KerryKing-vb6es]

Is your shock and fork "push to lock"? The Orbea MP20 says it's push to unlock but can work the other way. Any issues? I'm considering one for my 23 anthem, thx

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi Kerry, mine was push to unlock but I have used it on a push to lock bike as well and it worked perfect.

[@vtwl24]

I'm using the squidlock with dropper lever, I disabled that, used oneup dropper post lever instead, for a better ergonomic feel.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Good to know! I was wondering what others thought of the dropper lever on the Squidlock.

[@vtwl24]

@@BlackWaterCyclist I used an ispec-ev mount for the oneup lever, while I pushed the squidlock lever all the way to the back, almost very close to colliding with the oneup remote, it's the only way to do it, partly why I don't like the squidlock dropper lever location is it interferes with my knuckle sometimes.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

@@vtwl24 That is great to know. Its good to know that there is an option to use something different.

[@g1598]

I put a sram monarch xx on my 2014 anthem and does an awesome job

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Oh yeah! I love a lock out system. Many mtbers hate them but I use my MTB on Gravel roads and its really nice not to bob around like a bobble head on the fire roads.

[@vtwl24]

Actually the middle setting, is half travel rear, front remains fully lock

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I believe it has to do with where you set up the cable pull for the fork. I have mine set to open the fork in the middle setting which I find better because it lowers the front of the bike while climbing so the front tire does wonder on you. Are you using the Squidlock and your fork locks out in the middle setting?

[@vtwl24]

@@BlackWaterCyclist yes I used it as it was factory setup by Orbea Spain, this is the way, it makes sense, sometimes I ride on roads, I don't mind a harden front end for sprinting, but a softer rear helps absorbs some discomfort.

[@Jagefo]

On my Orbea Oiz the middle setting keeps the fork fully open. That's how it came when I purchased it.

[@mizanbest6402]

can all shocks use squidlock?

[@paulmass421]

Can you post the Tune ID on that shock so I can look up its specs? Was it originally a 2-pos remote? I'm curious if a 2-pos remote shock can act like a 3-pos remote shock without changing the internals? Also is it Push To Lock or Push to Unlock? I'm currently building up a frame that I'd like to have 3-pos remote. The fork I have on hand is push to lock, so I will need to spec out a shock that is also push to lock... and the cable stop needs to be pointed down like on your bike... a lot of the Scott Nude shocks have cable stop pointed up, which won't work in my frame. It's looking like I'm going to have to have a custom shock built by Fox with the criteria below. But I'm trying to gather as much info as possible... maybe there is an existing shock out there from another frame that has exactly what I'm looking for. Do you know of anything that matches this: 165 x 45 (eye-to-eye x stroke) Trunnion Eyelet 3-Position Remote Remote Down Push To Lock Large Volume (LV) LCM - Linear Compression Medium LRM - Linear Rebound Medium CMF - Climb Mode Firm

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I actually do not have the Anthem anymore so I do not have the Shock Tune on it. It was the stock shock so I am sure you could find it out there but I do know it was originally only a 2 position push to unlock. With the fox rear shocks, you do not have to change the internals, the middle setting is actually already there and limits the flow of the oil to it acts similar to the Scott Nude shocks. Also you can buy and install the cable stops to reverse it to be pointed downward instead of up. I have actually swapped them between two different remote shocks before. I actually designed my own Ti mtb and got a newer fox 34 and it is 3 pos push to lock and my original shock was a push to unlock so that sucked. I didnt realize Fox was offering the push to lock outside of Scott bikes. So I have a Shock off a Trek that is also Push to Lock that I am having Fox custom tune and send to me. If you can find a cheaper 165x45 out there that needs a rebuild, then send it to Fox and have them service it and change it, that would be the best because they charge around $215 for the full rebuild, at least on mine. Otherwise, it is probably just as cost effective as buying a brand new with the specs you want if you can find it. The best deal you could find is to reverse a Scott Nude. So Contact Fox and see if they sell just a cable stop to reverse a Scott Nude. I hope that helps.

[@paulmass421]

@@BlackWaterCyclist that does help a lot. It sounds like we're blazing the same path. Unfortunately everything you just said, and everything that we're trying to do / talk about is over my LBS's head. And they have to act as the middle man between me and Fox. It sounds like you've made more progress though... I'd love to pick your brain a little bit more on how/ what exactly you did to flip the cable position. And if you know how to turn PTL into PTU, that would be good to know as well. Is there a way we can chat?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

@@paulmass421 You can send me a DM on Instagram or go to my website and click the CONTACT US button. I love chatting bikes and brainstorming ideas so send me a message and we can chat.

[@XXedgsXX]

The system is for the two suspension or only one?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

It controls both the front and rear but the rear is the only one that will do Open, 1/2 Travel, and Lockout. The fork is only able to do OPEN, OPEN, Lockout.

[@marekzmazur2077]

my synchros twinloc keeps breakinv and I'm thinking of replacing it with this. Do you think it's a good upgrade?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi Marek, so sorry for the delay, I was sick with Covid and down for a few weeks. I really do think it would be an upgrade. The Squidlock is very well made.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Marek, did you ever try this as a replacement for the twinlock and did it work? I have tested my buddies Scott Spark Twinlock and I think you have to move the lever further on the twinlock and wonder if the Squidlock will on the Scott. The Squidlock does not have as much throw as the Twinlock.

[@dferrerll]

isnt the dropper lever not too hard?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I did not have the dropper version so not sure how it works. Is that what you were asking?

[@dferrerll]

@@BlackWaterCyclist yea thats the reason