White Brothers Rock Solid 29: Installation
December 21st, 2006 by Tim GrahlThere’s a handful of things I’ll gladly pay a bike shop to do instead of doing it myself. Hacksawing a $360 pair of forks is one of them.
I took the Rock Solid 29 into Blackwater Bike Shop and had them cut up the forks, pull off the RockShox Reba SLs and hang the new carbon on my Gary Fisher X-Caliber.
When I rolled the X-Caliber into the shop it weighed 27.18 lbs (12,329 grams). After the installation of the White Brothers it weighed 25.04 lbs (11,359 grams). That’s a savings of 2.14 lbs (970 grams)! Not to shabby.
So far rides have been around the parking lot and grabbing a lot of front brake. Good flex and a stable ride so far.
More updates after some trail time. I’ll leave you with some pictures, click them to see bigger.
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Why would you use a hacksaw to cut pipe?
-M
As far as I know that’s the most efficient way to do it. All the shops I know of do it with a slotted guide and a hacksaw. That fork has an aluminum steerer tube and even a really sharp pipe cutter would put a nasty lip on the top of the tube when cutting.
I don’t get a lip. Done a Reba and a Fox with alu tubes, get a minor lip on the niside, but nothing the starnut can’y push out of the way. Even carbon handlebars cut nice with a pipecutter. $9.00 @ lowes.
-M
wolfy: Hacksaw and guide will yeild absolutely no lip or burr if used properly. I find alot of folks have no idea how to cut properly with a hacksaw, much less how to properly orientate the cutting teeth when installing the blade.
I’m sure a ham fisted mechanic could find a way to screw it up using your $9.50 tool if given a chance.
My viewpoint: your mileage may vary!
cutting a fork to size is a job is CAN do on my own but one I WON’T do on my own. I always bring my entire bike into the shop when I have a fork that needs to be sized. I like having a second (or third) set of eyes on the bike to make sure the cut is right. A good mechanic will be able to assess my stem and bar height and make suggestions on proper fit.
I once knew a guy, decent mechanic, that measured in the wrong direction and made the cut way too short and runied the fork. Yes, it was a stupid mistake but we can all make them.
A shop will use the proper tools and take the time to make sure the cut is right. If something gets messed up then they are responsible for fixing it or replacing the fork.
Wow…. maybe it’s just me, but I haven’t taken my bikes to the Shop for anything aside from frame customizations and new powdercoating. The same rule applies to forks as it does to construction. Measure twice, cut once…
Maybe I’m just lucky?