Abstract
Next time I sixty-nine a Groundhog I'll use a shorter fork.
Introduction
Ride-eve wrenching was in order due to the arrival of the Nashbar
compression plug in the post yesterday. Installed it on the Groundhog
and it fit pretty snug...but when tightening the top cap for bearing
preload the plug slipped up a bit....grrr!
So I bartered the FSA Conix compression plug from the Fisticuff for
the new Nashbar plug. The Conix has got a much deeper engagement and
chompier teefers. It felt better and didn't slip when snugging
everything up. I was confident that it'd hold.
Data
Left the stable at 5:40 for a 5:55 meet with W at the Morning Choice &
Log intersection. I knew by then that the Groundhog steers like a
Lincoln Continental. Log>MC>(stop to tighten the Groundhog's
headset...errrr???) Lewis and Clark>Cascade>alternate Cascade
climb>new secret trail--left into the woods not far past the rebar
chicane)....
creek bed (rocky) then straight up a hike a bike deer path. Then she
levels out and it's 45-degree-off-camber log and tall-boy log hopping heaven. Then
straight down again to a creek and the trail disappears. We walked
the creek toward the river until we noticed the Bike Buster trail up
the hill from us. Rode the last two drops on Bike Buster (the one the
lets you out near the dam). ...new Cascade put-in by the big parking lot>hike a bike up the
waterfall (stop to remove W's rear brake pads which had worn so bad
that the spring clip was pulling against the rotor...enter 2 dudes on
rigid Karate Monkeys that I'd seen on a solo DP a couple weeks back,
can't remember their names but W and I shared themorningride info with
them. They park at Rowanberry and ride at 6 about
2X/week)>Ridge>Connector>Morning Choice>hairpin right up bamboo forest
trail>Morning Choice (exit W at top of Cascade)>back Morning
Choice>counterclockwise Old Track>Morning Choice>Farm Field>Belmont
Results of Sixty-nining a Groundhog 1. Steering is poor because head angle way too slack. Suspension
corrected (for 100mm) rigid 26er fork with 29er tire jacks that front
end up way too high. When climbing steeps it's hard to hold a line if
any adjustment is necessary. On the other hand descending ass-tucker
steeps is fun and getting over giant logs is a breeze with slack front
and high BB. 2. Headset loosened 2X on this ride. Maybe I didn't torque down the
compression plug enough. Stem interface didn't inspire confidence. 3. Shifting was good;-) Conclusion
Groundhog will go back to the laboratory for a shorter fork that
requires less compression plug steerer tube lengthening.
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