Adjusting the rear derailleur

Found a good video on how to adjust the rear derailleur of your bike here and here.

For front derailleur instead, check here and here.

RST Capa T4 Preload setting

Hmm. Can't seem to find any guidelines on how to set the Preload on my RST Capa front fork. But trying to use common logic in it. This was what I did below.

p.s: Before following the steps below, remember that these steps were just something I thought up and should probably not be used as professional reference.

1 - I know that the fork had a maximum of 80mm travel. Meaning 80mm starting from the oil seal (indicated by the lower white line shown in the picture).



2 - Set the Preload adjuster to the hardest setting possible (keep turning towards the "+" sign until can't anymore)


Preload Adjuster

3 - Use a clean piece of tissue to wipe away the Oil Line (shown in yellow in the picture above). The oil line is the mark made by the oil seal as your fork gets compressed. It works as a good indicator of how far your fork travels up and down.

4 - Take your bike out for a ride, maybe do some jumps. Remember to get use to the bike and the suspension before doing any major jumps. Ideally try to do some jumps or hops which you would expect to go through on your trail ride. So that you can mimic trail riding as much as possible. When done, check on the Oil Line and see how far up your fork went. If your Oil Line is within 70~80% of your Travel (in this case 70~80% of 80mm) then you are good. If not, soften your forks by adjusting to the Preload towards the "-" direction and go again for a ride.

5 - Repeat until you find a compression percentage which you like. Remember that every trail would have it's own prefered setting, so every now and then, check on the Oil Line to see how far your fork compresses after each ride. If it reaches the maximum travel of your fork. Then it is probably too soft.

Alternatively, at step 2. You can adjust the preload setting to minus "-" instead and slowly work your way up. But I worry about bottoming out the forks, so I went with the "+" way instead.

Few days later, and I found an article on the correct way to setting your fork and shocks. Please view here instead. :p

FRIM trail taken by advanced riders

This was the trail which I dented the rims on the Polygon Solaris and almost did a superman. Damn! Wish I could ride half as good as these guys in the video. Can't wait to try again! LOL!
Youtube - FRIM by FakawiTribe

The new ride

So, as I was saying last night. I got myself a new Proton T-Bolt. In case it didn't occur to you, it's Proton as in Malaysia's national car brand. Yes! Bet you didn't know they had bicycles too didn't you. No Worries, a lot of non-bikers wouldn't know. Let when I first started biking. Cost me Rm880 @ ABC Bicycles. Unfortunately, I later found out that it isn't the "upgraded" version, which has a different rear shock and a newer model derailleur. But what can I say, looked good. :p And now, it's sitting comfortably at home.


16" Proton T-Bolt - Carbon Fiber monocoque with alloy swing arm


Shimano Deore shifters


Tektro disc brakes


Dnm Torch A-01


Shimano LX rear derailleur


Rst Capa T4 80mm travel


Truvatic FiveD crank

Frame: T-Bolt
Carbon fibre monocoque with alloy swing arm
Supports 4 " of travel front and rear

Fork: RST Capa T4
80mm Travel with adjustable Preload

Rear Shock : DNM Torch
Air Shock
3.5" Travel (not sure about this, just got off some random site)

Stem: Kalloy Black

Handlebar: Kalloy Black

Headset: Cane Creek AHeadSet
1-1/8" alloy anodised black

Crankset: Truvatic FiveD
22-32-44T

Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore

Rear Derailleur: Shimano LX

Rear Cassette: Shimano
11-32

Shifters: Shimano Deore

Brakes: Tektro IO
Disc Set

Brake Lever: Tektro Sensir

Rims: Taurus 2000
Anodised black

Hubs: Formula 32H

Saddle: Velo Black

Seat post: Kalloy Black

Tires: Cheng Shin
1.95

Joining the WildGeeks at FRIM

Follow the Wildgeeks to FRIM at Kepong today. Boy, was it tough!
We went through both the technical AND the endurance part of the trail.

On the technical trail (I think it's called Dream Trail) I almost did a superman (an action of rider flipping over and above the bike) down the mountain cliff. Thank god gravity pulled the bike back down as the front wheels locked up. Could have easily been hospitalized. Definitely no joking here. After that, I pretty much balled out of it and pushed my bike all the way through. We were riding on a small singletrack, cliffhanger style.

Next we went on to the endurance part of the trail. It was much wider (truck road) but it was a pretty long uphill climb. As with all uphills, there are downhills. :p And During one particular downhill turn, I went a wee bit too fast while turning in. Imediately realizing that, Ballz shrunk, Brake harder, Turn in more, and next thing I know; Was "drifting" on the floor. Lucky the floor had loose sand, so I didn't get too hurt.


Courtesy of the "drift"

After that, we rode on. Reach a stall. Had a coconut, and a teh ais. and started making our way back. Halfway back, we made a stop and rest while 2 Wildgeeks went on a little side trail (Steroid hill, famous for it's extremely steep uphill). A motorist past by and gave us some rambutans. LOL. So had ourselves a little snack. Later continue on our journey back when everyone was here.

















As we were riding back, riders at the back of me were telling me that I got a dented rear rim. Probably from the technical part of the trail "Awwwww... Damn!" I already had a buyer for the bike. Later when I got out, I sms-ed the dude and tell him to cancel the sale. I wouldn't want to sell him the bike now, seeing how it could be hazardous.

While waiting for the 2 who went Steroid, one rider came up to us and asked to join us as his ridemates went home (is it always safer to ride in groups). And of course we welcomed him, chit chat a little, exchange contacts, and later asked him to lead the way back. He took us to another trail which was also very challenging (to me). It was also a singletrack, cliffhanger style but with the exception that it was a downhill ride all the way. But by that time, my ballz had shrunk so small from the previous trails that i decided to push all the way. My balance sarks. :p Cycle a little on the road and FINALLY! time to say chows and get into the car. My car seat had never felt this good!

After FRIM I headed over to Desa Aman Puri, ABC Bicycles. Batang was waiting for me there, as I told him to order T-bolt for me. He was close with the shop owner there and recommended their services. Traded in my Polygon Solaris there (Bye, was fun while it lasted) and got me a new T-bolt. But that's a story for tomorrow. :p

Went home. Took a nice cold bath. Guzzle lots of water. Sit on the bed. Damn! Start rubbing the bruises on my leg, and this is how it looks now. -_-"





We made a few stops here and there where we rest and chit chat, get to know each other better. Good Shitz! Really something you have to do once in your lifetime. :)

FRIM - Forest Research Institute Malaysia
Singletrack - A bicycle lane with just enough size for one bike, no room for overtaking.