I may take a drill to Nick's bike sometime soon ;)

I've not actually known a Tune skewer break though, they're just a wee bit stretchy! Mine actually feel quite confidence inspiring when you tighten them.

Hmmm, drilling carbon bits... I'm not sure that does the integrity of the material much of a favour!

Someone said that XTR chainrings are really heavy, maybe I'll try drilling those :-)

Heard the price of the 07 XTR middle rings Nick? Even made me wince!

Just rebuilt my Hope XC hubs on to 717s with DT revolution spokes and alloy nipples. Saved about 2 lbs in weight over my original hoops which were some WTB rims and double butted spokes. From the sounds of it those CX-Ray could be even lighter!

Was a bargain really as the guy only charged me for parts, not labour so £110. He did say if I wanted an even lighter set that using DT Swiss 240 hubs instead would end up lighter than Mavic SLs. Not entirely sure on that but the bonus is with any hand built wheels, any bike shop could fix them but you bust a spoke on an SLR, you need to buy a pack of 30 spokes or something costing quite a bit if the LBS doesn't stock them!

He also said that DT Swiss are bringing out some new hubs with a lifetime guarantee on the bearings. I didn't have a spare £300 unfortunately!

Yeah I know, it's a joke isn't it!

As I'm running mine as a double anyway I won't buy a 'proper' XTR one, may get some Boone Titanium rings in 29/42, or some TA Specialites, slightly more sensibly priced!

I'm hoping to use the big ring most of the time to save the wear on the middle one :)

Well I have found myself using the big ring more and more, I think a 42 would suffice for the vast majority of riding frankly! Particularly if I could sort the chain line out so I could go big/big more comfortably.

Not that easy with the current BB systems :(

I think a closer cassette and a 46/36 up front may be good?

That sounds like silly gears! A 36/27 bottom gear? My CX bike has lower than that :-)

I find the current gearing spot on I must admit (44/32 with 12-34), it'd just be nice to not have to change down on the middle ring.

I've thought about moving the chainset over 2.5mm using one of the HT2 spacers, but then it'll obviously be offset to one side.

Last year I ran 12-27 blocks with 3 rings up front, that was good, but I did use the granny ring more, which isn't good, as it costs a couple of seconds shifting down each time, it all adds up!

Just plucked some gears really, you know what I'm getting at though.

34t, what you climbing, walls?

Ordered my cranks for the new machine last week. I wanted the 24t granny ring (as I have currently) that Shimano advertise, Madison aren't bringing them in on the 07 XTR. No call for them apparently! They suggested buying the 24t and the matching middle ring. W@ankers!

Yes, I do, don't worry. You riding a compact on any of your road bikes? I've got a 34/50 on my CX bike, and I don't think I actually like it, gap is too big.

I'm not quite sure why I went 34, sure it'll get me out of trouble some time! I've no idea how to take the chainset off, so I can't see a granny ring ever being fitted, at Coed Y Brenin I may want that 34!

11-32 would've been lighter mind :-)

Compact, you calling me a girl?

I'm known as a bit of a gear masher so I don't think compact would suit me. Don't think I've ever used the 32 on my MTB, I have a 25 on the road bikes just in case though.

Yeah, I run a 12-25 on my X Lites, and an 11-23 on my XXX Lites.

I do use the 34t on my MTB periodically, but I think I tend to spin more. Or I ride more serious hills :-)

Unless it's wet, when I'm pushing slowing anyway!

Hi
Can I butt in? Was thinking of SLs myself but the reviews put me off. I have a pair of Hope XC on 717s with titanium freehub. Rims are a bit tired, shall we say. I really like the look of the DT 4.2 rims. I've just been looking at the CX-ray spokes & think I would like some of those too. Where can I buy CX-rays from?

Also, what do you guys think of that build?

Not really butting in, the conversation's been dead for about 6 weeks!

CX-Rays are available in packs of 20, in even lengths only, from any dealer with a Chickens account, which is any dealer worth their salt.

It's not gonna be a mentally light set of wheels, but they'll be extremely reliable, sounds good to me.