This is it!!!!

[Dino Brown]

Originally Posted by DownHillPhil

Dino the wheelset on there is fine...I would suggest some diff grips for Super D though. That's about it.

Good point!

[2wheel_lee]

I see a bike, but I don't see a good XC bike or a 4X bike. Just because you can ride any bike in XC and 4X, doesn't mean you should.

Originally Posted by Dino Brown

If (I) were looking for a new bike, (I) would want a bike that does it ALL (4X, XC, SD, FR, DH)! Only one bike "I can think of" that can do-it-all..



Note: If finishing 1st at XC or SD is your goal: A lighter wheelset may be a good idea. Other than that, I would race it the way it is!

No need to THANK me!

[Dino Brown]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

I see a bike, but I don't see a good XC bike or a 4X bike. Just because you can ride any bike in XC and 4X, doesn't mean you should.

I see what your saying... The Iron Horse is an UNFAIR ADVANTAGE! My bad...

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by Jman

I think this is going to be my last bike for the next year. It'll put me at five and that's just starting to get ridiculous.

Not thread hijacking here, but addressing something you said. Why would you worry about owning "too many bikes"?? You can NEVER have too many bikes. I just picked this up Friday: My new(est) bike: Haro X24 BMX

JMan--buy as many bikes as you want. If bikes are your thing (they are mine for sure) then who cares how many you buy/own? If you're happy with them, that's all that matters. Heck, I spent a few months and $100 on a nostalgia build ('93 Trek 820 rigid) that I've only ridden a few times.

We have a Bottle Rocket built up at BB. I work next Saturday. Stop by, say "Hi" and give her a test ride.

[2wheel_lee]

And to add to what PacMan said, an additional benefit of having multiple bikes is that the more you have, well...the more you can have. Let me try to explain. For example, if you're doing a ride where you're riding a lot of miles, but there are some spectacular DHs, and you don't a bike that really fits this specific ride, you can swap parts around, such as lighter wheels, cranks, etc. on to a longer travel bike. You can also make an XC bike a little more DH worthy by swapping to a shorter stem and wider bars and maybe even a longer travel fork - all off of other bikes in your stable. It makes it easier to "tune" one of your bikes for a specific ride or race.

[Jman]

I could'nt have said it better Pacman. Thank you. I can't come in on a Saturday but I think I'll make my way down this week. Out of curiosity do you know the retail on the Bottlerocket?

Lee swapping parts would require me to be mechanical...which I'm not. Just ask Bob. However, I was just told that the book "Zinn and the art of Bicycle Maintanence" (or something close to that) was a good place to start.

[Jman]

Well I just thought I'd give a quick update on this. I pulled the trigger today on a new Bottlerocket. I decided to get a white medium one. I'm pretty stoked as I did a lot of research and pestered Todd quite a bit. (Thanks for the help Todd ).
Here's a quick breakdown of the build kit (TBC is Transitions in house stuff which I've heard good things about all over the web):

TBC Wheelset
Maxxis Highroller-DH W tire, 26 x 2.5" ST-42
Truvativ Hussefelt stem, (31.0d x 40mm - black
SRAM X.7 Trigger ESP 1:1 rear shifter, 9sp
Truvativ XR DC seatpost, 350mm x 30.9mm
TBC saddle, black/grey
TBC platform pedals, black
TBC Chainguide
Truvativ Hussefelt riser bar
Marzocchi 55-TST2 '08 T-A fork, Air 160mm
SRAM X.7 9sp ESP 1:1 rear derail, GS med
Truvativ Hussefelt cranks, Hwz-24/36Tx170mm
SRAM PG-950 9sp cassette, 11-32t
Avid Juicy-5 '08 disc brake, 203mm - rear
Avid Juicy-5 '08 disc brake, 203mm - front

I'm pretty happy with the build. I think its going to be fairly heavy so I might try to lighten it up a bit but we'll see, I'm really not to worried about it. The final price was $2660 with shipping. I'm hoping to get it sometime next week. I'll post pics when I get it. Thanks again.

[Rockinthecasbah]

looks good im glad you went with the TBC wheelset your going to love it on the 4x as well as the downhill

[bighit8]

Since on the subject, the same guy from the Wendsday humor post from Allison.
Sometimes we fail in our justification, and then where are we? We're in the Purgatory of No New Bikes, that's where we are. That's a bad place. A bad, bad place. We should never have to be in that place.
And if you will follow these techniques, you will never be in that place again.
It will save money on gas
This may surprise you, but bikes can actually be used as transportation, and there are some people who — oddly enough — actually use their bikes to get around from place to place, instead of driving. Explain that with this new bike you will be saving serious transportation costs and doing your part for the environment.
Caveat: Do not explain that the new bike you're considering costs approximately the same as three years' worth of fuel, and most especially do not explain that any of the bikes you already have would work as transportation, too. If brought up as a counterargument, explain — dismissively — that your other bikes aren't really for that kind of thing.
It's less expensive than a humongous HDTV
This will take a little bit of preparation, but is well worth it. For about three weeks, don't mention the new bike you want. At all. Instead, with increasing intensity and frequency, begin talking about how you're thinking about getting a giant high-def television. And a Blu-Ray DVD player. And a subscription to high-def cable/satellite (or both!). And a serious sound system to go with it. Be very, very open about how much this will cost — about three times as much as the bike you want.
Argue convincingly (not too convincingly, though) and loudly about why you ought to get this massive entertainment system.
About the time your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/parent is at wit's end, capitulate. Right in the middle of an argument, act like a light's just come on in your head. "You know, you're right!" you say, catching them off-guard. "It's outrageously expensive and it would just rot my brain, especially when a new bike would cost me less than half as much!"
They'll be so relieved — not to mention pleased at having clearly won an argument with you — they'll just let that remark go. Next day, you come home with the new bike, as the two of you agreed.
Bonus: It's possible this technique will backfire on you and your significant other will really get into the idea of buying a home theatre system. That's the beauty of this technique: even if you lose, you win!
You Will Easily Recoup the Cost of This Bike in Prize Money
Did you know there's big money in bike racing? There is! Just ask Lance Armstrong; he's made a very comfortable living by racing his bicycle.
Do you think Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times riding a piece of crap like the one you ride? No, he most certainly did not.
If you're going to start winning races and making millions of dollars like Lance, you're going to need a better bike.
The prize money will follow naturally.
This bike will hardly cost anything after the trade-in
Thinking of trading in an old bike for the new one? Excellent. You'll want to get out your soft math skills for this technique.
First, find out the suggested retail for the new bike you want. Reduce that figure by 25%, because nobody pays MSRP for anything these days. Then take another 10% off because you're friends with a guy at the shop. Take another 5% off because you're a sharp negotiator. Tell your significant other that's how much your new bike will cost.
Next, estimate how much your current bike is actually worth. Add 10% to that, because I can tell you've taken really good care of your bike. Add 5% because I think you're just being too modest. Then add 15% to that figure because you want some negotiating room. Tell your significant other that's how much you'll be selling your old bike for.
If you're any good at all with creative math, you should actually be able to make a case that you may well be pocketing some money when all is said and done.
Note: When it turns out that the actual cost of the new bike is much higher — and the amount you sell the old bike for is lower — than you expect, I highly recommend shrugging and blaming taxes, shipping, and the fees the online site charged. "Man, everyone wants a slice," you can say, resignedly.
This bike is the bike to end all bikes
I fully admit that this approach is dangerous, but desperate times call for desperate measures, as I think all of us who have ever had a carbon fiber jones can attest.
"I know I have a lot of bikes already," you should say (it's good to start with a true statement, because that fools people into thinking other things you say may also be true). "This one, though, is different. It fits me unlike any bike ever made. It will never break. It is both beautiful and functional. It weighs 2.3Kg, fully loaded."
Continue with, "This is the ultimate expression of a bicycle. I shall never need another."
Look her/him right in the eyes as you conclude, "Hey, it's not like I'm talking about buying a Ferrari here, but how often in my life will I have a chance to own something that is truly perfect?" (Note: Do not say this if you own a Ferrari.) Try to mist up a little as you say this. It adds impact.
Warning: Do not use this more than two times a year.

[Mudman]

Transiton has never made light bikes, but they've always made dependable/durable ones. I'm currently at 4 bikes, and looking at 3 more maybe 4. The Bottlerocket has been on my things to buy list for the last 3 months. Personally I think its the perfect do all (heavy as hell) bike. Todd can pedal his quite a bit, but he can also do some pretty big jumps with it and 4X pretty good. Congrats! I do think that 203mm rotors on that bike are a bit much though.

[Jman]

203mm may be a bit on the big side but they'll stop me pretty good when I'm flying down the hill screaming in fear because my bike is way better than I am! I'm way stoked on it right now but I do feel bad that I'm pretty much ripping Todd off! He's being a pretty good sport about it.

[Mudman]

Originally Posted by Jman

203mm may be a bit on the big side but they'll stop me pretty good when I'm flying down the hill screaming in fear because my bike is way better than I am! I'm way stoked on it right now but I do feel bad that I'm pretty much ripping Todd off! He's being a pretty good sport about it.

if you check out mtbr theres a post about someone buying a BR every other week. I've seen as many as 3 posts about someone getting a new BR in one night.

[strobelite]

got pics yet???

[Jman]

No I'm supposed to get it sometime next week. I'm hoping on Tuesday 'cause I'll be off wednesday I'll be looking to hit up Fontucky with it!

[destroyer]

Can't wait to see it!