Alps

[Pedal Head]

Heading for the Alps next month & common advice is to consider upgrading brakes. The Meta is fitted with Oro K24's 180/160mm, weighing in at around 70Kg I'm wondering if this is necessary. Anyone able to offer any first hand advice?

[w00dy1980]

Yep i can!  I was there for a month last year with my meta 55 so you might want to consider these changes:

Loose the outer chainring and fit a bash guard and chain tensioner like a blackspire stinger or similar.  I didn't and regretted it as I never really changed out of the middle ring and would always loose my chain on the downhills which was really annoying.
&
Upgrade your rear disc to a 180mm rotor.  I burnt out and warped a 160mm in the first afternoon as I was been a complete sissy getting used to the length of the descents/bermed corners etc!  

Those two things would be my main changes, otherwise your pretty much good to go.  Is it a 2009 frame?  Mine was and i think a majority of the cracks it developed were from my time in the alps.  Ideally you want a downhill rig out there as it's probably over and above what the meta was designed to cope with.  Don't let that put you off though, you'll have an ace time.  Whereabouts you going?

[Pedal Head]

Heading for Morzine back end of the month, frame is an '08 VIP in medium so hopefully in the clear. you run sintered pads or somthing softer?

[w00dy1980]

Oh, and if your feeling particularly flush, a set of Fox 36 vanillas!

[w00dy1980]

I think I was running sintered.  Whichever will be fine tbh.

[Pedal Head]

Just had Mojo go over the fork and shock so flushed I'm not.....

[bong69uk]

Heading for the Alps next month & common advice is to consider upgrading brakes. The Meta is fitted with Oro K24's 180/160mm, weighing in at around 70Kg I'm wondering if this is necessary. Anyone able to offer any first hand advice?

Dude that is one heavy muther  fu*ker of a bike 

[commie55]

You might want to get some fat rubber on yer rims too.Maxxis high roller 2.5s (super tacky) with some DH tubes will give you loads of extra grip,and cut pinch punctures right down (other tyre/tube set ups are available )

[w00dy1980]

Oh and body armour-wise I'd suggest investing in knee/shin pads and armour for your chest, arms and back.  A full face helmet would also be a good idea to take along.  Better safe than sorry, crashing at those sort of speeds is really going to hurt otherwise!

[Pedal Head]

Cheers. Rims only take up to 2.3" according to Mavic (XM719's) & I have arm & shin pads although will probably invest in something for the back.

Looking forward to it :-)

[rugbyred]

I was in Verbier last year and having some descent tires would make a difference.
As mentioned, make sure you have a few sets of brake pads that you carry with you.
I am not sure you need back protection, but that depends on if you crash a lot. If you have a backpack, my opinion is that the pack should be enough.
The K24's will be enough for your Meta, but I would recommend the 180mm in the back. I don't think you need to have anymore than that.
It was very hot when we were there. MAke sure you bring lots of water and a change of shirts if you don't like your smell at the end of the day!
Have fun,

Eric

[Pedal Head]

..........Upgrade your rear disc to a 180mm rotor.  I burnt out and warped a 160mm in the first afternoon as I was been a complete sissy getting used to the length of the descents/bermed corners etc!  .......

It seems as though Formula spares are about as rare as rocking horse shit perhaps with the exception of UK bike store whose online store doesn't give any options for size/front/rear.

So thinking Hope floating. Anyone aware of anything that doesn't work well with Oro's?

[iain1775]

hope floating may clash
first off its 183 not 180, secondly the rivets that hold the rotor to the spider stand a bit proud and can clash with some calipers. dunno specifically about the k18's though
something specifically aftermarket from superstar, a2z or discobrakes amonst others wuld be cheaper and prob a safer gamble

why not get a 200 for the front and use existing 180 on rear, better overbraked than under

[rugbyred]

I am using Tektro rotors that I purchased from CRC. No problems what so ever with fitting them.

Eric

[Scandywag]

Got back from my first trip to Morzine last week  . I fitted 2.4 front, 2.2 back Rubber Queens which I'm sure helped a lot. I also started to uprate to bigger discs but only got as far as the rear  , so had 180mm front and back. But whatever brakes you go with, take some spare pads as mine were smoking a few times!