(Part 2) Best products from r/xbiking

They’re 3-bearing Fookers. It’s still early, but I’m surprised by the nice quality. I was initially going to buy Race Face Chesters, but Amazon didn’t have them in yellow. At almost half the price, the Fookers are outstanding. Maybe every bit as good as the Chesters.

I like it a lot, but it is not terribly durable so I need to replace it more regularly.

Arundel bar tape is what I’m using now, and I think I like it more than the lizard skins. It has a very rough texture (soft, but rough, in a good way), and that makes the grip really good when I’m sweaty or it rains. Not expensive either.

Can’t vouch for its durability though, I’ve only had it on there since early May. Still in fine shape though.

I'd simply measure the chain for stretch, and seeing as the tires are barely worn, I'd expect it to just need lube. If the freehub is loud, oil it, if not, repack the hubs with it in place. New cables, maybe. If the bike is low miles, which it looks like, and they're stainless, they're probably fine. Just lube the mechs and shifters. Brake pads run $20, these will be hard, and a new set of Tektro linear pull brakes that come with brake pads are $25. That's something I almost always swap, unless the cantis are special. Brake cables will need to be replaced, those are more crucial and won't be long enough for LP brakes.


The wheels aren't basic. Those are LX hubs which are infinitely rebuildable on classic Araya RM17 box rims. Bulletproof. A Brooks saddle is the least likely saddle to be comfortable for most people and priced four times more than saddles that are very likely to be comfortable like WTBor Velo. Brooks were outdated nearly fifty years ago when nylon saddles eliminated having to sit on a metal lip and rivets during a climb. If you like them, power to you, but in my experience selling them, they got returned and complained about the most.


Tires, something nice and fat by Schwalbe that rolls nice or any number of fungible brands. Bars that have a bend that help your shoulders out. Don't be hunching out there. Cook and chill.

SHIMANO (06 CT-S500 I-CTS500L Alfine Black Chain Tensioner https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004YCZFAA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NfZvDb5TNAWJM

This ☝️

Thanks for the info dude. Usually figure it on on the hop but you just saved me a few steps. Thanks man!

Awesome sub!!

Like others have said here, brake placement from 26" to 650B will be a pain to get dialed in and will likely require you get creative or get some kind of adapter to get them to fit. I've also heard that extending the reach of the brakes reduces your braking power to less than optimal. Best of luck with the build!

Thank you very much!

I'll have to get back to you about how fast it can go, I'm still pretty new to all this and I only finally finished this work on it yesterday so I haven't been able to really put it to the test yet. Plus it's so hot here, it's just too damn hot where I live lol!

My tires are just some pretty basic cheap Kenda ones. I went as cheap as I could (safely) for all of the components I bought, half cause I'm still new to the sport and half cause I'm broke, haha. I figured I can always upgrade to nicer stuff once these things wear out.

Hey sorry for the late reply, but the brand of the rack is KlickFix. Here's pretty much what I used, the only difference is the bag itself is an older style, but the rack part is the same. hope that helps

Just through Amazon. Get something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002I7K5KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fceBDb8Y9KDY0

Then something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073QHQHPB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4eeBDb2YYTRZJ

Then some spacers, how thick depending on where your chainline falls.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HOI6F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NheBDb9NZ1JFR

You may also need longer bolts, depending. You can definitely find all manner of videos on YouTube, many of which were made by people that know what they’re doing a whole lot better than I do.

Klunker bikes, the original gravel rides!

edit: If you want a really awesome documentary of how MTB started in Marin, this was a great watch! Even my non-riding GF liked it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B00FIKINO2

Thanks! I'm planning to do a post on it when I finally have the bar positions and cable routing figured out.

Agree about visibility - have you ever seen this stuff? It's incredibly bright with even relatively dim light sources. I'm planning to put a strip of it around my rims.

Hah. Looking for concrete answers?

Buy these. https://www.amazon.com/MKS-18092030213-Sylvan-Touring-Pedals/dp/B000MXOLAK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=mks+sylvan+touring+pedals&qid=1569467532&s=gateway&sprefix=mks+s&sr=8-1

Not so sharp that she’ll dump you for getting them but still really grippy.

Nice classic look that would nice on a road bike.

They are these BrightEyes 1800 lumens units . They've been pretty good so far. I like that they include a gopro-compatible mounting bracket. They're held on to the the front rack by a gopro fishing rod mount and two 90 degree adapters.

If you stick with Cantilever brakes (I did) then I would suggest this tektro fork mount cable hanger instead: https://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Front-Cable-Hanger-Black/dp/B006GHDRYC/ref=asc_df_B006GHDRYC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111916046&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9209235087896262264&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020929&hvtargid=pla-568555982053&psc=1
I bought one like the one you linked to, but returned it for the post mounted one. More stable and easier to mess with. But you will need to get a longer mounting bolt. I just took it to ace hardware and they found me the right bolt for a buck or two.

Here ya go: https://www.amazon.com/Suntour-Suspension-threadless-steerer-travel/dp/B00O2T7R2E

Pic: https://imgur.com/a/V1VS3D2

Edit: Just realized you might not have meant suspension forks. Anyway, hope it helps regardless.

Maybe try something like this. So long as you have enough space that the front wheel doesn't bottom out on the basket I feel like it would work.

I like the cheapo silicone mounts, but only the stem mounted ones. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BTCFQ8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9qYZCbS2JB2C4

I ended up going with the cheapest shifters I could find. I think they work quite well, actually. They're smooth and fast, but they are hard to install and get to stay on the handlebars without moving around. Electrical tape underneath them helps.

Crank $30-40: SHIMANO M361 Hybrid Crankset... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002I7PSBY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Shifters $50-60: MicroNEW Shifters 3X7 Speed... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078NPGQCG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

its this cheap one. works OK with the Wald 137 for groceries or my backpack. Don't think I would trust it for anything very heavy

If your fork has a fender mount hole (though the steerer, below the crown), you can use a fork mount derailleur hanger instead of the above the headset orginal version. I used one on this bike