Review: Aerozine XB1.0A Flat Bar & XS1.0 Stem

I think it has been nearly half a year since I changed my cockpit configuration so it’s about time I give a run down on the changes I have observed so far. My previous set-up consisted a Ritchey Comp low-riser bar coupled with a 90mm Aerozine XS1.0 stem. I decided to opt for a an Aerozine XB1.0A flat bar with a 80mm XS1.0 stem.

The biggest advantage of the change to a shorter flat bar is a more comfortable riding position in races, especially through dense forestation where tight corridors threaten to trap wider bars. Detractors may criticize flat bars for their poorer control on harsh terrain but I have yet to experience any obstacles on cross country trails tough enough to expose this weakness. In fact, the use of a 80mm stem compensates the more aggressive riding posture and facilitates greater allowance for the rider’s weight to be moved behind the saddle. As such, I found greater confidence taking on bigger drops and rock gardens.

I had the opportunities to test the equipment rather comprehensively on varying terrain both on- and off-road. The harshest road test probably came in the form of Gunung Pulai with its 40% gradient on the steepest sections. As expected, climbing control was brilliant and the front wheel tracked the climbs almost perfectly. On the descends, even when the wheels slammed full speed into the deep irrigation ruts, or as I railed round the tight corners, control was never compromised.

Most of my time mountain biking is spent at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the current set-up suits the terrain, allowing me to fully exploit the bike’s capabilities. Heading over to Reverse Gombak and Bukit Kiara was an eye opener as particular technical sections were less welcoming to short travel XC machines. With 4 inches of travel at the rear, I could still take some of the technical obstacles (mainly drops) but my aggressive set-up meant that more caution had to be rendered. I definitely learnt my lesson the hard way as my poor cornering techniques sent me sprawling on a very steep and narrow switchback descend. Nonetheless, as an XC rider, I have never been more satisfied with this current flat bar and 80mm stem set-up. These components can be ordered online via www.conticomponents.com.

The Switch to Dyna Sys

After more than 2 years, it was time for my old groupset to go and I made the switch to a Deore XT 10-speed Dyna Sys set which I got for a steal off Togoparts. It coincided with the Nusa Iskandar race and to avoid any potential teething problems, I put off installation till weeks after the ultimate painful experience.

Today, I finally put the groupset to test on the trails and I was quite surprised by the crisp shifting (an improvement over the 9-speed groupsets, due to the closer spaced cogs as well as chain rings up front). Also, the smaller differences between gear ratios allowed me to engage more appropriate gears in the corners but any justifiable improvements can only be quantified with time trial.

Coupled with the ZTR Crest wheels (Relic Prop hubs) which I acquired brand new a couple of months back, I thought the bike performed pretty well in terms of control. The worn tires were obviously a let-down but without factoring that aspect into the evaluation, I was really enjoying the ride and pushing my equipment to their limits.

Of course, there are downsides to every thing in life, and I immediately noticed the drivetrain imposed “speed limit” while cycling on the roads. A 44t chain ring had always provided me the capacity to reach higher speeds (which I do max out on many occasions anyway) and I suddenly found the 42t ring restrictive. True, it eased the “load” off my cadence but I was less enthusiastic to trade road speed with an easier cadence.

I learnt a lot on today’s ride to Bukit Timah and beyond. Bukit Timah has become almost a second home  - every nook and cranny is firmly etched in my memory. But I really enjoyed the company of others in group rides. Never mind the pace, it’s the “fun factor” that keeps my passion for the trails burning. I was quite excited to be able to clear the four flights of stairs (upwards, of course) at a certain section of Track 15 and repeated my first attempt to be sure. But my strength in producing sufficient torque to move the bike up the stairs failed me on my final two attempts. I felt breathless!

After such a long long time...

Team NTU on the way to Melaka...240km on 26 December 2011.