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!