Nov 17, 2008
I go through a lot of different bike parts and gear. Some of it wears out or breaks, some of it I really regret buying, and some of it I swear by. Stuff Mike Rides will show up every now and then, whenever I get around to writing it. All of the stuff that I don't feel like writing a 9000 word review on will be in one of these. More than anything though 'Stuff Mike Rides' will be about how things held up over the long haul.
Volume #7 of S.M.R. has got the goods you are interested in, which is coincidentally the same goods that I've been abusing for the last year: a DMC Moto Timer which is the poor mans way of seeing how slow you actually are, some ragged Five Ten high top shoes, and KMC's jewelry-like gold X9SL chain that Cori's Mom was kind enough to model for me!
Read on...
DMC MotoTimer
This little bugger makes so much sense. If you look around you'll be able to find personal timers that run along the same lines as the DMC job, although none of them are quite as smoothly done as the Moto Timer. The general idea of a stopwatch/timer has been around for a long time, I can remember spotting funny buttons and wires on DH bikes back in the '90s and the idea dates back many moons ago to other timed sports. After making myself quite a number of hokey timing contraptions that ended up in the garbage I thought I'd spring for the real thing.
DMC Moto Timer
So why would you want a timer on your bike?
Curiosity and improvement are the reasons I strapped on one. I've been riding my local hill for well near 15 years now but had never really timed myself on any of its trails. Just like swapping to a different kind of bike can open your eyes to new things on your old trails, so can adding a timer to your bike. When you know the clock is ticking you push yourself a bit harder than you would otherwise which can turn the old trail into something entirely new! Use it to improve, use it to test out some sneaky lines without having to have your buddies watch you, use it to prove to yourself that you can eat a foot long sub in under 2 minutes.
You can see both the snap closure and Velcro on the inside face. It never shifted once!
The unit itself is about an inch in width and mounts with both a snap and Velcro between your grip and left brake lever. If you have a shifter pod on the left side of your bar you may or may not need to play around with positions a bit, although with a Juicy lever and X.0 pod there was a load of room for it to squeeze in. The Moto Timer is water proof, which proved valuable as it has seen some monsoon weather since I mounted it. There have been plenty of long highway road trips in the rain with it left on my bars and it shows no sign of sinking yet. Operation was pretty simple, but because this is actually intended for use on a motocross bike ("Moto Trainer", duh!) it is not as simple as it could be for us non-motorized users. Wake it up by pressing the button (the only button) for a quick second and press it one more time to start the timing. If you are wanting to know how long it took you to get down a certain trail then all you need to do it press it again when you want the time to stop. This is were it can get a bit confusing for the not so bright riders out there. The time you just did will flash for seven seconds so you get a chance to have a look and see that you were a lot slower than you thought, while that's happening it is actually continuing to time you as you need to press and hold the button for three seconds to fully stop the timing. This is because it goes a step beyond simple starting and stopping, it keeps track of your split times for you!
For size reference that is a Canadian quarter
Before I tried the Moto Timer I was really excited about the split timing feature as it has a few neat uses. The first and obvious one is that you can split the trail up into as many sections as you'd like and as long as you press the button at the same spot on the trail each time you go by you can easily compare where you are getting faster and where you're getting slower. If you're hill has trails laid out one after the other you can figure out how long it takes for the entire descent, as well as each individual trail, all in one foul swoop. It fell a bit short of expectations in use though as the button doesn't really let you know that you've actually hit it with any audible beep (just a slight click) leaving me to wonder if I actually managed to hit it with my gloved finger. I'm sure adding a noise maker to it would add to the size of the Moto Timer but it sure would make it easier if you are taking advantage of the split timing feature.
Regardless of the split timer being a little finicky it is hard to beat at $50. I should rephrase that really: While it's cheaper to make a timer using a cheap watch and remote button the Moto Timer is far nicer, cleaner, and more reliable than what you can come up with. That makes it worth the $50! It takes 30 seconds to put on and will light a fire under your ass. While other timing systems can cost hundreds of dollars and are near impossible to get here in Canada, DMC can have the Moto Timer to you in a few days and you'll be ready to rip.
DMC homepage for more info!
KMC X9SL chain
When looking for a new chain for a test bike I happened to spot KMC's flashy gold X9SL. Like a crow attracted to anything shiny I quickly decided to abandon my time proven German made chain and scoop up the KMC job. For such an important piece of the puzzle most people don't know the work that goes into making a good chain run quietly and shift quickly. A load of work goes into shaping both the inner and outer plates into something far from just a flat piece of steel, the end product having chamfers of different degrees to both the inside and outside of the plates. Certain chains get material removed from plates and are even held together with hollow steel pins in an effort to drop a few grams. Don't even get me started on inside and outside dimensions.... All this brings me back around to the KMC X9SL chain.
KMC X9SL
The X9SL sports all of the features mentioned above and then finishes it off with a snappy gold finish. Depending on who you ask the X9SL weighs in at 20-40 grams less than a XT level chain from Shimano. Like most 9 speed chains it comes equipped with a reusable quick link called the Missing Link, although it stands out a bit as it's not done in matching gold (could be a good thing depending on how you look at it). I used the chain with a SRAM PG990 cassette and Truvativ rings and shifting was top notch, as good as any high end chain I've used in the past. It also seemed to run very very smooth and nearly silent, noticeably quieter than some other chains I've used. Unfortunately I never got a chance to see how it wore in the long run as I had to take it off my bike. Prior to the X9SL, I honestly couldn't tell you when I last broke a chain, which is why I was so surprised to separate the KMC chain four times within two months of use. A few failures were shifting and the pick-ups or ring basically separated the outer plate from its pin. The other two were a bit more mysterious as by the time I stopped both outer plates and pins at the suspect area were long gone. Each failure was at a different point in the chain which I knew by fixing the chain each time with a standard piece of silver chain. Speaking of silver chain, that is the color the X9SL quickly turned, loosing it's gold finish within a month of use. Call me a quiter, but I gave up on the KMC X9SL.
The best place for my KMC chain? I think so!
Go to kmcchain.com for more info and to see other models!
Five Ten Impact
There are loads of shoes out there now that use some sort of soft and sticky rubber sole, but Five Ten were the first to bring the gooey stuff from climbing shoes to bicycle boots. For the large majority of my riding "career" I've just used the cheapest flat bottom skate shoes I could find. After some serious ankle damage I was forced to don an ankle brace and eventually a high top shoe for even more protection. Enter Five Ten and the Impact.
Five Ten Impact high tops
This is one serious shoe. It is high enough to cover both the inside and outside ankle bone with stiff protective material. There is no plastic insert in this area as in some other shoes but it is probably more comfortable because of that very reason. Nearly every seam is double stitched and there are two layers of material is some high wear areas. The Impact is obviously a lace only job, no gimp-shoe Velcro to be found on these kicks. The laces themselves look to be able to be used as climbing rope and there was even a spare set in the box. There is some extra stiff material around the toe box which creates a stiffer and more protective area for your toes, anyone who has broken toes will really appreciate this! One nice bit of detail is how the tongue is attached to the shoe, not at the bottom which lets it jam down inside when you put the shoe on, but actually an extension attached to the inner ankle protection. The bottom is mainly flat as you'd expect, with only the slightest rise at the arch.
Putting my best foot forward
Sizing is rather personal but the size 10.5 shoes that I picked up fit just like most other 10.5's I've worn so don't expect any unpleasant surprises. The inner soles felt just fine to me and my rather flat feet and are removable if you want to drop something else in. Before I even put shoe to pedal I quickly realized jut how much support the Impacts gave my wobbly ankles, much more than my last pair of high top shoes. While my ankle brace fits inside the shoe quite nicely I quickly discovered I didn't really need to use it much anymore with the Five Tens. So just how sticky is that Stealth rubber? A load of very inappropriate analogy's come to mind but I'll keep it clean just in case my mom is reading this. The answer is really damn sticky. I first started using the Impacts with my trusty Syncros pedals and at first it seemed a bit much. During the first few rides it felt like if I didn't plant my foot exactly where I wanted it then I had a hard time moving it to where it should be. Within a week or so that feeling went away and I have not looked back. The sense of security these shoes have given me is over the top. There is zero shifting or lost pedals due to slipping and fumbling. I've since ridden with a number of less aggressive and more traditional pedals and the story is the same: nothing but sure footed confidence.
The sticky stuff!
They seem to be pretty stout and are fairing relatively well for what they have been through. Some of the thick rubber on the side of the shoes has been chunked off, probably on something rather sharp! There are one or two spots where even the double stitching has pulled through where the shoe hits the crankarm on its way around but its nothing too serious. Unlike most shoes I've used for riding the laces on the Impacts haven't broken yet(this was an issue with older models though)! My only real complaint is that they are rather warm on the hot days, surely a trade off for the massive amounts of protection you get from using the high tops. Don't need the extra support and protection of the tall versions? Get yourself some of the Low Impact models and be done with loosing pedals! Five Ten has some new and updated models since I've bought mine, as well as some other color schemes and more casual models.
Maybe this wouldn't have happened if I was wearing my Five Tens?
Check out Five Ten for more info!
Stay tuned for the next S.M.R. sometime between next week and next year!
-Mike "Kakah" Levy
This little bugger makes so much sense. If you look around you'll be able to find personal timers that run along the same lines as the DMC job, although none of them are quite as smoothly done as the Moto Timer. The general idea of a stopwatch/timer has been around for a long time, I can remember spotting funny buttons and wires on DH bikes back in the '90s and the idea dates back many moons ago to other timed sports. After making myself quite a number of hokey timing contraptions that ended up in the garbage I thought I'd spring for the real thing.
So why would you want a timer on your bike?
Curiosity and improvement are the reasons I strapped on one. I've been riding my local hill for well near 15 years now but had never really timed myself on any of its trails. Just like swapping to a different kind of bike can open your eyes to new things on your old trails, so can adding a timer to your bike. When you know the clock is ticking you push yourself a bit harder than you would otherwise which can turn the old trail into something entirely new! Use it to improve, use it to test out some sneaky lines without having to have your buddies watch you, use it to prove to yourself that you can eat a foot long sub in under 2 minutes.
The unit itself is about an inch in width and mounts with both a snap and Velcro between your grip and left brake lever. If you have a shifter pod on the left side of your bar you may or may not need to play around with positions a bit, although with a Juicy lever and X.0 pod there was a load of room for it to squeeze in. The Moto Timer is water proof, which proved valuable as it has seen some monsoon weather since I mounted it. There have been plenty of long highway road trips in the rain with it left on my bars and it shows no sign of sinking yet. Operation was pretty simple, but because this is actually intended for use on a motocross bike ("Moto Trainer", duh!) it is not as simple as it could be for us non-motorized users. Wake it up by pressing the button (the only button) for a quick second and press it one more time to start the timing. If you are wanting to know how long it took you to get down a certain trail then all you need to do it press it again when you want the time to stop. This is were it can get a bit confusing for the not so bright riders out there. The time you just did will flash for seven seconds so you get a chance to have a look and see that you were a lot slower than you thought, while that's happening it is actually continuing to time you as you need to press and hold the button for three seconds to fully stop the timing. This is because it goes a step beyond simple starting and stopping, it keeps track of your split times for you!
Before I tried the Moto Timer I was really excited about the split timing feature as it has a few neat uses. The first and obvious one is that you can split the trail up into as many sections as you'd like and as long as you press the button at the same spot on the trail each time you go by you can easily compare where you are getting faster and where you're getting slower. If you're hill has trails laid out one after the other you can figure out how long it takes for the entire descent, as well as each individual trail, all in one foul swoop. It fell a bit short of expectations in use though as the button doesn't really let you know that you've actually hit it with any audible beep (just a slight click) leaving me to wonder if I actually managed to hit it with my gloved finger. I'm sure adding a noise maker to it would add to the size of the Moto Timer but it sure would make it easier if you are taking advantage of the split timing feature.
Regardless of the split timer being a little finicky it is hard to beat at $50. I should rephrase that really: While it's cheaper to make a timer using a cheap watch and remote button the Moto Timer is far nicer, cleaner, and more reliable than what you can come up with. That makes it worth the $50! It takes 30 seconds to put on and will light a fire under your ass. While other timing systems can cost hundreds of dollars and are near impossible to get here in Canada, DMC can have the Moto Timer to you in a few days and you'll be ready to rip.
DMC homepage for more info!
KMC X9SL chain
When looking for a new chain for a test bike I happened to spot KMC's flashy gold X9SL. Like a crow attracted to anything shiny I quickly decided to abandon my time proven German made chain and scoop up the KMC job. For such an important piece of the puzzle most people don't know the work that goes into making a good chain run quietly and shift quickly. A load of work goes into shaping both the inner and outer plates into something far from just a flat piece of steel, the end product having chamfers of different degrees to both the inside and outside of the plates. Certain chains get material removed from plates and are even held together with hollow steel pins in an effort to drop a few grams. Don't even get me started on inside and outside dimensions.... All this brings me back around to the KMC X9SL chain.
The X9SL sports all of the features mentioned above and then finishes it off with a snappy gold finish. Depending on who you ask the X9SL weighs in at 20-40 grams less than a XT level chain from Shimano. Like most 9 speed chains it comes equipped with a reusable quick link called the Missing Link, although it stands out a bit as it's not done in matching gold (could be a good thing depending on how you look at it). I used the chain with a SRAM PG990 cassette and Truvativ rings and shifting was top notch, as good as any high end chain I've used in the past. It also seemed to run very very smooth and nearly silent, noticeably quieter than some other chains I've used. Unfortunately I never got a chance to see how it wore in the long run as I had to take it off my bike. Prior to the X9SL, I honestly couldn't tell you when I last broke a chain, which is why I was so surprised to separate the KMC chain four times within two months of use. A few failures were shifting and the pick-ups or ring basically separated the outer plate from its pin. The other two were a bit more mysterious as by the time I stopped both outer plates and pins at the suspect area were long gone. Each failure was at a different point in the chain which I knew by fixing the chain each time with a standard piece of silver chain. Speaking of silver chain, that is the color the X9SL quickly turned, loosing it's gold finish within a month of use. Call me a quiter, but I gave up on the KMC X9SL.
Go to kmcchain.com for more info and to see other models!
Five Ten Impact
There are loads of shoes out there now that use some sort of soft and sticky rubber sole, but Five Ten were the first to bring the gooey stuff from climbing shoes to bicycle boots. For the large majority of my riding "career" I've just used the cheapest flat bottom skate shoes I could find. After some serious ankle damage I was forced to don an ankle brace and eventually a high top shoe for even more protection. Enter Five Ten and the Impact.
This is one serious shoe. It is high enough to cover both the inside and outside ankle bone with stiff protective material. There is no plastic insert in this area as in some other shoes but it is probably more comfortable because of that very reason. Nearly every seam is double stitched and there are two layers of material is some high wear areas. The Impact is obviously a lace only job, no gimp-shoe Velcro to be found on these kicks. The laces themselves look to be able to be used as climbing rope and there was even a spare set in the box. There is some extra stiff material around the toe box which creates a stiffer and more protective area for your toes, anyone who has broken toes will really appreciate this! One nice bit of detail is how the tongue is attached to the shoe, not at the bottom which lets it jam down inside when you put the shoe on, but actually an extension attached to the inner ankle protection. The bottom is mainly flat as you'd expect, with only the slightest rise at the arch.
Sizing is rather personal but the size 10.5 shoes that I picked up fit just like most other 10.5's I've worn so don't expect any unpleasant surprises. The inner soles felt just fine to me and my rather flat feet and are removable if you want to drop something else in. Before I even put shoe to pedal I quickly realized jut how much support the Impacts gave my wobbly ankles, much more than my last pair of high top shoes. While my ankle brace fits inside the shoe quite nicely I quickly discovered I didn't really need to use it much anymore with the Five Tens. So just how sticky is that Stealth rubber? A load of very inappropriate analogy's come to mind but I'll keep it clean just in case my mom is reading this. The answer is really damn sticky. I first started using the Impacts with my trusty Syncros pedals and at first it seemed a bit much. During the first few rides it felt like if I didn't plant my foot exactly where I wanted it then I had a hard time moving it to where it should be. Within a week or so that feeling went away and I have not looked back. The sense of security these shoes have given me is over the top. There is zero shifting or lost pedals due to slipping and fumbling. I've since ridden with a number of less aggressive and more traditional pedals and the story is the same: nothing but sure footed confidence.
They seem to be pretty stout and are fairing relatively well for what they have been through. Some of the thick rubber on the side of the shoes has been chunked off, probably on something rather sharp! There are one or two spots where even the double stitching has pulled through where the shoe hits the crankarm on its way around but its nothing too serious. Unlike most shoes I've used for riding the laces on the Impacts haven't broken yet(this was an issue with older models though)! My only real complaint is that they are rather warm on the hot days, surely a trade off for the massive amounts of protection you get from using the high tops. Don't need the extra support and protection of the tall versions? Get yourself some of the Low Impact models and be done with loosing pedals! Five Ten has some new and updated models since I've bought mine, as well as some other color schemes and more casual models.
Check out Five Ten for more info!
Stay tuned for the next S.M.R. sometime between next week and next year!
-Mike "Kakah" Levy
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66 Comments
- + 47 props
moosh
(Nov 17, 2008 at 0:17)
(Below Threshold) show comment
Ouch!
Those moto timers are CRAP lol You can't pause the time, or even stop it or anything. They are purely for timing laps in sports like motorcross. I stole mine off a friend and gave it him bak about 14 seconds later.
I died a little inside when I scrolled down to the bottom...
With all the excitement of the boobies, the toe just killed it man!
With all the excitement of the boobies, the toe just killed it man!
[Reply]
had skate shoes but they wear down too fast like nikes.. been riding with my 5-10s for over an year now and will be riding them all next year too..
[Reply]
the 5.10 saved my feet in scotland also when i hit a rock and the grip is truly amazing although with the thick sole you loose feel.
[Reply]
I'd love to get one of those DMC timer gadgets. Yeah, forget the gold bling chain - the only chain to use is Shimano XTR. Five Ten shoes are the best by far for flat pedals.
Keep those reviews comin' Mike - great to read!
Keep those reviews comin' Mike - great to read!
[Reply]
[Reply]
http://www.mtb-direct.co.uk/cgi-bin/index.cgi?cat=CAT071106172938
Top notch customer service from Col too.
Top notch customer service from Col too.
[Reply]
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I have been riding a pair of high top 5-10s for 3 seasons and just replaced the original laces last week. Best riding shoe ever.
After shattering my foot due to shitty skate shoes, I bought 5-10's, HAnds down one of the best purchases I have ever made. If only I had them earrlier I may have avioded months of pain, and rehab.
forget the lightwieght bling,try the standard kmc X9 chain soooooo strong!! it actualy feels stronger when you snap a 4X gate! shifts as good as ANY other(if you know how set ya gears propa). i love em an i'l fight ANY one who says bad against the kmc X9 LOL
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I can feel the pain just by looking at the pic. Then I scrolled back to top to look at something to sooth my painful feeling
[Reply]
I wore the 5.10s in Schladming during the soaking wet 4X for the first time (I´m a photographer) and didnt expect THAT amount of grip on the more than wet grass on a steep hill. I was a bit staggered, to be honest. On my bike I feel much more planted and connected, overall control has grown by a noticeable margin. They fit quite nicely and I will buy them again - if they should wear out one day.
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I've been using 5 10's for years. and honestly i never expected a shoe to make such a difference. If i've ever gone riding without them i feel like i'm really putting my life in danger.
however its unfortunate to see that they've lowered their quality. The uppers used to outlast the soles bigtime. now with the new ones i see people blowing them to pieces way before the soles are done for. My rennies have been great though. i could probably replace the soles twice before the uppers are done for. But those basic not signature black ones with the smooth leather. not so good
however its unfortunate to see that they've lowered their quality. The uppers used to outlast the soles bigtime. now with the new ones i see people blowing them to pieces way before the soles are done for. My rennies have been great though. i could probably replace the soles twice before the uppers are done for. But those basic not signature black ones with the smooth leather. not so good
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That KMC chain has no right to be around her neck.
It has its place.
And that place is in a garbage can...
5.10's are the beez knees.
If you ride flats, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair.
I have been riding clipped in for Dh for the past 2 years. Tried a run on my unused Truvativ Hozlfeller pedals with my buddies 5.10's
I switched that day.
It has its place.
And that place is in a garbage can...
5.10's are the beez knees.
If you ride flats, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair.
I have been riding clipped in for Dh for the past 2 years. Tried a run on my unused Truvativ Hozlfeller pedals with my buddies 5.10's
I switched that day.
[Reply]
[Reply]
Is there a shoe out there with a plastic insert that protects the toes..like a steel toe shoe? If not I think there should be, because my toe looked like that last year and it wasn't fun...
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