Monday, December 01 2008, 12:00 AM
Bottomless CL Day!
Sick deals back to back all day long.
Wow. Hey, look- that just slipped out, okay? I didn't mean anything by it.
Thanks for the info, Oni.
And here for your consideration, is another rant on The BC / CL General Sizing Chart.
I'm glad I held off on those. I put some in my cart -hey, they were only $17- w/ shipping- but then I realized that I was looking at a generic size chart, again. Btw, I wish CL and BC would just stop doing that altogether- who wants that? I still don't see how a "generalized" size chart is useful in any real sense, and especially when considering a specific purchase.
MUCH LESS SO WHEN THE SIZING CHART IS NOT EVEN IDENTIFIED AS A "GENERAL" SIZE CHART BUT APPEARS WITH NO DISCLAIMER WHATSOEVER, AS IF IN FACT IT IS THE ACTUAL SIZE CHART FOR THE SPECIFIC ITEM WITH WHICH IT APPEARS, AND WITH NO DISCLAIMER WHATSOEVER... HOW IS THAT NOT MISREPRESENTATION?
When I did my own leg-work and searched Sombrio-specific sizing charts I found that Sombrio says I'm a Medium, and -best case scenario- I'm right back where i started: my experience is that I'm on the cusp of Medium / Large (in "general") and in the meantime the BC / CL "generalized" size chart did nothing if not lead me astray.
Long story short, I didn't buy 'em, the Larges sold out anyway, and I never loaded any Mediums in my cart in the first place because of BC / CL's generalized size chart. I'm glad the gloves suck. So does the chart. I'm trying to help, here.
It's not like that generalized size chart has anything to offer. I can see the value of a sizing conversion chart for quick reference, as in Mondopoint to US, and EU to UK and US. That's helpful. This isn't that, this is borderline misrepresentation with no disclaimer. Even with a disclaimer that's stupid, IMO. Why should BC / CL present anything they don't stand behind. They don't have to do that, so just don't do it.
It's not like BC / CL are going above and beyond and offering fit / sizing advice based on their own or their consumers' experience. Some (other) on-line retailers do exactly that, btw. This isn't that.
If I can go elsewhere on-line for specific brand / item sizing information provided by the manufacturer, that (to me) means that that information is readily available and BC / CL should, in their customers' best intersest, either 1.) endeavor to obtain and publish the same sizing information provided by the manufacturer (regardless of how accurate it may or may not be), 2.) provide more accurate information specific to the item / brand as they are able, OR 3.) refrain from publication of any sizing information whatsoever, considering that a "generalized" or JUST PLAIN MISLEADING(!) sizing chart presented as a reference to any specific item / brand to which it may or may not bear any relevence is a disservice to their customers and worse than no chart at all. Better to say, "Hey look, whatever- you're on your own there, good luck..." than to provide inaccurate information in reference to a specific item.
The fact is, I know it's a generalized chart, I know better than to trust it (I know well), and yet it still influenced my decision! The fact is, that when presented with that as my only reference... and against my own better judgement... okay, look- I'm not stupid.
I wasn't going to actually buy the gloves without a specific reference to those particular gloves. So I loaded a Large and an Extra Large in my cart and went hunting. Should I mention all the competing sites which readily present specific sizing information for those gloves? The point is, when I returned to CL, the Larges were sold out, the item had ended, and I hadn't left any Medium gloves in my cart in the first place (against my better judgement) because I was influenced by that stupid generalized size chart and that's all I have to say about that- no offense. Still love ya, CL. Just sayin'.
Hijo,
Bought a pair of L and XL. Didn't like the fit of either pair, the thumb wasn't comfy and they just didn't feel right. So Sombrio gloves are off my list. I usually wear an XL in fox, L in Troy Lee, L in 661...
Okay - so I bought these jerseys this morning for $20.33 each. I think this stinks. *unimpressed* It would be one thing if it was 3 weeks from now ... middle of winter ... moving stock ... but same day?? Really?
I saw some on craiglist for < $100. Female persuasion, that is!
JK :)
Nice.
I recommend you distract R, then swipe the EA90s. Use that female persuasion you're so well-known for. :)
Hey, I've got the nicest wheels I can buy for $100 on craigslist.
And... Guess what? They roll.
These Sombrio Forensic Gloves look kinda cool- but I've been passing up on them every time they come up because I'm a 21.5cm and their chart says I fall between L/XL. I typically fall between M/L... any fit/sizing advice on these?
Yeah, really there are plenty of good options as long as you keep your specs straight, and drivetrain components are no exception. The market's more or less sorted that one out and Shimano and Sram are more or less compatible to great extent... that is, until Shimano unleashes their new 10 speed mtb drivetrain- then, who knows.
If Shimano's feeling uppity and decides they could gain a market advantage over the competion, and reassert themselves as Undisputed Champion of The World, maybe all bets are off. You've got to hand it to them, they aren't afraid to innovate.
A buddy of mine at my LBS mentioned how he's running a Sram drivetrain with a shimano cassette on his 'cross bike, and says it shifts perfectly.
(Just an additional remedy if youre stuck w/ a "Shimano only" hub....)
Well... :)... let's not even get started on that wheelset you have!
The compatibility game's always a kick, regardless. Somebody's always throwing a spanner in the works- reinventing the wheel, so to speak.
I'm 'building' a new mtb presently. I should say that I'm still in the preliminary stages; getting everything down on paper before the actual festivities commence. In the current boom of innovation and redfinition the choices are vast, but it's more impportant than ever to make sure you have all your ducks in a row.
With fierce competition among component manufacturers -combined with increasing consolidation of smaller brands under larger corporate ownership umbrellas- compatibility is a very real concern. This competition is played out in a continuing turf war where new and evolving standards lead to repeated skirmishes over compatibility and viability.
The smaller manufacturers are constantly caught in between, struggling to remain viable themselves by remaining compatible with these evolving standards which seem to ebb as parity turns up the competition, and then wane as the consumer market sorts out what's what.
In the end, these smaller manufacturers (apart from those few iconic ones who stand apart from the crowd and yet continue to draw a crowd of their own) are gobbled up by the Big Fish and integrated into a particular standard themselves.
The monolithic manufacturers are hardly content to sell you a component or two these days. They want to build your whole bike for you. Much like the Ski Industry (really, any industry), they're hoping that once you've invested in their particular standard many of your other choices will already be made for you. The leg bone's connected to the hip bone and so on. Any one particular choice tends to narrow considerably the field of available options.
All in good fun, I guess.
Oh, I don't have the easton ea90 wheelset :)
I'm just curious for R.
Sounds like you may have hit a minor speed bump there Cat, but it's not the end of the world- I think the part you need is @ $75 from Easton, so you still got a nice deal on a nice wheelset (no worries there).
And... this is a great opportunity to investigate Easton's Customer Service! It sounds like jmnewton's experience has been positive so far, so let's see how they are for consistency. Be sure to report back, I'm sure many of us will be interested to hear your results...
Most hubs nowadays are reconfigurable/ adptable. You'll just have to swap-out a part. Parts is parts...
Isn't the freehub body on most wheels/hubs replaceable anyhow? I mean it will cost you a few bux but it's not like your whole hub is trashed. Seems like it's blown out of proportion, especially since the gears that put the most torque on the hub (granny gears) are usually integrated into the carrier AND made of aluminum to save weight right? The smaller tooth gears see far less torque although they are usually made from steel for longevity.
Is now machined out of a solid piece of aluminum. No spider at all. No individual cogs.
Yep - it's a disclaimer. It's been a problem with Chris King hubs for years.
In the good 'ol Dura Ace 9 speed days, the freehub body was titanium.
I purchased a set from Chainlove. They come with a red hub that is Shimano 10 speed compatible and does not work with Sram cassettes (shimano 9/10 compatible)
I have a sram cassette I want to use so I called Easton and they are sending me the black hub that appears to be easy to swap out. As long as the red hub is unused and I return it within 2 weeks, there is no charge.
I am not expert in these matters, but this is my understanding. I don't have the black hubs yet (and I think the lady on the phone referred to them as cassette bodies and not hubs).
OK, now you got me thinking. I don't read instructions to often. But the SRAM OG-1090 doesn't have a aluminum carrier and I believe the OG-1070 does not either. I am guessing easton is suggesting you don't put steel cassettes/cog directly on the aluminum hub because the steel will wear hard on the hub.
I do know they work fine but somehow if you hub gets wore out Easton will be like "too bad", you used a steel cassette.
I'm fairly certain all the late model Shimano and Sram cassette carrier bodies are alloy, though, and you're EA90 freehub body definitely is.
A (harder) non-alloy carrier is likely to gouge or otherwise damage a (softer) alloy freehub.
Shimano invented a new standard with their DA HG10 (10 speed only) spec. Intended to lengthen the lifespan of aluminum freehub bodies, but a tough sell from a compatability standpoint. Welcome to the machine.
Minor details they should mention to people when selling these wheels
Sram is compatable with Shimano 9/10 speed hubs. It won't fit the Shimano 10 speed only hubs.