I’m finicky about my Q-factor, so I’m running narrow cranks all around, including “gravel cranks” on my hardtail… But depending on your pedal system, you could simply swap to the Narrow version of the XTR pedals and get that same 6mm reduction for $140 versus $500…
I ride both, but prefer 168. My trail bike has 174 and I can deal with it for that type of riding (typically not more than a couple hours at a time and not that often). But for my XC bike, I need 168 or it bothers my knees when doing big volume (I also do road training on my XC bike, so can hit 15-20+ hours per week). The pedals with short spindles sounds like a reasonable solution for some, but I’m already someone who is rubbing my shoe/ankle on the drive side crank at times.
the -3mm XTR has the same spindle as the eggbeater unfortunately 52mm, which seems to be the shortest around most are 52, 53, 54… so seems like I’m already. running shortest available unfortunately :S
Got ya… That makes sense… I suppose its worth mentioning that it is possible to run a Force Wide crankset if you’re not opposed to the extra 70g or so over the XX crankarms. I’m using that on my Epic Hardtail, and ran one on my Epic Evo for a while as well… You can adjust your chainline via chainring offset(6mm, 3mm, 0r 0mm), although in my experience a few mm’s here or there doesn’t make a massive difference out back.
each way I go I hope so because I have 3 threaded quarq chainrings that are 3mm offset a 32, 34 and 36 
not wanting to drop another bunch of money on more chainrings to run t-type at 55mm vs 52mm
I just went through a bunch of back and forth on chainring offsets for my new bike. I’m running the XXSL 168 Q factor crank with zero offset rings to give a 55mm chainline. But in my research, I found several folks who are running transmission with a 52mm chainline and it is supported by SRAM (so I assume it would work fine with the 3mm offset rings).
Just ordered my upgrade kit - excited for it! Would have liked to have it at Nationals over the weekend.
Anyone in the 140 lb range riding 2.4’s want to share their tire pressure? Most online calculators put me in the mid 20’s PSI, I’ve been running 20/21, but reading this thread there are much heavier riders than me running high teens/low 20s!!
That seems very high. I’m 150lbs running 19/20 on 2.35. Just experiment with tire pressure and see what works for you
check out the Silca tire pressure. I’m 160 and run 15/16 (with inserts)
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I‘m in Switzerland ordered from r2
which makes me wonder, since Silca doesn’t call out inserts to they even factor into their calculations?
Probably not. Most of the XC inserts aren’t doing anything (much?) to change Rolling Resistance or sidewall support that would change the characteristic of the tire. Really just there for pinch flat protection which allows you do run the pressures that give you the best traction / RR.
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Ok thanks, I didn’t realize the silca calculator worked on MTB, this gives me 12.5/13.5. Seems like I’ve got quite a bit of room to experiment downward.
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I’m in the US was promissed the shock this month but fork only in July
Riding both the Epic WC and the Epic 8, I find it hard to really find a use-case for the Epic WC. it’s heavier than a HT, maybe almost as heavy as an Epic 8. And it’s twitchier. Maybe the Epic WC is truly made for short track and the Epic 8 is for longer stuff? Thoughts?
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Leadville 100! but are you saying same size frame with only the shock is heavier than Epic 8? Well I guess we could count the brain vs sid ultimate as well since you would run a brain fork on the WC. Next year will come with no brain according to rumors, so maybe it will get a bit lighter. Specialized says the 8 Pro is 23 and the WC Pro is 22 it’s little over 1 lbs lighter, but when you add the dropper they are basically the same weight I guess.
So is it more efficient? Does it accelerate better assuming you don’t blow to the shock and keep it as a hard tail like bike when pedaling hard?
WC just seems like a without a purpose. At least with a HT you have the weight and price benefit
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