Barracuda - Totally Driven!

I'm heading up to the Fat Tire Festival in NY later in June. The festival is on the 12th but were going up on the 11th, going to ride the local trails and camp, get up the next morning, ride again then hit the festival. should be fun I've never gone to it before. Anyone else?

I wish I had the time to do this sort of stuff right now, but with 3 small kids it's difficult. I hope you'll be riding a Barracuda and showing it proudly! Please consider posting some pictures after you get back!

Best,
Mark

I have nevrbeen to New York, but sounds like fun..

I've never been to one either Mix but I'm looking forward to it. Unfortuneatley I wont have my cuda with me, the A2E is still under construction as you can see in the restoration forum. since those pics I did add a 9spd HG50 Cassette and a chain, still need a seat, front disc brake and some cables to hook up those deraileurs. I'll be bringing the 08 stumpjumper that I picked up when my A2M cracked. Will have my tool box with the cuda frame decal on it though!

Did you have to spread the frame to get the 9 speed into it?

Mix-

Whether you intended it to or not... that just sounds dirty!

I know, I know, that speaks volumes about me but...

Ha, you guys crack me up. No Mix, I it went right on. I think they just use smaller spacing between the rings. After riding my cuda for years with 8 then getting the stump jumper with 9 I noticed a difference on the climbs so I don't want to go back to 8. I don't enjoy uphills at all so the 9 speed 11-34 cassette is much nicer.

Shimano was great for the consumer when they made that gearing progression, knowing how people love to upgrade... they kept the gear cluster spacing the same... you can run a 7, 8, or 9 speed cassette on any "Shimano hub body" wheel. To make the jump from 8 to 9 speed, you only need the narrower 9 speed chain and the 9 speed cassette. However, this is where they made their dough, for 9 speed you also need that 9 speed shifter and the majority of Shimano's OEM parts on new bikes were for 8 speed shifter/brakes pods. So many people made that jump from 7 to 8 speed (still running the same size chain) affordably but few made that jump from 8 to 9 speed affordably. Clever bastards! Plus, they knew most would upgrade since they were already buying new parts... Deore and LX riders jumped up to XT, some XT folks opted for XTR but that price point was a serious dig (just like today)!

I'm a huge fan of the 7 speed XT pods and 8 speed XTR, both have proven to have long faithful lives on my builds. I love the stuff, I use it on most of my builds