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Tempted to the dark side - GT Ultrabox 2!

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Mikku:
Purchase made! Actually, make that purchases! :daumenhoch:

Mikku:
The Crupi BB finally arrived from the States last week (can you believe it took over a month to get here!!), so I was finally able to fit the DXR cranks. Not without some issues but I eventually got them on. And very nice they look too! The silver finish changes the look of the bike quite a bit but I like 'em, which is good because they're quite a bit heavier than the Rotors they're replacing. Heavier by some 400g, if my old scales are anything to go by! However, putting them side-by-side clearly highlights the difference, with the Shimano arms much chunkier and I'm guessing, stronger with it. Plus, more importantly, the chainline is now a lot straighter than before. :daumenhoch:

So how does it ride? Well, I'm pleased to say that I finally have a smooth drivetrain. Whether it's the new BB or the straighter chainline, or a combination of both (I suspect the latter), pedalling's now a much nicer experience! It's also weird looking down at those chunky silver crank arms and black BB.

Some people may not like the oil slick chainring bolts but I didn't think the black ones I had on there would go well with the Renthal ring. Plus I've been wanting something with an oil slick finish for a while now, and these popped up at the right time and price. Actually, that's been the story of the bike as a whole. Apart from the parts I moved over from my other bikes (the Answer forks, Renthal ring and DMR pedals), I've picked everything else up online and usually used. Which is fine by me since, despite its sexy lines, this was never meant to be a beauty queen but a race bike. A pretty one maybe, but a bike to be ridden and raced, as it was designed for some fifteen years ago. So, almost to the year after I picked it up, I'm going to say that this bike is done. At least as far as I want to take it at the moment. If the weather holds, I plan to give the DXRs a shakedown test on Saturday in preparation for a race on Sunday.

Mikku:
Quick follow up:- gave the DXRs a good workout over the weekend including a race on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, the cranks and Crupi BB came through with flying colours. I really like how they look and feel, with no obvious downside to the extra weight. In fact the bike now feels a bit more solid than before, which is not a bad thing for a hollow, carbon fibre-framed race rig! :daumenhoch:

I've posted a longer, race report in the racing section, but here's a gate pic. 8)

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