Lapierre Pro Race 300 XC – This year (2009) the training is going quite well, so I decided to buy a hard tail to play with, hoping it will be more fun or rather different than my Rocky Mountain full suspension especially when just biking to work, which is half road half off-road so no real need for a full suspension bike.
So I went out and bought this
I have already changed some of the components, adding a Race Face Deus stem, Race Face Next 630mm XC carbon handlebars, added Time Atac carbon pedals, front tire and back tyres are now Hutchinson Pythons as it dry weather here. I have changed the brakes and shifters to Shimano Dual Control XT
First ride this morning
Same route as usual to work, wow does this bike fly. Nine minutess less than my usual time … need to see if its just me with a new bike or what … the bike seems more “nippier”, the XT 2009 dual controls are really nice, but not as good or as smooth as the XTR version, but are still far better than the standard push pull shifters.
I also noticed that it pulls away quicker than when I’m riding the Rocky. This is a great bike, different from the full sus Rocky, it handles just nice 🙂
I had to change the seat stem as the original one is only 350mm long and kept slipping down the frame even when bolted tight, went to a 400mm long and the problem went away.
Sensations
Sensations are different than the Rocky Element, when I hit a hole with this one I feel it (hope that my back holds out …). its seems more agile and of course it’s lighter, 11.3 kilos with pedals, size 46cm (18 inches), I am 5.8 metres tall and the size 46 is exactly the same size as my Rocky 18″ the geometry of both bikes is almost exactly the same
I love it, it’s fast and fun, it’s different to the Rocky Mountain, well under half the price. For the long rides I prefer the Rocky because the suspension helps, but sometime I now debate which bike to take out …….. 🙂
Frame : Alloy 7005 SL formed flex design
Forks : Fox 32 FRL 100mm
Front Derailleur : Shimano SLX, Rear : Shimano XT inversé
Bottom Bracket & Chainset : Shimano XT
Headset : Ahead set 1.1 / 8 semi-integrated cartridge
Stem : Race Face Deus 100mm XC, Handlebars : Race Face Next XC carbon now changed to Race Face low risers carbon
Seatpost : Woodman 400mm long, broken changed to a Raceface Deus XC 400mm
Front & Back Brake + shifters : Dual control XT
Wheels : Shimano XT Wheelset 2009
Tyres front & back : Hutchinson Python 2.0 Tubeless
Saddle : Italia SLR
Pedals : Time Atac carbon
Weight : 11.3 Kilos
I’ve not really tried to get it lighter, preferring quality components over weight, but I might see what I can change (again) in the coming months.
Fitted with XT wheels and Race Face stem and handle bars,, XT dual control shifter/brakes and XT inversé derailleur
Update July 2009
The Lapierre is good, fast, fun, nippy, handles really well. I do like it. I am quicker on the Rocky in downhill and on technical uphills, the suspension helps, or is it in my head. This is a nice bike, I thoroughly recommend it
Have just ordered some Maxxis Crossmark 26×2.10 Tubeless or the front and Maxxis Larsen TT 26×2.10 tubeless for the rear, the Larsen I like I have it already on my Rocky. The Crossmark seems rather good so I’ll give it a try and again if I like it will also go on the Rocky. update : Finally I don’t like the Crossmarks. So changed for a Ignitor as the front tyre.
Just changed the seat post as the Woodman’s started to fall apart on me. Have added my favourite seat post of all time, a Raceface Deus XC
Have changed the handlebars to carbon low raiser from Raceface (I like Raceface stuff …) These are nice, slightly lower than the previous bars. The bike looks a little more “racey” and the position is better. Will have to fit them to the Rocky to try them out.
As it now winter the front tyre is now a Maxxis Ignitor and the back is Maxxis Larsen (winter or summer these are fine tyres)
Some don’t like the blue colour as it rather flashy but I do. This weekend a friend tried it out as he was moaning about his Zesty being not really what he needs for where we live. He was so pleased with it that two days later went out and bought one 🙂
The Race 300 has done me all winter; this was a bad winter and so the hard tail was just perfect. Far easier to maintain than the Rocky.
XTR
Now spring is at last starting to show it’s head (2010) so time for some changes, XTR : dual control brakes, 11-32 cassette and back dérailleur have been ordered. Front dérailleur will be order in a week or when in stock
Added last night the back brake XTR, cable was to long so cut / bleed / purge but all is well, it is so much better that the XT, far smoother, now just waiting for the front derailler to arrive so that I can change the front brake. Pedalier XTR is now fitted
All done, except the wheels all is a full XTR setup, bike now weighing in at 11 kilos
Latest modif, have just added a Chris King head set. These are the best that money can buy, have had them on all my bikes. They never break or need adjusting and are so nice. I added a silver coloured version, goes nicely with the blue frame
Update : Back wheel XT M775
Re greasing a XTM775 wheel
The axle of this wheel was getting noisy and I wanted to re grease it, normally with Shimano wheels there is a 17mm nut at each end, you just undo one of these and basically slide the axle out from the other end. With this wheel only one nut can be accessed (#3 on the Shimano PDF)
What you have to do is block the (Left Hand Lock Nut (M14) with a 17mm cone spanner (see #6 on the PDF, it’s the one nearest next to #11 seal ring) then with a locking pliers or a similar tool un screw the round piece (Cone (M14) w/Dust Cover) do this gently so not to damage the round shiny surface, this rounded piece you can then unscrew completely by hand, be careful there is a thin washer between the two #6 pieces that is not shown on the PDF) then the black nut and you can then slide the axle out from the cassette side,
Be careful that you do not drop and loose the bearings (#4) that are on the cassette side, 13 in all, let them drop onto a sheet or rag on the floor or table, so that you can clean them and where they were, the bearings on the non cassette side are in a race (#5), these will not drop out. clean everything as best you can and re grease all.
I’ve sold my Lapierre
Update : I have just bought a Van Nicholas Tuareg Titanium Hardtail
https://www.minty95.com/ymhf