don’t disagree that it has some slightly bad “engineering mouthfeel” but I’ve similarly never had issues with the Nitto stuff. Seems like one of the better solutions out there, short of getting a custom rack with fixed struts.
That said, a key feature of the Nitto hardware is that the little spacer A) cups the strut, and B) has some deep knurling on the back, meaning that when it’s all clamped up the strut is not free to rotate at all about the bolt axis, which probably really helps keep the nut from loosening:
Prooobably doesn’t matter? Like if the thing is loose enough for the hardware to be rotating in the hole a little bit as the rack bounces, the strut is probably already sliding…
ehhhhh i’ve always just used zipties or hose clamps and have never really had an issue?
ya - on at least two occasions I’ve tried to buy stuff from them, a week+ later an apologetic “uhhhhhh turns out we don’t have that in stock and don’t plan to restock this year” email + refund has shown up in my inbox, so similarly largely gave up buying directly from the Soma/Merry Sales webstore.
speaking of the RIP Rack, IMHO it has one of the more thoughtfully designed sets of mounting hardware out for this style of rack. Really like it. Someone told me they didn’t like how they legs look, but I think they’re cute.
I’ve been salty ever since Jim and crew gave me wrong specs on the stupid IRD Vortex crank I’m finally getting around to replacing 2 years later. Wrong chainline, wrong q factor, offset pedals because it’s really made for 73mm BB even though it “works” with 68mm. Seems they have discontinued it.
I tried the ‘extended GRX’ thing as described on Bikepacking (and Tarck alumni tehschott in the comments) and it didn’t work for me. The range was good, but the middle gave me inconsistent shifting in a few gears, so it was too unstable.
I have the S-Ride 11-speed derailleur that folks like Russ have tested. I’m gonna throw that on if I tour - the current GRX 11-34 is enough for how I’m riding it around here.
This has been my experience too. We’ve tried the simple “tail hook” types as well as the more refined WT b-link replacements and they all “work” OK but not nearly as well as with things set to spec. 11-36 works fine but 11-40 seems to be where things just get fussy. We’ve had some people call it “good enough” and run it though.
My buddy has been using 11-40 GRX 11 speed in 2x on both his Cheribum and Gryphon from day 1 and they have been mint. Could be they have longer than normal drop-outs. Not sure. Edit. No added THL’s. Edit, the Gryphon has an XTR 2x crank.
