Downgrade

It's like the chaotic ending of 2024 never happened.  Work has slowed down dramatically.  The feeling of being underwater has been replaced by the strange warm teddy bear hug of not always being in a hurry to be in a hurry.

Can't remember the last time I took a FedEx tube anywhere.  Guess I'm still useful for something.

My biggest "gift" to myself over the "holidays" is usually limited to cleaning gutters and mulching leaves... and drinking beer and staring out my living room window at the darkness.

I'm starting to think I'm getting too old to climb around on top of my house.  If I could be a Creed distance from falling to my death, I'd probably be okay, but six inches ≠ six feet.  I didn't get it done in my normal holiday timeline because I spent some of the moments I expected to be on my roof out in the woods scratching at the earth with tools instead.

Of note, Santana did the heavy work on this while I stood by and applauded his efforts.  I've now spent an equal amount of days working on trails as I have riding trails in 2025.  The same exact trails.  My world is too small right now.  Also of note, I've spent more hours working on trails than riding them so far in 2025.  Dammit.

So, I ended up being sore from gargoyling my way around the roof and swinging tools towards the earth and at various vegetations that were in my way.  All the while, I wanted to be doing this (but not really):

Not "this" necessarily, but this was part of it.

I bought a new (to me) used set of XTR 9020 brakes to replace the 9120 brakes that were on the Optimus Meatplow V.10.  Why go backwards?

Is it because I just love hassle?

No.

As stupid as it sounds, I want my three almost redundant single speeds to be as similar as possible (thus increasing redundancy).  ESI grips, 780mm bars, Ergon saddles, TruckerCo organic semi-metallic pads, 32 tooth chain rings, Industry Nine crabon wheels that are wide but not too wide, XTR pedals, XTR brakes...

I'd found the 9120 brakes used on some marketplace at a screaming deal and went for it back when I first got the Epic EVO.  That part of me that was stoked on having the same pads on hand for all the bikes was defeated by the part of me that wanted something shiny and new for my pretty squishy bike.  I ended up creating a list of problems that could not be defeated by the ownership of something "updated" and supposedly "better."

Due to the two contact points on the bars, I couldn't get my PNW drooper lever in the same spot as the other two bikes.  Same goes for my Spurcycle bell.  Probably more importantly, they just didn't have the same brake feel as the other bikes set up with 9020s. 

Oh, and this is a big deal (to me).  The newer 9120s did away with the, for lack of a better term, "fragile" carbon lever.  I enjoyed this breakaway feature twice, and it's no buenos.  They started using aluminum lever blades on the latest/greatest, and I probably woulda never noticed until I went on a 20° ride with the 9120s.  I could feel the metal lever pulling heat from my tiny old man braking fingers, and it hurted something wicked.  North Carolina is an all-season riding state, and I don't wanna pick which redundant single speed to ride based on temps and lever material.

So I bought a set of used 9020s at a price that hurt a little bit, but much less than buying two new sets of 9120s.  

I wish I coulda found some NOS brakes instead of buying used.  This was my first not-so-great experience buying used brakes.  Mebbe I shoulda asked more questions.  Mebbe I coulda requested more pictures.  The two pad axles (pins?) were mismatched and too short to use the snap retainer (they were from road brakes).  The hydro lines had some major kinks in them, but I do have a way to sort that out:
  

Patience and time... like watching grass grow... except I don't have to mow it eventually.

Two trips to the shop later...

One trip on my way home to pick through drawers to find barbs and olives.  A second trip the next morning after I saw the brakes when I got home and noticed the shite pad axles.  I took the time to push the pistons out one by one and Q-tip them with alcohol vigorously.  Pitched the Shimano pads, replaced them with TruckereCo, and gave them a VERY thorough bleed.  Took my time getting them mounted up and trimmed just so, and what do you know?

I like all my children the same.  Again.

So obvs, I'll be selling a set of very nice, current model XTR brakes... that I was tempted to steal the pad axles from, but didn't.  That have a fresh bleed.  That have five extra pairs of still-in-the-packaging TruckerCo pads.  That are relatively kink-free.  That I would take close up pictures of before posting up.  That have been blessed by The Pope.  That are the best looking brake ever... according to my dog.

Clean rooting.

Now, to lose seven pounds and gain three months worth of fitness in the one and a half weeks before the Winter Shart Tarck Series starts.  It's definitely not enough time to grow an ironic single speed mustache... especially after I accidentally shaved off five day's worth of growth Monday night (dammit).

Best laid plans and all...

So looking forward to that moment at 11:29AM on January 19th, 2025 when I will assuredly think to myself, "what the hell am I even doing out here?"