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They Look Like Us

Jake Osborne
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They Look Like Us is the personal blog & portfolio of Jake Osborne; a Department of Conservation Ranger based on Stewart Island / Rakiura, but working for a variety of DOC teams around Southland, New Zealand. Check out some of the recent posts or take a look at my latest creative projects. You can find me more actively on Twitter or Flickr.

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From the Flickr Stream

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (American Red Squirrel)
Sialia currucoides (Mountain Bluebird)
Odocoileus hemionus (Mule Deer)
Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse)
Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse)
Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse)
Rockies
Pica hudsonia (Black Billed Magpie)
Agelaius phoeniceus (Red Wing Blackbird)

From the Twitter Machine

  • Jake Osborne
    Last week was the perfect time for a little winter trip over the Kepler Track - no crowds, just the right amount of… https://t.co/tMpqvc6KXP
    Jun 24, 2019, 5:58 PM
  • Jake Osborne
    RT @dznz: I've recently become obsessed by GLOBUG. I think they've been complicit in a terrible cruelty from the public for years. A thread.
    Jun 10, 2019, 10:35 PM
  • Jake Osborne
    RT @sarahhbickerton: Hey New Zealanders ... please take 30 seconds and add your name to the petition to have abortion in NZ removed from… https://t.co/TVmuXlXbFA
    May 20, 2019, 10:32 PM
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Bike Check: Mouse

July 02, 2017 in Hobbies

I bought this bike to replace "Lester", my 140mm trailbike (a 2010 Specialised Stumpjumper FSR Comp). The name is that of my grandfather Bruce Hatfield's trail riding horse, Mouse. I originally considered a Cannondale Habit SE, due to my love of the Lefty front suspension platform, but it would have been much more expensive; and already out of date in terms of componentry standards. This bike ticked all the right boxes at the right time: it was a good price for the spec, had modern geometry, up to date standards of axle and shock sizes, and looked like a heck of a lot of fun. The only downsides I could see were the Shimano Deore brakes, and the PressFit Bottom Bracket. I was going to give it the Lefty treatment, but decided not to after I heard Cannondale were to discontinue the long-travel Lefty fork soon, and after feeling how good the RockShox Pike really is.

The suspension was simple to set-up out of the box; and the recommended settings for my weight have been perfect. I haven't felt the need to change any of them, except to go a little softer in the rear as I'm not a particularly aggressive rider. The bike gets airborne with little effort and is a blast to ride; staying on line exactly where you put it. The stiffness of the frame and fork is unreal compared to the last bike, and the novel 'Knockblock' stem is barely noticeable. It's a very small price to pay as the stem and bars are fine although I may cut the bars down to 760mm. 

I do dislike the PressFit BB; it began creaking on the first ride. After it's free service the creak went away for a few rides, but is now back albeit only when there's a bit of horizontal load as well, when I'm pedalling squares for instance. I'll look to sort that with a thread-in BB eventually. 

The brakes that came on the bike, Shimano Deore BR-M447 + BL-M506, never inspired confidence. After a couple months I replaced them with SRAM Guide RSC brakes and upped the front rotor to 200mm; which is closer to what the bike should've been specced with in the first place. I see the 2018 version now has Guide R brakes specced, and GX 1x12, which makes me a little jealous. I've always preferred the the feel of SRAM/Avid brakes and these just plain stop you faster as well. Swapping the brakes out really also highlighted how painful internal routing can be. I'd really like to see a 'tubes in tubes' type system for alloy bikes.

Parts List
Frame:
2017 Trek Remedy 8 Alloy, 150mm travel, fully-floating shock, Boost 148 rear axle, PF92 BB. Mino-link in the 'high' position.
Shock:
RockShox Deluxe RT3, RE:aktiv damper, 230x57.5mm
Fork:
RockShox Pike RC 150mm, Boost 110mm
Headset:
Bontrager 'Knockblock' integrated, Tapered, Sealed cartridge bearing
Handlebar:
Bontrager Line 35, 27.5mm rise, 780mm width
Stem:
Bontrager Line 35, 50mm, 0 degree rise, Knock Block
Grips:
Ergon GE1 Slim
Brake Levers:
SRAM Guide RSC
Brake Calipers:
SRAM Guide RSC
Brake Rotors:
SRAM Centerline, 200mm F, 180mm R
Shifter:
SRAM GX 11-speed
Rear Derailleur:
SRAM GX
Cranks:
SRAM GX 1000
Chainring:
SRAM GX, 32T X-Sync sprocket
Bottom Bracket:
Truvativ PF92
Chain:
SRAM PC 1130
Cassette / Rear Cog:
SRAM XG-1150, 10-42, 11-speed
Pedals:
Shimano PD-M8020 XT Trail
Rims:
Bontrager Duster Elite Alloy, Tubeless Ready
Front Hub:
Bontrager Duster Elite, Boost 110
Rear Hub:
Bontrager Duster Elite, Boost 148
Front Tire:
Bontrager XR4 Expert, Tubeless, 27.5 x 2.40"
Rear Tire:
Bontrager XR4 Expert, Tubeless, 27.5 x 2.40"
Saddle:
Bontrager Evoke 2, chromoly rails
Seatpost:
KS eThirty Integra, 2-bolt head, 31.6mm, zero offset, internal routing
Seatpost Clamp:
Bontrager
Total weight: 14.1kg / 31.0lbs
Tags: Bike
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Disclaimer

I am a New Zealand Department of Conservation Ranger, member of the Green Party of New Zealand, off-road bike enthusiast, photographer, and whisky drinker. Thoughts expressed here are entirely my own; and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer, political party, mechanic, or bartender.