MBS Bearings

MBS Kingpin Bearings [Left], MBS Wheel Bearings [Right]

A post that reveals how infrequently I clean my board, and a weird manufacturing decision by MBS.

I recently decided to change my wheel bearings. A couple of them were showing signs of rust and I hadn't touched them for approximately 2 and a half years. They are relatively cheap to buy and having shopped around, found that they are cheaper to buy straight from a mountain board shop, ATBSports for example (£10, £0 p&p), than to buy from a dedicated bearing shop (£2.50 each +p&p, and remember 8 are required, two per wheel).

Generally, half of the bearings were in reasonable condition with no signs of rust and still suitably lubed, whilst the other half had seen better days but I'll keep hold of and maybe clean/lube if I get a spare day.

I popped in the new ones with the intention of using the old, but good ones to replace the less than great kingpin bearings. These up till now had been slowly deteriorating but if they ever failed, I reasoned that this would be much less of an issue than if a wheel bearing seized up on me.

It was this point that it became obvious that there was a problem - although similar, the wheel bearing are actually approximatley 2mm bigger than the kingpin bearings and will therefore not fit in the Matrix Top Hanger and with a larger diameter core so that the kingpin would wobble if fitted.

Kingpin bearings to fit the MBS Matrix Top Hanger can be bought (ATBSports for example, £10 for 4) but check the sizes just in case!

Point of this is, I don't know why MBS chose to use two similar but not interchangeable bearings, so if you are thinking of stripping down the MBS Matrix Top Hanger, make sure you have the correct bearings before you do!

Edit: Edited for accuracy

Mountainboarding Wiki

News taken from ATBSports forums user Dunstan:

link

Searching for mountainboarding through wikipedia now links to a much better page than before detailing the history of the sport and a good detail about the diversity and range of activites going on around the globe. Link below:

link

Egg Shocks verses Trampa Dampas

MBS Egg Shocks (Left) and Trampa Dampas (Right)

MBS Egg Shocks

From the website:

The MBS Eggshocks are the small plastic/rubber dampers that fit inside the springs on the board to dampen vibrations such as speed wobble. They do wear over time and are worth replacing after about a year of use. Also heavier riders or riders wanting higher speeds would be worth upgrading to stiffer shocks.

Yellow Eggshocks - Medium - set of 4 - Intended to add stability.
             For a stiffer ride than springs alone - Yellow for a GS feel. (GS??)
Orange Eggshocks - Hard - set of 4 - Intended to add stability.
             For a super-stiff ride - Orange for downhill and Big Air.
Red Eggshocks - Hard - set of 4 - Intended to add stability.
             For a super-stiff ride - RED for Speed and Big Air.

£10 per pack of 4 + p&p from ATBSports here!

Trampa Dampas

From the website:

The Trampa Dampa is a specifically designed elastomer which due to its special shape fits perfectly into the cap of most spring designed or Channel / Matrix truck.

The design incorporates 3 Balls which are stacked ontop of each other, sligtly larger in overall length and width than any other Egg shaped elastomer, the result gives a more progressive compression allowing confident high speed steering for the rider

Yellow 65shore Medium
Green >75 shore Hard
Blue 85 shore Super stiff

£10 each (pack of 4) + p&p from Trampa here!

Edit: Noticed that Red (80 shore) and White (90 shore) are now available

Definition of 'shore' here

Comparison

My original board came equip with yellow (medium) egg shocks. I was advised by Nathan of Team BAD (Bristol and District group) to upgrade to Trampa Dampas of which I bought a set of yellow (mediums). To prevent speed wobbles, I then changed to a set of green (hard) Trampa Dampas.

Trampa Dampas have the advantage of being longer than egg shocks that result in less cranking down of the springs required before damping starts when turning. This in turn puts less stress on the springs so I guess in theory the springs should last longer.  I imagine (though cannot back it up) that given the length of the dampas, there is less chance of them popping out accidentally.  I cannot understand why MBS made their egg shocks require so much cranking in order to become effective?  In reality, it takes me less time to set up and get riding much quicker.

For me the green Trampa Dampas run great in all types of mountain board disciplines, except for freestyle and big air in which I am openly rubbish.  I reckon its been a couple of years since original instillation and they still look absolutely fine, if a little grubby.

It should be noted that I weigh around 13-14 stone at present and lighter / heavier riders and riding style will have an effect on what damping system (if indeed used at all) is preferred.

Tamwoth Snowdome

Tamworth Snowdome deserves a blog entry now that I have visited it a couple of times now.

http://www.snowdome.co.uk/

My first experience of snowboarding was here and after visiting a handful of centres, remains my favourite.

They offer a 'Learn to Snowboard in a day' for £85 off peak which includes all kit hire, lunch (tasty!) and various teas and coffees. All thats needed to take is gloves, waterproof(ish) clothing and a sense of balance. The morning consisted of strapping in, controlled sliding down the hill toe and heel side and a couple of turns. Afternoon consisted putting it together towards linked turns with those who were comfortable allowed to take it from the top. Very knackering, but cheeper (I think) and quicker than buying the lessons seperately.

The main slope (smaller practice slope available but not seen) is approximatley 170 metres in length, ~ 20 metres wide and covered in snow. How the snow is laid, I do not know...
A continuous rope loop is used to pull people half way up the left hand side, or there is a very handy escilator up the right hand side that goes right to the top. From the top, the slope goes down approximatley 30 metres before turning 90 degrees to the left before going straight to the bottom. Round the corner it is steeper and quicker the closer to the apex you are.

Visiting last Friday we got 3 hours on the slope for £25 including all kit hire and tea/biscuits afterwards, which isn't bad I reccon.

Also to note is that Friday and Saturday nights are the freestyle/slope style nights which I hear are excellent and sounds like could be worth a visit.

One thing to note is that the lockers take 20p 's though these are non refundable, so check you have enerything before locking up!