Whoever says you can’t get rad on a 29er hasn’t told that to Steven Bafus, one of the four people behind Merican Radness. When he’s not killing it on his true jump bike, the Deity Cryptkeeper, Steven also has this Giant Trance X 29er that caught our attention due its unique set up that allows you to pull Nac Nacs on the Sea Otter DH course. Well, if you have the skills of Bafus of course.
Jump past the break to see how Bafus mounted up those Deity Vendetta Cranks to a press fit mountain frame..
This definitely falls into the category of don’t-try-this-at-home-unless-you’re-ok-with-voiding-your-warranty, but for Steven it worked out perfectly. After spotting the fact that the press fit shell on the Giant was almost exactly the same diameter as a BMX mid bottom bracket, Steven was able to press the bearings directly into the frame using the plastic shell from the press fit BB as an internal bearing spacer. The cranks spun a little tightly, but he mentioned he hadn’t ridden on it much, and for tricks where your feet leave the pedals it’s actually beneficial.
Bafus also runs the Clutch clamp on ISCG adapter they sell for Giant frames. The adapter basically just clamps around the shell providing ISCG mounting tabs to run whatever guide you prefer.
Due to his home in the Pacific Northwest, Steven runs a “custom” mud guard on his X Fusion Hilo dropper post to keep crud out of the mechanism.
Obscured by the number plate is a super short deity stem and wide bars. Of Course, Bafus has his Contour mounted up to the X Fusion Trace to capture the footage on the DH.
