whatever you do make sure that you buy a bike with quality components. i wouldn't really recommend going any lower than XT if you are planning to do some real trail riding. different frame manufactuers have different features/geomerty but you can get the same perfromance out of a lesser known brand in comparisson to a Specialized, Rocky Mountain etc... just when looking at the lesser known makes make sure to examine the welds and tubing, and make sure you get a bike that is the right fit. i think most importantly is that you avoid large coprorations and try to get your bike at a smaller shop. at a smaller shop you will most likely deal with a person who is a bike rider as well and will be able to set you up properly. smaller stores from my experience have been more flexible with their prices.

 

i just snagged this last week in advance of the 24hours Summer Solstice this past weekend.

I already changed the cranks out for XT ones, and added a pair of EggBeaters.

it was great for the race, so much faster than my Enduro would have been.



next up is a Manitou Skareb fork with SPV valving.

 

Nice dude. What fork did it come with?

 

damn astro...the stumpjumper was what i've been looking to pick up next. nice choice.

 

Rock Shox Duke XC.

 

Have you guys heard of Jamis? I know a guy that works at a shop and that's what they sell. He already hooked my mom up with a bike.

 

Jamis makes very good bikes. I have a few friends that ride them and love them.

 

Anyone ride WTB?

 

I wasn't aware WTB made bikes...

I tried riding today at 1pm, it was 110 degrees. Didn't work out so well.

 

You're right. I dont even know what the hell I was thinking...let me try this again

Does anyone have an opinion on WTB products?

 

I've got some WTB tires here, but i've not used em yet

 

WTB (Wilderness Trail Bikes) makes some good products. I've had some WTB Velociraptor tires on my rockey mountain and they were great. I also have a WTB Ti/Kevlar saddle and again its great quality.

 

what other kind of tires are you guys running? I need new ones cause the ones that came with my bike just aren't cutting it. I was looking at some panaracers, the dart and smoke. But wtb seems to have some pretty good treads. any suggestions??

 

What type of ground are you riding on?
Hardpack, sand, loam, rocks...?

It makes a differance. I am runnign Specialized S-works for the summer and some Kenda tires for the winter.

 

I have some specialized kevlar things...fantastic tires, but a little heavy if you don't need the thorn protection.

 

Mostly techy roots and rocks. wet 40% of the time. The tires that came on my fsr are down hill things that seem to get shit traction on the trails if thier not dry. I want a good all around tire. Something that clears mud. I was looking at the panaracer some and dart combo, or the wtb weirwolf. I like the wtb because they still come in 2.3. The pana's are 2.1 or 1.95. There's so many it's impossible to make a decision....

 

i like Tioga and Bontrager. i've had a few sets and have been really happy with them. depends on what you're riding on so buy a whole bunch

 

Buy some Nanoraptors, best tires ever!

 

WTB or Specialized S-Works for that terrain

 

I have a Raleigh M50 that's close to 10yrs old. Last tune-up was 2 years ago and lately its been jumping gears (rear). Whenever its on 5 it'll drop to 4 then back to 5. It does this regardless of the gearing up front.

Any idea if its worth taking to the bike shop? Anything I can adjust myself?

 

try turning the barrel adjuster at the back of your rear derailleur a half turn in each direction to figure out which way you need to go. Once that's determined, just fiddle with it until your gears work properly

 

I'm going to go look at bikes this weekend. I'm new to mountain biking, but there are so many places to go in NorCal, I want to try it (plus my wife did it years ago and wants to get into it again).

I'm looking at the Specialized Stumpjumper - like fdl recommended.

Any recommendations on a bike rack that won't fuck up my car?

 

The only type that won't "fuck up" your car are trailer hitch models.

And there are quite a few. Thule or Yakima make very good racks but there are others.

 

OK, so I tried out a Stumpjumper for the day today and rode it around on an "easy" trail near my place. It r0x0red. I had a lot of fun. $1,400 US isn't that bad for my first bike (I guess?) - so I think Imma buy it.

I just need to figure out the whole rack situation. The Thule trunk-mount that the bike shop lent me when they lent me the bike didn't fill my heart with confidence. I may opt for a htich on my TL.

edit: it's hot as fuck here, and I was very dehydrated when I got home. So, naturally, my first thought was to drink a beer. On my 2nd beer now and I'm almost totally hammered. what a great day.

 

if you want to know a few good trails in the north bay let me know i ride a lot out there. mt. tam is one of the best places to ride, when you get to the top you can see all of SF, the east bay, and on really clear days sacramento.

 

Actually, if you could let me know some good "beginner" trails, I'd appreciate it. I would certainly love it if Mount Tam had some reasonable trails for a beginner mountain biker - it's certainly one of my favorite places to hike.

I did Russian Ridge off Skyline Blvd on the Peninsula last weekend. It was easy and fun.

 

If I really end up getting into mountain biking, I can see it as a reason to travel. It would be cool to bike around different areas of the country, or other countries.

 

Anyone else off to Pedro's Mountain bike festival this weekend?

 

Had a great time at Pedro's but I destroyed my rear wheel.

I had a branch over an inch in diameter go through my spokes and it broke 2 and ripped one completely out of the rim destroying the rim and tweaking my derailleur.

But for 40 bucks I got a new XT hub and a Mavic 517 rim.

I'll post a picture later.

 

damn, did u eat dirt too Mark?

sounds like that could have been ugly.

glad to hear you got it replaced on the cheap tho

 

No I didn't, I got lucky that it was the rear and just locked me up if it had been the front tire I would have been on the way to the hospital as we were bombing down a jeep trail .

And to for the wheel it was great, there was a Boston Ski and Bike shop there who when they saw my wheel (first before seeing the spoke completly ripped out, said "Yea we can fix that"). One of the employees that worked there sold me his spare wheel that he had brought up for himself.

If I lived around there they would have just made a customer for life.

 

Here is the rim

The last 6 miles of the ride killed me, the wheel is so out of true as the 3 spokes that are broken are all on the same side of the hub. I had to release my breaks and have the tire rub the frame all the way home..

 

40 bucks?? that a great price. brand new? nice job