Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

I run an Ardent in front, 2.4 in my case since I'm chronically behind the curve. But it's worked well as a front tire so I stick with it. Currently the rear tire is a Mountain King, which I neither love or hate. Wears out really fast but I got a couple cheap from a buddy who pulled them from a new build.

 

Thanks for that input! That's a pretty sweet set up you got there. How do you like those Arch's? I was debating between those and the WTB Frequency's.

I finally got mine put together. I’m gathering parts to build some wheels for it now. I ordered some Frquency i23 wheels with an 2.35 Ardent race front and a 2.35 Ikon rear. I’m going to lace them up to some CK hubs. My current tires are a Older Nic and a Continental King

Excuse the mess. I have like 10 projects going at once!

 

Wheels make a huge difference. Those in my photo are Hadley hubs, Stan’s mk3 Arch, DT comps. Love ‘em. I’ve had Arch rims for years, they’re ok. I’m on the edge between XC & AM so the Arch is about right normally. The mk 3 is maybe a little more AM/trail than I need but they’ve been solid for me.

 

I've got the Arch MK3's I just had build on some I9 hubs and they're awesome. I have them on my steel Spot Rocker hardtail.

 

Had a great ride this evening with my stepson on one of our local trails. I had ACL surgery 6wks ago and it felt good to get some miles in.

 

https://youtu.be/aL8uUyifkrM

 

Lol!

 

I saw this video a week or two ago... "it's the law."

 

Starting by dream build (realistic budget- not rich). KONA process, Pike & Monarch RCT3, GX Eagle, Stan’s Flows. At stage 2 /5 of build. I plan on doing everything myself.

 

Is that frame boost spacing by any chance.....147 rear

 

I love my Kona Wo that I built. I would probably stick with Kona if I decided to build a mountain bike. I don't have anything to ride around here that the fat bike doesn't do well at. Otherwise i would have built a mtn bike.

 

Nah no boost. 142 mm rear and 100 mm front spacing. Saved a lot of coin by not buying the extra 10mm (boost).

 

I recently picked up a specialized comp6 fattie. I switched the 3” tires to 2.6”. It gives you that fattie feel without too much squish and still nimble and great traction. It’s like the perfect in between without having the total mid fat ride. Know I’m on the hunt for another 27.5 Plus size frame. Kinda thinking Santa Cruz high tower. Then I saw this and was curious. I have a Kona unit and never thought about their other frames.

 

Good choice with the Hightower. I was looking for a low and fast 29er. Was looking at Evil The following but couldn’t drop $2500 on frame alone. Plan on running 2.5 up front and 2.3 rear. Should do everything I through at it.

 

My last bike I ran 2.35 on both front and rear......it was a great setup. I just wanted a little more the 2.6 is tits!!!! I’ve upgraded a bunch of parts on my comp6 fattie. I plan on throwing all that on another Plus frame. So if I got a high tower, it’d be with the 27.5+, 2.6 setup.

 

Goodness got out this morning to ride some and got my butt kicked. I could make excuses like not eating enough breakfast, pushed too hard at the start, etc etc....but I'm just out of shape. Really need to start training more.


Does anyone have a sort of "training regimen" they follow or followed to get endurance up for mountain biking? We don't have downhill trails around me unfortunately. Well not close enough that you don't have to take a whole day for it. So we have the mix trails of up and down, up and down, up and down. Up is brutal.

 

My fastest times came on the year I was riding 3 days a week, even if I had less total miles. I'm not anywhere near being an xc racer, but as far as I'm concerned, the only way to build bike endurance is to ride as often as possible. Nothing replaces saddle time. Road riding only helps to an extent, but it's so different than trail and bike setup that it doesn't 100% translate.

 

I started just as you did, but I quickly found a local MTB group and started doing group rides. Riding with a mix of different levels of fitness will help you to be confident and to progress by constantly being pushed. Even our fastest riders wait up for the slower riders. We typically do 2 during the week and one weekend day for about 20 miles total. Ride every chance you get, even if its around the corner and up the hill from your house.

 

Cool thanks for the advice!! I may look into some groups around here!