All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

After riding Gooseberry on Saturday, with perfect access road and trail conditions between storms, we did an epic ride from Hurricane town up the new switchbacks (mostly hike-a-bike for me) up to Gould’s, JEM, Goosebumps etc and back along the rim to town. 26 miles and 2500’ climbing. Probably toughest ride I’ve done. Headed towards home on Tuesday, rode in Lovell Canyon, Nevada near Vegas. Turned back after 6-7 miles because of rain. Then went out and tested the crawl control in the Taco. That’s probably better left to another post, but let’s just say that without CC, I’m pretty sure my truck might still be out there. This coastal California guy now understands those desert Southwest signs that say “Impassable When Wet”. It only took 45 minutes of light rain to go from 2wd to a layer of snot slicker than ice.

I highly recommend the Cottonwood restaurant in Blue Diamond, Nevada. Opens at 7AM, perfect for pre-ride breakfast or post-tent-camping-in-33°-rain breakfast. Roy’s in Barstow isn’t half bad either, with parking visible from inside so you can keep an eye on your bikes.

 

^^^ By the way, after my first extended trip with the hand-me-down tailgate pad I just got, I’m pretty happy with it. Got it adjusted so the rear view camera worked OK, and of course the newer ones have that addressed. Got home late last night so I haven’t pulled it off yet to check the paint underneath, fingers crossed.

 

For the tailgate pad users; why not have the tailgate exterior wrapped/covered with some 3M clear protective film? The stuff that's on my hood from Toyota is SUPER thin and you have to get really close to even tell it's there. Heck, I even have some of that stuff on the underside of the down tubes and rear of seat tube on my MTB and gravel bikes. Instead of hearing *ping* on the gravel descents; it's more like a muted *thip* and no scratched paint...

 

I have that on my down tube but when I priced larger sheets of true protective film, not just cosmetic wrap, it was not cheap.

 

You lucked out. The rain rolled in and that area is super muddy now.

 

Because it's not about just scratches to the truck...fork lowers can gouge, dent, etc. the tailgate...a pad protects both bike and truck.

 

^^^This. although I did get the tailgate clearbra'd to prevent scratches and stuff from all the dirt that gets engrained in the pad.

 

no issues in 15k miles

 

I think @ridge was suggesting film under the pad, not going without a pad altogether. I’m a little concerned about the pad, or rather grit on the pad, rubbing the fork tubes ... mine are fairly low end forks (Rock Shox Recon) without any hardened coating.

 

Good point!

I've since abandoned the pad and went with a Kuat...can't carry my bikes like that with a RTT rack.

 

I didn't mean to imply substituting the protective film for the pad... I totally get the value of the pad; just seemed logical that running such a pad that makes rubbing contact on such a large surface area to have protection between it and the paint.

 

Understood and agreed!

 

Just got back from Spring break in AZ. My son and I got in a nice 34 mile ride, McDowell mtn to Brown's ranch and back. We hit some drops for fun too.

 

Do you remember approximately what it cost you? I've been thinking about going this route as I don't leave my tailgate pad on constantly and while I don't mind a quick wipe down (think rinseless wash) prior to throwing it on, I don't want to do a full wash of the truck everyt ime .

 

Go get a few local shops to quote you. I got some pretty wildly different numbers depending if I went to the shop the dealers use vs the word of mouth facebook group recommendation. It was pretty cheap though, i forget how much. You could source some clear vinyl online and just do it yourself as well. a big flat tailgate is super easy if you are debadged.

 

Just a thought...

I would consider mounting your rotopax, and hilift inboard on the rack, and do the bikes outboard.
The cans and jack wont be on and off as much as the bikes....

 

I see.
Wonder about mounting the cans horizontally on the underside of the cross bars....
I have never had, nor used rotopax, so, I am not sure if it is feasible. I have seen them mounted horizontally though...

 

Did some riding today.

 

Let's go! I think I might actually come up to SLC to some snowboarding before I go. Thinking SLC Sun-Mon, then Moab Mon-Weds, GC Thurs-Fri. Who know though, weird weather this year.

Yesterday I went to a super mellow place to ride that I've never been. Then I found a path I took, and things got.... interesting. 700 feet in 1/3 mile, average grade of 40.
No pics of the ride, but here's the view from the top.

 

Can't take the time off work, but I'll share a few beers with you Sunday or on Monday after work.