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

Yeah my stache has 10-42 which surprisingly has been just fine for me. I guess I’m getting in better shape haha

I think I hit 530 this year, I’d like to have done more but 2020 will be a new year new me! Hahaha

 

Its interesting you say that. My Stache has a 30x10-42T arrangement and def pedals around my local trails way better/easier than my Bronson rocking a 28T and the same rear range. Crazy how much more efficient a hardtail is than an overforked full suspension.

 

It really is though. My remedy doesn’t weigh that much more and has a 28t ring where my stache has a 32 and not as low of a gear, I’ve never really felt like I needed the lower gearing. I kind of feel like having that extra gear was a crutch to a degree.

I haven’t had the stache on anything super steep though so I’m sure I’d like a lower gear in a more mountainous scenario.

 

If you ever need to go steep, you could always just swap the 42T for a Wolf Tooth 49T or similar.

 

I've ridden the Wasatch Crest on mine which has a few mid-range punchy climbs. I have cleared both on my higher geared hardtail and flamed out on my lower geared full sus.

 

I'm with you. I tend to click down and settle in, when I should be progressively clicking down as I run out of momentum smash on the ups.

 

Happy New Year hella rad bike dudes.

 

I’ve considered it. I probably won’t switch up the stache though. Maybe a smaller front ring if I really need it. My next FS will have some lower gearing though.

Some climbs just need more speed haha. I definitely like a little more resistance on technical climbs. Long climbs I always like to just hit the lowest and chill.

Yeah exactly, just gotta muscle through it sometimes. I do want to work on my trials skills though!

 

Last ride of 2019. Happy New Years fellas!

 

So badly wanted to get out today, but alas I didn't. Still, not a shabby 2019. Despite injury and traveling (missed about a month) I managed to do ok...

 

The MTB Guru right here!

 

Yup. Followed his advice and ordered a coil 140mm Helm last night.

Decided to put the 20% off savings towards a couple other goodies. Snagged an I9 stem and Deity bars. Went to check out and the coupon took 20% off everything in the cart

 

https://singletrackworld.com/2019/05/short-vs-long-fork-offset-testing-on-the-santa-cruz-blur/

I never thought 6mm would be noticable to me, but this is the best article I've read comparing 44mm vs 51mm offsets. He rode the same loop, back to back on the same Blur, just with different offsets.

51mm: better for swooping singletrack, switchbacks, front end feels lighter, better for last minute line changes, tighter/sharper turn radius. Biggest negatives are oversteer and a less planted feeling.

44mm: feels more sure footed in long downhill or long bermed sections. Front tire sticks more and you get the feeling of more grip, but tight turns require more effort. This was his preferred offset on the Blur.

 

Starting the New Year off in short sleeves on my Giant Anthem 29'r with my 5 day old TRD Sport.

 

Good article, and based on the synopsis 51mm would actual suit the terrain I ride better. I actually ordered the 44mm though haha. Oh well, we’ll see how it goes.


Got my news years day ride in. Strava recorded 15.2 miles, my watch recorded 17.97 miles. Haven’t seen that kind of variance before. Was a good ride regardless.

 

Our woods are so soggy, I had to ride the gravel bike again for New Years Day.




this was last years gravel ride for 2019. Piney single track stays dry.

 

We’ve been getting a little snow everyday since Monday. Conditions were pretty good today.

 

Gotta admit, I breezed through the article earlier. Went back and read it through just now and I’m glad I did. Turns out I may not be as dumb as I thought I was. Based on my own redneck math and thought process I actually ordered a 10mm shorter stem and a wider set of bars to pair with the shorter offset fork. Which is exactly what the author recommends to counter some of the disadvantages of the shorter offset fork. Sweet

 

I don't log my commute mileage so overall it would be about 2000 miles for 2019.

@abacall our stats appear similar except that huge El number you got man! Nice work this year

 

T'was a good year on the saddle for me as well... I do wish Strava would change the leaderboards for weekly stats to allow hours instead of miles. One road ride will skew the whole thing amongst a bunch of MTB rides.

I have some resolutions for 2020 as well... racing more singlespeed MTB in both XC, 6 hour races and maybe a few NUE events. I might put my name back in for another DirtyKanza, but since I didn't get in to the DK350; that kind of changed my targets.

I am already registered for the Croatan150 in singlespeed, so I'll use that as a bellwether.