Alabama Mountain Biking Thread

going to ride Monte Sano tomorrow. you and @BamaTaco56 come up.

 

Im working tomorrow and sunday. And Trey is out for the weekend.

 

I know lol. Bunch of losers. Now Wes has bailed too.

 

Since you have all this time you can come down and ride with me sunday afternoon

 

Monte Sano Saturday morninnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

 

Ill be at Workkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkm

 

so i'm still looking and mainly waiting for new model drops to get a hopeful sale on current year, or wait for covid to be over and just get a winter bike and then bitch about the cold instead of the heat.

anyways, between you full suspension guys do you ever wish you had more travel or less?

would you say that the longer travel is worth possible harder climbs for the nicer downhill?

I know how oak mtn is and most of the climbing there is on asphalt so climbs are nothing really.
Other than suspension the main other things I'm looking at is seat position and head tube angle for steering response.
I haven't had a mountain bike in a long time and it was an old XC.

 

You won’t find folks climbing asphalt at oak mountain unless they’re road bikers, at least that’s how it was when I went. Most start at the trailhead and climb I think it’s called red road to get to trails. It’s dirt and rock and it’s not simple.

XC geometry is better for climbing, as is a hardtail. Just depends on what you want to do.

I have 150mm front and 140mm rear travel and haven’t wished for anymore. Climbing is rough but that’s because I’m out of shape lol. Other guys with more travel climbed better than me in North Carolina. I will be changing out to a 160mm fork but not just because it’s 10mm more. Many many reasons play a part.

you just have to decide what you want to do. At Monte sano I appreciate the travel because it’s all technical chunky stuff. Want the squish to absorb it.

 

Every time I went to oak mtn I climbed to the tip top where the lookout is on asphalt then went down the trail. Some of those trails there's no way to climb up without getting off the bike.

I imagine I wouldn't have felt as good either after getting to the top if I did go the dirt route.

 

That's cool, I'll definitely check it out.

The bikes I'm looking at are somewhere between 140mm and 160mm on the rear.
I'm only mentioning rear since I feel it has the most problems associated with climbing without considering geometry.

Another PITA is watching youtube videos on bike reviews, because TBH every bike is awesome, most people never say anything stood out as bad for them.
It's basically pick a color and go for bike that has best parts at lowest price.

Also, I'm considering suffering on an eduro climbing just to be awesome on the down hill, although I know in my mind I should probably stick closer to trail style.

Bikes that have stood out.

Meta AM/TR, Jeffsy/Capra, Fezzari, Santa Cruz, Yeti, Evil, too many stinking options.
This is why I like dirt bikes, pick 1 of 5 colors for motocross and done.

 

Go to your local shop. Seriously. Ride/rent them.

 

Check this out, at oak mtn.

There's a race in maybe 2 months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB97TybJ0Dg

 

Yeah that’s lightning trail. I’ve done it a couple times now and even did the big drop on it.

trust me when I say it’s much MUCH steeper than the video shows.

 

If I can get a bike we will have to go.
My brother left his clapped out 17 year old trek 4300 here. 26” wheels of hell since it’s never had any work done to it.

which probably contributes to why I haven’t taken it to oak mtn

 

I’m in. Lil Trey rides 26” wheels. @BamaTaco56

 

sho nuff. And faster than your 29” wheels at that.

 

its not as much the wheels, it’s all the other components that’s never been changed or maintained.

I’ll have to get out and ride it. I think shifting is hit or miss on it.

 

In for an evening ride when its not stupid hot lol.

 

Uphill, not down

 

I bet i can be faster than both of you downhill right up to the crash zone