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

I ended up going used a little over a month ago and am super happy with it. Just do some research to figure out your top 2-3 choices (or just one your call) and keep an eye on pinkbike/fb marketplace/craigslist/etc. Then if the right one comes along pull the trigger!

 

I bought my 2020 santa cruz tallboy c r as used. And it was in perfect condition $3000. I made a list of all down country bikes in the entry level carbon range and then stalked pinkbike and fb classifieds. The santa cruz came up on fb and the price was right. It wasnt my 1st choice but im happy with it.

 

some trails are finally opening up in Minnesota. took the Optic to Battle Creek; one of my local favorites. night and day difference from my hard tail... holy moly...

i'm also extremely out of shape. think i will get one of those indoor trainers for next winter.

 

how long do you guys typically ride?

a weekday ride for me is around an hour. an impromptu weekend ride is maybe 2 hours max including riding to the trails. rarely do i do 3+ hours on a mtb.

 

Finally decided to try some glasses when riding. Maybe a little too much razzle dazzle but I see the function. Also wanted an easy to see color if I drop them.

 

The eye protection provided by wearing some form of glasses kinda makes them essential to me. I feel like my eyes are magnetic for bugs, dirt, limbs, etc. They’re just as much a part of my kit as my helmet.

 

I'll ride gloveless all the time, but I never don't have glasses on.

 

After work: Usually about an hour; quick hit of 5-8 miles of the local trailhead.

Weekend rides: several hours to all day depending on where and with who.

 

I know this has been discussed before, but I figured I'd throw it out there anyways: What are the best places to camp in/around Moab with my truck? Is there any one particular (legal) place that provides the best seclusion and views?

PS: I'll be there from 11-13 April if anyone wants to do the Enchilada with me on the 12th.

 

i was in moab my first time earlier this month. there was camping on willow spring rd just northwest of moab, very easy to find. we got there pretty late, around 9pm, but was able to find a spot.

my gf doesn't want me to tell, but camping at the top of longs canyon was incredible. only a few spots, but amazing views. camp chef and ikamper have some of their pictures from this spot.

i didnt do any riding while i was there though so unfamiliar with trails

 

Good info. Any chance you could pm me with the coords or a map screenshot of that spot at the top of Longs Canyon?

 

How nitty gritty? generallys peaking with modern drivetrains, sram only has long cages for their 10-52t cassettes and i believe shimano has a short cage available but it only works with their 10-45t cassettes. their 10-51t cassette requires the long cage.

in general (1x12 speed drivetrains aside), long vs med vs short depends on your front gear range and your rear gear range. you need the proper cage to provide proper tension on the chain in the smallest chainring -> smallest rear cog. otherwise, you'll be dropping chains and damaging things. There's some formula to help you figure out which one you need if you have multiple gear ranges to worry about.

 

Lol several of us have those. Didn’t love them. Helmet knocks them down on chunky terrain.

I wear my old pair of actual glasses to ride though because I can’t stand contacts. Works for me.

 

I’ll send them back if need be bc of that. No way I’m keeping them if they don’t work since I’d never wear them out and about lol.

 

I like to get two hours in on the weekday and if it doesn’t piss my Wife off to much I’ll do 4-6 hours on the weekend days if the weather is nice.

 

weekday? during thea ctual season? 2-3 hours typically. maybe even longer. weekends? as long as I possibly can. Sometimes I do all day excursions. at least 4 hours. I'm a nut.

 

Thinking of finally hitting the North Fork Mountain trail in June. Have any of the mid Atlantic riders ridden it?

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/6550639/north-fork-mountain-trail-501

 

I've never ridden there but I've ridden a lot of the trails in the GWNF near harrisonburg. That should be a fun trail! That looks like a pretty impressive ratio of climbing to descending. Kind of surprised there is so much more descending haha

 

That looks amazing.

 

I've ended up at Gemini Bridges both times I've gone. There are a few designated sites along the road as well as dispersed camping, but even when just about everything else was booked up I was able to go in an snag one of the designated spots

Edit/PS: I'll be moving to Denver that weekend and both Sedona and Moab can be along the way.... but I just don't think I can make it work logistically unfortunately