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

Well maybe not bend but change the temper on the steel. Not an oven but a torch

 

Speaking of $80 pads, this is what I went with. Order them a month before you need them though. 4 sets for ~50

 

Good cleaning should be sufficient to remove contaminants from rotors. They are non-porous (that's the problem with pads) so any contamination is at the surface level. An oven on a "clean cycle" is for sure hot enough to burn off oil. My go-to method for removing seasoning from cast iron pans that need a refurb.

I need to figure out some new pads though too. I was planning to upgrade my brakes, but now that I'm thinking of getting a new bike in the next year I hate to drop much money in to it.

 

Using some vacation days I turned a work trip into a partial bike trip a few years ago and did a bunch of rides in FL. Some of the trail systems there are very cool and worth checking out. They definitely make use of the minimal elevation they have to work with and incorporate any available rock, logs etc as well. Some of the trail systems are MTB only and are built on tailings piles from old phosphate mines. Carter Rd (Loyce Harp), Alafia, Balm Boyette and Santos are the main ones I hit, and I liked them in that order. Santos was a let down for all the hype it gets IMO. Check out BKXC on Youtube, he hit some other trail systems further south that looked fun. Everything I hit was in central FL. You could have fun on any bike. Lots of short fast descents and jumps where a FS bike is preferable, and no sustained climbs where it is a liability.

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/trip-report-riding-in-florida-feb-2017.1066048/#post-13483997

 

Prime weather in New England. At about 120 miles so far on the new Switchblade and I’m finding my place on it. Very forgiving yet efficient. Gotta trim the bars to 780mm though. Anyone try this with a dremel?

 

I used a hacksaw. If you use a power tool like that tape it well and wear a mask.

 

Speaking of brakes..

I may not be able to afford their brakes, but their rotors and pads sure are a big upgrade.

 

Went on the group shuttle ride tonight. Got 3 sweet rides in then on the 4th I took a dang flat. Oh well. It was fun

 

A few passes of the propane torch on contaminated Shimano pads does wonders. I make a pass or two on the rotors as well. Brings them back to full power.

 

Last weekend, at the trailhead, after an awesome ride, was a super tiny stream with some wild born (but not native) rainbows. Pisgah area.

 

How do you know they were born in the wild?

 

Where did you order them? I was looking for a source for their pads the other day.

 

portable band saw if you know a buddy with one.

 

My rule of thumb is that if the fish has fins that looks damaged or is missing it's adipose fin, it's a stocker. Also, if it's unusually fat or have dull colors. Damaged fins are caused by too much time in concrete troughs.

 

That’s awesome.

 

Their website. I ordered a few sets of pads and rotors. Spendy, and took a while to get here, but definitely worth it. If you're thinking of ordering, do it quickly. Their stock does not last long, and takes a while to get refilled.
Build quality on the rotor is impressive, this is the only rotor I've ever seen that was perfectly true, not even a slight wobble, from the factory. Also the fastest to bed in of any brake combo.
Going to get them out today (hopefully) on a nice steep trail to give em a real test.

 

My freerider pros did incredible last night. So comfortable. I’ve been missing out lol.

I also drove with them to the trails and didn’t get any weird foot numbness...

 

@jjones.yota



I just saw that now. I'm doing stuff the weekend before and have my truck being fluid filmed the 1st - now it's too late to tag in next time! You do any other trips like that in the summers too?

 

bruhhh we been planning for a while how'd you just see it?! lol

we did Pisgah last year with almost the same group, but I don't currently have anything else planned this year. I have a couple of weeklong family vacations that'll take up a good bit of my PTO so I'm not sure what I'd have left to devote to a trip

 

Lotta fisheries notch a fin too