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

Damn! I'm a big guy but I've never done THAT!

 

Nice bike! What size is it?

 

It’s a large.

 

Can confirm on all counts.

 

Sorry. never got back to you. yeah, at least 50 to start with depending on tire width. Sounds like 60 wasn't good enough. Lol. If it's tubed, definitely got higher. The tire sidewall will also tell you max rated pressure for that particular tire so just get close to it if you feel comfy with it.

Jeez that's one hell of a gravel ride to start. get rid of those cheapo plastic pedals! I used to ride my gravel bike with crankbrother stamps. But now I've got some SPD's on there.

 

Quick shot after riding in Pacifica, CA yesterday. Definitely a must ride area.

 

Dude offered to trade me a 2017 Commencal MetaAM full suspension. Hmm..

 

+1 for the baby bjorn bouncer. Worth every penny.

 

You got that right. Little dude is just over two months now. Can’t wait to ride with him!

 

Yeah pedals are obviously getting replaced. But it was his first bike and it's what it came with. I certainly didn't anticipate them shattering to pieces on the first mellow ride though! haha As for the tubes, the factory ones are like paper thin and I'm wondering if it was just a defect or pinched at factory assembly something. I was surprised he'd be able to pinch flat it in the location we were at.

 

Huh. Maybe? Usually factory tubes are pretty good. Ideally you go tubeless but, everyone's choices are different. Maybe try a new tube from the shop? if he keeps getting pinch flats then yeah...up the pressure.

 

I have 10 days off the middle of September to do a solo trip and I’m thinking about driving to Moab (not set in stone/lodging ect). I am an intermediate rider who doesn’t mind dismounting and walking my bike on more challenging rated trails when I have to. I also enjoy landscape photography, which is another reason to go to Moab and I will NOT be carrying my camera gear with me on the bike, other than my cell phone.

I have a Tacoma 4 x 2 short bed truck, Ripley af and a 1up hitch mounted rack.

Option/idea 1: Bike on 1up rack

I’m concerned about inevitable stops when I will not have eyes on the bike. I will lock the rack and the bike with u-locks and chain. When I stop overnight the bike will be in the room.


Option/idea 2: Bike in Truck bed

My other idea is building a very simple bed cargo slide made of plywood & 4 inch foam cut out(see below, but simpler) that I can pull out and access the bike easier. The truck that has a solid locking cover, with alarm. Hopefully out of sight, out of mind and out of the elements. Again overnight it will be in the hotel room.


I do realize nothing is perfect (insurance) and each has it’s inherent risks, just trying to mitigate them and enjoy myself at the same time.


Opinions, advice and comments welcome.

Thanks

 

If utilizing the DIY bed slide would still give you the space you need for gear/cargo/passengers I’d opt for that route. If you’re concerned for bike security while using the hitch rack, the slide could be worth the peace of mind. Not to mention it would probably be a useful item in general as well.

 

I will probably place the bike on the slider in the back and once I get to my destination I will utilize the rack.

 

Looks like 401

 

Tubes are tubes, they all come from the same place - they're the same 1mm tubes you get from a local bike shop and walmart.

Soft topper.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/can-a-bike-fit-under-a-softopper.582070/page-2#post-19373725

Or hard top, that works too, but I have a soft topper and am working on this. I'm doing it the other way though, bars toward the back, and will mount the fork mount to a bar across the back between bed stiffeners. But for now I don't have that yet.

I am cab camping though, so the idea is to get the bike in the bed, me in the cab, and go up for a weekend riding and camping all self contained in a truck only footprint.

 

USPS Santa left me gifts while I was in Bryson City this past weekend. I'm gonna use this for ORAMM this weekend, but as yet undecided if I'll keep it or will be a pass-through. Cane Creek Helm v1 coil fork.

 

Travel?

 

Currently at 140 but after ORAMM will probably set at 130.