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

@flipnidaho The last two-three days have been pretty perfect riding weather and trail conditions here, haven’t they. Can’t believe it’s November. We went out just a bit north/west of the site of your bluffs picture for takeout dinner tonight. Sunset was awesome.

 

The weather has been amazing. Loam conditions right now.

 

Oat Hill Mine.

 

I like tech because one of the guys I ride with the most hates it and I enjoy giving him a hard time. He rips on wide open trails and but cannot handle repeated features well, especially when climbing.

I thoroughly enjoy watching other people suffer. Not sure what that says about me.

We also ride a lot on repurposed hiking trails so there are some valid points to be made about the type of tech present. For instance, stone stairs built into the trails to overcome slope drive me crazy. It is weird too because I think trail design in my area routes people through unnecessarily difficult areas in order to keep people out of consequential terrain.

 

how wide are them bars?

 

I find that interesting because I started out on flats and then moved to clips after a couple years. Opposite of you.
Clips have been great for me because you remain planted in the same place regardless of the chunk you're going through and have way more bike control imo. Not to mention being able to apply power on the up pedal stroke
Does have it's downsides though, like when you wanna plant a food but then have to deal with clipping back in on some gnar.

 

The not-so-legal trails here are so much fun!

In other news, I managed to lose my front axle and multi tool somewhere in Utah when loading my bike into my girlfriend’s Grand Cherokee . Still not sure how I managed to pull that one off.
Finally got around to picking up a new one so I can finally ride again.

 

I made the switch over a few months back from flats to clipless. My biggest take away as you mentioned in the chunk, no more unintentional one footers and then trying to move your foot over a 1/4 inch to get it back in the "spot" while flying down the trail. It's locked in and you are one with the bike. Also It's helped me make sections with the pull up on some tech climbs. I think I'll benefit more when I get a hub with decent engagement.

That said I've dumped it more times than I'd like to admit. I've gotten better at panic unclipping but still like to run out of talent on occasion, especially when I'm super clapped out but go for it anyways.

 

anyone use any of those magnetic clips? pulls your foot to the right spot with a magnet, but youre not actually clipped? id like to try, but its like $200 for a pedal set then i would have to get new shoes to go with them.

 

Yea exactly. One less thing to think about when you're focusing on line choice with your foot moving around on the pedal.

Most of the riding I do it's great for, but I do find myself sometimes wishing I had flats in super tech or slow speed trials kinda stuff.

I've been thinking about swapping back to try some more freeride stuff. Prob won't though because last time I tried that I felt like I forgot how to ride a bike with my feet moving around all over the place like they were.

 

I've wondered about those as well. Haven't heard much about them, and they seem to be kind of a gimmick.
Not to mention that all those magnets probably are super lightweight either.

 

Good thing I just ordered before the sale....

BUT they haven't shipped yet, so they gave me the refund in 5 minutes with some good email banter. Props.

 

Flat pedals are my party pedals. Summertime cruising with plentiful sessions and beers. Clipless for the winter grinding and racing

 

anyone play this? https://www.senditboardgames.com/

been watching some syd and macky on youtube and they mentioned this. i remember seeing it awhile ago, but never really looked into it.

anyone have any experience?

 

What, 12% of pink bike households make over 200k? https://www.pinkbike.com/news/pinkb...ow-do-pinkbike-readers-spend-their-money.html

 

I can believe that. DINK-life

I am surprised 25% keep their bikes 5+ years

 

I know someone that had them, didnt have them very long and did seem like a gimmick.

 

You definitely don’t want this version of DINK:

Divorced
Income
Numerous
Kids

Really screws with your multiple bike game.

 

I'm not super surprised by that. I'm not especially cheap and in my 20 years of riding I've had very few bikes less than five years. I've never seen the need for it. A quality bike should see many years of use before it needs to be replaced.

My shop has a few customers that buy all new rides every single year. Makes no sense to me personally. I also can't understand guys that trade a 2019 Tacoma for a 2022 like they're not the same thing. But I see it often here. Ha.

 

Agreed. Consumerism is a pillar of our society