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

I lost a nut off one of my linkage bolts! Fortunately the bike didn't just fall apart, but it's out of commission while I wait on the new linkage nut from Orbea. Good reminder to do a thorough bolt check more often.

I took the opportunity to get on a demo bike. Grabbed a Rocky mountain altitude C50. It's a very boring looking bike but holy moly was it good! Very comfortable and efficient on the climb. Plush on the descent and sank easily in to the mid-stroke, but ramped up nicely. It also felt surprisingly poppy and nimble when I wanted to get it in the air. The build I was on was quite heavy but it carried the weight well.

 

Shoutout @ginseng27 for getting this banger after a long day of riding and riding related activities.

 

When we're in the Brevard area, we always hit the following trails:

Kitsuma (start from the bottom at the park)
All of the Ridgeline Trails in Dupont (xc-ish)
All the Blacks + Avery (start at the stables)

 

I'm not sure what your family is into but the NC Arboretum is in the Bent Creek experimental forest and has some easy/scenic hikes.

 

My go to lube is Maxima Chain Wax. Use the aerosol version made for motorcycles and not the bike specific lubes. In the high desert or on the East Coast, I could go a month of riding without the wax flinging off.

 

I remember when @Bannerman had us start the climb to black mountain. When we made it to the stables I was like “cool how much farther?” And he said “we haven’t even started the climb”.

that gravel grind is no joke. I had to walk ehh 90% of it lol. Granted, I’m the worst climber in MTB history, but man it was unexpected. That was the first day I truly learned what climbing was in biking.

 

Come on out West, where even the shuttles can be over an hour long

 

Aka Happy Hour

 

Middle/Lower Black with a Sycamore finish is a classic Pisgah sampler platter. Not going to get a better taste for the amount of time spent. Plus the new middle black is just fun. Not as gnarly as used to be but there’s plenty of rutted out beat up trail in Pisgah if that’s your jam.

If you’ve got more time and the legs for it then Upper/Upper-Upper Black and Avery are epic but bring your big boy pants for the ups.

 

Nothing like taking a nap on the Moab Enchilada shuttle

Heck, even the 45ish min Crest shuttle is totally nappable.

 

Almost forgot, if you’re staying in/nearer to Asheville you have to hit Kitsuma and def park at bottom like recommend.

 

I'm on RnR Gold. It works great, most of the time. The mood dust definitely can get to it though. I've had it last just a short ride before too, so who knows... Definitely need to apply every ride though. I still have a ton of it left, but when I run out I'll give the MO a try.
Never thought about letting set up overnight vs. on-the-spot lubing. I usually just lube before I head out, so that might certainly be a factor.

Man, I had the same thing happen on my Evil AND my YT. The Evil shed its upper trunnion shock bolt, and the YT the upper link bolt. Have no idea how things didn't turn out much worse. I go over all bolts every month how.
A buddy of mine rides the Altitude, love it. He usually flips bikes yearly, and has a healthy hookup on Specs, but paid full price for his and has ridden it 2 seasons now. It's been rock solid and he shreds that thing hard. Even got the built to ~31 lbs.

 

I love shuttles

 

my scratched road bars. they dont look as bad as they did when i was thinking about it while going to bed. im just gonna put new bar tape over it and forget about it

 

I watched some videos last night of Pisgah, trying to find all videos no older than a year hoping to show the newest trail designs. I hope to make it out to Pisgah, but also not upsetting the wife If I get hung out. What's a good time frame to expect to spend in Pisgah riding mostly non stop.

Kitsuma is going to be a go to, found out we're staying on Whitney Drive in Asheville so less than 10 miles to Berm Park or Bent Creek. Saturday to Saturday thanksgiving week.

Lake trails lol.

 

Haha! Haven't experienced that just yet btu then again, once summer moondust comes along...There's rarely a water crossing I have to go through here in UT.

I check my bolts almost every ride. Seen them loosen up and don't want that again. :/

I have the altitude c50, 2020 model. Love that bike. I'm still tweaking it to my likings but it's a phenomenal bike!

I have RnR gold as well. I think I'll be on Mucoff for the foreseeable future until...well...I have a reason not to be.

I've had the evil loosen the shock bolt but never come completely undone. But I also check my bolts quite frequently.

 

went back and looked at the last time I did that loop in garmin acct. Parked at The Hub which added distance/time. 15 miles and 2 hrs with a couple stops for pics. Planning to hit some of it up again next week

 

Checking bolts every ride is just not gonna happen in my life right now. Clearly I need to check them a little more often though!

How many bikes do you have?!?! Don't you have a Capra, Evil, something else?, gravel bike?,

 

Seeing these camping photos stirs up the buy buy buy mood!~- I’m browsing the interwebs for some gear, which would be bike packing gear. Tent and sleeping system… and the photos of you all camping and such is bringing me closer and closer to just buying and figuring the rest out as I go!

Only issue right now is everything is closed down in New Mexico due to fire hazard (national forests at least). But, there is some BLM areas I could do over night trips to start.

I did pick up a Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle/Bag and have two Salsa Anything Cage/Bags for the fork. My wife repurposed old fly fishing waders into a frame bag. So….I’m getting the gear slowly, but now I need the sleep systems!

Keep posting those camping photos! Love it!

 

That's a demoralizing statement if there ever was one.