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

Got out on the mountain bike for the first time this year. Our trails are still pretty wet in places. This is the latest the season has started by far.

The trails I rode today are the first in our area to be (mostly) dry. They are on private property and sort of a IYKYK trail system. The guy that lives there retired last year and has been building a ton. He built at least 5km of amazing trail by himself in the last two months. Some of the best in the province.

Forgot my phone in the truck so here's a photo from the trailhead.

 

Oh don't get me wrong, I love the bike and it has been super fun. I don't regret the purchase at all or plan to replace it anytime soon. My main gripe is with the somewhat strange geo which I kind of expected going in to it and I still chose that compromise over others. When I am out of the saddle (climbing or descending) the bike is pretty dialed. Longer steeper seated climbs I'm just bummed I'm still having to ride the nose of my saddle like the old days vs having a nice modern steeper STA. The fork issue I'm messing with isn't a Following specific issue. I still wonder if an Offering might have been a better choice mainly for better geo and designed around a bigger fork...I'm just thinking 130 up front might not be enough for me. I use all of the rear travel on every singe ride but it has yet to feel overwhelmed in the back and I've never felt a harsh bottom out.

I bought the frame size recommended by Evil for my height (I'm basically right in the middle of their rec for a medium), although the geo had me wondering if I should size up. Without having ridden a large I can't say which would have been better. But I have a bit longer legs than average for my height, so the extra seat post extension leads to a slacker effective STA than advertised since the actual STA is super slack.

I'll see how I feel after some summer riding in bigger terrain and some traveling. I can see potentially looking for an Offering frame over the winter.

 

I get it. Not logging much time with the sustained grinding climbs the STA hasn't been much of a bother for me. I think I may have the opposite proportions, longer torso/shorter legs. While I might regret it I'd like to throw a long over a bike with a truly steep STA on my locals to see if it really is of any benefit for my terrain.

 

It's still better than my old Pivot Mach 5.7 which felt about like I imagine riding a recumbent bike feels.

 

I've done some research and here's where I'm at or leaning towards. My current bike has Tektro 4 pots up front and 2 pot in the rear. They're fine, they grab well, no issues with the stopping power, I actually like them but was tossing around the idea of a 4 pot rear caliper. I'm thinking of buying a set of Tektro M745 front and rear, putting them on the Polygon and transferring the current Tektro setup to the Fat bike along with swapping to a 180 mm rotor up front. I'm hoping to improve on a setup I already like on my Polygon, but the big thing is improve the braking on the fat bike as it seems to be lacking. The Tektros bite pretty well on the Polygon, so I'm hoping they'll do better on the fat bike. Seem reasonable or, if I'm off base, please tell me where I've gone off. I may also try to repurpose the Clark setup for a gravel bike that currently has scrub brakes but that's another project altogether.

 

LBS selling tires stupid cheap!

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/specia...d-29-x-2-6-tires-13-95.1206484/#post-15672236

 

Good price for sure, but those have to be from 2018 or older.

 

Nice deal and would be good for DH mud tires. 2.6 is too wide for any of my trail bikes unfortunately

Keep posting those deals, Tanner!

 

I just got my Taco and really find all of these transportation pictures useful. I got burned out roof mounting to my SUV. I currently run an older Marin Alpine 29er and a Surley Moonlander. Both were fun in AZ and I am enjoying them here in FL. The Surley is a steel tank and I run only 10 PSI. So far just laying it in the truck bed. Thinking of a bed mounted dock for it just for security when I stop for an after ride beer.
Any suggestions on a mount?
Thanks.

 

They're drop shipped straight from Specialized, I'd be willing to bet no older than 1 year.

I'll keep posting up, I will say if you don't mind shipping from overseas websites like lordgun.com and others have great deals.

Another thing to add, I bought these before the $3 per tire price increase and with a 10% off coupon. For $40 a tire I wanted to try. On the right we got a Assagi lookalike, with a speedy tire for everyday riding, and a heavier and tackier tire for when I’m going far off or more extreme areas and don’t want to risk a flat.

 

The Purgatory hasnt had that tread design since 2019. This is what it changed to in 2019. Its still a great price, but they are probably new old stock.

Edit: it’s a super good deal, I’m just trying to figure out the specific tire is all.

 

I have the previous version of this https://rockymounts.com/products/droptop.html mounted on my diamondback. If you add a front rail in your bed you can install there.

 

Anyone looking to do the BME race in Purgatory? (Durango, CO). I got a spot available for transfer! Shoot me a message! Race is next weekend.

 

Anyone ride TX in the North San Antonio/Hill country area here? Looking for a few riding wheeling buds once I move.

 

Am I the only one that still rides with a hydration pack? I run tubeless but carry a tube and co2 just in case along with a small tool. Most of you just run with a water bottle and call it good?

 

I run a hip pack these days combined with a bolt on strap for tube/levers etc. i refuse to be helpless on the trail

 

I run a hydration pack. If itx a short ride, i`ll only partially fill it but i keep a multi-tool in there along with at least one snack bar. In my water bottles, i mix some gatorade really stiff to keep electrolytes up. I have a pump and tube stashed on the bike itself.

 

It all depends on the ride for me. I have 3 general setups:

1. Bottle on the frame with a CO2 and Dynaplug in my pocket. Generally 1 hour lunch rides where I won't be too caught out if worse comes to worse and I need to call someone for a ride. (I've only had to once, and I had a full multi tool with me - the mechanical wasn't getting fixed without a stand and proper tools)
2. Bottle on the frame, bottle in the hip pack, and tube, tire lever, tool, CO2, Dynaplug, chain link pliers, spare hanger, maybe a snack. Generally rides around 2 hours (as long as it isn't too hot) where I need to be self-sufficient.
3. Full pack w/ a full bladder of water plus a bottle on the frame. For long rides, backcountry, hot days, etc. All of the same tools as #2 transferred over, with the ability to also carry more snacks, a jacket, and so on.

That said, different bikes of mine also have different gear carrying capabilities. My gravel bike has a partial frame bag and/or saddle bag to handle gear. My geared hardtail has a Salsa Anything Pack (or something of that general name) with the basic tube, CO2, plug, etc bolted onto the second bottle cage mount. Both of my hardtails have Specialized SWAT tools built into the Zee cages, so I always have a simple multi tool. I just pay attention to the ride I'm doing and the bike I'm riding and will tailor each setup as needed.

 

For long summer rides, a hydration pack and water bottle (only one cage). Most of the time, just the pack. Also carries tools, spare tubes, pump, food, etc.