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

Yeah it's a lot to ask for such a small footprint. Something convertible would be nice though. Garage for solo/sans kid trips, throw a rack on when you need more sleeping or storage space, etc. Bike security when traveling is my biggest concern with a rack.

 

yeah i had to double check the specs. and the swingarm says "dw-link" on it. very odd looking design.

 

Yeah somehow Ibis was able to take a not-very-good-looking bike and make an even uglier one. Hope their whole lineup doesn't get this style. I also really dislike the super SLACK actual seat tube angle. Can really make fit odd if you have above or below average leg length.

Edited - meant super slack not super steep actual seat tube angle

 

Thanks for the link but we have a lot of cabinets so probably wouldn't work like that. We don't need to sleep four but this van is quickly turning into a whitewater shuttle so seating 2-3 passengers comfortably with a garage would be ideal. something like this

Y'all seen those hanging van bunk things?

 

Those bunk cots are a great idea! The Axis layouts have a bench seat in the back that doubles as a bed when folded down. Something like that with the main bed above and room for a garage if the seat is up in seat mode could work.

 

Did Thompson Ridge last weekend:
Located outside of Twisp, WA and Winthrop, WA.
Start at 3000' and climb to near 5000'.
6-7mile climb.
Same amount of flowy downhill.
Natural scenery was spectacular.

To me, it was the most challenging climb for someone that dwells at 500'...

 

on paper ibis bikes are very capable. i just....the styling...it just doesn't do it for me. i couldn't bring myself to get one if one was available.

 

I continue to ride both my hardtails and full squish, alternating between them depending on mood and terrain. There's no need to get rid of any bike - just keeping adding more arrows to the quiver!

 

Totally agree with @paleh0rse on this! I'd even add that if I were to keep one bike these days, it'd be the hardtail that would get sold. The FS is so much more versatile for trail riding.

I actually saw the Hardtail party guy on a FS on whole enchilada. Scandalous!!!

I've actually been trying to figure out how to move the jack-knife bench seat forward so that I could fit a bike in the back. Spacing would be pretty tight in the 148" WB Transit, but it'd totally be do-able in a long wheelbase. You can definitely buy one of those seats aftermarket.

 

God, it’s just so…

I used to be of this mindset too, but starting to pare down.
Currently sitting at three.
Long travel Enduro (daily driver)
Short travel f/s (longer or mellow trails)
Mid travel EMTB (recovery, injuries, short on time)
At the end of the year I’m sitting at 50% on the enduro, 25% short travel, 25% emtb. It’s a solid mix for me.

 

yeah, i'm similar. long travel, short travel. I race every so often so the long travel is nice and i find myself on it quite often. but i also love my short travel rides. and then there's my gravel rig. all fun bikes.

 

Talarias and Tacos

 

Your quiver is dialed in!

Mine is slightly different, but that's probably a side-effect of living/riding primarily on the east coast:
- Mid-travel f/s trail bike (for just about everything)
- Steel, rigid, drop-bar bike (for bikepacking)
- Steel singlespeed 29+ hardtail (alternate with f/s for every-other local XC ride)
- Carbon singlespeed hardtail (for racing SS category... rarely sees action any more, but it's my oldest rig and most dear to my heart)

I'm not into bikeparks, crazy drops, or enduro racing, so I doubt I'll pick up anything with longer travel or a battery any time soon. Maybe...

 

Feeling conflicted lately. I'm really debating picking up one of the Specialized EVO frames and building it up how I want it. Love to hear your opinions on it:
Pros:
Love the color
Tons of adjustability with this frame
I can tailor fit this bike to me
I already own most, if not all, of the tools required to assemble
Better geo than my current bike
Cons:
I'd have to abandon 27.5 and finally dive into 29's
Cost, it will not be cheap to build and I don't have a 'parts bin' to pull from, petty much everything will be bought new


I pretty much already know what I want to do, just curious what you would do in my shoes and your thoughts on this frame. I should note, if I do this, once the bike is built up, I'd be selling off my Polygon T7, 27.5, which is currently nicely upgraded and has 140R/150F travel. The EVO frame would be 150R/160F. I'd be using it as an all mountain trail bike. It'd see the occassional (rare) lift access day, I don't do hard enduro or air out my bikes, I will need a bike that's comfortable to pedal. Typical rides are just over 10 miles, 1k-1,500' of climbing but both of those numbers are growing as fitness improves.

 

I think there is something special about building up a bike exactly how you want it. Plus it is super fun and when you need to do maintenance you have most of the skills and tools needed to do whatever you need.

I have purchased complete bikes (used) with the intention of swapping most parts out, which is cool too but not as fun haha.

Right now you can probably find deals online, I know I got my pike ultimate new for cheap because it has the charger 2.1 vs the new charger 3. I also use pinkbike for a lot of stuff. Check out Flat Tire Co on pinkbike, they always have new or barely used takeoffs for pretty good prices. I got my full drivetrain from them, they said it was used but it didn't even look like a chain or pedals had been mounted to it.

 

Sounds like your mind is already made up but it seems like a lot of travel for 100' vert per mile

 

Funny you point that out. I was thinking the same…moreso because I resemble that stat and may also be considering bikes of similar travel numbers

 

I ride similar numbers (miles, and climb, not travel; I’m a short-travel rider) but 8 of my miles may be pretty flat, the other 7 miles might be 1000’ fire road climb in 3.5 miles, and then 3.5 singletrack back down. So total miles and averages don’t tell the whole story.

 

I had a similar thought. When I moved to Bentonville, I picked up a Remedy thinking I'd want more travel. Never used all the travel so went back down to a Fuel and am much happier. It's the right amount of travel for how I ride and the terrain.

 

It really comes down to the debate of is it better to be over or under biked? I know the trails he rides as I ride them all as well, a typical 140mm travel bike would be fine, but as we all progress in our abilities and fitness levels, the speed at which some pretty hardcore New England tech is ridden becomes a bit more defining. I upgraded from a 140mm to 150mm up front and can definitely take a hard rock drop or rock garden hit with a bit more ease and comfort. A fast run through rough rock gardens is more manageable on a longer travel bike and requires less 'monkey riding' - instead of hanging on for the ride, it becomes more point and shoot.

We do end up riding some mellow trail networks where a hardtail would run just fine, but a 3-4' rock drop at speed starts to eat up travel quickly. Maybe it's becoming older or more of a 'want to go fast' riding style, but a 160mm travel bike for New England technical runs seems to fit the bill. These new bikes climb extremely well and there doesn't appear to be much of a penalty for trading travel/geometry with climbing ability.

I can't speak to where you ride and understand that outside of New England a 1,200' vertical day can be quite mellow, but once you start mixing in downhill days and wanting to ride faster, only having one full suspension bike becomes a challenge to fit all styles. I wish I had the funds to have two bikes - would aim for a 120/130mm XC bike and 160mm enduro bike, but when I only have the means for one, personally I'd lean more towards a longer travel bike.