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

@cartter469

 

I just sold my business. Time for a new bike

I'm historically a cheapass with my bikes but Imma treat myself this time around

 

REEB. Do it.

 

I’ve grown pretty accustomed to night riding solo, and have plenty of lumens on my helmet and handlebars…but if that imagination fires up after hearing an owl screech, the hair stands up on the back of your neck and it’s go time! Most of my PRs are from night rides with my eyes focused only on the illuminated trail, the cool temps and the boogie man chasing me.

 

We have a local builder in town and trying to go that route. Custom geometry is the goal

https://ferrumbikes.com/

 

No longer doing tours, or just no longer the owner of the tour business?

 

I've grown to love riding alone. No time to wait for friends with the kid situation, so if no one responds or is available, I just go. I've actually found that riding alone has improved my fitness since there's less chit chat. Wife and I have our locations shared via google maps so she can always tell where I am.

 

congrats dude!

Treat yo self! So many rad bikes out there!

 

Totally agree with this. most of my fastest times are at night... Hyper-focused on only what I can see. And like you said the rabbit rustling in the bushes has me convinced it's either interdimensional bigfoot or the loch ness monster or a big kitty that has me on the menu. So must hold it pinned!

During the day my mind is always like ohhh, look at those mountains over there... is that a trail? what a great view.

I also prefer driving at night in the desert... lights bumper and roof lights. Feels like a video game haha

My 2 cents on Riding solo in general is good and bad...

Good
- no need to take breaks and chat
- less bikes to have a mechanical
- no waiting/planning

Bad
- no one to high five at the top of a grueling climb or gnarly downhill
- no one to help you if you have a mechanical
- no one to find your carcass if you go down hard.

Obviously, try to stick to trail systems you know and not go full kill on the downs ( always the hard part), Have water and tools to get yourself outta there and let someone know where you are.

And if riding at night make sure you have 2 or more lights. In case one dies/ you wad it and snap the mount off the bars/ helmet. Having a light go out when you are getting after it in the rough is fairly shitacular. Couple weeks ago was going down a lovely trail black diamond trail called Dead Cow. My nightrider went out 3600 lumens...thankfully had helmet light on. 800 lumen. Which seemed like a BIC lighter at the time but was far better than nothing.

Good Times.

 

If Y'all go on a biking/hiking/wheeling trip and are camping or sleeping in the truck at nights. Where do yall keep your bike when you're away from the truck or not on the bike? I'm thinking my only option is take wheels off and keep bike under my bed cover. Would suck to have to do wheels on and off, and take up the space like that in the bed, but also don't just want to leave the bike sitting in the bed. I do have a decently thick cable lock, but not one of those big chain style ones. Plus if someone really wants the bike, they're gonna get it.

 

if i'm sleeping, i am usually near the truck and i ahve the bike locked up to my bike rack with cables and chains and whips..I mean not whips. but alll the locks come out. but i'm usually camping out in the woods so there's nto really a lot of people around. If anyone tries anything, I'll hear the loud chain.

if i'm walking around town, I keep it very visible and same locks and chains come out. They'd have to get an angle grinder out in public to get through one of my chains and it'd take a long time and be very obviously stealing.

I also lock up the bikes together with the chain so even if they manage to get both bikes off but not the chain, they'd have a hard time moving the bikes around.

 

Fiberglass cap FTW! Again though, if someone wants to smash the glass, they'd still be able to get the bike. I also have a full size truck so I can remove the front wheel and put the bike cross-wise in the back seat. With a Tacoma, you might be able to remove both wheels and stuff the bike across the cab.

 

Thought abt those. Not too worried abt the camping aspect. More of the part where I’d go on some hikes and go climbing and I’d be away from the truck for hours on end. For that it’s either chain or get it hidden away in the truck I guess. Although depending how many people go with me on the trip debating getting a small air bnb for 2 nights and do the majority of our away from truck activities those days

 

Here’s some more photos. Let me know if you want something specific. I do need to give it a bath.

 

https://noblwheels.com/tr37/

Anyone interested in a mullet/mx (27.5 front/29 rear) set of Nobl TR37 carbon wheels w/ I9 Hydras (all black), never ridden or had tires mounted to them for $1300? He's looking to get what he has in them. One is actually still in shipping delayed somewhere in Utah. The product has not been registered yet so the new owner would get the lifetime warranty. My brother ordered them and does not like the glossy look for the bike he is building up (SC Bronson). Would be willing to ship but at your cost. Probably much more likely to deliver in TN, GA, AL or KY and turn it into a riding trip.

 

2021 when I got her:



Today:



https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/nancynancy/pivot-switchblade-v2-mojave

Go press the Like button!!

 

Well said on the high-fives at the top of a climb or downhill. I mix up solo rides and group rides quite often and each has their own perk and detriment, but not getting a high five when you clear a shit climb is noticeable. Funny how the shared misery can make the slog suck a little bit less.

I have also noticed in group rides that I can watch someone else clear a section and find a line I never knew existed. There is a trail network that is pretty tame out here but one trail always had one corner with a couple rocks I couldn't clear. I knew going into it that I was going to dab out and chalked it up to being on an extra large bike with 29" wheels that couldn't physically make the turn. Then I rode with a buddy who never had been there before and cut the corner on the inside of a boulder and flew right through it - was sort of embarrassed I never saw that as an option. If I only rode solo, that one corner would still be the bane of my existence.

 

Solo riding for me, Was when I progressed the most on fitness, but never tried anything new. But I would still push myself for faster up and down on what I already knew. If I knew I was going to really push it, I’d ride a trail that was somewhat common with hikers as well.

i only wiped out once solo riding. But a group of hikers saw me. Nice to have someone around just in case. Each time I wiped out in Phoenix I got real banged up since rocks and cactus aren’t so forgiving. And every wipeout with friends I wasn’t worried either.

plus my parents knew what trailhead I was starting at and that I’d be home before dark

 

Personally I ride alone all the time, but I climb, backpack, and off-road solo also. I just let someone responsible know where I’m going and do my thing. I used to ski into the wilderness and winter camp all the time by myself. My biggest adventure was a ten day solo in the Weminuche Wilderness in early spring to climb some remote peaks. I like riding with friends when I can, but I’m not going to sit on my ass just because my friends don’t feel like doing something. It helps being an introvert to go on solo adventures, but it’s also rewarding to develop the self reliance.

 

Rainy NorCal day and a broken crank bolt = an over the top upgrade.