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

Have a wild idea of maybe popping out to Whistler this summer (mid-July?) and then looping back through Bellingham again. Anyone been to Whistler, and have tips/suggestions?

Probably looking at renting a DH bike so I dont have to worry about thrashing on my own bike.

 

I love my steel hardtail! It's well due for some upgrades though(still running 3x front chainrings)


This is a pre AZ move Vassago, I think they were in NC at the time of this model.

 

(1) I feel like Deer Valley beats on my bike more than Whistler! The majority of park trails are great with a solid trail or enduro bike.

(2) Avoid Crankworx unless that's what you want to see. Lift lines are crazy and the park is hammered (not to mention So.Many.People).

(3) Keep in mind that the main lift, Fitzsimmons, is closed for 2023. Your only lift option from the village will be the Gondola. You can make laps on Garbanzo (upper mountain) once you're up there, but lapping classic stuff like A-line, Ninja Cougar & Crank It Up will be tough. I can't imagine what the Gondola line will look like. There's always Creekside which is actually super fun.

(4) Whistler has a "twilight" or similar named pass. It's basically good from 4pm to close...In July, that's probably around 8pm. In my experience, the park is slower around 5-6pm. By 7-7:30, it's practically dead. Maybe do a nice ride in the valley in the mornings and hit the park for Twilight. ???

(5) Give me a call or better yet, come over and have a beer. Let's talk shop.

 

When I get back in town Ill do that. Was good catching up the other day!

 

https://cycled.pnwcomponents.com/products/cascade-dropper-post?variant=31979181867055

 

Never had a clue they had a refurbished site.

 

same here! cool!

 

Update, I got a Giga! I really like my Hugene so I'm gonna keep as my main trail steed and maybe sell the ebike. I plans on doing some Whistler and shuttling this summer so I needed a big bike. I think this will do.

Rest of the build is on the way, I'm doin XT drivetrain/brakes, RF ERA cranks, Enve bar/wheels, SQlab saddle.

 

Some DEEP discounts at My Bike Shop if you find anything you need/like

 

My Hayes T2 delivered yesterday. I think most good pickings have been taken unless they’re adding stock as cleaning warehouse.

 

A question for you guys. I was unaware that bigger 35m bars was a thing, until I got my new bike. I had initially saved my Renthal Carbon bars to swap over from my previous bike. I was watching some videos and some people prefer the 31.8mm still. I assume I should probably just run the bigger bar on this SJ Evo, right? I can sell the Renthals probably to a friend. And if I decide to get bars in the future for this bike, I assume it would make sense to get 35mm bars rather than swap stems to run the smaller bar? I don't have any experience with the bigger bar, so I didn't know if anyone on here has ever swapped back to the smaller bars from a 35mm. If there is a reason to maybe do that, then I can just shelf these and then maybe get a stem to try it, later. But if that is not suggested to do that on this bike, then I will just get it out of my head and let me buddy have the 31.8 Renthals.

 

I see no reason why you couldn't swap from 35 to 31.8 bars. That's not something that's bike-specific, that's user preference only. When I built up my SJ, I could have gone either way and not given it a second thought. I bought the bars and stem that I thought would suit me the best.

 

Ok cool. I guess I'll have to think on it a bit and ride the bike as-is first, to see how it feels. Thanks.

 

I think it’s just a matter of where you’d rather spend the money. New bars or new stem, assuming I understood that your sj has 35mm. I think trying out the one up carbon bars might be worth it. I’m a fan so far

 

Ya my old one has 31.8mm and I have Carbon 31.8mm Renthals that won't fit my new SJ Evo (with 35mm mount.) And that's actually what a friend suggested, that I just sell the 31.8 bars and then grab a set of One Up Carbon 35mm to put on the new bike.

 

If you like your Renthal bar, getting a 31.8 stem would likely be cheaper than getting the Oneup bar.

 

I'm a 31.8 bar guy. Got shit BMX wrists that have been busted up a few times so I need all the give I can get. I have almost exclusively ridden Enve's bars for the last 8 years or so, they're just so damn comfy for me. I do have a 35mm SC carbon bar on the ebike because it was one of the only ebike specific carbon bars I could find at the time. I would change it out in a second if I could as it's definitely not as compliant. One up claims they have made their new 35mm bar super compliant but I haven't tried it.

 

Put a blindfold on me and I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference between 31.8 and 35.

Some people, like me, won't really notice, some definitely notice, and many only think they notice because they spent a bit of money.

I'd ride as is....if you find the 35 doesn't work for you then change it.

 

Well said

 

Totally. I’ve got 31.8 and 35 on different bikes. I notice difference b/w brands of bar way more than diameter. Got a pair of 31.8 Santa Cruz carbons that are so stiff they’re almost unrideable after 60 or so minutes due to hand pain. Race Face 35, 31.8, and Thomson 31.8 all “invisible”.