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

Be weary of the desperate sandbaggers! I've had more than one race where the sport P1 was faster than pro P1 lol

 

that is a good point haha, I haven't seen it in person yet but could definitely see that happening

 

Yeah, while I understand wanting to get a win, it irks me when dudes are obviously not racing in the class that they should be. Not for me, my goal was usually just to finish in the top half, but for faster friends that would have had a podium chance. Not sure how that makes them feel good, but whatever.

What irked me more were the obvious roadies with no trail skills trying their hand at cross-country that want to hold their position and not let you pass. Probably doesn't happen in enduro much, but roadies should keep that attitude to the road races, lol.

 

Their social media followers don't know the difference

 

I'd recommend carrying what you normally would for this length of ride, plus maybe a bit extra since you might be going a little harder. You don't wanna change things up drastically before a race; better to be comfortable and confident in your gear.

I personally have been using these bibs by Ketl lately and I love em!!! The rear pockets go over top of your shorts waistband so it can fit more stuff comfortably. I hardly even use a hip pack these days since I can fit 32 oz of water (frame and bibs pocket), tons of snacks, a phone, or even a whole burrito, and then tools/repair stuff are all on my bike.

It's not always desperate sandbaggers... I've seen plenty of really good mountain bikers who have just never raced before and don't know what class they belong in. It's pretty scary to sign-up for a pro category if you're not sure you belong.

 

Been thinking to try those bibs, but man... I don't know if I can commit to wearing 'em. Just so, roadie (for me).

 

I wear baggies over them and a regular shirt on top of my SWAT bibs so they don't look too roadie.
When people ask what's on my back, I tell them it's an 8 piece KFC box.

 

Got that new sram XX on the ebike. Spent more on my ebike than my truck is worth now

 

Nice- Did you do the install yourself? If so, how did it go?

 

Those bibs look nice to have with those extra deep pockets. I wear bibs, but I’m a roadie, and I do wear baggies over when on the MTB - as I’ve learned my lesson going bib only when I was doing some single track stuff on my gravel bike and got to ride a few miles with my arse hanging out to get shorts from my wife! I just can’t get on the seat with out the bibs…feels so….weird ha! Just test rides up and down the street is weird but that’s years of road riding!

 

Hey guys, I have a couple items for sale on gear trade, if anyone wants anything you can DM on here if you'd prefer. Just note, the Sweet Protection size medium is definitely smaller than the Bontrager size medium...maybe they are just narrow but I couldn't fit my head in them where I usually wear a M or M/L in most other brands.

Sweet Protection Outrider: https://www.geartrade.com/item/891563/sweet-protection-outrider-mips-size-m
Sweet Protection Trail Blazer: https://www.geartrade.com/item/891560/sweet-protection-trail-blazer-mips-ml
Bontrager Rally MIPS: https://www.geartrade.com/item/891564/bontrager-rally-mips-size-m

 

I recently sold my Ogre. I used it to bikepack and commute for a couple of years in all seasons and all weather. Ran it 27.5 x 2.8 because I'm short. I called it my "truck bike" because it carried anything I could strap to it and still pedaled nicely. Very versatile.

 

Got the bike back from my LBS. After a week and a half of no response from SRAM, through a warranty claim, I took it to my LBS, who ended up shipping it to them in Colorado. They just did a rebuild, and shipped it back. Guess we'll see of the leak is fixed. Atleast the sticktion is gone.

 

Any of you guys do a fair bit of climbing on coil shocks? As I’m looking at new bikes I like the idea of a coil cus when I rode a buddies bike at the bike park I loved how it rode on a 2018 enduro. But for non park or shuttle days the climbs for me are pretty long to get access to the trails I prefer. Although I don’t care about strava times on the climbs. For climbing with the mentality of “just keep it spinning I’ll get there eventually” y’all think I’d regret running a coil shock instead of air?
I’m lookin at bikes in the 150-160 rear travel range. Sentinel is most likely, then Trek slash/sb150 are tied. And considering jeffsy and kona process 153 depending what kind of deals I see. I’ve heard from a friends dad he regretted running a coil on his Capra that was 170/170 since he’d really feel the pedal bob after changing to coil. But on these other bikes that pedal better than a Capra to begin with?

I’m all ears. I’d have no clue what spring rate to run either for a 165-170 pound with gear rider. I’m sure I can find that online but I do understand lighter rate will bob more pedaling and be softer etc

 

Just finished building my new mullet gravel bike. I was excited that it all works, even after running my own hydraulic brakes. Haha just wanted to share.
I copied the spec of the Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon, but I already had some zipp 303s so I didn’t feel like paying extra for another set of carbon wheels. Also it was fun to build to learn more about all of the components on my bike and how to maintain them better. All in, not counting the wheels, I spend about 1800 less than pre built.

 

I've looked st coils in the past and its always intrigued me but never to the point of msking the jump. I've been watching The Lost Co's series where he put a coil on a Stumpjumper Evo, which is a 160F/150R bike. I'd take a few minutes and watch that series, he tries to run through the pros and cons, including ckimbing. They also have a spring calculstor to give you a starting point for selecting a spring rate. Not an endorsement, but i liked the video series.

 

Didn’t know you could run coils on that frame. Interesting. That one’s on my list of - if I buy, I’ll buy new. Since specialized has some killer sales going right now. And used doesn’t seem to save much of anything for those

 

I didn't either, and i think that was a big part of why he made the video. That rear suspension setup is not compatible with all coils and he makes that one of the highlights of the series.

 

CHP got me for obstructed rear license plate (and no front license plate) late last night. They were really just looking for an excuse to look for drunks (they gave me a sobriety test). Getting a license plate mount for the 1Up and a no drill front plate mount so I can fix the fix-it ticket. I should've gotten one for all the racks after I got pulled over in the ATL for the same.

 

Tailgate pad master race

edit: F CHP