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

Rode in SoCal, now in NorCal. I usually ride late afternoon or early morning when the temperatures rise. I think early morning is much better though. I also stick to trails with a lot of trees/shade around when it gets hotter just to help a little more. Ultimately, if you know where you are going and plan ahead, you could ride in any temperature. Know your limits, if you are not acclimated to a lot of physical exertion when its 115 degrees out, then think twice about going out.

If you do decide to ride... drink a ton of water/electrolytes the night before. Consider using a camelback or something similar with frozen water in it to keep yourself a little cooler. Lightweight and light color clothing, bring more water than you think you will need. Have your route planned out so you are less likely to get lost. Definitely bring your multi-tool/patch kit/tube/pump... anything you need to get back on the trail and not be stuck walking miles in the heat.

 

SRAM is terrible at shifting under load. I typically drop my power down from my legs to shift, get in the gear I want, then throw the power back down. I have done it so much and for so long it really doesn't interrupt the ride or my momentum. Maybe you could give that a shot?

 

That’s how you’re supposed to shift no matter what brand of drivetrain, that is if you want it all to last any length of time.

 

To me, SRAM is a much more 'elegant' shift when it happens. Shifts feel less clunky and much more smooth. Shimano on the other hand is a very mechanical shift and punchy (neither is good or bad, just my observances).

My favorite thing is riding with a group of people and hearing the mechanical clanging symphony when everyone enters the first climb.

 

You know I'm going to tell you to get the AXS stuff...I mean, by now you would have bought an AXS shifter.
I break shit, and the AXS stuff has been holding up better than anything I've used so far. Consider it. Less faffing about, less waste, less shitty shifting.
You're buying a new shifter and housing anyway. I'm sure your derailleur could use a refresh...

 

Haha. Thays not the issue. The issue is I think I'm pushing too hard on the shifter. I let off the power when I'm shifting to avoid the shifting under load issues.

I redid the housing for now. We'll see how different it behaves.

Hah!! I considered it. GX eagle axs is tempting but.
..that price point is still way up there for me. :/

 

Although
...... I did see some specialized builds with axs with a VERY tempting price. My buddy got one from a local shop and the axs build was all they had and so he got it. Hahah

 

I'm actually thinking this may be worth it on my wife's bike after all. She is hard on bikes and if transmission would reduce my maintenance time, that could be worthwhile to me in time savings.

 

Shimano Hyperglide+ has something to say on the contrary

 

And I’ve ran both systems. Both are excellent and both can be shifted under load, I only shift under load if it’s in a situation where it’s necessary. Drivetrain bits are not cheap and I’m not a wealthy man. I’d rather let off a bit while shifting most of the time to get more longevity out of the bits than mash the shit out of my drivetrain constantly because it can handle it.

 

The amount of time I've saved on "tuning" my RD is worth the cost alone man. It seemed like every three rides or so (after the first honeymoon 200 miles) the bike was on the stand and I was spinning the cranks, turning the barrel, or straight up running new cable or line. I was so sick of that. With the AXS, it's solid. I use the microadjust feature every hundred miles or so, and even then it's like 3 minutes and it's dialed.

For sure. The HG+ shifts are even better under power sometimes. I don't let off with that stuff... if it's tuned right...
Honestly, I don't have a lot of drive to get the new transmission stuff because AXS is so damn good, but if it has the under-load shifting possibilities as advertised it is a draw for sure.

 

I've only ridden on it a few times but shit was bomber. I'll give it a few years and buy some rich guy's takeoffs once the latest new thing comes out

 

haha. my problem with transmission is that i have to put my bike in long mode to be able to put it on so...won't be doing that anytime soon. I like it on short. (i think). :shrug:

 

Has anyone thought about building a rack like this for the Tacoma? This was in my girlfirend's dad F250 so bigger than the Tacoma but I think I could build something similar to put in my rack and the front wheel might have to turn a little but seems like the easiest and safest rack for road bikes as my tailgate pad struggles a little with the drops and big down tube.

 

seems like the rack would need to be really high to fit my road bike under. i need to drop my seat if it want to fit it under my current rack, which is pretty much cab height, to put it on the tailgate pad.

i just bought a 1up so i'll be using that once i order some of those wheel locks.

 

if those were my road bikes I probably wouldn't transport them then way haha. assuming it is only held in by the saddle it's not secure enough for me and if I have to use straps every time I take my bike somewhere I would get annoyed. it is a cool concept though, just not for me haha.

Can't tell if you have a long or short bed but if you have a short bed, I highly doubt it would fit unless the wheel was turned all the way. my gravel bike doesn't fit unless the front wheel is off and it probably isn't too much longer than a madone.

I think you might have to put the bikes in opposition directions with the front wheel turned in. that makes the seat grabber mounting a little more complicated

You would also probably need the rack to be higher than the roof of the truck because I bet the saddle and bars would be pretty high (my warbird saddle hits the ceiling of my truck cap with the front wheel off).

Not trying to discourage you, just giving some insight based on my experience with the short bed and a gravel bike (looks like about 54MM/2" longer than a madone). I do have a cap on my truck so it is a slightly different scenario.

 

Yeah my rack is currently above the cab to help load the bikes into the truck with my tailgate pad.

That's a good point I have a short bed so the bars will need to be turned but that help as then the bike can't roll in any direction. That rack with the only saddle secured works really well as the tires are tight against the tailgate so they can't go anywhere as well.

Then again it was a leap of faith as the first time the rack was taken out I loaded my bike into it. Figured if he was willing to put his expensive bike on it, I will trust it as well.

 

I thought it just needed the UDH...

 

it does. so my bike...to put it in UDH mode, it has to go into long mode. short mode, doesn't take UDH.

 

Variable geometry at the dropout to adjust chainstay length? What bike?