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

For a (mostly) dedicated park bike, I'd go carbon for the stiffness alone. I realize it's all personal preference, but that's mine.

I bought a 40% off Smuggler frame last fall and it was the best decision I've made in years!

 

If y'all haven't already, watch this new Brage V video right now!! Not my kind of riding, but...Damn!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G08Io_8nDJo&t=1347s

 

This was so intense to watch. Gnarly lines and so raw. Natural selection looked like a skate park compared to this

 

For all of you online sellers here: Am I safe using Venmo for a frame I am selling and need to ship? Is Paypal better/same/worse?? Something different??? Thanks!!

 

I hadn’t given any thought to tolerances being that much different between carbon and alloy, that was interesting to learn. I wonder if tolerances are more consistent within a brand that only produces alloy, like Commencal. I can see QC being better on carbon frames for companies that make both, the carbon is the higher end build.

 

Sadly, no. I flew out Monday AM.

Proximity is def nice. I picked up my Spur from HQ. Never had a warranty issue yet on V1 Sentinel or Spur.

Maybe I try to demo a Spire before I bite, knowing how well my Sentinel fits, I'd prob be fine, but it gets discounted off the price if I buy it through them anyways so I am not out anything extra. Weather is trash for the foreseeable future unfortunately, so will have to wait a bit.

 

Paypal is the parent of Venmo, so different, but the same. Both are relatively secure, and offer good buyer protection, but know some people that have been ripped off as a seller if the buyer is sketchy and knows the right moves re: dispute. The thing that has gotten me before on full bikes is the $2,500/day limit if I remember right.

Zelle is a secure payment method that goes bank to bank so in theory is more secure since banking is heavily regulated. Check what your daily limits with your bank are though, as it varies.

 

Thank you!!! My prospective buyer asked if I would use Zelle or Venmo, so I will def check out Zelle.

 

Still pretty wet in NorCal. Two Quarry at Annadel is always a nice challenge to climb non-stop, no-dab. It's even tougher now after all the rains.

 

I dig my spire in carbon but I’d probably not be able to tell the difference between it and an alloy version. Whatever version you buy ride wrap it because their frame paint sucks

 

Actually commencal are known for their shitty frame quality and tolerances. Cool bikes, wouldn’t buy one personally.
The biggest difference is using a mold vs using a weld to get things lined up. A mold is repeatable with little to no variation. A weld, well it’s joining metal tubes together with melted metal so…
The prices are close, about $800. You get better strength, better tolerances, no fatigue over its lifetime, and a bit of weight savings. You also get to know you’ve created a material that can’t be recycled, causes cancer to make, and will even end up in a landfill.
Environmentalism isn’t exactly our strong suit as MTBers.

 

Commencal isn't really a budget friendly d2c brand anymore imo. Their bikes are expensive now, especially for alloy. I draw the line at about $2500 for an alu. frame btw. They have not unreliable or problematic at all in my experience. Would buy them over something like a Transition alloy frame 10/10 times. None of mine ever creaked or had any serious issues.

Pudding:

Rode 5 years until warranty was up, had to change seat stay/rocker bearings once. Sold it , dude still rides it.




Rode 3+ years, replaced seat stay/rocker bearings. (same tiny shit) Sold to friend who is still riding it.



Still riding this, 21 -> , haven't replaced shit. I have the bearings and might tear into it this wknd but nothing has stood out.

 

I have seen some Commencal frame issues but didn’t know how wide spread it is. I’ve got a Meta HT and absolutely love it. It was bought as a frame only and I built it up to be an abuse bike. It has decent components but has been put through some pretty good abuse. I have an inexpensive alloy gravel bike and, by comparison, the Commencal frame looks much better (welds are nice and smooth). I guess we’ll see how the frame holds up over time although, being a hard tail and the way I ride, I don’t envision having any issues.

 

Just don’t use Zelle as a buyer unless in person… no buyer protection.. Venmo and PayPal buyer protection has refunded me on 3 occasions I can think of

 

Yeah, PayPal I think is the best choice here. Even pink bike says to use it.

 

Yep, both my current transitions, I am amazed how soft the paint is.

 

Does anyone know if the 1Up Super Duty Rack will clear the new 4 Gen Tacoma tailgate? I would assume only in the down position.

I have an Alta GPR, but its too long to fit in the garage on the new truck.

Thanks.

 

so.......send your frames to tec-gnar and get them custom painted! lol.

 

The real reason GT went bankrupt...

 

Found a good deal on a fox 36 fork. I have a 2020 Stumpy ST. it has a 51mm rake. The fork I am looking at has a 44mm rake. Would it be compatible ?