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

- Carvin's Cove - probably the best trails in the area
- Explore Park - fun, basically XC trails, pretty short.
- Falling Creek Park (Bedford) - Surprisingly fun but just basic flowy XC. There are 3 jump lines (novice, intermediate, expert), the expert line is not that difficult but is fun.
- Mill Mountain Park - Stay away from Chestnut Hill Trail. It is owned by the NPS and even though it is on Trailforks and a dedicated Facebook page as being open to MTB, it is not. I finally asked at some of the local shops and the ongoing battle for access was explained. The other trails here are ehhh.
- Smith Mountain Lake (there are two trail systems on opposite sides of the lake according to Trailforks) - These are shown as blue trails on Trailforks but LBS said they are more just gravel roads than single track. Not worth the drive.

I think you have hit most of the ones immediately in the area. Mom is still up there so these are the ones that I try to hit up everytime I am up there.

Might try to get the Liberty Mountain in Lynchburg next time I am up there. Looks like there are a lot of trails, not sure how they are.

Supposedly some decent trails in Blacksburg but I have never made it up there. Some other VT people on here might be able to weigh in on these.

 

FYI - I got a Smuggler frame last year. I put a Fox36 150mm on front and removed one of two travel limiters/spacers in the Fox float X (the rear is now 135mm vs stock 130mm). It can take a beating and is such a fun bike! I highly recommend.

If you can fit on a Small or XX-Large, the closeout frames are on super-sale.
https://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes_Smuggler_Closeout.cfm

 

Has anyone put one of the new 1Up Super Duty on a 2024 Tacoma? Looking to check on some tailgate compatibility and if there are any clearance issues.

I can't find the truck in with my Alta Rack GPR anymore so am looking at switching up my rack.

 

dang I wish haha, I'd be a large, maybe a medium but I need to check the geo for that. The spire is a tiny bit too long in the reach in size Large for me (maybe someone can correct my logic but I have a tough time weighting the front tire and think it is the reach).

 

Beta is very much appreciated, thank you. We’ll be riding the area Mon-wed this coming week if anyone is around.

 

Combination of front and rear center, and riding style and terrain. No real definitive answer except to ride a bunch of bikes with different reach and chain stay lengths and find what works for you and your style/terrain.
After trying everything, short and long front and rear center combos, I’ve settled on reach being in the mid/high 450s and rear about 440. I ride a lot of steep/technical and fast flowy. I have an active riding style, and like to get a little loose.

And to complicate things further, suspension tuning and design can make a big difference also. You can always stiffen up the rear and soften the front (with spring rate or compression ) to get more weight over the front wheel. Just make sure to speed up LSR and HSR to get the fork back up after pushing into it.

 

Yesterday was warm and muggy in Santa Cruz. At least compared to the last four or five months. I rode 14 miles/1400’ that felt like 50/5. If Strava had a “slowest ever” category that was me yesterday. I much prefer cold-weather riding. But some new art at the tanks cheered me up. tanks cheer

 

Don't let @abacall fool you. He rides all that he can on normal bikes which includes some really technical shit. And then again on ebikes if he's allowed to. Haha. He's a damn good rider.

 

I think the suspension is a big factor. For me, the zeb is too stiff for bike park but dialed for technical enduro, at least for me.

The only real issue for me is steep turns. Sometimes I have a hard time find traction in turns unless I tell myself to bring my body forward. It is also probably just bad habit from riding bikes that needed me in the backseat to feel stable in the steep stuff. I’ve pretty much always been underbiked until I got the spire.

Demoing a medium spire is probably the answer though because otherwise it is perfect. I love how stable it is and when I do get it in the air it’s fun and easy to ride. I suck at manuals and for some reason it’s easier to manual than my ripley even though it’s so much longer.

 

Took my son and his friend out to Pacifica. Had to tow his friend a little bit but they did great.

 

Up or down? Assuming down based on context.
Have you tried higher rise bars? Kinda counterintuitive since they technically bring your weight back, but the confidence they inspire can help you actually put more on the front since you don't feel sucked-down over the front. Sounds like that added stack might get you out of the habit/fear of not wanting to weight the front.
I had a similar feeling on the Decoy. Like if I was actively weighting the front I would go OTB on steep tech stuff. I realized that the shorter stack was extending my arms and literally pulling me forward, and I didn't like that sensation. I increased stack +30 with bars and spacers under the stem and it was instantly better. The bike was way more balanced and I felt confident enough to weight the front. Trying it is cheap/free.

 

It is on the downs. That idea did cross my mind but like you said I was worried it would put me further back. You’re pretty much describing how I feel on it sometimes haha. I gonna see if I can find some cheap high rise bars and see how that goes.

 

Ibis still has their BlackBird carbon bars with a 30mm rise on sale, $69…

 

Wet spring riding in central PA (Tiadaghton SF).

 

Dang that’s probably not enough, i think I’m already on 20s so I’d want to at least go to 40mm.

 

Add 20 under the stem? Or there are some riser stems also. I have an i9 one.

 

That’s tempting!

 

I’ve only got 5mm I think above the stem right now. I’d have to check again. Maybe I’d notice 30mm with the spacer below the stem. I’ll probably see if anyone local has something cheap haha

 

https://cycled.pnwcomponents.com/products/range-handlebar-gen-3?variant=42754151841839
If you not looking for Carbon, PNW Range V3 for $26. I think shipping was $10. 30mm rise

 

I’ve got an alloy Deity Racepoint. 38mm rise/35mm clamp. Cut down to 780. It has blue graphics, but if you just want to try it out, I’ll send it to you no charge.

I also have an alloy gold Renthal Fatbar. 30mm rise, 35mm clamp, not cut. I would also send this one out no charge.

I’m not going to use either bar, so if you’re interested, PM me.