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

SPD SL spreads the force a bit more, and I definitely noticed it, but it wasn't that bad. Maybe some of it was in my head, I think I'd notice if I was in the tour, but just a casual 30 mile max ride for me and I don't think I'll really notice a difference.

But now I'm switching my commuter bike over so I could use all my shoes/bikes together as I want, getting a second set of shoes with actual tread so I can walk into a store and not be in my Shimano Stilettos.

 

Again...spot on with what I was thinking! At first I thought I'd like the HL 2 over the Druid because of the short chainstays; thinking that would make it more playful. The more I read about the bikes, the more it dawned on me that one of the benefits of HP is that you can keep a neutral stance, even as it moves through it's travel. The short chainstay and long reach is exactly what I'm moving away from with the Offering... it's a super fun bike but I find the limit of that short chainstay on fast/steep/chunky descents and I have to move my body a lot to keep it rubber down. I'm a big guy, and naturally a very active rider, so I'm thinking that I'll be able to keep the druid fun when I want it to be but can also settle into it and let the bike handle the terrain when it gets real rowdy.

On the shock front, I'm mostly planning on the Push cause I already have it on the Offering and it's the same specs on the Druid v2 with the long stroke link.

I've got all the parts in my cart... just gotta build up the courage to click buy!

On one final note. @abacall and @PhoS what casing and rubber Schwalbe's are you running? MM in ultra soft trail pro front? Albert in soft gravity pro rear?

 

On the Druid I run MM/Albert both Ultra soft/trailpro. I care about traction more than rolling but this set is not bad to climb. The trail pros have been rock solid otherwise, I run em 26/28. I don't know if you're goin mullet or 29 but fyi a 2.5 29 is a tight fit on the rear of the Druid, mullet will have way more space.

 

Yeah for me it’s just easier to have one style clear for all my bikes. I can wear gravel shoes on the MTB and MTB shoes on the gravel bike. Plus like you said you can have rubber touching the ground which is nice.

 

And sandals.

My commuter bike will have an SPD/platform pedal so I can ride it with whatever, that's a gravel ish bike. But i also use it to run the dog, so being on a platform instead for that would be nice.

It's nice. I haven't used the chunky SPD since I raced BMX bikes....17 years ago? Forgot how easy it is to use them since I grew out if it

 

Spendy frame, I swear I saw it on sale earlier in the season...

MM Trail super soft front, Albert gravity soft rear. But that's going to change soon.

Going to switch the front to gravity next tire, getting a bit too much squirm in high G outs and fast berms, also hoping to run less pressure and get even more compliance out of them. I've never been bothered by a heavier tire in the front anyways, I generally like the more dampened feel.

I think I'm also going back to the Conti Kryps on the rear. They're just so bomb proof and have a great life, and are cheaper. I also ride loose in the rear, and the Contis have enough grip for me. I go through rear tires pretty damn quickly, like 200 miles.

 

FYI, i9 is having a demo sale, decent deals in their outlet store.

 

Who do you all use for shipping? Someone asked for shipping for my spire and it came out to $280…is that normal these days? I feel like last time I shipped a bike it was under $200 but it’s been a while

 

Parcelmonkey for big stuff usually.

 

Gravity pro for enduro bike or bike park for sure. I only really feel the trails squirm on smooth hardpack flow stuff which I rarely ride. TBH I really want a Tacky chan radial gravity rear for the trail and DH as I like that pattern a bit more than than the Albert for my conditions. I think it's in the pipeline to release later this year. That new highroller looking pattern looks interesting as well, I get along well with intermediates on the front. Have you tried the Argo front? I haven't yet but I have a bunch of fast buddies who swear by them.

 

Thanks I’ll check it out!

 

Bike flights has always been reasonable for me. Someone here I know have used pirate ship if that’s still a thing

 

Where's it gotta go?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/northeast-tw-express-thread.461780/

We've gotten some stuff pretty far

 

It’s gotta go to California haha. The guy is interested so he might just be getting it in two boxes haha

 

I've used Bike Flights three times with zero issues - Two complete bikes, one frame. Find the smallest box possible! And yes, $280 seems quite high.

 

PayPal shipping was cheap if you sell with them.

I haven't tried the Tacky Chan or the Argos. The TCs definitely seem interesting, and might even be better than a MM front on loose. Those big side knobs and big channel look like they'd corner awesome. I'll definitely try a set in radial when they come out.
Seems like the TCs have bigger side knobs and shorter, wider spaced middle. The Argos seem more like a more aggressive MM. That sound about right?
How are you they compared to the MM? I ride pretty much everything, trails, skidders, rocks, roots, sloppy, deep and dusty, flow/jumps... That makes tire choice a bit tricky. So far, the MM/Albert is a great all-arounder. I was quite surprised how well the Albert rolled. Always willing to experiment though.
My only hesitation is how wooden other casings feel after the riding the radials.

 

Compared to MM the TC has a big channel, so on lean in so it feels more like a dhf. The side knobs are very supported and don't really squirm or fold. They have a locked in feeling but if you're not prepared for the transition zone you can get caught out. (Or do a sick schralp and pretend like nothing happened)

I did a ride yesterday in some loose dry mixed to loamy and marbly conditions on the eeb which has Assg/dhr2. I had zero confidence on the front compared to what I feel on a MM. Feels like I'm just waiting for it to slide at any moment, very unpredictable, can't wait to get it off there. I might grab a set of Judge/verdict to try since they are so damn cheap, my friend has them on his eeb and has been loving them.

 

VA to CA shipping isn't gonna be cheap...and I've learned shipping lots of bikes/bike parts/warranty product, buy once, grab kleenex once.

Having to recover or find lost...or worse...damaged stuff...through inferior shipping channels pales in comparison to paying a little extra.

BikeFlights has never let me down, and I've used them a LOT.

If you wanna save a little with them, hedge on the insurance cost...but they use UPS ground, which has been very reliable/on time coast to coast...usually a 3-5 day trip barring any weather delays.

I would expect to pay somewhere between 170 and 250 (280 seems high, but maybe with extra insurance???) depending on the size/weight of the box, which most chill/busy shops will huck you for free, with packing materials. Good luck with the sale and ship.

 

My last bike shipment on 6/11/25, already had the box. Cut it down like 12 inches. It cost me $191.50.

51x33x11.



It was a v1 Arrival with Push 11/6.
Selling this got me $3,681 after shipping.

Here’s how much I paid 2+ years ago. Hurts

 

I use pirate ship quite a bit, and much cheaper than retail rate.

Cheapest way to ship I've found is to make friends with the shipping clerk at work if you have a shipping dock. Commercial freight costs are WAY cheaper. I just have them print off the invoice with the cost and pay back the invoice, usually putting it in the employee owed line on my monthly expense reports. Def check with your accounting department or whatever first though.