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

where did you get the bed rack for the tent?

 

Its a tragically discontinued C4Fab rack.

 

damn...I like how clean and simple it is...

 

Looking for a bike under $500 that's good for around the neighborhood cruising and easy trails around campsites. I was told hybrid. What do you guys recommend

 

Me too. And perfect height to fit a bike on a tailgate pad under it. Like *exactly* high enough.

 

Looks like the set up has evolved over time

The bed rack that the bike will fit under is money.

 

You probably won’t get many recommendations from this crew on specific hybrid bikes. I’d say if that’s what you are looking for go for a trek, specialized or giant and you cannot go wrong.

 

Current setup: Whole point was to make a mobile bike base camp that can do some other stuff. Works great for my purpose

 

Marin Rafael is what you seek.

They have some lower tier MTBs too, but the Rafael was a great all around bike for me.

 

Hell yea man that's a rad setup... a decent departure angle too if you gotta go through some gnar on your way to said campsite.

We should get the west coast ish TW MTBers together for a little wheeling/mtb camping trip at some point ? not sure if you guys already do that ? I'm new here

 

A few of my favorite bike campsites have a easy but visually intimidating rock obstacle that scares away the Subarus. Its great!

St George Trip could be fun and full of great riding if youre willing. Im sure @ginseng27 would be down to clown as well.

 

that is right along the plans form mine as well!!!

plus will also be pulling a tear drop trailer for family trips since the wife is not into "sleeping on the ground"...

 

Down! probably could rally a few of my local boys with some notice..

Gotta figure out how to mount my bike to this thing.

 

If you can save up a little more, $800 will get you a really good bike but if you are budgeted for $500 there are a few decent options out there.
Avoid any bike under $700 that has a suspension fork, the forks are absolute garbage.

As far as brands besides the big ones (meaning Trek, Specialized, and Giant) these companies also have great bikes from entry level to high end -
https://www.marinbikes.com/
https://www.breezerbikes.com/
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/index.html

I'd go to a small bike shop and talk with them, the big shops usually don't care and will just push to make a sale.

When you say easy trails do you mean mountain bike single track trails? or double track/fire roads? or gravel trails?
Because if you are just going to be riding on flat trails with no obstacles the 3 best bike "types" would be fitness, gravel, or hybrid bike.

I am an avid cyclist, I ride everything from road to gravel to mountain to snow/ice and from easy cruising to racing to ultra endurance
I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have feel free to PM me if you want.

 

that's some really good info! thanks for that. I would be on gravel trails, probably flat with no obstacles. maybe some easy fire roads. with the kids so nothing crazy... yet

awesome i'll check out that bike. thanks. basically want a basic bike that can have chunky tires and won't get easily beat up on dirt trails.

 

Reminds me of a truck I see out at Fruita, CO every once in a while.

 

What am missing from a "ride saver" toolbox? Cardboard is representing the other side of the chainwhip foam. Core tool next to the sealant omitted.

Altoids tin is gonna have zip ties, cores, etc in it.

 

stealing the Altoids tin for cores idea...

 

I was trying to find a mini tin, but of course I cant find them when I need one.

Theyre great for storing all sorts of stuff.

 

Valve core tool, Tube, Tube patch, Shock pump, floor pump, duct tape, tire boot, philips screwdriver, extra derailleur hanger are the missing items you don't have that I carry in my mobile tool box for biking