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

I've lost one of the little black lever nubs on mine, and a few weeks ago the whole ratchet bar had popped off on one side, but the bolt was still retained thankfully.

 

Any Trail recommendations for Flagstaff? We are headed up to Cinders for Labor day was thinking about bringing the MTB.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cinder-hills-takeover-labor-day-weekend.797502/ Come hang out if you are local or down to make the quest!

 

Depending on what you're looking for,

Mount Elden area was fun. Sunset (lower) ( https://www.trailforks.com/trails/sunset-lower/)
and Schulz Creek ( https://www.trailforks.com/trails/azt-schultz-creek-553150/ )
were a good ride. do a loop from the parking lot https://www.trailforks.com/poi/37233/

 

@ginseng27 rad thanks dude!

 

Maybe I'm outside the norm, I ride it in the open position.

 

I’m with you on this one.

 

Second for Schulz. Did a lollipop loop with a buddy who’s semi local up there a few years ago. Moto trails, secret, schulz among others. Awesome. Ended up having another friend who was cooked and done for the day shuttle us up to a campground so we could ride down Schulz a second time. More fun second time with a little line knowledge

 

Doesn’t sound like it. I really hesitated to buy a different shock because I’m not an overly experienced rider and wasn’t sure if what I experienced was just normal for that bike. I did a bunch of research and the DVO seemed to be praised for good support at the top of the stroke, which is what I felt the Fox was lacking. I bought the Topaz during their summer sale and got it with a custom tube for the bike and my weight/riding style. So far, I only have part of this season on it but I’m very happy with it.

 

it's surprisingly good! it's listed as green on trailforks and yeah, there's no "gnar" on it but it's got some real good flow and gradient that it makes it a blast.

 

Luckily we were there on a weekday, I understand it gets a fair amount of hiking traffic on weekends. We didn’t have that issue.

 

Interesting. I rode in the open position most of the summer. Just playing clickers and air pressure. It's good. I just felt like mentioned above, that the shock sucked up some of the smaller jumps when I wanted to pull up for extra lift or just getting the front light, in general. So I just tried the firm setting and noticed the bike had more pop, but handled some fast flowy stuff, quite well too. So I didn't know if it's a preference thing or if that firm mode isn't meant for faster sections, small jumps etc.

 

I kind of agree… my two reasons for leaving the ripmo and rascal in open is that I have had weird success where climbing techy features worked in open but I messed up in mid or firm- not always but enough to wonder if there’s something to it… and I forget to open it up before I go down a techy section and I worry I’m gonna blow up the shock… I live where it’s pretty undulating though… definitely on longer climbs firming it up is less tiring… maybe someone can put these beliefs to bed

 

Where I ride there arent any long climbs. Its constant up down, jumps drops - short but feature rich trails. Are you using the general pressures/settings recommended by specialized?

 

Yes, I'm mainly worried that riding in the firm mode the majority of the time is putting pressure on the shock or elsewhere on the bike.

As far as I know. I'm like 190lbs and running about 215psi. The sag seems to be where it needs to be (less than 25%.) I don't bottom the shock or have any issues with how it rides in the open position. But I just think it dips into the travel too easily when I'm trying to lift the front or wanting some pop from the bike. It just sticks down and holds its line. And that's cool but sometimes I just would rather the bike respond more and the firm setting really gives me that.

We did a switchback downhill section over the weekend, lots of banked turns and smaller table tops. In open, the bike barely comes off the lip. I tried in firm (same psi) and I could jump normally and sort of move the bike around more to manual, pump etc.

 

The Forest Service, FlagBikeOrg, and the local shops have been going crazy with trail building in Flagstaff lately, it's amazing. I'll add the the chorus that Schultz, Sunset, and the Moto trails are fun. However, I'd also like to make a plug for 2 more areas - Elden North (Heart Trail and Little Bear), and the new trails on Elden South (Big Bang, Brookbank, and such).

Disclaimer: these routes will all require over 2k of climbing; they're big days in vert but worth it.

Route 1 - North side Elden: Sandy Seep > AZT Elden > Little Bear > Heart > AZT Elden > Sandy Seep (https://www.strava.com/routes/3129081319029667428)
Route 2 - South side Elden: The Y > Rocky Ridge > Elden Lookout Road > Red Onion > Lower Sunset > Schultz > Little Gnarly > Brookbank > Big Bang > Rock Ridge > The Y (https://www.strava.com/routes/3129082250930845116)

 

A guy in a local MTB facebook group posted this up. The main feature that I haven't seen anywhere else is the rain totals for the past 24-72 hours. Pretty cool website!

https://rain-data.onrender.com/Explore

 

I'd also check out Windy.com. Tons of weather info!

https://www.windy.com/38.704/-77.220?rainAccu,next3d,39.633,-77.399,8

 

I dont *think* running it in firm will hurt anything - I would think its better than bottoming out. Idk if its worth playing with volume spacers if you like how its riding on firm.

 

You might be asking too much from your shock. I primarily ride chunky trails with zero groomed turns or jumps. Every time I ride park I have to run back to the parking lot and put psi in. Quite frustrating that i forget but the owner of Ride BHM has the same problem but in reverse. Tokens may help minimize some of the problem.

 

Appreciate the feedback, fellas. Thank you!