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

Definitely look at the Schwalbe Radials. They live up to the hype. Sounds like the Alberts might be a good fit for you, and since you're ridding full-fat, get the gravity set. You're not going to lose much range, and still get all the protection.

 

Less overlap between bikes is always nice. The new Status looks like it would be a good park bike. Is the Enduro a forgotten product at this point? The last one was a ripper, just not the ez pedal long travel bike most people wanted like you can get Nomad, Spire, HD6.

 

Conti finally got the super soft enduro casing KRF shipping. Would be hard to miss with the Contis, they are excellent all around.

2nding these. Dual Albert is solid for hard pack , but if you're riding more loose dirt or loamy stuff go Magic mary up front.

 

Happy Birthday Murica!

 

I've been on an Evil Offering v2 for a few years and it's starting to feel a bit beat up, so I'm considering a few options.

I really love the Offering. I have it setup with a 160mm Lyrik and Push 11/6. It's playful first, which suits my riding style, but cushy and slack enough that I rarely feel under-biked. It's a bit heavy with the coil but I can pedal it all day and be content, which is important to me. So I'm looking for something similar but a little bit different at the same time.

Options I'm strongly considering:

• Deviate Highlander 2 (or claymore?)
• We Are One Arrival 152 (or 170?)
• Forbidden Druid (Dreadnought?)
• Tear down and upgrade my offering

What say you?!

 

These were on the short list.

I rarely take the bike out of eco mode so I have never come close to running out of range. I normally run out of range before the bike. Guess I should take better advantage of that battery.

I really like the Contis, just wondering if there is something else out there. I put the Contis on new WR1 wheels and cut minutes off my local times. I'm sure it was the combination of wheels and tires but they were definitely faster than the DHRII F/R on my 5010.

Not a lot of loam in VA but there is plenty of loose over hard pack dirt. This might be the winner winner.

 

That's what I'm riding too. MM up front, Albert in back. Though I might go back to the Conti KRR for the rear. Those really hold up incredibly well in the back, and I haven't noticed much improvement in terms of grip on the rear with the Alberts. The front, significantly better.

• Deviate Highlander 2 (or claymore?) HP makes those much less fun to pedal all day. There are some that pedal a lot better, like the Druid.
• We Are One Arrival 152 (or 170?) I've owned this bike, loved it. They aren't going to support it anymore unfortunately, so if you break something, you might be out of luck. It also fits a little weird.
• Forbidden Druid (Dreadnought?). Druid is awesome. Know a few people on the them, no one regrets it. These guys are hitting some gnarly features, and pedal up to them.
• If it were me, I'd be looking at the Bronson/Hightower in that travel range and use case. SC bikes ride really well, have excellent support, and lots of great features. The fact that Cascade and Push offer (or will) support makes them even more attractive.

I currently have a 5010 and a Nomad. Love them both. I'm going to pick up the Cascade link for the 5010, turn it into a 140/150 bike. That might be my all arounder for a bit. It pedals well, and it's super playful. It does run out of travel in the rough with the stock 130/140 though, so I'm hoping the conversion will help it deal with those situation better but still keep it's pedal/lively nature.
Some killer deals on the older model right now also.

 

I know the HP bikes seem like funny choices for someone looking for a lively, pedal bike. I ride my hardtail quite often, so this bike would be for the steeper/chunkier days around SLC and desert trips. My thinking was that HP would be good on the chunky trails and especially good in the desert.

I was reading that the Deviate pedals really well and is quite lively for a HP. I was wondering if that, or the druid v2, would walk the line nicely between lively trail bike and enduro plow bike. I also think they just look super cool.

For some reason I've never gotten along well with VPP. I'm not sure what it is but I've demo'd lots of SC bikes over the years and I never feel like I can get the suspension dialed.

 

I get that. Everyone has a platform that works and some that don’t. I personally don’t get along with FSR or 4bar. The Transition works for be since it’s using a motor.
Id also keep in mind company longevity. If something happens and you can’t get support, that would suck. That closes a lot of doors right now. Like Revel, wish make great bikes, but they’re risky even after the buy out. All the smaller brands are struggling right now, and they’re all just holding on for what they hope will be an upswing which may never come. In which case there’s going to be more closed doors at some of those smaller companies.
I think forbidden will be ok. They have a very competitive e-bike coming which will be a cash cow for them.

 

Just posted this up if anyone is interested. Not sure how the price is but open to offers. I’m trying to get an e-bike and can’t really fit another bike right now. Open to trades for a smuggler or something similar in the 130-140mm range so I can swap my ripley parts over.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/4050556/

 

I think price might be about $500 high, but it doesn't hurt to start there. You never know. I think you'll probably get lots of traction with the trades though. Sweet bike.

 

Oak Mtn’s new trail rodeo clown is amazing for rock gardens and jump progression. It’s fairly good elevation at 300’ per mile up also.

I’ve been trying to session in the emtb.

 

That’s kind of what I was thinking but figure I’ll give it a couple days to a week and lower it a little. I think an ideal trade would be for a smuggler frame plus cash but we will see haha.

it’s a great bike, I just don’t use it enough and between a new job with less flexibility and other life changes I probably won’t be using it near as much haha. The only improvements I think would be better wheels, even then they have been solid. To think the only thing I’ve changed are the tires haha

 

I'm on my 2nd season with the Druid v2, it's a blast of a bike. It's super playful, corners amazing, and gobbles though chunk. Pedaling is decent but it's not a sprint up the fireroad type of bike. I have mine a little overcooked with a long stroke cascade link which bumps it to 138ish, and a 160mm fork. Those added just a little more capability at the limit. The Druid rides more like a 150mm all mountain than a trail bike. If you're doing a bunch of park I would probably go Dread just because that geo will do better in the really steep stuff. The high pivot is insane though square edge hits, they feel like they just keep building speed regardless of what you're hitting. If I had to replace it tomorrow I would probably get a Hightower or a Bronson. Those are around where I'd say the Druid punches. I also never liked the old VPP but the new ones are a bit better. I was also looking at the Highlander 2 before I got this. I think it mostly boiled down to that I could get the Druid in black otherwise I would expect them to ride similarly.

 

This is exactly what I needed! I've been reading way too much online about these HP bikes and can't decide what I want. I'm leaning towards exactly the build you have, Druid v2 overforked and long stroke link with a push 11/6. This bike will be for pedal days to rowdier trails, rarely bike park. I like to do big days when I have time but if pace matters I'll take the hardtail.

 

I really like the long stroke link. It added a lot of pop while still improving the small bump. I'm sure it would great with a coil but for weight weenie purposes I'm going to stick with air and get a TTX2 on there.(I also really like that shock..) Just because we have been talking about them I went back and looked at the Highlander 2 again. After having ridden the Druid I would definitely pick it again just based on what I've learned about geo differences in the last couple years. The Highlander has a shorter chainstay and a longer reach which in my experience puts me more over the front. The Druid has a longer chainstay, shorter reach, and taller stack which allows me to be a way more neutral/rearward position. On the Druid I find that I don't have to shift my weight around very much, the front end always has a lot of traction. I like to feel centered and in the bike. Anyways I could blab about this endlessly , I think you'll make the right decision for you.

 

New shoe day



All you mountain bike cool kids, let the nerd road riders have some fun in here

I got set up with SPD instead of SPD SL when I wanted to try some SPD sandals. Sandals didn't work out so now I'm converting everything to SPD anyway. I like it so far after a couple road rides. I have my commuter bike going next - it's going to get a platform/SPD pedal, road bike I'm returning these pedals and going to SPD without any platform.

Anyway, one more thing, as it turns out, after 10 years, I did NOT have SPD SL....I had Look :| found that out the hard way when I got new cleats for my wife to take those over for triathlon stuff. She couldn't get into the pedals and we were a bit befuddled for a minute or two.

BUT it's all sorted now and I learned about the different types of SPD SL/Look pedals, and now I have SPD on my stuff instead anyway.

I'm also less "scared" about riding SPDs on MTB if I ever get back to it - these go in and out a lot easier (in my opinion) than SPD SL. And especially if it's a dual sided pedal.

 

Interesting. SPD SL is new to me but after googling images of it, I thought they were Look. Then you said they're different and I'm lost again lol.

 

Yeah, SPD SL/Look are used primarily on road and indoor.

You can kind of see the differences here



It's really the same idea, but just a bit different. Almost zero performance notes going from one to the other. I THINK one gives you a bit more float (that 0 degrees is misleading, you can get cleats w/ float for SPD SL).

But practically, I don't think you'd know the difference if you had cleats with the same float and were on the same bike.

Looking up at that picture though, you can see the Look cleats have a bit more meat on the bones vs the SPD SL, so if you try to get the Look cleats into the SPD SL pedals, that bit between the bolts is in the way on the pedal axle. Annoyingly, that picture LOOKS to me (I think) to be the opposite.

Honestly I'm a bit confused too, I just know that I need Look cleats instead of SPD SL

Funny enough - that might be one of the reasons I rotate my ankles IN on my road bike pedals. Getting to SL, rotating OUT to get out was so much easier, but on the Look pedals I have, it was shenanigans how far I had to go to disengage rotating out. But rotating in, came out lickity split.

Really digging the SPD shoes and pedals after a couple test rides. Have to dial them in a smidge more, and had to really crank the bolts down after one came a bit loose and the other shifted angles on me on the first long ride with them.

 

I like SPDs. Durable, light enough, platforms aren’t bad size and available at basically every bike shop. I use them on both MTB and gravel, don’t technically have a road bike but I’d do the same haha.