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

Here’s my 1st gen with an older nomad. Yup! Still riding that 26.

 

All the Triangle events are mostly by TORC. I use their Meetup group for email alerts about rides and races they are putting on. Since I live in Ala. Co; I race mostly on the Western side of the state and some regional races in VA, SC, TN, PA, GA. SERC is a good organization to find regional races, and the Southern Classic series out of GSO.

Love me some RVA trails though... Buttermilk, North Bank, and all those along the James. My buddy (also a James) lives up there, rides the trails, and works in the Triumph shop in Richmond.

 

Almost forgot my latest addition... I just built this one up a few months ago and have been really enjoying it for backcountry exploring where sometimes there's a trail and other times it's just a cut through a forest. Advocate Hayduke steel w/ 27.5+ tires. Need to get a fork with a longer steerer tube though. I'm a bit stretched out over multiple hour rides with this geometry.

 

Ideas for your monster

 

Craigslist, aluminum, 1-2 years old. A $300 bike will ride like a $1000 bike. A $3000 bike will ride like a $10,000 bike. Spend the most you can, remembering resale value is often very good, as a nice bike will save your a** when the trails get steeper/faster, be super fun, and last a long time. What kind of trails will you be riding?

 

Went on a nice ride yesterday with @TwerkWrench @Robmonster117 up in Santa Cruz.
My first time out was a blast. Took a nice spill down a drop

 

Saw your bike on pinkbike classifieds not too long ago.

 

Bigfoot got the summer treads installed recently and the studded tires have been put away.
Also finished sealing the custom cuts/ work on the rack and you can’t see or feel the sanding etc. plus the custom frame bags are probably within 1-2 weeks left, and the picture I have seen looks killer.

 

Yea friend of a friends bike.
Got a sweet deal

 

Sweet bike. Is that a Hongfu carbon hardtail frame?

 

Thanks for the advice! Nothing crazy. Not really interested in serious downhill or jumps at the moment. Nothing that would require full suspension. I enjoy distance riding on my road bike, but I'd like to do the same in the woods.

 

Thanks! It's a 2013 XMI IP-057, which is a very similar Chinese carbon frame.

 

right on! hardtail or gravel bike will be awesome -- have fun!

 

sick bikes and fun trails -- I ride there every single day!
J.

 

Looking at possibly picking this thing up. Curious to know if anyone else has thoughts on this bike and setup specifically with the change to the front shock?
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/d/alta-loma-trek-session-99-dh-275-carbon/6845229898.html

 

So a few of my initial thoughts:

1. It isn't really a downhill bike anymore. Super Enduro maybe, but he basically round-about built a Slash with shittier gearing. But that is just nitpicking.

2. That bike is gonna suck ass for anything other than bike parking. The gearing is gonna make you wanna kill yourself going uphill, no room for a dropper, etc. "Unfortunately I only rode her a handful of times on some local singletrack so it still looks new" makes me think I am on to something. Ask which singletrack...

3. The first 2 points said, that is a good specced bike for the price. Worst case, you could find a dual crown fork or ride as is and have a load of park rat fun!

 

decent bike, but keep in mind geometry on mountain bikes has changed DRASTICALLY in the past 3 years. bikes are continually becoming more capable with less travel. yes that is spec'd with good brakes, etc. but the geometry (how it will ride aside from suspension components) is outdated, so for that price you could get a solid aluminum 1 year old bike like a 2018 sc bronson, or 2018 trek remedy, 2018 trek fuel, etc.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/d/los-angeles-santa-cruz-bronson/6833964370.html

 

Thanks fellas, definitely the info I was looking for. Many details there I was not aware of and trying to piece together. Much appreciated!

 

I guess I should have started with "what are you looking to do with it?" If you say bike park only, then yeah, that'd be a good bike. If you want more of a decent all arounder, the bronson @CementTRDOffRoad posted would be a lot better suited.