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

The Race XT is about $5500

 

- Restaurants
- Theatres
- Culture
- Schools/Education
- Museums
- Restaurants

That said, there are a lot of small clusters around. I'm sure all things considered, this area is pretty nice! Just needs people. All depends what you want, I like Providence, but it's my max. Boston, NYC, Seattle, NOPE. ... As we're looking to move to Austin

We actually got a 5k stipend sort of thing when we bought our house. They needed people to buy in East Prov, so there's 5k loan forgiveness after 5 years. Central falls was 10K I think but...Central Falls... Anyway, yeah it's cool. Not for me, if I move far away from my family/home land of New England, it's going to need warmth.

Not to debate 27.5 vs 29, but why do you say 27.5 is gone and gone? Both sizes have their upsides and downsides to whatever style you ride. 26 is phased out, but there's still a loooot of support for 27.5, and if you want one, get one!

Your range is way too broad, what do you value most in that range? Do you plan to do downhill and need the better brakes or CC and would rather not spend for the beefed up brakes? etc

 

I don't have Vibracore but I have Spank 350 rims. The 351 is supposedly a burlier but really not much heavier. The Vibracore adds a good bit of weight, so unless you really need a super burly wheelset I'd look at the 351 maybe as something in the EX511 class.

Transition is known for really low standover on their bikes the last few years. A small Spur for example is 26" (the XL is still under 27") and a small Sentinel is 26.4" (XL is 28"). Not that there are any available to actually buy right now. There are a few good 27.5" bikes still out there. Transition Scout, SC 5010, Ibis Mojo 4 to name a few.

 

AVL has peaked, too. All the OGs are gone and new "locals" are migrants all the same

Yeah that area is rather desolate. Ozzies are pretty neat little mountains but not $10k cool. It's interesting to watch how Bentonville is forcing the MTB narrative so hard - literally paying people to come and ride bikes. I'm not even sure locals ride out there , in my experience I came across one local and he was a trailbuilder. EVERYBODY was from somewhere else traveling to B-Ville to ride

 

Worse things to try and build a community around. Pretty damn cool concept IMO. Build it and they will come?

 

Problem is trying to find it when it’s needed.

I do like the magnetic buckle idea though.​

 

Why would your pedals matter? I've spent lots of time on both and don't understand the difference regarding SO height. I agree SO height doesn't matter (much), but that's easy to say as an average height guy with average length legs and a bike with good SO height. My FIL is very short with short legs and a bike that has above average SO height for the size....it matters for him. Mounting and dismounting in uneven terrain is comical and it doesn't help he can't fit a dropper.

 

You opted for the G-String of tailgate pads.

It does look nice. What’s the black on the tailgate?

 

I deleted that post trying to avoid argument. You beat me to the deletion. After more thought I guess it does matter in some situations with clipless. More so with flats though.

Plus I’m 6’ so standover height has never been an issue.

 

This right here. I'm 5' 7.5" with a 27" inseam. And I'm old. SO is a key characteristic for my bike choice.

Funny thing with all this virtual bull pucky - all the online chat and assistance - try to sell me a medium large with some huge SO height, BUT the TWO times in the last few weeks I have actually walked into a bike shop - both guys, quickly completely conceded and easily - that I need a small frame and lowest possible SO height. Some of this stuff just doesn't pencil out. But of course they don't actually have a bike.

 

You're right. I am just sensitive and butthurt all things Bentonville

 

‘21 Evil Wreckoning.

Don’t forget the Unitas, Tetons, ID Sawtooths, St. George, Fruita...

After leaving SLC and living in CO, I realized that the diversity and access to wilderness is unrivaled. Endless desert to the south, endless forests to the north. I miss it. A lot.

 

Friday question.

I currently have a Charge Plug steel road bike and a Transition Patrol full suspension. If I were in the market for a hard tail, 27.5 or 29 and wanted the model to start with a P to match the Plug and Patrol, what would I be looking at?

I've considered the Guerilla Gravity Pedalhead. It looks like a sick bike with a steel frame, but the integrated seat collar doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. The German bc original Podsol would be a pretty good contestant too.

So I guess the question is, what hardtail models start with the letter P?

 

Looking at frame manufacturers size recommendations rather than salesman spewing forth their thoughts is usually more accurate.

 

Probably the strangest way to pick a bike I've ever heard, but Ragley has a Piglet.

 

All but done and gone - look at most all the 2021 bike websites. Specialized is out of 27.5" trail bikes, one line up model left, most all manufacturers have models really limited to only 29. With maybe one or no 27.5" models in their line. Not so easy as you state, maybe 2019, hardly 2020, and now 2021, pretty much gone. I wish I could just get one!!

Stock brakes for any good bike in my range will be100% adequate. I will not be doing crazy extended downhill riding.

 

Again as someone who has ridden both pedal types extensively (I seem to swap back and forth every few years) I don't see a difference regarding SO height. Many pros and cons each way in the flats vs clipless debate but SO height isn't one.

As for your height....my point exactly. I often see taller guys telling shorter guys SO height doesn't matter even though they've never actually had to deal with SO issues. I haven't either, but I have seen people struggle with it and it's even worse for less experienced riders.

 

also much easier to get to the PNW from around these parts than from anywhere eastwards. and rampage is held here so it's easy to get to if you want. then there's sedona, flagstaff, phoenix area...

but don't move here folks. it's full.

 

Short legs matter. SO is most definitely a geo spec I look at with high value. It’s not an end all be all, but definitely a datapoint worth considering.

If no one considered SO to be of importance, why do the manufacturers publish that spec?

 

Can't you not watch bartenders make your drinks?

Looking to move to Austin and I'll road trip out that aways.

Depends what you value. Some people give zero shits about it. Same as a tacoma. Some people give zero shits about a breakover angle, but it's still published information, and some people do in fact value it.