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

Our local club that maintains trails had a group ride tonight. I didn’t join, but did ride tonight, still on mountain resting right now. Waiting on sun to get out of line of sight. These trails are becoming more and more raw up the mountain and I love it. Climbing is getting harder and downhill is getting wilder.

Edit. This was supposed to post about an hour ago. I’m in truck now. This is first day without severe flood warning since the tropical storm.

 

That looks like some fun!

 

What general region?

 

A club that doesn’t absolutely bash you for riding certain trails when wet is a huge plus. Of course don’t ride the flat trails at the bottom that are nothing but a mud puddle, but these raw trails with streams going across them with water off the mountain no one bats an eye.

Alabama, it’s the foothills of the Appalachian mtns. Oak Mtn Pelham AL

 

I have had the double Super Duty, with 2 extensions, for 5 years now. Used to be on my RAV4, and it was way more wobbly with 4 bikes than on my truck. The hitch on the RAV4 was Reese 2" that I had put on. I think it's recievr was a little wider than true 2" b/c I had my normal hitch wobble a bit too on it.

In fact, it does not move vertically at all on the truck, and it barely moves horizontally when I take graded turns or curb check sometimes. It is super solid. I do load heaviest bikes closest to the hitch. It is on the truck 24/7...and was also on the RAV4 24/7...

 

Solid score for sure.

 

My favorite color is green…but this cannondale Jekyll in purple haze is sick

 

I was actually thinking the Alta rack is better regardless of the number of bikes. It seemed at least as sturdy as the 1up (includes an integrated anti-wobble), easier to load, and doesn't need to be folded up when not in use. The ability to carry 6 was just a bonus, especially since the tailgate pad isn't an option for me.

I still love my 1up, but seeing the new Alta Rack has my curious.

 

Yeah, with 2 bikes, the thing is rock solid and i don't notice any problems. with 4 bikes, then it just moves vertically. horizontally, there is absolutely no play. Like I said, I'm not too worried mostly because the whole thing moves as a single unit. But, it does look disconcerting. I've though about trying to tighten thing up or even putting a bar along the bottom to keep things all together. But, they all feel hackish to me.

I've looked at alta racks. the big one everyone is buying is velocirax. Similar concept. More availability. The thing I LOVE about my 1up is, well, it folds up REALLY slimly and I can park in my garage. I'm not entirely sure I can do that with alta or velocirax. If i'm carrying 4+ bikes, I'll just use my tailgate pad.

 

I'm on the wait list for a 1UP 2 bike carrier hitch rack. What do you do for security of the bikes since the arms don't have a lock? At least I believe they don't.

The hitch rack used to not have a lock for the b=hitch either but I believe the added it. The secutiry of the bikes themselves has me a little concerned. Do you just put a big old chain/cable type lock wrapped around them and the carrier?

 

Anyone follow the Pikes Peak Apex? Its a XC? race in Colorado Springs. This is the second year they're hosting it.

They have been hiding canisters with goodies around trails for people to find. The last 2 were in Colorado Springs, but the current one is near Slaughter Pen according to the IG post.

I'm not sure where that is, but thought I saw it mentioned in this thread. Maybe one of you guys go can find it?

 

They have a hitch lock as well as locks for the bikes on the arms that you can buy. https://www.1up-usa.com/product/wheel-locks-qtr-turn/

if you put all your locks on one order, then it all comes keyed the same.

That said, someone could still just undo your wheels and theoretically take the bike. Kinda a bit annoying to do it but it is technically feasible.

I also have a really long thick steel cable that's locked to my truck bed that i run through my wheels and frames and then u lock again to something.

I also have a kryptonite chain lock that I use to either lock my frame to the rack or lock several bikes together. Someone would have to defeat at least 3 different locks to get any bike off my rack.

 

I kinda did not know exactly at the time and still I can only look up list prices after the fact and such but the carbon rims alone are like $1500-$1600(?) Sure Marzocchi isn't top line, but good enough for me. Frame?? $3000?? That sort of give and take. Just right at $5K is what it set me back and I am guessing over $4500 to build it myself, so OK deal in these crazy times

 

Ah thank you, I forgot about theses. I saw these on the website and then forgot about them.

 

Lol. it happens. Their website isn't the best to navigate but at least their stuff is well categorized.

 

Cruised up to SkyPark Bike park in Lake Arrowhead over the weekend...





Allegedly it was the park's 66th birthday?.. So they had the local news up there....A buddy and I both had our little guys ripping the little pump track on striders. They asked if they could film them riding in a few mins... we agreed, kids continued riding. a few mins before they went live my son dropped in and sent it OTB pretty bad. Everyone was like OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...

He gets up, dusts his hands off and picks up his bike up, and continues on for 30 ft or so... looks down at his elbow bleeding and completely melts down haha... Got him calmed down, we walked down to first aid to clean it up and got a couple bandaids...he missed his 15 mins of fame. No big deal. He was ready to go back up and shred....

As we are walking back up to where everyone was, a few of my buddies were like DUUUUUDEE you missed it.. The news lady... Sent the body, OTB on live TV...

link to video on IG

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQY24ttB5Xg/


haha she was actually a pretty good sport about it. She came up to make sure C was okay and told him that she fell too.


Rest of the day was awesome getting some laps in with the boys. SkyPark has a bunch of skinnies,wood features, flow trails, jump lines.

Little edit off the go pro quik app.



That garbage song selection.... you're welcome.

Had a post-ride feast with a few too many sport sodas.




Can't wait to go back up there.

oh and the new meats on the bike felt great.

 

I promise I enjoyed your whole post and that's hilarious the news lady did that. But meanwhile your first picture you parked your truck...on the porch? Was it a deck or was it reinforced?

 

Great post! I have Skypark on my list to hit up on a fall camping trip up to Big Bear. How does it compare to a day at Snow Summit Bike Park?

I am not a super aggressive rider. 54 yrs old, been Mountain Biking for 30+ years (ack!), and have always been more of a cross country rider. Like at Snow Summit, I ride two trails mainly - Going Green and Turtle. It is a fun day for me but I don't do jumps, etc.

Is Skypark worth a stop for 1/2 a day on my way up to Big Bear? I think a day ticket is like $58?

 

I've heard less than stellar reviews on the velocirax; apparently it's not as sturdy as Alta rack.

 

Huh. I've heard the exact opposite. :/