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

It's not N MINUS 1, silly!

But that is a rowdy bike. Someone will love it.

 

Went up to explore Pocatello and the Driggs / Victor Area for memorial day weekend.

Top of Elk Meadows before going down Gibson Jack.


Apres-Ride puppies never disappoint


Approaching the Big Holes trails in Driggs. Soon, the rain would set in...


Then the rain set in. SO. MUCH. MUD. Trail went from good to cake to mud pretty quick. At some points, there were actual streams running down the trail. Us Utahans avoid mud riding, but the locals didn't seem to mind, so we kept going.


Then the snow packs started. FULL ENDURO! Hella steep, and my 5.10 flats were NOT made for slippy snow.

Finally made it to the DH. We were going to take a different route, but the locals we met directed us to the goods. It was an easy sell since there were 4 more snow banks to cross to the original plan.



Drying out (with very little effect). Thankfully the rain stopped. It's my rental while mine is in the shop, so don't freak!



Teton views from camp


Before we left for home, we decided to hit a quick blue trail loop. Easy stuff...or so we thought. 3 miles of mud, bushwacking, trailfinding, a dozen knee deep creek crossings too wide to jump over...but along the way we found this cool meadow. With lots of bear prints in it!

 

Haha I kinda ride. Nothing crazy for this guy

 

Sounds like a true epic. Good one!

 

.....awesome

 

Made coming back to work yesterday a lot less exciting. But...only 3 weeks...with 2 bike races in between.

 

So tomorrow is +1 day for me, super excited.
Curious to see if any of you TW riders have a Giant Trance? Likes? Dislikes?
I ordered the Advance 1. I had a lot of criteria the new bike needed to fit and this bike just won out over the ones I was comparing it to. I test rode one of the SLX equipped ones but the test ride was only around town and over to a skate park. It seems like it wants to party a lot more than my 650b+ hard tail.

 

I did, just last year. Great bike, super underrated because it's a Giant Trance and it doesn't quite have that sex appeal. But the thing rides awesome. Climbed really well, descended great. Poppy, playful, and likes to jump trail features.
Light as hell too, mine came it at 27 lbs, but I had a few upgrades (RF Next carbon cranks, BZA cockpit). I also switched out the tires asap.
Keep an eye on the lower shock bolt, mine kept coming loose until I put Loctite on it.
I traded out because it really would get out of sort on really steep and chunky trails, and that's a lot of the riding I do out here. It loved loved flowy and ledgy trails though, and was one of the best bikes I've ever ridden on trails like The Whole Enchilada.

 

Looks like a badass adventure! Nice one, hoping to get some in this year.

 

General question for the bike group- what's a good indicator that your mtb is too big?
I've been riding a large Ghost now for about a year, my road is a medium. I'm 5'10" which is right on the cusp between M/L.....trying to determine if I should strip the frame and size down this year.
Was riding some really technical stuff in Moab this past weekend and it felt pretty hefty in the tight areas.
Thanks in advance!

 

I like the Eagle crankset w/DUB BB, and the chain retention is the best I've used. And I love the way XT shifters/mechs/cassettes shift. So, I combined them. Work flawlessly.

 

Had a busy few weeks... Just finished my first bike race ever it was a team race one climber and on downhiller. I got the latter of the two. We ended up placing 20th kinda bummed on that but my teammate wasnt feeling well so he didn't have the best of climbs.


Two weeks ago a couple of friends and I went to Helena's shuttle fest.


Here's a couple from just last few weeks of riding.

 

Rad man! Racing is always a great way to show you where you struggle, and what to improve. Sometimes, it just comes down to luck with health, mechanicals, etc. I've got the Sundance Super D this weekend and then Tears, Fears, and Beers next weekend. Should be humbling.

 

Meanwhile, in the ATL...

 

Yea man it was awesome! wish I had some track knowledge though. They just released split times i was 9th slowest on my part and only of pace by a few seconds... Good luck with your races let us know how you do.

 

Is it a bit much when your bike almost matches your Truck? Love, loving this new ride. Buttery smooth on the downs and surprisingly spectacular at climbing for 150mm front and rear travel.

 

Sound like fun

 

My gambler is green so it doesn't match the barci, but yea man that suspension feels like it could survive anything, I bet your rear feels endless as well.