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

Honestly, coil rides 1,000 times better (a little exaggerated, but not much). Problem with coil is weight and adjustability, since you need to remove and change coils to get the right ride support or sag. Most people change it once and leave it at that, then use the dials to add in support (which is the "right" way). Coil also needs much less maintenance, and they're pretty set-and-forget.
Air offers much more on-the-fly adjustability. They also ramp up better at the end of the stroke, and offer adjustable ramping with tokens. It's also about 0.5 lbs lighter, if you care (but you won't notice).
The only reason I buy air over coil is for that end-stroke adjustability. On the bigger bike I tend to hit some sizable drops or big ledges that I really depend on the end-stroke to control. Yes, I could add high-speed compression, but that means more compression damping throughout the stroke, and that's not what I want to change.
Otherwise, coil is amazing. It's much smoother over chatter, much better feeling throughout the stroke. I'm probably going to swap over my Lyrik on the Django trail bike to coil.

**This is mostly for modern bikes with long reach and slack head angles.
Offset was the buzzword of 2019. The simple way to see it is this: shorter offset slows steering response, longer offset quickens it. If you want a more stable bike, lower offsets help. If you want a more flickable bike, higher offsets. I changed offsets on a few frames, and I barely noticed anything. I think it was all mental. I think it would be impossible for all but the finest hands to tell the difference in a blind test.
That said, I still went shorter offset for the enduro bike, and longer offset for the trail bike. 'Cause, why not?

Then just get the shorter offset fork. There's one more small piece to the above statement about offset; frame designers often build for a specific feel. The Optic feels more stable than it should in part due to the shorter offset in combination with other geometry and kinematics wizardry. The caveat is that some designers are also building around industry trends, and shorter offset forks are one of those trends. Either way, if the bike comes with it, it's probably wise to stay with it. I think the Optic is one of those bikes that hits the nail on the head with all the geo, suspension feel, parts, etc, for the the Pinkbike testers. Remember you might have different needs and wants to them, and you might not get along with it or the Tallboy, which is why that test drive is so important.

 

Thank you. For my local trails a FS bike is just over kill. I like the idea of the plus tires to handle the sand here as well. Also the age old deal where you get a lot more bike for the money in a hardtail vs a FS bike. There is no way I could have gone carbon FS for what I paid for the Fuse.

 

That new Optic really has my attention... anyone want to by my 2017 Ibis Mojo3 XT build?

$2600 OBO, shipped shop-to-shop CONUS using Bikeflights.

 

The optic is one of my options too. $3600 for a carbon front triangle and all the great reviews? I feel like it will be tough to beat that value consider the tallboy, fuel, Ripley, etc are starting at 4100-4200

 

Wow. I know I asked for it, but again you’ve displayed that you’re much smarter than me. Thanks for the knowledge You’ve got me thinking coil makes more sense for me. I only see XC/Trail use and subscribe heavily to set it and forget it methodology. Shorter offset too because, why not...and Pink Bike

Good call on the test drive. I hope to remain patient and wait on the Santa Cruz demo fleet to arrive this spring. Gonna have to call around a bit for the Norco. Good thing/bad thing is the Optic frame only option seems to be the purple color...

 

I think frame only is purple/gray, C3 (I think) mode comes in black/gray. Not really helpful if you’re trying to go frame only though haha

 

Correct. $2300 for that frame is enticing. Just not in love with that purple. Too close to my old Stache haha.

 

Yeah I love that purple but I also want my next bike to be a neutral color so I can change up the colors of components when I get bored haha

 

I hear ya. Main reason I’m leaning towards frame only is that most complete bikes these days have components that are just ‘meh’ to me. Why spend almost $5k just to pull everything off and spend more.

 

I agree, I’ve mostly been looking at the cheapest models so I can ride it for a year or so then upgrade parts. The only issue now is that those cheap NX cassettes are still the shimano 9/10/11 speed hub spline...such a pain haha

 

Unless you prefer Shimano

 

But their 12 speed uses a new hub too!

 

Yea is that the micro whatever?
I’m still running 1x11. 12 speed is obviously the trend and future (or 1x13), but I truly have never had a time where I felt like I needed a saucer plate. My 11-46T serves me fine for now.

 

I’m officially signed up for 3 events for 2020 so far.

Road Apple Roubaix (Gravel)
Whiskey Gravel (Gravel)
Keystone Off-road (MTB)

 

Spent about 20 min sessioning this little climb this morning. I was 1.75 for probably 20 attempts. 1 full clean and 2 with minimal dabs at the top.

As usual pictures don’t do it justice, and it really isn’t terribly difficult or technical. The pine straw everywhere and being damp are the killers this time of year. The trail leads in where my front tire is. It’s a small offset tree goal post style entrance with some slanting roots that require a little finesse to be on the right line for the bigger rootier punch up.



Middle GA. We gotta make the most of what we have

 

2019 Elevation Gain-

 

Whats the conversion of Elecation to Elevation?

Or is that to say you cheat on own an E-bike?




Just a joke, plz don't hurt me

 

fixed.

 

< My stats:

59 rides

460 miles

52,608 feet

Could have done more, but with buying a house, I got busy with the moving / home improvement stuff. Last year I was like 800 something miles.

 

I wouldn't call the Scrambler a track bike. The Scrambler has the Ducati Monster engine wrapped in a pseudo scrambler chassis. It has massive grunt and is super nimble. I've modified mine to more of a Tracker style setup. The Scrambler shocks are absolute shit and have been from day one.