Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

Yeah it's a great place. Let me know if you come out this way. Ill join ya. I don't know about your brake issue though. I know I'm going to need new pads after this trip.

 

Finally broke 4 minutes on my favorite Dh trail! Lost my pedals twice on that run and have come to the realization that I need riding shoes. Anyone have any suggestions? I have Crankbros 50/50 pedals that came on the bike.

 

I'm running flats and 5.10's. Love them. I also have a pair of Lakes with Crank Bros cleats. Very happy with them too (with older style Mallets).

 

5.10 impacts and teva links are both great

 

yeah i like my links, they have pretty good traction. my only complaint is that they dont have much toe protection so i wouldnt recommend them if you were using them for really rocky terrain. other than that I used them with some old azonic flat pedals on my dirt jumper and they worked great

 

Zippity is awesome and so is Shoots and Ladders!

Stephen, have you tried gently prying the pistons apart? Do you have a bleed kit handy?

 

I would venture to say there is too much fluid in that line/caliper. Pick up the Avid bleed kit bc you'll need it. I would open the lower bleeder and see if it will compress in then, if it does then just re-bleed and be on your way.

If it doesn't, then you have a caliper problem and will need at the very least a rebuild kit (If available). Remember to wipe and clean quickly, as the brake fluid eats paint.

 

yeah i left the old pads in the used a flat head and twisted it to try and get them to go back in. i dont have a bleed kit so im probably gonna buy one soon, the brakes could probably use a bleed anyways

yeah thatss what I was afraid of. im gonna try and push the calipers in again today and if that doesnt work ill get a bleed kit and bleed the brakes then see what happens...im gonna be pissed if I can't get a bleed kit in time and have to take it to the shop because the only enduro race within a few hours is next weekend and the shop usually takes forever to do work...

 

Yeah, unfortunately you may have to open the bleed port to relieve pressure, which means possible air in the line.

You could try opening the upper bleed port just enough to let fluid seep out, that might relieve enough pressure with less chance of getting an air bubble down low. Close it up quickly.

Bleed kits come with nifty wedges for pressing and holding the pistons in place. Bleeding is kind of a pain at first, getting used to the order of things you have to do, but it gets easier.

 

ill probably try that, i saw a few others recommend opening the port a little on mtbr also. i just dont understand how there would be too much fluid when fluid hasnt been added. i wonder if the high temps have anything to do with it, it was mid 90s yesterday.

 

Have you had them since new? If not, someone could have tried to bleed them, while worn and added fluid.

There may also be a defective seal or valve that isn't allowing the back-flow like it did on the front caliper. Its been awhile since I worked on any though..

 

We did joes ridge into mojo which is a newer trail came off a roller over a rock and boom on the ground I went. Mojo is awesome.

 

Thoughts on mechanical vs hydraulic brakes?

 

I think those running cable driven discs are fine with them and they work great and reliable and easier to tweak on trail-side. However, anyone that has had hydros, can't imagine going to a clunky ole cable driven system.
Pros and cons both ways I guess. Cost may figure in as well. I've had some major headaches bleeding hydros, but have always figured em out ok.

 

Mechanical discs are a good alternative but if you plan on getting pretty serious then a hydro setup is the only way to go. I am looking into getting a commuter bike to mess around on and it has mechanical discs that stop pretty well although the XT brakes on my Rumblefish will throw you over the bars if your not careful.

 

My friend and I rode a nice, muddy 14 mile loop yesterday. Basically a 7 mile climb through muddy lowlands and muddy clay singletrack up to a nice flowing singletrack down. Nice rooty drops with some fun and tight switchbacks. The overgrown brush beat the hell out of me and I went down on one section but not too bad of a wreck. Overall, it was a blast. Should be really good when it dries out.

My friend is a little out of shape so I got to rest on the climbs. He is quicker on the downhill sections but opted to follow. I hope I didn't hold him up too much. It was the first time for him on this loop so he was pleasantly surprised on the downhill. I have also decided I need to look at getting rid of the Nevegals. I just don't feel comfortable on the berms and they do not clean out in the muddy stuff.

 

Oh man dexter, I gotta plug the Continental Trail King. I've got a 2.2 up front and have been riding it for a year. Mounted up tubeless with Stans no problem and has a nice weight, long treadwear and bites super into turns. I'm finally seeing the TK getting some great props in the media now as well.
Also looks badass!
I just run whatever 2.1 in back with a finer faster rolling tread, currently the WTB Wolverine and got an Exiwolf TCS in the waiting as well as a Bronson. I like the WTB TCS lineup due to lower price, great tubeless function and decent performance. Just couldn't find a WTB offering that I liked for an aggressive front tire.
I'm mostly riding hard pack and Ozark rock however. No loam here

 

I am running tubeless as well. Not alot of hardpack at the moment thanks to the amount of rain we have had. I might modify the Nevegals a little so that they clean out a little better and then when it dries out look at switching. I agree the TKs are a nice option. I am also looking at a Specialized tire as it got good reviews but is it bad juju to run a Specialized tire on a Trek?

 

No bad juju there. Spec makes some great offerings.

 

I have the continental trail king 2.2 in the rear of my trek and a 2.3 up front. But ill be putting a maxxis ardent up front soon.