MTB ride?

[scottm]

That Fox fork is a piece of crap. Let me help you out, pull it off and send it to me and I will send you a brand new Rock Shox Dart fork, solid as a tank.

Nah, it kind of goes with the bike. I've made a custom fender I don't want to have to make another. My Cannondale had Fox shox, seemed very reliable.

I wrote to Fox about low-friction aluminum coatings I use, they seemed pretty cool, even sent me a T-shirt. I ride a lot in snow and rain, would really like my forks to shed crud as well as possible for longevity. The Headshock was all covered, held up well to weather.

 

[bustanutley]

We shuttle trails a few times a week. On weekends if I’m not wheeling I’m up at the resorts hucking my meat. I dirt jump when I can but unfortunately there aren’t any decent rhythms around where I live now. I ride my 43lb bike XX 2 or 3 times a week also, haven’t been past yet this year.

I have dreams of getting a full on DH ride again and shedding some weight off the yeti, but you can’t always have everything you want.

 

[cary]

i looked at the karate monkey but liked the geometry of the On One Inbred 29er better. personal preference. that and every time i turned around i saw karate monkeys and redlines and GFs.

hey, asked in another thread but i'll ask here--ever race in michaux sf?

I would pass on both and get a Soma or Salsa frame in that price point. I love how many great options there are.

 

[zombiekiller]

I would pass on both and get a Soma or Salsa frame in that price point. I love how many great options there are.

soma really sucks to deal with, that's why i passed on thier frame.

the el mari, is nice, but i didn really want a 1x9. when i actually replace my frame, i'm most likely going to jump right into an IF 29er, or have bilenky knock one out for me. i love my monkey though, especially because it doesnt have an ebb or sliders.

 

[cary]

soma really sucks to deal with, that's why i passed on thier frame.

the el mari, is nice, but i didn really want a 1x9. when i actually replace my frame, i'm most likely going to jump right into an IF 29er, or have bilenky knock one out for me. i love my monkey though, especially because it doesnt have an ebb or sliders.

Nothing against IF, as I think their frames are wonderful, but I have heard of issues with tire clearance on their 29ers. If you looking at a 9er IMHO, consider the following carefully:

Waltworks (his specialty and great guy)
Carl Strong
Soulcraft

 

[zombiekiller]

Nothing against IF, as I think their frames are wonderful, but I have heard of issues with tire clearance on their 29ers. If you looking at a 9er IMHO, consider the following carefully:

Waltworks (his specialty and great guy)
Carl Strong
Soulcraft

one of my good friends owns a shop, he has a pro rider that is sponsered by IF as a customer and preps all of his IF rides. I got to mess around on a new IF 9er prototype and it is pretty damn mean, tons of clearance, nice tight, snappy geometry. only downside, you cant, no matter what you try, run a white industries crankset and rear hub ( not that i'm fan anyway) but there is no way to get a good chainline out of them.

i'm a pretty big dude and things like ebb's and sliders dont work so well when i mash ont he pedals and catch air, so i have to be careful and make sure that i can just get horizontal track style frame ends.

 

[Spud]

I got a IF SS 26"...I never had a custom built before.
Once I rode it the first time I was on it for 3 years without wanting to try another bike. Previously I had riden/owned lots and lots of different high end bikes. Worked in a shop for 5years full time.

I raced it the last 3 seasons and love it. This year I took an extended break from cycling, (Nov-May) and am just now getting in shape again. I have been riding my breezer lately cause' I was out of shape to jump on the SS.

I run full rigid with 2.4 tires and love it. Highly recommend the IF.

2 years ago I got a SS Cross IF...Love it too.

Have not raced Michaux...but many other races in NE, north of NY.

 

[Lugboot]

I would pass on both and get a Soma or Salsa frame in that price point. I love how many great options there are.

Looked at both of them, too--nice bikes both, but decided on the On One based on better standover clearance and it most closely matched the top tube length of my Titus RacerX, which fits me great.

Nothing against IF, as I think their frames are wonderful, but I have heard of issues with tire clearance on their 29ers. If you looking at a 9er IMHO, consider the following carefully:

Waltworks (his specialty and great guy)
Carl Strong
Soulcraft

I have a friend that races for IF--rigid 29er SS and he runs WTB Exiwolves with no issues--he won SSWC in 2005 in State College...in the go carts! I've yearned for a Soulcraft for a long time . . . some day.

. . .
I run full rigid with 2.4 tires and love it. Highly recommend the IF.

2 years ago I got a SS Cross IF...Love it too.

Have not raced Michaux...but many other races in NE, north of NY.

I consider myself lucky enough to live in Michaux! Haven't raced up north, but have ridden Stowe and Kingdom Trails in Vermont and plan to hit North Conway and Rob Brook in New Hampshire near the end of September.

I running the Panaracer Rampages on my 29er now. Great tire. Very predictable, even when they are breaking loose on corners.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I picked up an older hardtail stumpjumper from a friend a couple weeks ago that I have been rallying. Last night I had my biggest wipe ever, massive head over.. Landed in a pile of rocks, luckily not even any blood though I am a little bruised and scratched up on my back.. Bikes can be like a disease like cruisers, I'm feeling.. andre

 

[zombiekiller]

I picked up an older hardtail stumpjumper from a friend a couple weeks ago that I have been rallying. Last night I had my biggest wipe ever, massive head over.. Landed in a pile of rocks, luckily not even any blood though I am a little bruised and scratched up on my back.. Bikes can be like a disease like cruisers, I'm feeling.. andre

wait till you start taking down paintings and hanging up bicycles.

my living room currently has:

1. 78 or 79 Viner , powedercoated white sparkle with red lead luglining, dropouts changed to track, custom 48 hole non-machined deep Vs laced to phil hubs 3 leading 3 trailing, paul cranks, phil BB, king headset, nitto stem and seatpost, major taylor bars with brooks honey bar tape, brooks swallow saddle.

2. 82 Cinelli restored 10 speed ( even had repro decals made) full campy components

3. a bareknuckle coaster brake setup i whipped together

4. a cardboard cutout of the nicholai that i want.

5. my fireman's 26" cruiser

my ladyfriend hates it. i also have 3 surlys hanging in my office, a steamroller, my karate monkey and a crosscheck.

i wish i didnt love all my bikes. i could sell them and buy another cruiser. a pretty freakin sweet one.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I sort of know, I can't wait until they finish the garage so I can store the bikes in there. Most of mine are POS but between my fiancee and I we have 6 currently, and that is with some recent downsizing. One road, one mtb, and one townie each.. A

 

[Lugboot]

Mucho bikes--same here. We're at 8 working models--roadie each, full-boing mtn each, SS each, cross bike each. And a Santa Cruz Chameleon frame waiting to be built up again . . . and two old C-dale hardtail frames waiting to become wall art.

 

[stayalert]

where's a good place on the net to buy mtn. bikes? Currently interested in santa cruz blur XC/LT and equivalents

 

[cary]

where's a good place on the net to buy mtn. bikes? Currently interested in santa cruz blur XC/LT and equivalents

If you are looking for a Santa Cruz, start with your local dealers. If not there:

1) Speedgoat, and 2) Colorado Cyclist are two reputable mail order places that are Santa Cruz Dealers. Be very careful with mail order, there are a lot of bad and unauthorized shops.


If you want to look at other brands (more small builders/custom bikes) these are the two shops I deal with and highly recommend:

1) Mountain High Cyclery, owned by Larry Mettler, in Colorado.
2) Red Barn Bicycles, owned by Chad Devalis, in Montana.

My turner posted earlier in the thread was from Larry, the Titus from Chad.


Finally, for large mail order places (more parts than bikes), Jenson USA is great.

 

[bustanutley]

JensonUSA and Pricepoint, but you are going to be hard pressed to find really any deals on new SantaCruz or other top of the line ride on the internet. Finding a shop and talking them down on price is normally a better way to go. Knowing someone that can prodeal is the best option. You can buy used from Pinkbike, I have had good luck there, or MTBR.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I want to hear your thoughts on the 9er. It's hard to get much of an opinion on MTBR, the guys that ride them are rabid about them and anyone who questions it is basically tarred and feathered.

Weaker wheels laterally, by 10%, no denying it. I'm 190-195 and I'm hard on the stronger ones. No thanks.

Perhaps good for a cross bike that sees only smooth dirt roads...

 

[Fast Eddy]

I've got this Phil Wood SS that I'll repost again. It's got a Kelly rigid steel fork on it now.

I've also got a Titus MotoLite that's getting new brakes this weekend and an Ibis Sonoma Roadie that's converted to fixed-gear 53:19 for commuter duty.

I've been meaning to ride the Ibis to work (40km) this week, but I haven't yet. F'n slacker.

It's too hot to ride dirt where I live during the day. I'll try for an evening/night ride this weekend.

Last weekend as I was getting back from China the MTBR crew did my favorite ride up at Tahoe. Called the Double Punisher, you go from Spooner Grade on Hwy 50 via the Tahoe Rim Trail over a few 9000' and almost 10000' passes to finally descend Mr. Toad's Wild Ride/Saxon Creek Trail, to Meyer's. It's a bit over 40 miles, but feels like a lot more. Pics here: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=321481

Ed

 

[Fast Eddy]

custom 48 hole non-machined deep Vs laced to phil hubs 3 leading 3 trailing,

Must look cool. I don't have a pic handy, but my Ibis fixie conversion is laced with the inside spokes 2x and the outside spokes radial on 32 hole open pros with a phil wood front and a White Ind ENO rear. It's not quite as striking as I'd hoped, but some people notice. It's called 'crow's foot' lacing. I thought I invented it until I found in on the 'net.

 

[zombiekiller]

Must look cool. I don't have a pic handy, but my Ibis fixie conversion is laced with the inside spokes 2x and the outside spokes radial on 32 hole open pros with a phil wood front and a White Ind ENO rear. It's not quite as striking as I'd hoped, but some people notice. It's called 'crow's foot' lacing. I thought I invented it until I found in on the 'net.

they are really pretty. they have that dr dre lowrider dayton wheel kind of sparkle in the sun. i had to wait 4 months for the rims to come over from austrailia because no one makes 48 hole non-machined rims as a regular item. i'd wait six months after all the compliments i've recieved. they are just heavy. so far i have 2 sets of 48 spoke track wheels, one with straight guage spokes the second with double butted.

 

[zornff]

The fam and i just got home from riding Winter park(2days), Steamboat(2 days), and then Keystone(4 days). My son and his buddy ride DH bikes so they rode lifts all day. The and i did ride some lifts, but rode up some also. The awesome ride for me was from the bottom to the top of Keystone Ski Area. The base elevation is over 9,000 and the top is like 11,400. Keystone has some of the best downhill single track in the country.

oh, and i ride a Santa Cruz Superlight, full xtr, and the wife rides a Santa Cruz Blur xt build. Keep on ridin'.