MTB ride?

[cary]

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

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:

Ed

Everyone knows Phil Wood bikes suck, they only make good hubs.

I thought about trying the whole single speed thing, but then I realized, I am always in the 22-32 combo to begin with, so I was on a single speed.

I was looking at that thread on MTBR, I so want to do a Downiville or Tahoe ride this year, the body is just not able to (health issues). I did manage to pound out a (painfully slow) 50 minute ride tonight.

 

[Nemesis Gnat]

thought id chime in here... who rides up hills?

just joshin, i couldnt ride for fitness if it killed me, but i race downhill and it does kill me, but i loooove it... semi-pro next year and heres my baby, if ida gotten it all at retail-ish prices itd cost me about 5500 not including taxes and shipping costs... cost more than both my cruiser and my baja bug... but its and addiction, and i have a planet x hardtail for racing dual slalom or mountain cross when it tickles my fancy... i cant find pictures of my ht, but heres my downhill race bike

8 in the front 8.5 in the rear, 12.5 inch bb height, tubeless, 40 lbs, i dare you to find a dh bike that handles as well as mine...

now ill leave yall to youre spandex chatter

 

[Nemesis Gnat]

thought id share a race photo or 2 too, since this thread is all talk and no show...

sorry if i missed something and this isnt at all what this thread is about, i suddenly got super worried that i was thread jacking... but if im not, then sweet! the 2 things i love most are my cruiser and my bikes, ride on!

 

[Lugboot]

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

Definitely would recommend SpeedGoat. Great shop. Chris is very, very knowledgeable. You'll pay, for sure, but their product and service is awesome.

Of course, wanting a SC Blur LT, you'll pay regardless. I would throw out the aluminum Titus RacerX as a possibility, too, if that's the kind of ride you're looking at.

 

[Lugboot]

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...

I guess I'm a pansy. Haven't had really any issues yet with my 29er wheels--Salsa Delgado disk rims laced to Paul SS hubs, 3-cross, 14 gauge spokes, 32-hole. Trued once or twice. And I'm around 210-215. I've had plenty of lateral fork flex in the rock gardens with the damn Reba but the wheels have been pretty good. They've been through a year of riding, a 12-hour race, a 24-hour race, and general East Coast rock garden and log thrashing. This is a case of YMMV, I guess. Build a good wheel and go ride it.

 

[zombiekiller]

i ride with 4 or 5 other guys depending on who's wife bitches. all but one of us ride 29ers. the only person that's had issues was a guy who is 6'3 and about 235 lbs. he's trashed 2 front wheels racing. hope hubs, velocity disc rims, 3 cross, double butted, alloy nipples.

i am notorious for destroying wheels, that's why all my city bikes are 48 hole wheels. my city bomber is 48 hole 3 cross front, 4 cross rear. i've been hit by a cab on it and the bead popped off, but it didn't need to be trued at all. I have yet to tweak a 9er wheel and i ride rigid and consistently jump s***, drop off s*** or eat s***. as far as losing lateral stiffness, i'd suggest having a competent wheel builder work with you, if you need one, let me know, i can hook you up with him. I honestly wouldn't have anyone else build a wheel for me.


with regard to that full squish DH ride. ::

before i buy one i need a few things.

1. MOVE - the philadelphia area has nothing for DH racing.

2. lots of pads, because i know i'll try somthing that most consider suicide on a bike.

3. another 4 grand... cause i really want a nicolai

 

[Spud]

i ride with 4 or 5 other guys depending on who's wife *****es. all but one of us ride 29ers. the only person that's had issues was a guy who is 6'3 and about 235 lbs. he's trashed 2 front wheels racing. hope hubs, velocity disc rims, 3 cross, double butted, alloy nipples.

Tell him to use brass nipples on the next build, they hold up better, stay true better...I mean.

I have no issue with wheels, I'm 135 & smooth enough.

 

[bustanutley]

Those DHRs are nice rides, I wish I could justify having a full time dedicated DH ride again, but the summers are just too short in the hills.

My DH/Trail bike

7.5" front 7.1" rear

Dirt Jumper

 

[stayalert]

Take a look at the 2007 Santa Cruz Superlight, 98% the bike of the Blur, the base model fully ready to roll is $1499. Also look at the Specialized FSR and Stumpjumper.

I am now thinking superlight. Thanks!

 

[zombiekiller]

Tell him to use brass nipples on the next build, they hold up better, stay true better...I mean.

I have no issue with wheels, I'm 135 & smooth enough.

customer wanted red nipples, so that's what he got.

all of my wheels are brass nipples. i'm alot less concerned with color coordination

 

[SS_Storm]

I love riding and I race too! Downhill but Ill rock it up hill too I pass XC guys up hill they hate it when they see the Big ole Down hill bike coming up on em.
Some pics from Sea otter.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Man, clickin on this thread brings back good memories of my Specialized Stumpy around the SF bay area (from '93 mind you), however, while living in AZ, someone thought they needed it more than I. Having gotten hitched by then, and that being my 2nd bike to get lifted in a row, I never could muster the $ to replace it. That feeling of hammering for hours just at the brink of muscle failure, and maintaining.....now that's livin.

If a guy was to get back into it, and had neck and back probs that couldn't handle long top tubes (6'1" and a heavy 245 lbs) and had sub $1k to spend, where would yooz guys send him?

 

[Spud]

If a guy was to get back into it, and had neck and back probs that couldn't handle long top tubes (6'1" and a heavy 245 lbs) and had sub $1k to spend, where would yooz guys send him?

Go to your local bike shop....

 

[Lugboot]

yep, LBS is the best place to start--a GOOD LBS. I had back issues, too, from bad bike positioning the year I did a 100 miler, 12-hour solo, and 24-hour solo. Had to rearrange my riding position and my LBS helped me out with a bike fitting that let me change handlebar stems, etc. on all my bikes. Since then, I'm still doing 24-hour races, road centuries, adventure races, etc., with little to no problem.

That being said, you'd have to compare different bike manufacturers to look for shorter top tubes. Generally and historically, Fisher has always had longer top tubes and some of the Cannondales as well.

Bike type will greatly depend on the type of riding you plan to do and where you eventually plan to go with your riding.

 

[SS_Storm]

I was just going to mention a stem,
I have a really bad back, but it doesn't bother me much while riding so I have a great setup for myself

I feel a Downhill oriented bike feels better on your back but you have a higher chance of hurting yourself with that style of riding so its a trade off.

 

[Fast Eddy]

If a guy was to get back into it, and had neck and back probs that couldn't handle long top tubes (6'1" and a heavy 245 lbs) and had sub $1k to spend, where would yooz guys send him?

Look around for an older Santa Cruz Bullit or a Specialized FSR. $1k is going to net you something that needs work, but it should be pretty tough.

I ride in Phoenix a bunch, as well as Tucson and Sedona. Awesome stuff. Boulder City has an MTB Park. When it's hot you can drive up to Prescott and there's tons of not-too-hot dirt up there.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

My local shops cater to roadies. I like the idea of riding another Specialized.
I'll also have to experiment w/ saddles, as I used to hurt nearly constantly in my hammering days. 'Course, I lived on the bike and logged 160 plus miles weekly while in Germany.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I went the opposite route.. Our LBSs are good but are a little snotty.. I started talking to friends and did some horse trading and some cash and ended up with a killer pretty light Stumpjumper for not a lot of money. There are also sick deals on craigslist. I found a 21" Kona full suspension basically brand new for $600 on Craigslist up here, decent quality. Medium range components.. That is what I'd start doing. Also the reviews on MTBR.com are pretty good to and they have a whole section for "what do you think of this bike.." Hope it helps...

 

[mtb_rider]

If back probs are a concern, I would think you would seriously want to look at full suspension. Absorb some of that extra hit on the rough stuff. A good dually in the sub 1k range will be tough though. Would have to shop used.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

I started with a very old Diamondback (early 90's) and soon upgraded to Gary Fisher Kai Tai. Race Face and XT, I beat the hell out of my Suns and bought some Mavics. I am still regretting that

I got lazy (read: married) and let the bike get dusty. Just recently I started riding again, commuting to work 16mi roundtrip, not much but its a start.

I bought a Bianchi Virata (steel/ carbon) frame and plan to fit it with Sram everything and Easton wheels for now. Really looking forward to rocking this bike!