Official mountain biking thread
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californiagrown
Active member
13695864:hippy. said:
There are a ton. Use the internet to find the legal ones. When you get good enough, you'll meet people who will show you the illegal ones.
californiagrown
Active member
13695897:mike759 said:
Yeah it can be an issue when someone brings a friend to your trails, and then that noob friend puts the location on blast through technology like single tracks etc.
But for public, popular trails that same tech is a great resource.
JichelMusten
Member
Last year I started mountain biking and this summer I want to get more into it. As much as I want to do it, I don't know shit about it. I got this bike for something around $400 a while ago and that's what I am using now. I can't see myself getting a new one this year, but maybe next year. I dont have any complaints regarding this bike besides that it's not double suspension. How can I improve on this bike without spending too much money? I ride single track in MN at places like Elm Creek, Lebanon hills, and Battle creek.
As someone new to mountain biking what do I need to know about my bike and riding in general?
[img=]830489[/img]
[img=]830490[/img]
As someone new to mountain biking what do I need to know about my bike and riding in general?
[img=]830489[/img]
[img=]830490[/img]
californiagrown
Active member
13695928:JichelMusten said:
Wide bars, short stem, tubeless tires, remove the kickstand and reflectors, buy a good chamois, buy some Five ten shoes, buy some better tires.
Lastly, stick a baseball card in the spokes so you sound like a motorcycle.
division.bell
Active member
13695928:JichelMusten said:
Just ride your bike, push your limits and have fun. You will crash, you will break parts, but you will improve. Join a local bike shop's weekly shop rides, ride with riders you encounter on the trails, your friends, just get out there and follow more experienced riders. Riding a hardtail will force you to become a better rider, seeking the smoother lines in the trail, and using your body as the natural suspension system.
As mentioned above, definitely lose the kickstand and reflectors from the bike. But I wouldn't personally spend any money on the bike other than pedals, regardless of clipless vs flats. Ride the shit out of your bike, learn basic maintenance skills to keep your shifting and braking aligned/replace cables/bike lubrication and cleaning and save your money for a new one.
MN has some awesome trails, from the Southeastern corner in the bluffs above the river, to your mentioned area (check out the bike park in Cottage Grove here;https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cottage-Grove-Bike-Park/596908407004866 ) and especially riding in and around the north shore. Duluth is a must hit spot with lift accessed riding at Spirit Mountain and the massive trail network they've built in the area.
treebeard
Active member
Finally sold my clunker and got on the 29er train. More or less stock aside from the stem (and now pedals, not in pic), but I plan on slowly upgrading. Super fast gnarly downhill still kinda scares the shit out of me, but I'm loving the ease of climbing on this guy. Foothills riding mostly, but I just did a 40 mile road ride with a friend the other day and it ruled
Also puppy
division.bell
Active member
There's a tree down on upper Predator just in case none of you WA guys had heard yet. Caused at least one rider I know to get a little banged up trying to avoid it.
I'll likely be pedaling around Tiger tomorrow afternoon if anyone else will be in the area.
I'll likely be pedaling around Tiger tomorrow afternoon if anyone else will be in the area.
californiagrown
Active member
13696229:Sklar said:
Even if further and a little more effort, id still rather take the single track route to the top of my trails- hour long fire road slogs are just soul sucking. Is it a pretty trail to the top? If the fire road is usually about an hour, how long was the climbing trail?
13696364:division.bell said:
I need to get back out to tiger. I havent ridden there since last summer actually. Haven't even ridden predator yet. Ive been lazy and all my pedalling has been at Tokul, or certain trails up north. Ive done a lot of shuttling on legit DH stuff since last summer so it'll be interesting to see how tiger rides!
Im hoping to make it my midweek ride so i can get at least a decent base level of fitness. Its always a trip to start a season (skiing or biking) in not great sport shape, and notice how much better you ride once you do get into that good shape.
division.bell
Active member
13696376:californiagrown said:
If you're riding the fire road in an hour, expect Masterlink to take around 30min, and with Quicklink and then the fire road from the start of Predator to the actual summit, it would end up being close to an hour at that pace as well.
The benefit of having a climbing trail is that it's singletrack and a well built one at that. It definitely gains elevation quick much like the fire road as it's basically following the same contours of the mountain, but there are tons of switchbacks and sidehill traverses that keep the steeper sections manageable.
If you haven't ridden Predator yet, get ready for the climb haha. It's a steep shot up to the start, but I love it. I imagine it gets walked a ton instead of ridden.
californiagrown
Active member
13696651:GANDALF said:
Pics or it didn't happen!! Haha. That's fucking rad. Were you able to follow or were you getting dropped pretty quickly?
You ever get a new whip?
GANDALF
Active member
13696668:californiagrown said:
I was riding behind the global marketing director. Cam and Tyler are fucking fast. I rode with Voreis today. I don't think I have ever ridden that fast in my life. I was so pinned! Riding behind guys like that make you go so much faster. I held my own though! Kept Voreis in my sights and didn't get dropped!
So I'm in New Zealand with Thalorax@gmail.com these days, and I seriously love how sick the riding is here...
cornholio
Active member
so there was a "what bike should i buy" type thread sometime recently i am trying to find. does anyone have this in mythreads and could link me to it? i remember it having some good information i would like to read through before asking all the same questions again in here
californiagrown
Active member
13698595:cornholio said:
just ask you pussy!
people like talking shop.if you buy the bike i recommend, you owe me a beer though.
13698368:ThaLorax said:
Haha what the..
Fucking auto input
cornholio
Active member
13698634:californiagrown said:
ok you win. i have been riding a single speed hardtail 29er the last few years, but have had the itch to upgrade and switch it up to a full suspension, smaller wheels, gears, just something different that would also grow my balls. the trails i typically ride (within 30-45 min drive) are XC singletrack. there are tons of more manly trails within about a 3 hour drive, but i had been reluctant to make the trip often or try any of the bigger stuff with my current ride. there is only 1 place that has a lift in the area, so climbing should be a consideration
my original plan was to keep the 29er and get something more on the burly long travel end of the "all mountain" spectrum, have a two bike quiver and switch it up whenever i felt like it. HOWEVER, the 29er disappeared the other week, so this is now a forced upgrade and i am in a one bike to do it all situation, maybe something in between what i originally wanted. idk, seeking opinions here
i was planning to buy used, ideally i would like to spend $1500 or less, maybe $2k.
i also want some input on sizing- i'm 5'-11" and fall within height ranges listed for most M-L frames. previous frame was a L (19" +/-)
tl:dr - looking for FS 26/650b with 1x10 or 1x11. i want something capable of taking to the mountains, but the reality is the majority of riding will be XC- so i don't want it to suck in that area. i will guess i expect about 80% xc and 20% mountain use out of this
13698709:cornholio said:
At 5' 11" you are a large and maybe a XL in some companies. At least for me, I'm 6'0" and a medium is way too small, but it all comes down to personal preference I guess.
It's really hard to recommend bikes without really knowing how hard you ride. All mountain bike are so capable these days. I have a 165mm GT Sanction that absolutely pushes my limits (just as much as my DH bike) and still crushes it on the uphills.
And with customization these days, you can almost make any all-mtn bike capable of what you are looking to do with gear ratios, suspension volume changes, the options of wheel sets, tires, carbon bits, ect.
Honestly, if you are riding 80% XC I would stick with a hard tail. XC ain't my thing so maybe another member might chime in, but I would not be looking at over 130mm rear travel if you are set on full-suspension. 29 wheel size really shines in climbing ability as long as you can keep the cranks rolling.
JuliusJ
Active member
13699044:loopie said:
wait what no. I would not recommend an XL for most companies, i'm 5'11" and the M/L he originally said is spot on. You're going to just have to ride the bike to find out if it works for you. I typically go a bit on the larger frame w/ a shorter stem.
@Cornolio get something like a Specialized Camber or something that is 130ish rear travel, it'll pedal well for when you ride XC most of the time and still get out on some burly terrain.
californiagrown
Active member
13699400:hippy. said:
Da fuq? Lol
californiagrown
Active member
13699586:hippy. said:
Lol. Wake up early?or do you consider wslk
And you are voluntarily choosing diamond peak over rose, squalpine, or sugar bowl on a pow day? Mind blowing to me, but hey, to each their own
hippy.
Active member
13699604:californiagrown said:Lol. Wake up early?or do you consider wslk
And you are voluntarily choosing diamond peak over rose, squalpine, or sugar bowl on a pow day? Mind blowing to me, but hey, to each their own
i still havent purchased a pass to any hill yet..i have never been to tahoe in the winter, but i went and checked out rose a couple of weeks ago...looks nice...will be skiing there for sure, but i wasnt too sure if diamond peak was as bad as you make it out to be...everyone i talked to said the terrain was great with lots of snow...and dont lie to me and say squaw traffic isnt horrific and we both know its true!!
californiagrown
Active member
13699605:hippy. said:
Haha I think they were telling you DP has good terrain they same way we in the PNW say it only rains here
I mean literally, look at the trail map or hike around the area haha.The chutes at rose are rad btw. And midweek traffic on 89 isn't bad at all though I still prefer Alpine over squaw.
Oddly, one of the best MTB trails in the area starts on Mt rose highway and cuts right down through diamond peak though.
Deforestation
Active member
I just got into MTB and have been riding singletrack but I'm currently on a Trek 3700 which I've had forever and is way too fucking small so I'mm selling it. I need a new bike no matter what but I'm going to college in VT next year where I'll be riding off-road and around campus, so I think it's probably a good idea to invest in something used but high quality.
Found a bike on craigslist with a Giant XTC Aluxx Team frame (hardtail) and some other high quality pieces but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the bike. It's listed at $600 which I think is a good price but am not positive... any insight?
Found a bike on craigslist with a Giant XTC Aluxx Team frame (hardtail) and some other high quality pieces but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the bike. It's listed at $600 which I think is a good price but am not positive... any insight?
Slush
Active member
13701402:Deforestation said:
I've spent a lot of time on Craigslist bike shopping, and here's a bit of info I've found on prices on bikes
Garbage: 20$-200$ range
Decent: 200$-300$ range
Good mountain bikes: 300$-500$
Poor/meh full suspension and great hard tail bikes: 500$-800$
Decent full suspension: 800$-1100$
Good, great, and high end full suspension/downhill bikes: 1100$ - beyond
This is just for where I live since Craigslist is region specific, but normally people don't oversell their bikes unless they think their mongoose shit mobile is on par with a trek fuel. If the parts are good quality then normally the bike is too. Look up some reviews online of the bike and see what people like and don't like about it. A newer bike will have better technology and geometry, so keep that in mind as well
californiagrown
Active member
13701402:Deforestation said:
Buy a shitty bike for campus, buy a decent bike for fun. You will have your bike stolen if it's at all nicer than average and you use it daily. Locked or not.
Deforestation
Active member
13701427:californiagrown said:
I do have shitty bikes around that I could bring to get around but I'm not too worried about theft, small school and campus.
Deforestation
Active member
13701441:.lencon said:
How much?