Official mountain biking thread

13539249:californiagrown said:
If you don't have a buddy who knows his stuff, the best way to learn (and the way I did) was YouTube, and asking if I could watch while a shop tech wrenched on my bike. I'd just sit on a stool and have the tech explain how he was installing my chain, adjusting my derailure, installing my brake pads, etc. Have them show you basic maintenance once and you can handle all that stuff at home with the multitool you should be carrying on rides anyways.

This exactly. Youtube helps a ton, but any mechanic worth their salt shouldn't mind you watching them do work, especially if you're paying to have it done
 
So not sure if any of you are interested, I am posting my whip for sale. 2015 Specialized Enduro Expert 650b.

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Heres the link to my pinkbike posting
 
13540467:californiagrown said:
That's an awfully optimistic price especially for this time of year haha. That's a really kickass bike though, especially if your normal trails are steep and a little rowdy.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Could talk a NS hook up maybe! Does include shipping too
 
I kept my bike on my porch waiting for a high pressure to allow me to go biking one more time. It didn't happen, so I had to retire my bike for the winter.

Bittersweet, but ski season is here!
 
13552778:ThaLorax said:
I kept my bike on my porch waiting for a high pressure to allow me to go biking one more time. It didn't happen, so I had to retire my bike for the winter.

Bittersweet, but ski season is here!

same boat here.
 
13552778:ThaLorax said:
I kept my bike on my porch waiting for a high pressure to allow me to go biking one more time. It didn't happen, so I had to retire my bike for the winter.

Bittersweet, but ski season is here!

13554801:Tinga said:
same boat here.

Thats a shame. The loam shuttle season is still in full swing here haha. the skiing is low tide, but the surf is up for 2 wheels.

Speaking of which, i was shuttling out at a hunting spot near Sedro-Wooley on Saturday and on one of my last laps i noticed one of the trucks we had been shuttling alongside had a big ol' NS sticker on it. Didnt get a chance to ask about it. Probably be back out there this weekend...

Tagging along with my coworker has led to some pretty all-time shuttle days with some very fast, very talented folks. Its crazy how much better you get riding different, rowdier stuff with fast riders.
 
13558669:californiagrown said:
Thats a shame. The loam shuttle season is still in full swing here haha. the skiing is low tide, but the surf is up for 2 wheels.

Speaking of which, i was shuttling out at a hunting spot near Sedro-Wooley on Saturday and on one of my last laps i noticed one of the trucks we had been shuttling alongside had a big ol' NS sticker on it. Didnt get a chance to ask about it. Probably be back out there this weekend...

Tagging along with my coworker has led to some pretty all-time shuttle days with some very fast, very talented folks. Its crazy how much better you get riding different, rowdier stuff with fast riders.

Highs and lows of living literally at the mountain I guess. You don't have much choice in your pick of sports during shoulder seasons. I've taken the past few days off and already have 4 days of skiing though.

To that last sentence of yours. There's nothing better (in biking) than riding a fun trail that you're familiar with, with riders who are better, and more familiar than you are in the same style that you like to ride.
 
Got this thing built up

S-Works Stumpjumper

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Went to Bellingham

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Rode Kachess in the snow

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Weather looks good for some full moon night rides this week
 
13558724:ThaLorax said:
Highs and lows of living literally at the mountain I guess. You don't have much choice in your pick of sports during shoulder seasons. I've taken the past few days off and already have 4 days of skiing though.

To that last sentence of yours. There's nothing better (in biking) than riding a fun trail that you're familiar with, with riders who are better, and more familiar than you are in the same style that you like to ride.

Im hoping to get some WROD laps in on turkey day as my first day of the year, and then spend the weekend shuttling the same loamy deer(?) hunting spot while the weekend horde descends on crystal and baker.

Haha eventually ill get to know certain spots. But right now i get absolutely dropped within about 15 seconds because

A) the trails are generally steeper and rowdier than i am used to and ive got work on monday lol

B) I am either riding the trails blind or only have like 2-3 laps ever on them

C) i end up riding with guys who are top Cat 1 or 2 racers, and/or guys who are on the frontpage of pinkbike.

D) I am a fucking joey in the grand scheme of things.

But its cool when i go back to my old pedal up trails which were once the gnarliest trails i knew of and used to really challenge me. Now they are pretty mellow, and i am totally comfortable on them- theyre not challenging anymore, instead theyre playfull and fun, ya know.
 
Selling my ticket s now, and the spartan is soon to follow if anyone is interested. Won't really be on bikes much over the next three summers so I have to dump my stuff.

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13558902:byubound said:
Selling my ticket s now, and the spartan is soon to follow if anyone is interested. Won't really be on bikes much over the next three summers so I have to dump my stuff.

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$1000 for the ticket s. What size?
 
13559177:californiagrown said:
$1000 for the ticket s. What size?

It's a long, which is the only size they made. I currently have it posted for 1750, cause I really dont need it gone until June.
 
Foot of snow in bend. Looking like no biking for a bit.

I I need to go on a trip. Bend trails are flat XC. Going mental here
 
13560800:GANDALF said:
Foot of snow in bend. Looking like no biking for a bit.

I I need to go on a trip. Bend trails are flat XC. Going mental here

So much good riding over some passes. If they dont have snow go to MRT/north umqua/sandy ridge/oakridge/black rock if you want some free riding.

I fucking love bend riding for what it is - fast & flat for the most part.

But dude... it is winter, go ski (when its not closed for winds haha)!
 
I built up a bike a few years back and forked out on pretty expensive insurance, bike got stolen almost immediately and insurance company gave me about 3 times as much money as the bike was worth so i bought an absolute monster of a la pierre.. not complaining!
 
13560800:GANDALF said:
Foot of snow in bend. Looking like no biking for a bit.

I I need to go on a trip. Bend trails are flat XC. Going mental here

13560838:JuliusJ said:
So much good riding over some passes. If they dont have snow go to MRT/north umqua/sandy ridge/oakridge/black rock if you want some free riding.

I fucking love bend riding for what it is - fast & flat for the most part.

But dude... it is winter, go ski (when its not closed for winds haha)!

Oregon aint like northern WA/ Southern BC man haha. the shuttle zones up near Bham are positively delightful these days...

Are there any decent DH areas in Oregon? there have to be, right? Doug, maybe its time to go exploring and rough-in a DH trail or two if they don't exist to the public? Maybe there are some good trails out there but they are more along the lines of unsanctioned and kept quiet?
 
13561031:californiagrown said:
Oregon aint like northern WA/ Southern BC man haha. the shuttle zones up near Bham are positively delightful these days...

Are there any decent DH areas in Oregon? there have to be, right? Doug, maybe its time to go exploring and rough-in a DH trail or two if they don't exist to the public? Maybe there are some good trails out there but they are more along the lines of unsanctioned and kept quiet?

I didn't say it was... I would take a week at Oakridge just as well as I would Bham... Just different style of riding. And yeah theres some stuff Cline Butte and a few other places.
 
13561102:JuliusJ said:
I didn't say it was... I would take a week at Oakridge just as well as I would Bham... Just different style of riding. And yeah theres some stuff Cline Butte and a few other places.

Id love to spend a few days at oakridge. I think im gonna do a day at oakridge and then a day shuttling in Ashland on my way down to CA next summer.

And i was mainly talking to the other guy- i know XC type stuff isnt in his wheelhouse, maybe he'll learn to love it who knows?! Another big difference(correct me if im worng), but there is almost no shuttling in the bend area.
 
13561164:californiagrown said:
Another big difference(correct me if im worng), but there is almost no shuttling in the bend area.

Nah not much in terms that you're talking for DH/freeride stuff unfortunately. Even the stuff that is shuttled is still pretty pedally. Most is flow stuff that rolls pretty fast, granted the dirts decent.
 
13560864:Morriski_ said:
I built up a bike a few years back and forked out on pretty expensive insurance, bike got stolen almost immediately and insurance company gave me about 3 times as much money as the bike was worth so i bought an absolute monster of a la pierre.. not complaining!

I've always wondered if it's possible to stage the "stealing" of a bike. How would insurance know if you commit fraud?
 
13571573:kung_powpow said:
I've always wondered if it's possible to stage the "stealing" of a bike. How would insurance know if you commit fraud?

Our garage door was beaten in and the thieves left behind an axe covered in finger prints, so there was pretty strong evidence that it wasnt fraud, and the fact that our neighbourhood had seen an increase in robberies that month kinda sealed the deal I think. Im pretty sure it would be hard to just phone them up saying "my bikes missing" with no actual evidence, especially when theyre having to give out large sums of money
 
13599001:GANDALF said:
anyone selling any gear? looks like another ski season thrown away for me. could always use more bike gear

What happened?

And when are you coming up north again? I can show you some really cool shuttle trails.
 
13599027:californiagrown said:
What happened?

And when are you coming up north again? I can show you some really cool shuttle trails.

I don't have a pass, and I simply can't find touring partners. Being In a new city/state and all. Even harder when I live 15 minutes away from the resort and it's been an epic season.

Im gonna head back up to Bellingham within the month. I gotta ride something real. I'll only be able to get a lap or 2 in, but I need some gravity fueled SOMETHING.
 
13599052:GANDALF said:
I don't have a pass, and I simply can't find touring partners. Being In a new city/state and all. Even harder when I live 15 minutes away from the resort and it's been an epic season.

Im gonna head back up to Bellingham within the month. I gotta ride something real. I'll only be able to get a lap or 2 in, but I need some gravity fueled SOMETHING.

That sucks! Might be worth it to just hangout at a AT trailhead one morning and ask to tag along with the first guys that show up?

Shoot me a text when you do come up. My coworker is likely to be shuttling up in those parts as long as this sunnyish weather holds out with no new snow, and I'm kinda splitting my weekends between two wheels and two skis right now as well.
 
13599001:GANDALF said:
anyone selling any gear? looks like another ski season thrown away for me. could always use more bike gear

Dumping all my stuff to pay for a PCT thru hike followed by my time as a missionary. Got the Devinci Spartan, my Ticket S, lots of helmets, tools, pads and gloves, and a small selection of spare parts and stuff that need to go. What are you looking for?
 
13599078:byubound said:
Dumping all my stuff to pay for a PCT thru hike followed by my time as a missionary. Got the Devinci Spartan, my Ticket S, lots of helmets, tools, pads and gloves, and a small selection of spare parts and stuff that need to go. What are you looking for?

If I had the money I would take that Spartan off your hands. I could use a shock pump and maybe a half shield?
 
13599078:byubound said:
Dumping all my stuff to pay for a PCT thru hike followed by my time as a missionary. Got the Devinci Spartan, my Ticket S, lots of helmets, tools, pads and gloves, and a small selection of spare parts and stuff that need to go. What are you looking for?

Can you share some details for the Spartan? Components, wear, and asking price?
 
13599146:GANDALF said:
If I had the money I would take that Spartan off your hands. I could use a shock pump and maybe a half shield?

Sorry for the late response, been out touring all weekend. Only have one shock pump right now, so Im gonna hold onto it till the bikes sell. What kind of half shell? I have a few skate style ones I could sell.

13599226:~Gotama~ said:
Can you share some details for the Spartan? Components, wear, and asking price?

Attached is a pic of the Spartan.

Spank 777 bar

Shimano XT brakes

Chromag grips

Spank spike stem (40mm iirc)

Fox Van R 36

Shimano XT Crankset

Blackspire Steel N/W

Deity Compound Pedals

Stans Flow EX rims

Oneup 42tooth cog and goat link

Shimano SLX Rear Mech

Shimano XT Cassette

Shimano XT Shifter

Maxxis Minions, folding bead (Could also include folding ardents)

The bike absolutely shreds. Loves laps on the local AM trails as much as the gnarly stuff at Whistler. Most of it has only been ridden this summer, but there is certainly some wear. No deep scratches, dings, or dents on the frame, one small scratch about 3/4 of the way up the fork stanchion. The only damage I can think of that is actually functional is a around 7mm tear in the front tire that I never bothered to patch up, so its running a tube now. I was thinking maybe around $2100?
 
Ride a life-sized tansi 6.4 grade titanium (best titanium you can buy) with rockshox sid world cup forks, honestly the best bike ever, need a drivetrajn upgrade cos it's only old xt but seriously amazing
 
Ride a life-sized tansi 6.4 grade titanium (best titanium you can buy) with rockshox sid world cup forks, honestly the best bike ever, need a drivetrajn upgrade cos it's only old xt but seriously amazing
 
13600913:Nep.Tuna said:
Does anyone have some beta on the Giant Trance?

I've been riding the Trance for 2 seasons now. I bought the 2014 trance 3. honestly for the price this is a pretty good value.

I ride what I would consider 70% trail and 20% cross country and 10% bike park. I enjoy the frame quite a bit. The stock suspension is a bit under specced for how I abused the bike but I have upgraded since. The component level is a bit low on the 3 for how I've used it but I am slowly upgrading everything. I bought some wider lighter handle bars, some XT brakes to replace the deore. I went 1x10 because who needs 20 gears on a trail bike? I upgraded to a 150mm fork to slacken out the head angle a bit which I think definitely helps especially in the park. I also rode the bike at Rays indoor bike park and was hitting jumps all day and the bike help up pretty well. The wheel base is way to big to do that all season but for 2 days in winter it was awesome. The stock wheels are meh. I dented the rims pretty good so I built a new wheel this fall but for all the granite bedrock I ride 2 seasons seems pretty decent to me. I converted the rear axel to 12x142 but if youre looking for new try to snag a boost option. other than that do you have any questions on the bike?
 
I got a fat bike for christmas after promising too much to my wife. It's no where near as fun as trail riding on a trail bike but to get out there in winter is pretty goddamn awesome. The local IMBA chapter even gets out and grooms some of the local trails. This winter just got a whole lot better.

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13607122:Nep.Tuna said:
Thanks for the info dude!

The shop here in town has the trance 2 and 3 available. Its about 500 more for the 3. Im pretty green when it comes to bikes, so my question is the extra 500 worth for the 3?

the dudes said the 3 has the slx components, fox suspension instead of rock shox, and a dropper post installed. to me it sounds the 2 is a better value but i just wanna be sure.

as a beginner you likely wont notice the upgraded component spec.

What are the two shocks/forks youre comparing, and what is the dropper?
 
13607122:Nep.Tuna said:
Thanks for the info dude!

The shop here in town has the trance 2 and 3 available. Its about 500 more for the 3. Im pretty green when it comes to bikes, so my question is the extra 500 worth for the 3?

the dudes said the 3 has the slx components, fox suspension instead of rock shox, and a dropper post installed. to me it sounds the 2 is a better value but i just wanna be sure.

What components on the 2? A dropper will make a huge difference in your riding.
 
13607122:Nep.Tuna said:
Thanks for the info dude!

The shop here in town has the trance 2 and 3 available. Its about 500 more for the 3. Im pretty green when it comes to bikes, so my question is the extra 500 worth for the 3?

the dudes said the 3 has the slx components, fox suspension instead of rock shox, and a dropper post installed. to me it sounds the 2 is a better value but i just wanna be sure.

I think in america Giant offers a Trance 3 (lower level spec) and a 1 (higher level) or at least they did when I was shopping for a trail bike. If the difference between my bike and what the 2 sounds like from what youre saying I think the $500 is worth it if you can afford it. The dropper alone is like $300. The stock shock that came on my bike was pretty low spec so an upgrade would be nice there. I also wonder if the 2 has 12x142 spacing in the rear. if it does the upgrade would be worth it.
 
13607523:byubound said:
What components on the 2? A dropper will make a huge difference in your riding.

I have a reverb stealth on my bike, but honestly it doesn't make that much of a difference to me. I'm usually grinding a long climb to the top of something for a long continuous descent, shuttling, or can stand up and power through most small climbs- all things where a quick release does just as much good haha.

I think the type of trails you will be riding should determine if a dropper is really NEEDED.

IMO, for what I ride, they're overrated. At least for how damn expensive they are.
 
Have a pair of rocker2s with Guardians that I'd be willing to trade with a sum of cash for a MTB if anyone is interested....
 
13619789:GANDALF said:
Kelly McGarry died this morning. RIP to one hell of a rider.

Fucking scarily random. Dudes heart just gave out while grinding to the top of a trail. Sucks, sounds like he was pretty much universally really, really well liked.

13620329:.boz said:
Have a pair of rocker2s with Guardians that I'd be willing to trade with a sum of cash for a MTB if anyone is interested....

2011 Specialized stumpjumper fsr comp. Completely stock. Has seen some wear and tear but still rides well.
 
13620390:californiagrown said:
Fucking scarily random. Dudes heart just gave out while grinding to the top of a trail. Sucks, sounds like he was pretty much universally really, really well liked.

Was that the cause? He was the definition of a nice guy from what I heard. Just a sad day in the MTB community..
 
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