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Do You Mountain Bike?

w00t!
 

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Still smokey up there? Certainly looks as dry as the season started. Waiting for some damn rainI gots vacation to blow, and poutine to eat..
 
Wasn't sure if I could sort of thread jack this one.
the area I moved to has a bunch of mountain bike parks and I'm planning on starting to do some trail riding to start.
I'm looking to get a good starter bike.
One of the local shops recommended the Trek Stache 5 or 7. Any thoughts or suggestions? I think for the type of riding I'm planning on doing a hard tail would work.
If anyone thinks I should just start my own thread please let me know.
Very excited to start some dirt pedal riding. :thumbup
 
B-mtrd said:
Wasn't sure if I could sort of thread jack this one.
the area I moved to has a bunch of mountain bike parks and I'm planning on starting to do some trail riding to start.
I'm looking to get a good starter bike.
One of the local shops recommended the Trek Stache 5 or 7. Any thoughts or suggestions? I think for the type of riding I'm planning on doing a hard tail would work.
If anyone thinks I should just start my own thread please let me know.
Very excited to start some dirt pedal riding. :thumbup
Click to expand...

I'd ride a few before you decide. I got back into biking and went with a hard tail. Thought I wanted the Trek (can't remember the model), until I rode it and it was a pig. Rode the Cannondale and was sold.
 
B-mtrd said:
I think for the type of riding I'm planning on doing a hard tail would work.
Click to expand...

The one thing I would add is to the HT argument...

First, I think everyone should get comfortable on a HT before ever considering going to a FS bike.

Second, hard tails are WAY under rated in their abilities. I was out riding some pretty serious enduro style trails where almost everyone is showing up on 150mm+ full suspension bikes. I was watching people walk, or slowly roll over obstacles and jumps that I would completely clear...on my XC racing hard tail (not even a trail hard tail).

Example, a friend following me on my bike. He is a fast Sport, slow Expert enduro rider on his 130mm full suspension bike. Listen to his comments to get a feel for what the trail is like (video flattens out trails).

https://youtu.be/OglqX5SLB_I?t=6m

Other than that, pick which ever bike feels best to you.
 
B-mtrd said:
Wasn't sure if I could sort of thread jack this one.
the area I moved to has a bunch of mountain bike parks and I'm planning on starting to do some trail riding to start.
I'm looking to get a good starter bike.
Click to expand...

What a your goals? Do you want to ride technical features/jump, or are you just out for the fitness and scenery?

Sidewalk said:
The one thing I would add is to the HT argument...
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That trail looks like a bunch fun. You're clearly bringing some jump skills/confidence to the table which your buddy doesn't have. On a smooth trail like that you better be starching those squishies with pure hardtail efficiency. ;) I love hardtails too but I don't think a little squish is a bad thing for a total noob. For someone who totally lacks jumping skills, or riding technique in general a little bit of suspension will save your life if you get in over your head. Yea a lot of people go out and buy $8k decked enduro bikes and definitely don't have the skills to push them. I guess thats the MTB equivalent of owning a Panigale for street riding? I think it's more important to get something appropriate for your trails, and riding aspirations. If you're coming from the couch a hardtail is going to be very unforgiving.
 
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Wondering if the mtb gais could help with something. I have a 2009 Specialized Pitch Comp, looks just like this. It has a Rockshox Pike 327 fork, which just has a plastic cap where the compression assembly should be. I'm reading that you can drop in the motion control damper as an easy upgrade, but I have no idea what may work, since nothing out there seems to specifically say "buy this for your Pike 327". Is there generation information that would help? As in, any moco unit from a U-Turn fork within x-x years will work, or anything similar that could help determine what will fit? Oldest one I can find on eBay is this one. Anyone know if it may work?
 
PhoS said:
That trail looks like a bunch fun. You're clearly bringing some jump skills/confidence to the table which your buddy doesn't have. On a smooth trail like that you better be starching those squishies with pure hardtail efficiency. ;) I love hardtails too but I don't think a little squish is a bad thing for a total noob. For someone who totally lacks jumping skills, or riding technique in general a little bit of suspension will save your life if you get in over your head. Yea a lot of people go out and buy $8k decked enduro bikes and definitely don't have the skills to push them. I guess thats the MTB equivalent of owning a Panigale for street riding? I think it's more important to get something appropriate for your trails, and riding aspirations. If you're coming from the couch a hardtail is going to be very unforgiving.
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I don't think FS is bad for anyone. I just think HT is the place to start. I started on a borrowed 26" 40 pound HT, then to FS, then added the XC HT in the video, then added an enduro (N+1). HT is a great way to learn skill and a low cost of entry and less maintenance.
 
The shop near my house had a few bikes to try. There is construction in the parking lot where they're located so I took a few there and was able to decide. I tried 27.5 and the 29 and decided to go with the Stache 5, well equipped and felt comfortable.
I have some old gear at home but I'm looking for a newer helmet. Someone recommended the Giro Montaro (MIPS) and the Fox Metah (n MIPS), thoughts?
 
B-mtrd said:
The shop near my house had a few bikes to try. There is construction in the parking lot where they're located so I took a few there and was able to decide. I tried 27.5 and the 29 and decided to go with the Stache 5, well equipped and felt comfortable.
I have some old gear at home but I'm looking for a newer helmet. Someone recommended the Giro Montaro (MIPS) and the Fox Metah (n MIPS), thoughts?
Click to expand...

Go with the one that fits best.
 
Been playing with this cheapo chinese gimbal. Here's a quick clip of my friend following me in Whistler last weekend. Still trying to figure out the quirks but the footage is so much smoother than regular chesty when it works.

[youtube]7nWOpDQLVNQ[/youtube]
 
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Mike95060 said:
Some of my buddies worked real damn hard on these. I'm gonna crow about it and show off for them just a bit.

http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/memb...ruz-Reserve-Carbon-Wheels,34485/iceman2058,94
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If you don't mind me asking, how long have your buddies been working at SC and/or in the bike industry? Do they like what they do?

Very impressive video. Scientific? No, of course not. But certainly proves a point while simultaneously being a very effective marketing tool. Carbon rims may be an upgrade some day... still getting used to the fact that my pedal bike is worth more than any of my motorcycles :wtf No regrets about picking up this bike, though. First full-suspension rig and it rips!

R8AGbOUh.jpg
 
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ghebinkim said:
If you don't mind me asking, how long have your buddies been working at SC and/or in the bike industry? Do they like what they do?
Click to expand...

I have known my friend Mike Woods about 15 years, we worked together in a fab shop before he left to go to work for Santa Cruz Bikes and I moved on into CNC machining. I think he has been with S.C. for about a decade.

here he is working with Logan Peat:

https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/news/922


and he made Steve Peat's one off race V10's

http://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/article/steve-peats-world-champs-santa-cruz-v-10-24443/

Like every job there are ups and downs, politics and things to deal with but If you are in the group he works with life is usually pretty good.

Most of his contributions to the carbon wheel project was in developing test machines. (They don't hand em to the pro's to break until they are pretty sure they are good.) My friend Joe Doty is an engineer there too and he had a big part in developing the wheels.

Joe rips!
https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/news/940
 
Mike95060 said:
Some of my buddies worked real damn hard on these. I'm gonna crow about it and show off for them just a bit.

http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/memb...ruz-Reserve-Carbon-Wheels,34485/iceman2058,94
Click to expand...

I like what they're doing with these. Though they're still 3x more expensive than a set of good alloy wheels, and nearly as heavy. SC unquestionably makes a bulletproof products, I'd totally be on a Bronson if I didn't disdain VPP suspension. I'm super tempted to go full trollolol and get a set for my 2018 trail bike build. It's aluminum so those dentists wont know whats what. :twofinger
 
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PhoS said:
I like what they're doing with these. Though they're still 3x more expensive than a set of good alloy wheels, and nearly as heavy. SC unquestionably makes a bulletproof products, I'd totally be on a Bronson if I didn't disdain VPP suspension. I'm super tempted to go full trollolol and get a set for my 2018 trail bike build. It's aluminum so those dentists wont know whats what. :twofinger
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I'm curious what you don't like about VPP. I have only ridden a few full suspension mountain bikes, all S.C. high end carbon loaners with VPP. For my slow novice ass they were amazing. Some of the Santa Cruz rank and file run aluminum frames and carbon wheels. Seems like a smart budget conscious choice to me. (Budget conscious is a relative term in the bicycle world!)
 
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