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NSMB - 2024 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

Oct. 10, 2024, 11:51 a.m.
Posts: 93
Joined: Jan. 18, 2019

Posted by: velocipedestrian

Posted by: GiveitsomeWelly

This is my current iteration. 

Have swapped the Aeffect cranks (w 34t ring) for SLX (w 32t ring) as they're second hand and the crank bolt kept coming loose. 32t is also much less daunting on the 9spd 11-36t cassette haha. 

Tis fun and surprisingly quiet bicycle.

Nice! 

I gotta get over to Wainui this summer, it's been years.

We've got some great little tech gems here now that are basically unrideable in the wet so mid summer is the perfect time to get 1000m+ of vert on a half dozen different trails every lap. 

Spoilt for sure.

Oct. 10, 2024, 12:22 p.m.
Posts: 93
Joined: Jan. 18, 2019

Posted by: fartymarty

Lovin' the 9 speed.  I got stuck on 10 with no plans to change.

Yeah, my 'fancy' bike (by that I mean it's got two boingers but is still pretty agricultural compared to what most people would consider fancy) has 11-42t 10 speed but I'm honestly fairly intrigued by Cues 11-48 10spd...

Oct. 11, 2024, 5:34 a.m.
Posts: 199
Joined: Nov. 20, 2020

I have drunk the Analog Cycles Kool-Aid and found it good. Very very high stack, short stem, drop bars on the Rambler, so the drops are at a comfortable height and the hoods and tops are very upright. Great for comfy cruising and I can still get deep down into the drops and put down the power if I want to. I also swapped from cable-actuated hydraulic brakes (Juin Tech GT-P) to Paul Klampers, I am very happy with the bike and think it (and me) deserves them.

Oct. 22, 2024, 5:05 a.m.
Posts: 199
Joined: Nov. 20, 2020

That looks pretty good! The difference between the old and new stripped Flites is crazy - is that mold, or just discoloration?

Oct. 23, 2024, 4:03 a.m.
Posts: 1300
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

While we still include double hardtails here's a pic from last weekends ride.  We did just over 100 miles down and back to the coast via a disused railway line with a bit of road at each end.  Lots of mud and puddles - it would have been miserable without the fenders.

Oct. 23, 2024, 5:05 a.m.
Posts: 199
Joined: Nov. 20, 2020

Posted by: fartymarty

While we still include double hardtails here's a pic from last weekends ride.  We did just over 100 miles down and back to the coast via a disused railway line with a bit of road at each end.  Lots of mud and puddles - it would have been miserable without the fenders.

Looks filthy even with the fenders! I got a mud flap for the bottom of my front fender and it works wonders keeping the BB area clean and dry.

I'm curious, are you very tall? The saddle-bar drop you have looks really big.

Oct. 23, 2024, 10:32 a.m.
Posts: 1300
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Tristan - 185cm with a 31" sest height.  Bars are about 100mm lower than the saddle with 30mm spacers.

Nov. 4, 2024, 6:11 p.m.
Posts: 22
Joined: Nov. 24, 2020

Who’s out there making updates for winter riding?

Stump lean from today.

Nov. 4, 2024, 8:06 p.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Jan. 7, 2021

Nice shot! Sure beats the trees in my neck of the woods.  

Nov. 4, 2024, 8:50 p.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Oct. 30, 2020

Nice Cotic! And cool shot with the Talus balls. Is that a Solaris?


 Last edited by: embadude on Nov. 4, 2024, 8:55 p.m., edited 2 times in total.
Nov. 4, 2024, 9:08 p.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Oct. 30, 2020

Here's my Vassago Verhauen ready for winter

Nov. 6, 2024, 7:19 p.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Jan. 7, 2021

Posted by: embadude

Nice Cotic! And cool shot with the Talus balls. Is that a Solaris?

Thanks! Yup, picked it up this spring! I thought it might be my "one bike solution" but now I'm thinking it's too nice to be subjected to winter riding...

Nov. 6, 2024, 7:52 p.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Oct. 30, 2020

I ride my Vassago through the winter.  But swap out the Fox 34 for a rigid steel fork ( the ODIS made by Tom at Vassago) and swap the tires for 45 NRTH 29x2.6 Wrathchilds.  I only ride it when it's cool enough to have the crunchy, "dry" snow and or hardpacked snow, not when its wet and slushy. I've ended up riding it more than my fatbike over the past couple winters. So its definitely possible to have a one bike solution.

Nov. 7, 2024, 7:41 a.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Oct. 30, 2020

Pretty well, but I'll qualify that by saying only after the snow shoe-ers, walkers and yes, fatbikes have packed down the snow. Given that, I've found I can ride most of the singletrack, even the super punchy network in Jackson Heights area. If like last year, we go a couple weeks or more between snows, when the surface is hard snow and or icey, you can easily ride the singletrack. Even more so if you ride in places lime Devon and Fort Sask, where they groom the trails.  Note, though, that I use a 40 mm internal width front rim, and a 35 mm rear, so that increases the width of the tires to 2.7 ish Those Wrathchilds are incredibly grippy, especially in the 120 tip casing versions. Some of the folks I ride with swap to 27.5 plus wheels and use the 27.5x3.0 versions, and those are even better if your frame can fit them.


 Last edited by: embadude on Nov. 7, 2024, 7:56 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Nov. 7, 2024, 3:19 p.m.
Posts: 12
Joined: Oct. 30, 2020

Indeed. Really, a "valley country" hardtail is pretty hard to beat. And works well on gravel, too. If you'd like someone to show you around the trails, feel free to reach out

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