heathen profile

Any updates on real-world service life?

Does anyone make a flat pedal winter shoe????

I wish the new Alum Rockys had these lines. The Alum Altitude would look so much better with straight lines and top tube seat tube gusset. The current Alum Altitude is forgettable in a sea of Taiwanese cookie cutter bikes.

How tall are you Cam?

I am 5.8 and 724mm/28.5 feels about right for the tight island trails. I am flirting with the idea of going wider. 

I rented a V10 at SilverStar and it came with 800mm bar.  They were OK for the wide lift access trails but it hurt my shoulders buy the end of the day.

Would love to know where that trail is?

Sorry, I should have said "Vague first look is vague"

Vague review is vague.

Do they run on all bearing? Do they run on B/U bushings? What
is that latch in the middle for? A few cute pics and 11 line of text should not
be front page news. I would expect this level of writing from Richard C on Pink
bike but not NSMB. Cam what is going on? Please put more meat into your
advert/testing.

The new Reign is a sexy looking bike. The top tubes on the Reign are crazy long!!! What is with the long top tube trend? Bikes are just getting odd.

Why on gods green earth would they make them more flexable??????
Why not aggressive tread to the front to help off bike climbing

I own one and it is an amazing bag. I fly with my bike quite a bit as I live in a boring part of the world. I started with bike boxes then moved on to the Dakine bag, then the Evoc. I found the bike box worked better then the Dakine bag, what a piece of junk. The EVOC is miles ahead of everything else.

Posted by: Timer

Posted by: syncro

It's an existential question, but is there a point for most riders where the bike becomes too good and is actually a step backwards in the fun quotient?

I have been in a situation like that. But I consider it more of a question of choosing the right bike for the kind of riding you do.

After living in BC and riding a burly trailbike around the north shore, I moved to the Black Forest, taking the bike with me. It turned out that this bike was just far too capable for most of the trails there. The only way not to fall asleep on the downhill was to go dangerously fast, create conflicts with hikers and still not have any sense of technical challenge.

So I bought a light XC hardtail which was a hoot to ride and just the perfect bike for the terrain. Plus, no need to wear a full face helmet or armour.

Is it possible that bikes have become so good that they are too capable even for parts of the north shore?

I had the same experience when I move from Vancouver to Beautiful Fort Mcmurray. My fully made the trails just way too boring. So I built up a Cove Hand Job with a 140mm fork. That made the trails a blast and kept my skills up. I keep my full for trips to the mountains.

Posted by: RAHrider

Posted by: heathen

My all purpose CX bike. I ride this beast on local MTB trails and it is a blast. No suspension, short top tubes, steep head angle and skinny tires keep you honest and smooth.

2016 Kona Private Jake with a few burly upgrades to make it more fun in the woods. 

11x42 cassette, RF SixC bar, 100mm dropper, Guide R brakes, 90mm Chromag Ranger stem and few more Chromag purple bits.

I can't decide if I like the bike or the matching pink leopard spandex/socks. Looks like you're having a good rip.

Cyclocross racing is a riot!! Booze hand ups and thick mud.

2017 Norco Opic C7.1

I have built this bike up to be a burly BCXC bike. It is fun but I am going to put it on a diet and try some Island Cup XC races. Swap to 25mm rims and skinnier lighter tires.

Currently built with:

Pike 140mm, Azonic 50mm stem, Chromag Cutlass carbon bar 770mm, RF Next G4 175mm, 150mm dropper, Specialized Power saddle, Sram Level ULT levers with Guide calipers, DT Swiss 350 hubs laced to garbage E-13 30mm rims, Minion DHR 2.4WT, 11spd X1 drivetrain Specialized Swat bottle cage

My 2018 Norco Range C7.2.

This bike is amazing. I have racked up 1600km on everything from three of the Canadian National Enduro Series to park days to Shore to the island Enduro Series and it continues to blow my mind.

Changes from stock are:

150mm dropper, DT Swiss EM481 rims, 170mm cranks, Chromag 40mm HiFi stem, Chromag Cutlass carbon bar 770mm, Kona Wah Wah pedals, Specialized Power saddle, Minion WT.

My all purpose CX bike. I ride this beast on local MTB trails and it is a blast. No suspension, short top tubes, steep head angle and skinny tires keep you honest and smooth.

2016 Kona Private Jake with a few burly upgrades to make it more fun in the woods. 

11x42 cassette, RF SixC bar, 100mm dropper, Guide R brakes, 90mm Chromag Ranger stem and few more Chromag purple bits.

On a positive note. I bought a pair of Specialized "Enduro Bro" shorts and they have been amazing. Great mobility, tough outer and not bad venting. Only beef is the pockets are completely vertical so that is a bit odd.

I bought the Chromag Ambit shorts with high hopes but they turned out to have a fatal flaw. The metal clip on the side used to sinch them up is a thin piece of cast metal. It can't withstand any kind of load. Emailed. Chromag and they shipped me out a fresh set of cheap cast clips, as they are well aware of the flaw. Avoid them at all cost.!!!

I tried on a Giro Terraduro HV size 44 and ot was awesome. I am going to try a 43.5 HV when it comes in.

The ME501 looks great. The 44 was too long. Want to try a 43.5 but half sizes are hard to find.

Posted by: Hepcat

Giro HV fit (high volume) can be found in stock sometimes, Steed had a pair in my size a few months back when last I was home. The fit is something to be experienced though- Wide forefoot sure, but also wide midfoot and heel. Bit like wearing a bag on your foot. I put up with a couple pairs of these POS's before deciding that anything would fit better.

What giro shoe did you have?