I fully expected this to turn into a wash/don't wash your bike debate. I guess I will start. I am firmly in the 'dont wash' camp. No matter how careful you are with the hose, you are going to end up forcing dirt and water into the rotating bits. Let er dry and wipe clean with a rag I say.
I had a 9.8 and while it was well made and Canadian (eh?), I did have a number of issues with it. I had to completely tear it down and clean out the brake assembly multiple times when it started slipping, It leaked air with the original seal head design, and the seat mounting flange eventually broke off the top of the post. I was also not impressed by the shipping cost for any of the small parts.
I have since gone to cartridge-based PNW droppers. Initial cost is lower, design is much simpler, and reliability has been much better. The only maintenance I have had to do is occasionally grease the top bushing. The loam lever is one of the best out there IMO.
x2. I am only 60, so not old or broken enough to need a motor on my bicycle. I am realistic enough to know it will happen someday, but for now I am enjoying pedalling myself up the mountains for as many good days as I have left.
Hey Pete, thank you for not resorting to cutsie terms like 'acoustic' or 'analog' to differentiate e-bikes and mountain bikes. I appreciate it.
How much time have you spent riding Knolly bikes? You may not like how they look, but there's nothing complex about the design once you understand how it works.
The V2 Spitfire was probably the most versatile, playful bike we have had in our fleet. Not the fanciest or lightest, but just so much fun to ride on almost any trail.
There's some great discussion on MTBR from Outbound Lights on how the hangover compares with external battery lights. According to OL, the hangover is not intended to compete with these. The EVO should pair well with them though.
Thanks for the tip. I just picked up a couple of sets from KMS. They are going to make great Christmas presents. Who says you can't give presents to yourself?
I just ordered an EVO. It seems like the perfect bar-light solution to me. I am going to stick with the seperate battery pack solution for my helmet light since I am heavily invested already. I actually like the ability to run high lumens, extremely long run-time, and tiny, lightweight light-head for helmet use. If Outbound comes out with a brighter, longer run-time Hangover I would definitely be interested.
Do you think the outbound is sufficient in terms of brightness and run-time ?
Interesting. What situations cause you to swap out the shock? I actually have a shorter-travel shock for my Fugitive that would drop the travel from 135mm to 120mm but I have never felt the need to try it out.
Getting back to the original thread of this article, how many of you actually change the adjustable geometry on your bikes once you have it dialled in? Geo adjustment isn't a very important feature for me, but it's so quick and easy on the Fugitive LT that I will put it in steep mode for big climbing days, and often change it back to slack mode at the top if the descent is steep and gnarly (and I remember to). The difference isn't huge, but it is enough to make it worth the (small) effort.
Smaller bike companies can offer something that most big brands don't. That is outstanding customer service and direct communication with the owner/designer(s). I started riding Knolly bikes 6 years ago primarily because of their great performance and thoughtful design, but almost as importantly because they are a small, local company that always pick up the phone and take the time to answer any questions I have. Having Noel actively participate in this and other bike forums means a lot to me, and I am happy to be supporting his company. This is a connection I could never have with a bike-name bike brand.
I really appreciate the honest, no BS review Tim, and the straightforward, no excuses feedback Noel. I wish more bike review were like this. My riding style is quite different from Tim's (much slower), and I absolutely love the way the Knolly bikes handle on steep technical trails. So much traction on the way up and so much fun on the way down. I think they are great bikes for riding the shore and S2S trails. The Fugitive is such a versatile bike. It's my 4th Knolly, and it won't be my last one.
I have been running the Evoc fanny pack all summer, and really like it. There is absolutely no down side to wearing it. It's very comfortable and I have never wished I had more stuff on my bike and less in my pack. I love having everything in one pack so I can jump on any bike and be good to go. I didn't see it mentioned above, but the Evoc pack holds a water bottle very well.
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