cyclotoine profile

You'll recall that back in the day AMP was a purveyor of crate rear ends. I have a 1993 Rocky Mountain "The Edge" (nod to U2?) in my bike cave that needs assembly. The rear end is of course aluminum Amp stays and shock. The front triangle was welded by Mr. Dekerf AFAIK. Yes it is the steel one, the '94 went to aluminum front triangles. 

With the integration of todays bike I just don't see crate rear ends being a think and I don't see big manufacturers wanting anyone else to use their designs. Too many liability issues and so on these days plus they want people to buy their whole bike, not just a rear triangle.

I like the drybag strapped to the top tube. My new bike has a really low top tube so I have absurd standover and a large seatmast to I think I can do this pretty readily with some sacks I already have. I also think I'd rather move up to the 40ish litre range or backpack (I also have a first generation ortlieb waterproof 45L backback that I get questions about all the time) and keeping the bike bags smaller. I think I'd choose to bikepack with my fat bike in it's 29+ configuration normally but I'm headed to the chilcotins this month and the program is yet to be determined (i.e. moving camp vs. set-up on camp and base out of it). We still have to get out (any maybe in.. TBD) with all our stuff on us though.

Those look good. If they can be had with a photochromatic lenses that doesn't increase the cost like crazy I am in. I only wear photochromatic, everything else is off the table. I want one pair of glasses for every ride and for the last few years the Ryders Fyre lens in whatever that most popular shape is for MTB (reviewed on NSMB and purchased after that) have been doing the job but they're pretty tired. I noticed a new Ryder's frame at the LBS that looks really good but they only had them in a tinted lens with white frame. I don't even see them online yet but if they offer those in a photochromatic lens they will likely be my next pair of mtb glasses.

I completely agree with you and was discussing the Arrival with another ~6'4" friend and we both agreed the bike was too small to consider. I know reach won't shrink a huge amount as you increase stack but a lower stack means that at a comparable stack to another XL frame the reach shrinks below 500mm. But personal preference.... I know an extremely talented 6'4" ish rider who rides large frames, he's a far better rider than I am so go figure. It's also interesting that the reviewer in this article is happy riding medium/large size of this bike at 6'. I'd figure the bike was too small at that height but it just goes to show that everyone is an individual. I have to give specialized the kudos for offerring 6 sizes in the stumpjumper evo, pretty hard to complain about that kind of choice.

For some reason I though it came out in the last 1980s but for sure as early as ‘91

Thanks for the read. I’ve been eulogizing steep seat tubes for a few years now. Mine still isn’t steep enough. I’m also about the same height as you, maybe 192 cm abs have always gotten zero offset posts and slammed the saddle forward. Including my road bike which looks awful but feels better. When I built my own monster cross bike in 2013 I gave it a 74 degree seat tube which was considered steep for that kind of bike. I only wish I did 75 and also a long front center. I have a bike on order with a 78 (privateer 141) so I’ll see how that does compared to my current 76 ish effective.

Cool, I hope one day they can overcome they’re seat tube challenges. Looks like it would need a strut going to the rear axle like a Schwinn stingray banana seat. The top tube lengths are breathtaking in a gasping in disbelief at how slack the seat tubes actually are.

Tell me more about those soft jaws, where did you obtain them? I need better ones than the beat up cheepos that came with my vice.

This. Where is the value spec? It’s the alloy 50 I guess but the spec sucks. I’ll keep my privateer 141 on order.

I’ll be 40 next year and have 2 very young kids. If I get hurt my partner has to shoulder extra child care. I’ve been wearing elbow pads on most rides for a few years and on the gnarlier stuff adding shin guards. I also wear 661 protective shorts and they have saved my hips/pelvis more than once. This year I’ve added upper body protection and a full face for gnarlier stuff. So thanks for the review. I’ve been using the TLD speed elbows which I had to stitch narrower at the top to stay on my scrawny arms but aside from that they’ve held up still. Still I’m looking to replace them soon and will likely get the 7iDP. Appreciate the review.

pretty much agree with everything craw says. and while I am riding 75+ degree ST angle bike now, my next bike will be a Pole, because I want it steeper. My partner really appreciated the climbing benefits when she went from a 73 degree ST trail bike to a 75 and she is a hair under 5'8". So maybe 75-76 is good for average sized riders and it needs to be adjusted from there.

I think Forbidden is a great example of where the industry is going. Riders want more choice and we will increasingly see these small brands eat away at the custom and big brand market because they will offer bikes that have semi-custom geometry off the shelf with different seat tube angles and rear centers in each size. It means some bikes will get even more expensive, but we have seen that people are willing to pay for it. I would take a size-specific geometry alloy bike (Pole just happens to be making what I think will work best for me at 192cm) with a nice GX build over a carbon superbike any day (and then put really nice carbon wheels on it). That is what is going to be the best performance to cost ratio for me.

So I think we're going to see more of what Forbidden is going in terms of geometry offerings.

I also think tire damping is a thing and we will see more tire companies launching their ideas for it in the next few years. I think there is likely a lighter way to incorporate damping into the tire and that will be the way it goes, but we'll see.

I also think we reached peak hardtail popularity and it will not begin declining in popularity but always maintain a low-level market share.

Posted by: bmak

Anyone ridden the new Instinct?

I guess you mean BC edition since this is a long travel thread, but yeah I am riding the new A70 and I think it is a great value. As a super tall dude I wish it had more reach, but it's not bad with a 60mm stem and a bit of rise. I had a 2015 BC edition previously which was a great bike, the new bike is way nicer. Climbs better and more fun/agile than the old bike. I won't comment on the suspension since I went from XFusion -which was great for the price point- to Fox performance elite and of course it's way better in every aspect. 

Posted by: craw

I'm 6'6" and tried 180s for a while. I liked the way they rode but the clearance issues were enough that I switched back to 175. 170 just felt too small. 175 is a good compromise for me.

Damn! What do you ride at that height? I would think almost all production frames are really too small for you?

I'm 6'3.5" and most XL bikes are not big enough for me. We still have a ways to go on reach. I need it longer. Pedal strikes keep me from riding longer cranks but I would not give up 175 mm cranks. I run 185 mm cranks on my monster cross and 180 mm on my other two road bikes. I have 180 mm cranks for touring too. I love the power of the longer leaver and at my height I don't have to worry about closing out my knee angle on the top of the stoke, it's just a non-issue. 

So it comes down to personal preference. I see everyone here has a full range of preference.

Fixed gear I have run 165 mm but prefer 170 mm and I have run 172.5 and 170 mm on the boards. I even have 177.5 mm cranks on one vintage road bike.

I have the Dainese trail skins, the first ones. The second ones look like they address my only grip with the originals in that they are more formed to the knee cap. They stay in place. have side protection, move well and aren't irritating, but the fit it a little awkward as they are not cupped enough to fit nicely on the knee. I would recommend them and figure the new ones are the way to go if you can find them. I live in the North so I pretty much have to buy online anyway since local options are extremely limited.

Pretty happy with my riders thorn anti-fog photochromatic glasses. They're a bit big but the anti-fog really works and I can't live without photochromatic lenses anymore. I lost pair of specialized berm's which were photo chromatic last winter on a back country ski trip. I was super bummed. Those were my favorite all time MTB glasses.

My partner road a giant dropper on her 2014 trance for three seasons. Never serviced, worked like a charm and sold the bike this spring (the black stanchion one). My friend had the older version with a gold stanchion and it wore out. Some people clamp their post too tight and damage their droppers. I did it with my first X fusion and didn't make the same mistake twice. My partner got a new trance this year with another giant dropper and I hope it holds up as good as the old one. I like the performance of my Xfusion better but it does need more frequent service.

Posted by: mrock

Posted by: shoreboy

Ordered about $500 of parts and apparel from them on Apr 3rd.  Shipped out Apr 4th, delivered in Vancouver Apr 8th.  I always choose the Canada Post option.  I got charged $9.95 handling and another ~$22 in taxes (which is lower than what it should have been).  Fast and cheap, no complaints at all here.

I'm at 18 working days now, and nothing has showed up for me. Ordered about $200 worth of Shimano drive train parts. My first order with CRC as well, and it's taking wayyyy longer than I expected. Hopefully better luck on some future orders, or better yet, I hope this order even shows up!

Don't start to worry yet. It can often take 3 weeks.

Is there hard evidence that wider makes you faster? Shouldn't we first ask how tall the rider is and if they have broad shoulders? 

It seems like everyone is going wider and wider and riding similar bars, but bars should be sized to suit the rider. I'm 6'4" with broad shoulders and am happy with 740mm bars though I do ride some tight trees. 

I had to put narrower bars on my girlfriends bike because the stock ones are ridiculous for a 5'7" women for trail riding.

Also keen, are they available currently? Sending PM.