otagoboy profile

I have gradually tended to being overbiked as I have aged, as the extra stability/security means I can stay decently fast despite being a bit more fragile and risk averse. And the increased travel soaks up impacts better for all my aches and pains

I recently swapped out my normal 35mm riser 16 degree backsweep bars for a “ridiculously” high 75mm riser 16 degree back sweep Whisky Parts  Milhouse bar on my ZERODE Katipo. The extra height was excellent on the steep stuff and made flat trails much less tiring too. Would love to try his Raised Reverse Stem and take things a big step further.

I’ve been mountain biking since around 1992 and been a radiologist at a big trauma centre for longer than that. There are a million ways to hurt yourself and a lot of stuff can’t be controlled or predicted, but knowing that I’m bouncing down a mountainside covered in roots, rocks and trees on a bike with its own collection of sharp, dirty, hard components means that protective gear is just an integral part of the sport. I wear a DH certified full-face (POC Coron Spin and TLD D4) for almost all rides and a Leatt neck brace at the same time. Knee and elbow pads are essential companions ( and yes, elbow pads are very hard to get fitted comfortably). I have Bluegrass and Scott back/chest armour which I keep for gnarlier rides or when I’m a long way from home. If you ride alone, as I do 99% of the time, I don’t want to get seriously hurt a long way from home potentially without cellphone coverage. Sure - there are lots of excuses not to wear all of this stuff, but I’ve seen far too many people with life changing or life ending traumatic injuries to recognise that mitigation is worth a shot when the alternative is trusting to dumb luck and a soft landing. I don’t really care if it looks a bit dorky as nobody can tell who I am once the FF goes on, and I’ve never seen sports as a fashion event anyway.

I have two trail/enduro bikes. One has AXS which is great, albeit expensive, and hanging out in the breeze getting filthy, needing lubrication and exposed to impacts. 

The other has an even smoother-shifting drivetrain which never needs adjustment, gets a re-lube once per year, has no derailleur to break, and uses a Gates belt which never breaks or falls off. Bit pricey at the front end but virtually no ongoing costs. A Pinion gearbox. Now although I love Gripshift all it needs to be absolutely perfect is an electric shifter …………

I swap between flats and clips multiple times every week. The flats are best for when it’s really slippery or gnarly and I might have to quickly dab or abandon ship completely. The clips are for when it’s drier, faster and a yard sale is less likely. I’d probably stick with flats all the time if they didn’t gouge big divots out of my shins every month or two when my “judgement” gets ahead of my talent.

I have been using Ergon GP1 and GS1 ergonomic grips for 20 years, and bugger the weird looks and rude comments I get. Great for injured/ older wrists and thumbs though I was using them when I was young too. These have been on an Ibis Mojo, Yeti ASR5C, Spot singlespeed, Yeti SB5C, Ventana el Conquistador de Montagnes full-Suspension tandem, and my current ZERODE Katipo enduro and Specialized Stumpjumper 2021. And they are always screwed onto a well-swept bar; Protaper 20/20 (20 degrees back sweep), SQLabs 16 degree, and my new favourite the Whiskyparts Milhouse 16 degree sweep 825mm width 75mm riser ( slammed on the head tube to maximise reach). The Milhouse has been a revelation on the Zerode; seems to make front end grip so much better though I have cut them down to 780mm. 

I have never found these ergonomic grips to be an issue on any trail, no matter how steep and rooty/rocky, in contrast to all the anecdotal comments that you can’t use them on “technical trails”. In fact the added support they give to the outer part of your hand is great on the rough stuff and I never suffer the dreaded arm pump as I’m not gripping skinny little round grips for dear life. These things are definitely not just for family cycle paths, commuting and rail trails. 

I think the Ergon/SQLab grips are hugely under appreciated as are swept back bars. Don’t knock them till you try them. But be prepared for lots of negativity at the trail head

The upcoming integrated TranzX YSI15 dropper looks like it could rival or beat the One/UP though its release date is not yet advertised.

I’ve been using a pair of the the high top TrailCross Mid Pros over the last summer and winter here in the South Island of NZ (=wet ++). They have been great; the high tops solve your gravel funnel issue as the gaiter is much snugger. They aren’t good for keeping water out, but it drains immediately and they dry by the next day. I have found them roomy and comfortable, with D30 inserts giving added protection from rocks and pedal strikes over the heel bones. There are no significant signs of wear. When it is really wet I switch to my clipless Fizik Terra Clima X2 which have an even tighter gaiter + a waterproof membrane. Similar feel otherwise.

I also love my Protaper bars but mine are the 20/20 carbon ones; 810mm wide, 20 mm rise and 20 degree back sweep. It’s the 20 degree sweep which I crave - just so much more comfort for sore old wrists. Pity they don’t come in a higher rise too. These work well on a 160mm Zerode Katipo; previously had the 720mm Answer version on an old Yeti ASR5c. Only recently discovered they had updated to this wider model.

Though primarily a runner, I've been hitting the singletrack since 1991, from Edmonton, Calgary and Banff and now back home in Dunedin New Zealand. At 60 years old I'm trying to learn to jump properly and handle the double black enduro lines after years of XC bikes. Got me Yeti SB5C and Zerode so can't blame the equipment! 

The speed, the freedom, the company (or not) just makes every day worthwhile. I too aim to be pinning it into my 80s, health permitting. 

And I want to be reading NSMB 'til the then, so keep up the great work.

If you really have to have trigger shifters with a Pinion, they are available. Can’t see why you’d want them as it defeats one of the best features which is the ability to grab numerous gears with one twist of your wrist. But the option is out there for a price.

https://cinq.de/en/shifting-technology/428/shift-r-tour-for-pinion?c=136

I look at that design above and see one further improvement; a Gates carbon belt drive. Won’t break and quietens the idler gear. A downhill version of this is what the UCI World Cup downhillers need ( in addition to tyres that don’t flat!!)

No wrap but a few bits of 3M tape anywhere cables touch frame or I have straps for CO2 cartridges etc.

Wash after every dusty or wet ride; if there is dirt/sand/grit on the drivetrain I wash it off with a hose + bucket and re-lube as required. Keep bikes for 5-7 years, ride 5-6 days per week, and have never yet had to replace a bottom bracket, headset or suspension bearing as I make sure they are always clean and then serviced regularly. 

Re-sale value is always “bugger all” by the time I come to sell a bike, compared to what $$ have gone into it. So if I am going to part with cash I just spend it on parts that I am going to enjoy using rather than worrying about frame wraps and cosmetic blemishes.