yardrec profile

We've been playing the brightness arms race as the cheap Chinese lights die randomly in the woods. That being said, everyone is moving to brighter lights, and everyone seems more happy.

For slower solo rides, less brightness is fine. Riding with a crew going fast I like being able to see more.

I'm all for full atomic brightness when riding at night around cars. Especially during the dusk/rushhours. I take back streets mostly and if cars can readily see you from 3-4 blocks away and take note somewhere in the middle of posting a video, scrolling their social media and buying something from amazon all while operating a multi-ton tank, the earlier the better!

Lynx Raven is a great light for everything from trail riding to night hiking to trying to find missing items at the back of drawers. I think the bar/helmet mount is a little light weight, but it holds the light very well. The mount for the bars just broke on a big crash... even 2 fingers couldn't survive without breaking, so no shade being thrown on Lynx. They're a great company to work with.

I really like Serfas MTB lights. Field replaceable batteries and super bright directional light. The old Tru-750 even had interchangeable lenses for wide/narrow beam patterns. 

The Outbound Hangover has good wide pattern, but wish the battery lasted longer.

The Seca Endura is the best light I've used and it's on full blast on the bars for the entire ride. I stick the battery in a Revelate Gas Tank bag. Still working to find a good pairing for my helmet. For the dark dank nights this winter, it's nice to have some atomic brightness.

Happy new year and merry Christmas!!

Fair enough. I like the no additional moving parts (except the rear axle) of trackends, but I hear ya! I'd settle for slides for sure! :)

All new bikes must have trackends (with deraileur hanger)?

That’s been my experience as well.

💯!

The El Mariachi is a great frame! I'm still enjoying my old Karate Monkey from the same era/geo which climbs better than most bikes available now and is a great bikepacking rig.

On the best price point kids 24” super commuter, I don’t think you’ll go wrong with the REI bikes:

$439 usd and we didn’t need to do any immediate upgrades. Put the dropper and tubeless minions on after we wore through the semislick Recon style wire bead tires.

Posted by: PembyRocks

Stylus-hawk. Mullet with -2 Works headset. 150mm fork. 61 degree head angle, 76mm seat angle, BB height close to stock. Reach ~475mm

Killer! How’s it ride super slack?

Posted by: fartymarty

Looks nice. Nice rear wheel / pedal lean.

That’s awesome! Magic ratio?

More lean... first daylight ride in a long while.. loving the low pressure 27.5+ 2.8" tires for massive traction. Originally thought they sucked, but I had too much air.. Now I see. At least for winter.

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: yardrec

Cross post for 24" Meat Engine Hardtail. Set my kid's bike up with proper aggressive tubeless rubber for trail gripping fun.

Nice. You have a lucky kid. :-)

I feel like a idiot because I couldn't figure out why they were so freaked out sliding around on the trails. I'm taking inspiration from Andrew to give them proper gear like I'd want to have fun times. We'll see when it warms up enough for them to want to go ride bikes with me! :)

Cross post for 24" Meat Engine Hardtail. Set my kid's bike up with proper aggressive tubeless rubber for trail gripping fun.

Posted by: Jeh

New year's resolution - stop lurking.  What, I've already got an account?  Well look at that.  Still not hot on the Spearhead huts...

This Rootdown has been through a few iterations to get to this point.  Mostly trying to differentiate it from the other bike ('18 HTLT).

I'm a wimp and in the heart of the Squamish so that's a 26x22 gearing to get up.  The Bird fork with a 25mm crown race maintains a reasonable front end (well, geometry-wise).  The goal has always been to find different challenges on the same local trails; keep them fresh, so to speak.

In keeping with the "Year of the Moxie" theme, I've got a long on pre-order from the first 2023 batch.  It'll be nice to ditch the tensioner but the real goal is to move the saddle forward and shorten the (currently 65 mm) stem.  At 5' 9" I don't see myself on the Large Rootdown (this is a M/L) but I'm all limbs so a bit more length in the rear should help keep the front end down.

This Rootdown is got it going on! Nice on the rigid front end. What 25mm crown race did you source?

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: yardrec

Which pressure version do you use Vik? Wondering if the 30 is actually more accurate than the 60?

I have the 15psi [plus tires!] and the 30psi [normal tires] versions. I don't know about more accurate so much as easier to read with old man eyes as the markings are bigger. My typical 2.6" tire pressure is ~15-19psi so a 60psi gauge would be a lot of wasted reading potential.

Good points! I need to up my glasses prescription so will get the 30! ;)

Which pressure version do you use Vik? Wondering if the 30 is actually more accurate than the 60?

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: yardrec

Last hardtailing of 2022 while trailbuilding.

Nice. That's a great colour of Rootdown. Have a great 2023!

Thanks Vik!! You too!