SteveR profile

Agreed! Last years sounded kind of like a golf pro-am event, where a bunch of average e-bike riders paid to hang out with some ex pros and industry types. Pioneers-not!

Thanks for a good read! I often feel that I miss out on the community aspect of mountain bike culture, as I almost always ride solo, but a shared grin out on the trail or a "how was your ride?" back at the trailhead remind me that we are all in  this together. Where I really feel part of the greater community is on trail days, and not just the working on something together aspect, but in getting to know other riders.

I was happy running an Eliminator Grid Trail T7 up front last summer, in place of the usual DHF MaxxTerra. Comparable to the Maxxis on the rocky dry loose, and a bit better on wet roots. But we are talking Alberta here.

One winter I spirally wrapped the levers using self adhesive foam (neoprene?) weatherstripping that is 2-3 mm thick and about 10 mm wide. Found at any home improvement store. It worked fine but was hell to clean off in the spring. Which needed doing as it was worn by then.

Interesting, but for the cold and dry Alberta winter I'll stick (ha!) with my $2.49 roll of hockey tape from Crappy Tire. How Canadian is that?

Numb hands were becoming a problem on xc rides a few years ago (age?) so I started experimenting. A bit more sweep, adjusting roll, and cutting the 800's down to 760 (less bar strikes too!) helped, but switching out my long favoured Oury's to a generic copy of the SQ Lab 711 last summer made even more of a difference. Which led to Ergon GA 3's for this season. Yes!

Very well done and a refreshing change from the usual mtb media. It's things like this that keep me checking in on NSMB!

That new tire smell does it for me too. Right up there with waxing skis as winter approaches!

These sound promising, especially if they set up Canadian distribution. Last summer I broke with tradition and changed things up from the DHF/Aggressor pairing that had been my go-to for all round Alberta riding, to the Spesh Eliminator/Ground Control combo. I was impressed enough to re-up with a new set on tap for this year, with the bonus that I saved roughly $25 per tire.

Agreed! Sure, it's just a pedal thats going to get beat on, but that lack of attention to finishing detail raises questions in my mind about what we can't see.

I have to admit that those Hornby photos make me almost long for my teenage stomping grounds in Powell Riviera! 

This is what my riding looked like last week:

Surface on January 2. First ride of the new year! 

"If your bb is threaded you could always switch up the spacers and offset the whole crank to move the chainline. I understand this idea would be offensive to some, but I don’t think it would be noticeable."

No issues after doing this- moving the crank inwards by 3 mm in order to get a slightly better chainline when in the big sprockets.

Another bike in the snow, in this case my 2016 Surface, which is pretty much my only Trail Bike at the moment. Yes- 2x10 and no dropper. Oh the shame! Having said that- a update is on the way for this one, and  a new stablemate by 2023. Almost certainly another hardtail, considering the latest Surface at the moment but keeping options open for now, so I will be following...

"grey-haired, helmet-less, e-bike riding ass"

Is that a thing now? I've been doing a fair bit of paved pathway riding this spring with my 5 yo granddaughter, and we have encountered more than a few of the above, who blow by her without any consideration. She's a good rider, but as any parent knows, children can prone to wobbles and distractions. I'd add that the jerks have all been male.