craw profile

How many frames would Ian have to weld personally to qualify?

How many pair of pants per year would Travis from NF have to personally sew to qualify?

Must ... see ... disco ... boots

The first time you realize you've broken something and now you're waiting for 6-8 weeks is exceeded only by now knowing that feeling well enough to recognize it next time.

While I think you're right it's important to consider crash survivability. The riders I know who diligently do their rehab/prehab/off-bike training tend to survive crashes a lot better than those who "get all the training they need on the bike". Knowing when to push and when to chill is really important too. Watching Friday Fails nicely illustrates what happens when you don't work up carefully to new moves/techniques and don't carefully choose your moment.

I've been hurt plenty but given my tenure it's all been relatively minor and I accept it as the cost of doing business.

I had no idea this even happened. https://www.clearwatertimes.com/sports/allies-mountain-bikes-festival-for-trail-users-to-show-love-and-support/  

I wish I had known more about it. I'd like to know more about this kind of stuff than another waterproof jacket test.

I hate that you're right. Most of us here regularly ride stuff most people couldn't walk up or down. Often in incredibly inclement weather. Those of us who are getting older but are still here are either blessed with good reflexes, diligent in recovery and training, and just dumb enough to think they can get away with it again. Most of my riding buddies from 20 years ago don't have all 3, or a surplus of the third and most stopped riding years ago. I've long since sublimated the risk but that doesn't mean I'm not aware that my time will come. Jorts and bike polo for retirement or just one last run  down Jack the Ripper?

While we're giving kudos to the sano build and perfectly executed classic NORBA geometry of that Bridgestone MB-0 (in contrast to an east coast woods bike), whatever happened to Zapata Espinoza and Pineapple Bob and that particular taco joint they used to talk about? Mike you must know!

So it's a gofundme to pay for said ebike?

Custom ebike to bother everyone, here I come!

Lol could you imagine SC doing anything that didn't specifically line you up towards buying another new frame with an identical silhouette distinct because of colour.

Amazing! That kind of thing used to be a feature of every ride when bikes were less reliable. Carrying tons of stuff in your Camelbak to be prepared for any eventuality. Bunch of guys standing around in the rain stroking their chins trying to figure out how to fix some weird mechanical.

Posted by: andy-eunson

Posted by: Sethimus

Posted by: demo7_rider

I've found the 7iDP Sam Hill pads to be the best at staying put. The Sastec insert is removable for washing and the surrounding padding gives more shin and side-of-knee protection than most.

As far as pants go, the Nukeproof Blackline are really great value if you're already placing a Wiggle/CRC order. Close fitting but super thin and stretchy, keeps pads even more secure.

i also have the sam hill pads, they stay on all day, feel just like some cycling knee warmers

Can confirm. I have two pair now so one pair is always dry. I really don’t notice them being too hot even on 30°C days.

If the pants are light enough to be that comfortable in hot weather are they durable enough to provide any real protection? Have you crashed in them and how did they do?

Posted by: Vikb

I've given up on taking pads on and off while riding. I put them on at the start of the ride and take them off at the end. If they aren't comfortable enough for that I'd ditch them and get something else.

Seriously this. Pads should fit. The latest Troy Lee ones I got work really well for me. But I definitely spent a day going to a bunch of shops and trying different ones on. They're so comfortable and fit so well that I put them on with my shoes and leave them on all day, for the drive, climb, descent and getting home again. And they stay in place during crashes. If they can't do that I bought the wrong ones.

And so it begins. 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/falling-batteries-and-risk-of-fire-leads-to-santa-cruz-recall-of-2022-heckler-emtbs.html

Posted by: mammal

Posted by: craw

Posted by: mammal

I've found very similar results, through my self-acquired insight. There are many days, often but not exclusive to after-work rides, where I quickly realize I'm a little off. Whether that's due to being tired, fatigued, or just distracted by life things. I've found that if I let everything else go, and only focus on body position and braking points, I end up regaining my form really quickly and often end up feeling like a ninja by the end of it. The old me would probably just have slowed to a relative crawl and accepted my fate. 

Adding a gravel bike to the mix has really helped me with this. I have two settings for rides:

1 - I need super high focus/intensity experience to clear my mind by effectively wiping it clean with terror - I go for a proper shore ride on my enduro bike

2 - I need a long pedal to churn over my thoughts and psychologically exhale - I go for a spin on my gravel bike

Recognizing this distinction has increased my ride satisfaction a lot these last few years.

I see that logic for sure, but for me it can be really difficult to ID which mode I'm in until I'm "IN IT". Some days, I'm physically tired and anticipate that I'll ride like shit, but then things just click and I've got all the focus I need. Other days, I've got no clear excuse that I can think of, and I'm just all over the place. Simplifying my focus when my brain is a tangled mess seems to almost always do the trick for me these days.

I can usually figure it out with a sort of visualization/thought experiment: is what I'm preoccupied with going to be helped by getting bumped around a lot, or will it limit focus on really demanding riding when I need it the most? Usually I can figure it out in advance. Also, timing. Shore traffic is so bad these days that time of day can limit choice. There's lots of fun gravel rips right outside my door and I can have a fun out and back in under 90 minutes.

Posted by: mammal

I've found very similar results, through my self-acquired insight. There are many days, often but not exclusive to after-work rides, where I quickly realize I'm a little off. Whether that's due to being tired, fatigued, or just distracted by life things. I've found that if I let everything else go, and only focus on body position and braking points, I end up regaining my form really quickly and often end up feeling like a ninja by the end of it. The old me would probably just have slowed to a relative crawl and accepted my fate. 

Adding a gravel bike to the mix has really helped me with this. I have two settings for rides:

1 - I need super high focus/intensity experience to clear my mind by effectively wiping it clean with terror - I go for a proper shore ride on my enduro bike

2 - I need a long pedal to churn over my thoughts and psychologically exhale - I go for a spin on my gravel bike

Recognizing this distinction has increased my ride satisfaction a lot these last few years.

No amount of bike will account for no skill. Just see any noob in the bike park on a rented DH bike riding berms seated. For that person more bike just means the possibility of going at speeds way beyond their ability to  control and putting them at risk. You can put me on Minnaar's bike and I won't achieve Minnaar's lap times.

If you're a moderate rider trying to advance your skills sometimes more bike really helps. Adding that extra little cushion to your margin of error can add confidence to try new moves, cornering faster, bigger drops, etc.

Thanks for the update. Is there a general timetable for when they'll start breaking ground on the actual buildings west of the first switchback?

Posted by: Kenny

No real rides on it yet, but I sold the Jibb and bought a used Revel Rascal for roughly even money. 

It doesn't have a motor or a steep seat tube angle, so I guess it's unrideable and not even a mountain bike, but we'll see.

I basically went 2017 Bronson - Ripmo AF - Jibb, and every time the geo got more "modern" the bikes felt worse. 

Pedalling around the neighborhood, the bike feels very... Normal.. which is good and what I wanted, so I'm hopeful.

Some real ride impressions this week. 

Left the lyrik at 160 for now. 

That makes sense. Longer bikes with steep seat angle aren't for everyone. It's great that there's plenty of different bikes with different fit/design philosophies that everyone can get what they prefer.

Posted by: Sethimus

Posted by: niels@nsmb.com

Ha, I had completely missed that that Orbea is an e-bike the first time I looked at that photo, I just thought the water bottle looked funny ;-)

Very nice spacious workshop as well, Sethimus.

i won’t use the range extender much. after a few tests i expect 1500-1800m vertical meters if i use it mostly in eco/trail. saturdays ride i used the boost mode for about 700m and still managed to get out 1250m vertical with around 10% left. 

those light ebikes will be growing in numbers in the coming years. they ride so much more like a non motor bike and having less capacity you automatically try to reduce the output

This kind of ebike is so much more appealing to me. Less power, less weight, longer burn time. Just enough assist to make everything a bit smoother.