craw profile

Just how much do you have to spend to get it actually custom fit? I think we've reached that price threshold where absolute fit perfection should be expected. As a hard to fit person I would more than happily spend $850 for the perfect jacket.

Handlebar backsweep/upsweep and saddle widths are the two remaining one-size-fits-all ideas that hopefully will die soon. It took a while but variable rear center lengths are finally here. There are lots of different people with lots of different needs. 

While we're at it can we eliminate the idea of shorts that have the same inseam length for every size? That's ridiculous too.

When the article refers to the claw does he mean in a trail context or a bike park context? I mean, doesn't everyone get the claw in the bike park?

Rider weight and riding style factor in hugely.

Burke is even further! What route do you take from VGH to Burke?

It's pretty clear that steeper ESTA work for some people and not for others. It also makes sense that slacker ESTA in smaller sizes and steeper for the bigger sizes makes sense. Is it so inconceivable that different strokes for different folks?

Hang on hang on. VGH to Coquitlam? I'm trying to imagine riding from here to Eagle, doing a full climb-descent and back. Wow. Nice.

I am so glad I got fresh frames in the last few years and barring a major gear failure should only need consumables this year.

Vivax is what people should have wanted.

Which is extra weird when you see the state of some peoples' bikes. Like, they want to upgrade because the new frame has this or that yet their suspension is poorly tuned or desperately in need of service. As if that missing degree of seat angle or weird $300 fork bolt-on is something they really have to have to increase "sensitivity". Yeah maybe try putting some fresh oil in your fork and actually setting it up right.

TL;DR most people don't need new bikes they need to actually understand the one they're really on, which is so often a matter of tuning.

Posted by: JBV

i don't live or ride routinely on the Shore but it seems to me that there would be little difference, only a preference for feel. originally 29ers were called old man bikes because of their added stability. as an old man and also very tall man, i dig that. my last small wheeled bike was the original Tranny Patrol and it was a killer bike and so fun. it was and still would be great on the Shore. as always i think it depends on what feel you prefer yourself. and maybe height. original Patrol's would be downright cheap used and set up well, they are such great bikes, among many other awesome 650b bikes.

Some of the original 29ers were just terrible gutless poorly adapted from 26" geometry. The first one I rode in 2008 (?) was some Gary Fisher pos and I remember distinctly thinking "wow these wheels are amazing and this bike sucks". Then I got an Enduro 29 and thought wow this is much better but why does it always want to flip over backwards when climbing? Oh right because short people want these big bikes to feel playful so everyone else gets to enjoy that compromise.

For freeriding I recommend the 888.

Posted by: andy-eunson

On that note I’ve ordered a new 203 rotor because my old one is worn. So. Assuming brakes pads will be hard to get, which aftermarket Saint compatible pads are worthwhile.

+1

Code RSC recommendations too please.

The old Knolly adage "don't sell your old bike until you have your new frame in hand" applies. Don't accept "it's almost here, it's clearing customs, etc etc". 

Maybe this is a good year to have a second shock, second seatpost, etc. I just sent my Reverb to Fluid Function - I don't expect it back until end of next week (8 business days). It's going to be a frustrating summer if you don't have backups.

So it looks like we're facing another year of bike, frame and parts delays. The bike shops I spoke with said they have their big booking orders on the way, arriving sometime between now and April. But after that, who knows when there will be more. It doesn't seem like we can rely on finding parts we need online or getting shops to order stuff in as there might not be inventory available. 

Their message: if you see the thing you want you should probably just buy it since it might not be available later.

I built up my spare bike and now both have fresh drivetrains, more tires for both as well as brake pads. I'm pretty much set for predictable consumables. 

Anyone lost in new bike limbo? What other things are people doing?

Posted by: RAHrider

No experience with goggles. My oakley glasses get no special treatment. I often use my jersey to wipe off grit mid ride. They aren't perfect but after 3 seasons, they are still very acceptable. I think they are a harder plastic and may even have a scratch proof coating?

Have a pair of 100% riding glasses that were quite expensive, fit great, great optics. I keep them in their little hard case when not in use but I occasionally wipe them on my jersey mid-ride if they get muddy or to remove condensation and so far no scratches. I'm into my second season with these glasses and they still look great.

Lower Expresso.

Back in my day we had 3D violet and we liked it.

Sometimes a braid reveals a better line. But it really ought to be up to the original trailbuilder to decide.

My HT got almost exclusive use through the first half of 2020. It was perfect but as I got more and more comfortable on it and what it could do I started riding faster and faster eventually getting back to FS speeds. By the end of the summer I was a bag of bones and got a new FS bike. Wow that was a nice change too but it took a lot of getting used to. But seasons change and now I want to build my HT back up into something new, maybe a rigid fork or less aggressive tires intending on much longer rides? The circle of life I guess.