xy9ine profile

have to mirror what you said - the end stroke / bottom out aspect of this shock is impressive (and perhaps skews my overall impression a bit). i'm running shorter travel (140mm meta tr), but this combo sucks up the "this is going to hurt" big hits so effectively i've yet to want for more travel (granted i've not had this bike in the park yet).

love my 2021 x2. base tune is on the aggressive side for sure; i run a bit lighter as well. it's spectacular when things get fast (for me, anyways) & chunky.

almost 100lbs on me; i imagine any SC would feel bendy under you. 

dc forks make lots of sense in the world of long(er) travel, near-dh ready aggressive trail bikes. fattening sc fork stantions are one thing, but the achilles heel is still that crown-steerer interface. much more nerding out tuning potential with dc's as well (ride height, custom offsets), as well as the extra negative air spring volume to play with. something like mojo's MORC 36 (fox 36 dc conversion kit) would be pretty rad.

NF's with a waterproof ass panel would be brilliant.

they're a nice garment for sure. not an apples to apples comparison, though; a waterproof iteration would undoubtedly cost a good bit more. when things get properly soggy, i eye pants like the 7mesh longingly.

haha, so much judgment.

yep. why pant companies don't all have either a). a couple different inseam options per size, or b). longer rollable / trimmable hems - is just dumb. proper fit is critical for optimal performance; it shouldn't be too much to ask for a $200+ pair of britches. people come in different ratios of width AND height. unheard rants of the tall & slim...  

that said, my NF's work - just, in conjunction with a tall MW5 winter boot; but a couple more inches of length would be grand.

yeah, i'm guessing it was originally a way around the fsr patent? agreed that the added bits & aesthetically awkward (imo) forward offset seat tube isn't the most elegant solution, but it's certainly an effective brand identifier / differentiator. hard to let go of.

on that note (random ramble) - i find it interesting specialized dropped the fsr on the new carbon stumpy, after being so intrinsically tied to that suspension platform since forever. though the silhouette is pretty similar (and realistically, performance), so not a radical departure i suppose.

i didn't hear any juicy first hand TE stories  back in the day, but the bikes the flowriders were riding (ellsworth sponsored them for a time) were comedically shitty. ie, they had a box of spare joker swingarms they'd keep on hand because they were pure butter & had to swap them out regularly (ie, tyler killed a new one within half a day doing park laps). the headtube plate gussets of the dare would crack in short order (& pieces would actually fall out), but instead of replacing the frame, tony gave them little bolt on cnc plates that covered them up. them were the days...

no, andrew. don't give them ideas.

and you can *almost* buy two micras for the price of a turbo levo sl:

https://www.specialized.com/ca/en/s-works-turbo-levo-sl/p/175105?color=293231-175105&searchText=96821-0002

exactly. i use that phrase all the time on my kids when applying sunscreen. not having seen the movie, they have no idea what i'm going on about, but it warrants a chuckle (and repeat use) every time.

the edc is quite well sealed. no need for any additional protection in my experience (so far). regular rides in gross weather, gets the hose all the time, etc.

yep. i'm running xt 11 spd gs rd & shifter w/ sram 10-42 (with 26t ring as a sort of semi-compact setup); works just dandy.

the first half of severed (before it goes properly down) is a fun no pedal / pumpy bit of trail. can't generate enough speed to get past the uphill bit at the JD turnoff, alas. guess one could be a dork & hop up that section, but i'm not quite *that* motivated...

Posted by: Ned

Posted by: xy9ine

i imagine nearly everyone that frequents this forum (or pretty much any internet forum these days) would qualify as old. at least that's what my kid would say. 

but yeah, bought my first mountain bike in 1984; still going hard on a regular basis. gotta keep at it as long as the body permits.

if you've been riding since 84 you've seen most, if not all of the evolution.  and to ride the Shore for 36 years is pretty amazing.  my body hurts just thinking about it.

having experienced first hand the birth (at least as a relatively mainstream, commercially available product) & evolution of the mountain bike - from fully rigid, friction shifting, cantilever braked contraptions - to the amazingly refined bikes we ride today, has been quite the ride unto itself. not to mention trailbuilding evolution (especially the impact of the north shore) & skill progression. it's wild, in retrospect. loved every moment, no matter how janky.

i imagine nearly everyone that frequents this forum (or pretty much any internet forum these days) would qualify as old. at least that's what my kid would say. 

but yeah, bought my first mountain bike in 1984; still going hard on a regular basis. gotta keep at it as long as the body permits.

Posted by: Poz

Ya I just had a solid order in from TBS, they are only 30 minutes down the road from me so super close for delivery. 

They don’t have the selection of most places but they are good for the consumables and drivetrain items.

yep, TBS has been great for me as well. solid pricing, quick delivery.

i'm liking the fox water for current local conditions (soggy, single digits above freezing). has the fit of a summer glove (thin grippy unpadded palm) with a waterproof back. no insulation, but i find my hands don't get cold (again, in above 0 temps) if they're staying (relatively) dry.

at least this bike has some utility; nicely built, it will (hopefully?) see use under multiple kids. I do like to see better built kids bikes that are enjoyed & handed down moreso than cheap, heavy, ill-performing short-lived shit. of course, this is a bit over the top, but hey. 

there's certainly no shortage of *really* perverse crap to be had out there though; how about a $1400 tin can?

https://www.tiffany.ca/accessories/decor/everyday-objects-sterling-silver-tin-can-60559139/