awesterner profile

I’ve been riding my V1 for a while now with the cascade link. Really like the change. The first few rides had me frustrated though. It sat higher, and was incredibly compliant. It took a few rides to get the balance back with the fork. Very happy overall with the new 160/152mm setup. Pete mentioned stiffness of the rear triangle. With the OEM carbon rocker I noticed a little flex as well. I damaged it and transition replaced it with the aluminum one last year (at a 60gram weight penalty if anybody cares). I did noticed the rear triangle being more rigid. The Cascade link is a lot more substantial, the bike is noticeably stiffer. I thought I wouldn’t notice it between all three links, but it’s there :)

Great piece Pete. I was going to go for the V2 Sentinel as well but I dithered and dithered until well, we all know what happened these days when one does that, ha!

This is my 3rd year on the V1 (first was metal, current is Merlot). It’s a great bike all around. I managed to get a Cascade Link for it, snipped a spacer in the shock to up the travel a bit to 152. It’s a big change to how the bike rides, surprisingly. I dig it and I’m very happy to keep rolling on it for the next season!

To anyone reading this I highly recommend a High Above hip pack. Hand made in Bellingham by a really nice dude. Stiff waterproof shell material, with a really close fit. I have had 2 versions for the last five years and they are indestructible, and still look fantastic with tons of use. Surprisingly good value at 100-125USD depending on version and configuration 

https://www.highabove.net

Transition has a Sentinel in an XXL with a 531mm reach

I’ve had OG fox 36s, lyriks, and Pikes that have creaked in the past so definitely not foreign territory:). 

Head angle, our terrain, the way we ride, as Andrew stated earlier, has to be the main factor. I work in aerospace and see a variety of metal press fits day in and day out. Corrosion, even on surface finishes we may consider almost perfect, is expected. Sooo, I vote for 1 piece CSU’s please.

On my 36 CSU #3 I’m still troubleshooting the usual, dirt, headset cups, etc....but it’s the usual sound we all know when the cracking starts.  My CSU #1 was warranted under the 1 year time frame. I think #2 was out of the 6month window warranty for the replacement, he see the $fee. #3 I’ve been told when I got the fork serviced with the new crown, that Fox will charge a replacement fee on that if it needs changing. I will say, Andrew and Natalie at SW have been amazing as usual. I remember Natalie equally expressing frustration over this at the time.  It is what it is. Perhaps I’ll look to Ohlins or another variety when the time comes.

Judging by the other comments they haven’t addressed the CSU. I’m on CSU number three on my 2019 36, replaced in feb right before covid shutdown. No more than 20hrs total (including riding to trails from my house), and it creaks. Suspensionwerx wouldn’t even touch my fork with CSU #2 as the crown and steerer were moving independent of each other. And that one was 6 months of use. ‘Warranty’ now for my third will be about 175 bucks, no free lunch after your first replacement from FOX, fyi. 

I still like how it rides, and 175$ per year is cheaper than a new fork. But FFS Fox come on guys!

Just keep in mind that our hospitals pretty much run at capacity at the best of times with no pandemic. Make smart choices. Lions gate hospital in North Van has  cases at this time and if you tear your shoulder apart or blow your clavicle to pieces don’t expect to get surgery anytime soon. All elective surgery is cancelled indefinitely and well the back of the line will be way back at this point.

Another great option is the Zefal enduro guard.  A wee bit less coverage on the sides than the mudhugger, but only 26 bucks at Lynn Valley Bikes for a very decent option made in France (if that means anything to you folks:-)

I've been rocking a Assguy EXO MT on the front all year.  Maybe I'm in a minority here ,but I'm quite happy with the traction.  For me it's more predictable then the DHF that I use to always run.  PNW, TransBC, wet, dry, Interior, Rockies, Coast. Pretty dam decent all around.  Sure I'd prefer a Max Grip version that wasn't DD, but overall, great in my books!

I’ve seen a broken one already in Bellingham, under a rider that is maybe a buck fifty :)

Picked a pair up from Ridley’s in Cowtown for $137 taxes in including shipping.

Our locals have them now, well Kinetik does. Good tip on RJD Services, forgot that they stock some bikes stuff :)

Posted by: Kieran

Got an email back from the DNV. They will look at re-opening after June 1.

Thank you for your E-mail which was forwarded to the Parks Department. On June 1, BC Parks will re-open Mt. Seymour Park roadways and parking, along with Metro Vancouver's Lynn Headwaters and Lower Seymour Conservation Area parking areas. After that process is complete, the District will move to re-open Fromme Mountain parking area. We appreciate your patience as we work through the re-opening strategy for park facilities in the District.

So that means June 2 right? I'll hold my breath!

That would be great news. This is coming from a guy who rides to the trails. All the DNV needs to do is look at a sunny evening at the Braemer tennis court access to realize that spreading out the herd is the smart thing to do.  I’m not talking about parking, just the huge increase in bikers and hikers that have been funneled on to a single - single track trail to access the network. But this is the district that believes fire protection includes leaving swaths of wood chips on the forest floor  ;)

Posted by: Kieran

Got an email back from the DNV. They will look at re-opening after June 1.

Thank you for your E-mail which was forwarded to the Parks Department. On June 1, BC Parks will re-open Mt. Seymour Park roadways and parking, along with Metro Vancouver's Lynn Headwaters and Lower Seymour Conservation Area parking areas. After that process is complete, the District will move to re-open Fromme Mountain parking area. We appreciate your patience as we work through the re-opening strategy for park facilities in the District.

So that means June 2 right? I'll hold my breath!

That would be great news. This is coming from a guy who rides to the trails. All the DNV needs to do is look at a sunny evening at the Braemer tennis court access to realize that spreading out the herd is the smart thing to do.  I’m not talking about parking, just the huge increase in bikers and hikers that have been funneled on to a single - single track trail to access the network.

Posted by: heckler

http://www.vch.ca/Documents/facility-outbreak-bulletin.pdf

Does anyone fancy a visit to LGH this long weekend?

Yup, Neuro unit. Watch your noggin people! Hospitals are quiet which is great, but before people hit the Full Send button, consider the impending loooong wait times for non electives.

IF you go from the tennis courts, it's actually faster on the climbing trail, compared to climbing up to BP and going to the road.  I've compared, others as well.  At similar efforts it' about 5 min faster.  That was last year before some sections were altered.  It's not much, and might differ depending how much you actually like climbing!

And who's the f8ck twit that sharpie #paved on one of the climbing route signs?  Way too much entitled middle age men passive aggressive bravado BS around here these days ;)

It's awesome seeing the love for Gnarnaimo these days.  Somewhat of a hidden gem, having a few very long DH trail combos on Benson.  Chainsaw Ridge is janky in spots no matter how many times you ride it, but it's worth the push.  Upper Meat Draw has its moments, but once you know the lines it's a really good challenge, and Lower Meat Draw is f*ing amazing. Benson climbing is low angle EXCEPT the push to the summit and EXCEPT if you want to return up to the main FSR from the bottom of Rollercoaster (basically you will want to shoot yourself).  The Full Duff (Uter/SF/Max Power/Hutz) is rougher than it use to be but they put a lot of work in it and its a fantastic pounding. The fast Enduro dudes are doing the Full Duff in over 10 minutes and over 30KPH, so that gives you the idea. I love Dumont for the nostalgia (most of the trails *at least 25 *years old).  A little bit of everything if you know how to link up the trails.  If at Dumont Hayden is fun, and climb up Ho Chi Mihn to ASOP (that is a must if in the area).  Shout out to stickboy here on NSMB for building a lot of these gems :-)

I have had Boostinator (Wolftooth I think) for a couple years on my I9 on carbon hoops. No perceptive lack of stiffness (stiff AF wheels actually). Only issue is the rear cap has no sealing (just a close fit) like the OEM caps, so I killed a lot of non drive side bearings. I've moved on to DT 350s on another set, but honestly if you don't want to fork over crazy cake for new hubs...go for it. It isn't ghetto

Posted by: Ddean

Up the climbing route or Mtn Hwy to 7th shouldn't be that different (in time).

No Quarter is 6km and 600m versus Mtn Hwy (from the lot) at 6.5km and 450m.

I guess on a relative basis NQ is harder 90% of the time and for 33% more elevation than Mtn Hwy, but absolute isn't horribly different in my eyes from a time perspective. One hurts way more than the other, but I don't think that Im getting up Mtn Hwy notably faster than up NQ - but I guess Im spinning my way up the Hwy with half a smile on my face while Im about to die by the time I hit Mtn Hwy via NQ.

Yeah, I cant imagine 1:10 for that ride. That's FLYING up NQ...Id be curious for someone to figure out the average speed required to do that ride in 70min. Assume decent 50% faster than ascent and I bet that's cooking up NQ in what, 10min? 5km in 10minutes is averaging 30kph up the climbing trail. Time to plot it out.

Perhaps Spandies can help us out with data? Far did you travel and how many kms were climbing versus how many were descending?

Yeah it’s a different kind of strain :). In the fall I compared the two routes. Both from the tennis courts, but one up No Quarter, and the other up to the BP, down to Mountain Highway, then up to the NQ exit. At a decent tempo, the NQ route was 40min, and the BP/MH route was actually 45 min to the same point. 34lb Alu Sentinel at the time FWIW :-D

Tim——

It’s very active when the shock is Open but it still has a lot of support so that it doesn’t wallow. Most climbing I use the platform on the shock. Pretty much like every bike I’ve ever owned—maybe it’s just preference:). It rarely bottoms out -hard- when properly set up. Feels pretty sprightly to me. I’m a fast rider, but am easy to please when it come to design and setup. I don’t need to fork out crazy cake for a yeti SB for a perceived better performing suspension (a subjective view of some). ;)

It really could use a taller head tube. These slack ass bikes have a pretty low front end and big reach numbers on paper really need more stack for taller riders

The 160/140 of the Sentinel is a pretty good sweet spot. I find mine quite nimble. At least for me I don't think the 140mm rear end gets in over its head unless you are smashing medium hits at Mach Chicken, or if you are on the brake bumps in the Park. Other than that it's pretty solid pick for a in between bike. :-)

**disclaimer this style of bike is a rear wheel destroyer. I'm on rear wheel #4.  It takes you into the gnar at all the speed of a bigger bike,,,it's just kinda runs out of travel hahaha