Ddean profile

Thanks for that link cerealkilla_. Interesting stuff.

THIS is the video that freaks me out. In most of the cougar vids I see, the cougar hightails it out of there and isnt a threat, but the bad ass cat in this vid is different; I think that this guy was about to get attacked. 

Im of the (very naive, as Ive never even seen a cougar) view that if in a situation such as this (one where the cougar appears planning its attack) you need to attack the cougar before it attacks you. I think that cougars are calculating animals and unless its defending a kill, if you change whose terms the encounter is on its more likely to run away....but I dont know. I admit to being a bit freaked out about it lately..... especially since skooks saw momma cat and kitten where he did...I ride deep in the woods on the shore, alone almost all the time and in places where I can go 10 rides without encountering anyone on foot or on bike.....Like I said, Im spooked after googling some videos on it!

I always have a smallish 4-5inch blade pocket knife. I wonder if a whistle would be effective to scare off a cougar that doesnt immediately take off?

How about installing some directional tire spikes to keep trail traffic flowing in the correct direction?

Lots of vids and ride impressions of the new Slayer on YouTube. Seems awesome - slacker and lower - possibly less peddaly (not clear to me). Comments are that its more plush due to the harshness at the top of the stroke being dialed out (as I suspected)...not sure if that makes it less of a trail bike than the outgoing bike (which I find is a great trail bike). One comment was the 29r might be a race machine now - it will be interesting to see if the racers pick it over the Instincts.....

Since I ride mine in second steepest position I dont think that this lower and slacker Slayer would suit me better than my 2018 - makes sense that they wanted to differentiate it from Instinct BCs moreso than before..... All the reviews I have seen so car were very favorable...

PB has photos of it up at CWorx. 

Hearing from people who have ridden it is great - but a different beast from our bikes. Looks longer than our bikes to me, especially rear end. More travel. 180 for 27.5 or 170 for 29r. Photo shows coil shock. 

I bet that they’re making it more of a park/Fr bike. My Slayer is much more of a trail bike than I expected - which is great and I sold my E29 as a result- but a TON of overlap with Altitudes and even Instincts. I bet that they’re repositioning it further from those. I ride mine in second steepest so if the new bike is slacker and longer, that’s not what I’m after. Our Slayers are not well positioned within the Rocky lineup - want a fast Enduro and you’re buying an Instinct BC. Want a versatile and playful Enduro you’re probably buying an Altitude. Slayer is supposed to be the pedaly DH bike and maybe it’s that, but It’s also a fun trail bike. I’m still shocked how well it climbs. I’m way faster up No quarter on it than on my E29. Instinct BC was probably the beater choice for me but man I’m loving the Slayer and I have zero regrets  

Treated it to a One Up headtube kit and pump, and full Ride Wrap including fork. I love that bike. New one certainly doesn’t look as sexy - and I bet it’s less peddaly

I’m glad that I’m not imagining things. I’ve compared recent YouTube vid of Goats to 1 year old and the rocks on the corner have changed! The net result is that riders have a tighter corner as the rocks at the top of that pitch and in the middle of the trail are sticking up, meaning you need to be done your turn before you hit the vertical rock garden. I knew something was different.

I’m just kidding re it not being mountain biking - it’s just not my type of riding because it’s not what I learned on and I’m old and stuck in my ways. 

Kieran - we gotta ride soon. It’s been ages.

I cant ride jump trails either, probably because I choose to ride the tech while my son hits the jumps and we meet at the bottom; Im getting no jump miles in so Ive gotten rusty. I think that Ive gone down ALine ONCE this year (12 days in the Park). Shocking.....no wonder I just about stuffed it badly on Freight Train last weekend - which Ive been riding because its the only way down from Duffman (Lower Duffman has been closed but I think that it is open now). I do not like FT.

It depends upon what you're riding. I like mountain biking - I dont see the jump trails as mountain biking.

Theres plusses and minuses with buying a newish bike. Heres a downside. The Fox factory X2 is squelching - sounds to me like oil in the air can. I dont think that Ive broken it - probably just a faulty seal or something. My first ride on the bike was the first time that shock was ridden but obviously no warranty - Suspension Werx is fixing it now but Im sure itll be $150+

Aside, new Slayer from Rocky is pending - curious to see it - Ive heard that some photos have been put online and then deleted pretty quickly - mixed reviews on the aesthetics of the bike and I understand that there may be a 29r option. WIll be cool. The teaser video is wicked. Gotta love Rockys videos!