jt profile

Seems about right. We've a lotta folks that suddenly have a lotta time on their hands trying to maintain a sense of normalcy, and then you have a lotta other folks who are trying to create a new one.

Commuting, road, back roads, and some local dirt, but not pinning it partially because the trails have been jammed with people walking/hiking/fishing. Bars and restaurants were shut down two days ago, but there had been a substantial increase in the number of people wandering around in the woods prior to that event.

Totally, with exception for the Sunrace jobbers coming in under $100US for the HG bodies and around $120 for the XD versions. They're not 52t equipped nor the jewel quality appearance of the Rotor's, but the shifting performance has been damn fine. I'd slip it between Shimano and SRAM on that end. For the price and performance I think they're worth the extra 200 or so grams. Just my two bits.

Options abound! IRD, Velo Orange, and Origin 8 all make 1" threaded cartridge bearing headsets for not a lot of coin. I've also had good luck finding Shimano STX and LX headsets at local shops for dirt cheap.

Love all of this. I had been on a 16 27.5 Remedy when a friend who works for a non profit bike shop in a local high school contacted me about an AL Yeti SB66 frame they were donated. Total bait & switch on his end, asking me what they could expect to sell it for then selling it to me for $150. He knows me well. Frame was in excellent shape. I couldn't say no because, well, because. It was a bigger frame than what I normally run, and with no thoughts to resale or possible warranty situations, I knocked off 25mm from the seat tube to be able to run a 150mm dropper and poked a hole in the BB forging to run a stealth post. After a few rides I flipped my Remedy. No regrets. As long as Maxxis keeps making quality 26" knobbies the only issue will be the hunt for quality 26" rims at some point. Fork wise, I'll probably stick with Manitou since the 27.5 Mattoc can be converted to a 26" fork easily enough, and I'll doubt I'll pick up on the couple mm's difference in offset.

They are mostly under the radar for sure, especially with west coasters. The V1 Wildcat was on the slack side, but that's been tightened up on the V2 (76 deg), bringing it to the modern age. Just may be looking at one for next summer. I've been on their V3 Sergeant for a few months now, rolling it as a 29er for summer and recently set it up 27.5x4 for the oncoming winter. Pretty versatile bike in that regards. I didn't want a dedicated fatty since the wide BB's bug my knees over long rides, but with our winters here in the north central states, pedaling outdoors in the woods means a fatty is mighty handy.

In regards to the adjustable chainstays, 44 headtube, and ISCG mounts there is a small company doing just that. RSD out of Ontario with their Wildcat full sussers. I am mighty interested in the V2 version for much the same reasons, and the possibility of making a set of drops to run a dedicated 27.5 wheelset that's not plus sized and over-fork it. Tinkerer's daydream. Disclaimer, I own a RSD Sergeant, so if you wish to call me fanboi go ahead, I'll accept it.

Brutal. Mine is a toss between my Bontrager Race or DeKerf Implant MTBs. I learned suicide no handers on the Bonty, and had one of the best 4 days in Moab on the Implant.

This is excellent. This is a helluvan idea, these repair cafes. Never heard of em but now I'm afraid I may get a bit OCD about it. My wife laughs and enjoys how much of our 'disposable' devices I aim to fix rather than buy a new one for $20 (or more in the case of a freebie 46" TV that needed new capacitors). Thanks again for providing a helluva story and motivation beyond just riding the shit out of my bikes. I've said it before, and will again: This is why I frequent this site. Now to lay plans to organize a repair cafe in my 'burgh.

Kinda weird that the company that came up with the GMS system for measuring tire widths doesn't include that info on their website. i know they have it on the sidewalls, but...