kavurider profile

That first generation One was one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. Climbed like mad and descended like a demon.

Then it cracked.

I do like their stuff a lot. The Jedi is an amazing DH bike, got to play with one as a friend used to only ride Canfields. And I would give just about anything for a chromo Signature frame.

My only other connection is getting drunk with Lance at a bike movie showing in Phoenix.

Interesting about the MRP suspension. I don't know anyone riding it, so don't have any reference. I have heard mixed things online. I have only used their ramp control cartridge, which worked very well on my Pike.

It is a beautiful looking frame!

Got mine yesterday, first ride today. Very happy with these! The ankle cuff kept rocks out like it should.

Definitely 5.10 sticky. Haven't ridden flat pedals for a while but it all came back to me.

They did feel a bit flexier than I am used to. Not a bad thing, but I remember my Impacts were stiffer.

They are awesome for hike-a-bike situations. NSMB is right once again!

Just ordered a pair of these from Jenson. I dig the look, hope they perform just as well!

I almost bought one of these, but I didn't want to wait that long and the Yeti I bought popped up.  

After reading this, I am glad I didn't go with it.  Awesome bike, but I am I honest with myself, most of my after work rides involve too much pedaling/climbing for a bike like this.  My 165 is almost overkill as it is.

Oh that sucks.  I haven't had to warranty anything with them for a long time, so I didn't know.  That's too bad, they were awesome back in the day.

I have had to warranty a few things.  I had a pair of Oakley sunglasses that broke (frame just snapped one day). Called them, asked if there was anything they could do.  They had me ship the broken ones back and a week later I had a brand new pair.  That was a long time ago.  

If I ever have a problem with a part, I usually just call or email the company and tell them what happened.  Never had any issue with being taken care of.  A lot of them, especially the smaller companies, seem to appreciate the feedback.

You just nailed the reason why I don't like riding with a full face on (even though I should).  I couldn't put my finger on it. But yes, being cut off from that sensory input freaks me out. 

Never thought if it like that!

And on the other side, I love the sound of buzzy hubs.  Any other creak or noise from my bike annoys me, but a hub buzzing along is music to my ears.

To each their own I guess!

This helmet looks interesting to me.  I like Leatt products, so I will have to check it out.  I'm currently running a Fox Proframe, but I am not a fan.  Doesn't fit right and an hour into a ride I start to develop weird pressure points.  The brow pad disintegrated pretty quickly (replaced it with a Sweat Buster, which works so much better).  

The trail+ idea I like, seeing as how I knocked out some teeth earlier this year in crash.  I don't need a full on DH helmet for most of the trails I ride, just a little extra insurance.  

BTW Andrew, I love the sticker on the back of your helmet!

I run a 34T oval ring on the front of my Yeti, with a 11-50T Sunrace out back.  But I ride to the trails as often as I can out here and I typically run out of gears on the road pretty quickly.  

30T?  I would be spinning out everywhere.  I typically run one down from my 50T when climbing (so, 42 I think?) and that is usually good enough for the majority of my climbing, using the 50T as a bailout gear.

Posted by: grambo

I had a carbon 2017 Aurum with similar geometry to that, with a really high spec that only weighed 34.5lbs and I cannot imagine pedaling it uphill anywhere. If you were really fit and had at least a 32t cassette you could suffer up flatter forest roads like Fromme but anything steeper or single track would be awful. 200mm forks have a ton of pedal bob as does the rear end (and no climb switch on DH shocks), slack HTA + long offset fork is floppy, super slack seat tube, bad pedaling kinematics, small cassette, short cranks, heavy everything.

Like most people back in the day, I used to pedal my DH bike up the trail.

But after riding the newer long travel enduro bikes, you realize just HOW BAD those DH bikes pedal.  To get any of kind of leg extension, you raise the seat and end up a foot behind the bottom bracket.  Goodbye knees.  

If you are super fit, I suppose you can pedal standing up the whole time. I used to do that, but I am not sure if I could do it anymore. AND...it sucks.  Truly.  

Unless you are going to be focusing on shuttling and pushing up, I would look for something a bit more pedal friendly.  a 160 F/R bike in the last few years will handle just about anything you will encounter.

Posted by: Greasyone

Posted by: kavurider

I just want to see a photo of that Giant AC1. I love old bikes. If I was in your neck of the woods I would probably offer up some cash for it!

It won't be for sale though, it'll keep kicking around as a loaner "first hit is free" bike.

Love it! Thanks for the photo!

I just want to see a photo of that Giant AC1. I love old bikes. If I was in your neck of the woods I would probably offer up some cash for it!

Velocipedestrian, that is really cool! I love seeing this kind of customization!

Posted by: xy9ine

i'm not sure if these were definitively better than the current crop of trail / dh clipless pedals, but for a product of that era, they'd probably still be viable today. the rotating spd bit allowed for a nice snug shoe to platform interface (that lots of the current non-articulated modern pedals lack), and like all shimano pedals, were bombproof. 

I still use a pair of these to this day! They are starting to wear out now but still work!

Posted by: Brocklanders

This is where mountainbiking is now? 

Yes it is unfortunately.  Here in AZ, tons of new riders on the trails. Most seem okay, but I have run into plenty of d-bags cutting off/scaring hikers, blasting down the trail like it is their own racetrack and just being a-holes in general.  

The amount of cheater lines/braids I have had to block off is increasing.  I watched a younger guy jump over the branches/rocks that were blocking an off trail line.  When he rode past I told him that line was blocked off for a reason, he didn't care.  

It sucks, but here we are.  Fortunately, it seems like the hikers and other foot traffic have been pretty understanding, I have had more positive encounters lately.

Dang, bike delivery pushed back to July. Such is life in Covid times!

Posted by: Abies

Posted by: kavurider

Sweet! I have a new one on order, should be here around the beginning of June. Looks good! And I am partial to the pink components.

Rad, which frame/build are you getting?

I had my first real ride on it this morning and it RIPS. Loved pushing it through berms and it’s both playful and composed at speed, at least as much as a 120mm bike can be. Climbed really well for a heavy trail bike too.

Only complaints so far are weight (the alloy frame is over 9 pounds), pedal strikes (I’m using 175mm cranks in the low position) and Santa Cruz’s nonsense suspension recommendations. I have 25 PSI more than they recommend and might add more.

Edit: pics. I do like the color

2021 Tallboy V4 AL R build. Can't wait!

Posted by: Abies

Sweet Banshee. I almost ended up with one of those, but got a deal on this v4 aluminum tallboy which I just finished building last night. It’s a heavy pig but Im still excited. I’ve been riding a Honzo with 150mm fork for the past three years so this feels... different. But good.

The pink blingy King/Hope/Burgtec stuff isn’t really my style usually but they came with the frame, and I kind of don’t hate it for now? But might swap for silver parts.

Build:

Fox DPS performance elite

Helm V1 air at 130mm. Might bump to 140?

350s to Raceface rims (25mm internal which according to media reports means I will NOT be able to corner and will likely die)

Trail boss/vigilante 2.4/2.5. Love this combo

Nx 11 speed shifter, cranks, derailleur, sunrace 11 speed XD cassette, 30t Garbaruk ring

XT 8000 four pots. Waiting on the front adapter to go 203/180, currently 180 front and rear.

Cheap Kona bars and DMR stem

Trans x 150mm dropper. I think I can clear 170 so that will get replaced at some point.

Trusty Silverado saddle

King headset, burgtec axle, hope seat clamp

Sweet!  I have a new one on order, should be here around the beginning of June.  Looks good!  And I am partial to the pink components.

Posted by: thaaad

dirt·bag

/ˈdərtbaɡ/

nounderogatory•informal

noun: dirtbag; plural noun: dirtbags; noun: dirt-bag; plural noun: dirt-bags

a very unkempt or unpleasant person.

Well, considering how judgemental and unpleasant a lot of people in the MTB community seem to be I would say it still might be a dirtbag sport.

100% agree. 

Seems to be getting worse lately with the influx of new riders. Ear buds in, not stopping or slowing for anyone, turbo boost mode cutting cheat lines trying to imitate the latest Instagram shredder. 

But I am also seeing it with regular bikes as well. Just general dbag behavior. 

I dunno, I am in no hurry, I wait for people all the time going up or down.