jason profile

That rock slab is a no brake slab.  seen a few folks slide out :)

pretty much where I ended up a couple years ago. Not as flat as Yoann, but much flatter that I used to ride.  The longer top tubes (reach) has really changed the body position on a bike and the lever set up (moving closer to flat) makes sense.  Never have arm pump and great control.

I have now gone to a three pack system, with each pack containing everything that is needed for a ride without the need to shift items from one pack to another.  In other words I have three pumps (plus the pumps at home)

Pack 1 - Dakine Stealth for shuttles and bike park.  Pump (OneUp), tube, multi tool, bacon, links, valve, patch, zip ties, levers.  Perfect to fit under a jersey when water is not needed.  don't notice at all.

Pack 2 - Backcountry https://www.backcountry.com/backcountry-mtb-fanny-pack?skid=BCCZ219-GAR-ONESIZ&ti=U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHM6YmFja2NvdW50cnkgYmFnOjE6MTpiYWNrY291bnRyeSBiYWc=  Same stuff as the first pack but also carry's water and maybe a extra pair of gloves and food.  

Pack 3 - Camelbak Skyline 10 - for when I need more water (up to 3 litres) as well as when extra clothing is needed.  This is the go to pack for wet winter or hot summer.  same stuff as bag 2 for tools. 

Key is that water, tubes etc. never go on the bike.  Everything is in a bag or in the case of a phone in my pocket.

I was wondering who was riding that janky trail.  Saw tracks the other day when I rode it and was surprised....:)

I had the same Rocky Mountain Ti bolt.  Sold it in 2002 during a cash crunch.  So wish I did not sell that bike.

I have three different packs.  One backpack for longer rides where I need more h2o and clothes.

one bum bag for shuttle/downhill and one bum bag for most uppy downy riding.  In the larger pack I found a 1.5" headset spacer.  I recall that a friend had a 1.5" fork back in about 2002 and did not have the stem set up correctly.  Needed a spacer and nobody had one.  So I put one in my pack. It has been there for 18 years.... Time to take it out.

Large Offering.

How tall is Shawn and how does the large Offering fit?

Been running Xt/SLX levers with saint/Zee calipers for about 5 years and it is a great combo.  Certainly a lot of power if that is your thing.  Grabby for sure but that has never bothered me.  At 205lbs I want the power and the Xt/Zee option works awesome.

Note I have not been able to see/find a difference between saint calipers and Zee calipers, other than pin versus bolt to keep the pads from falling out.  As a result I stick with Zee calipers for the savings.

I like the combo so much that when a recently built a new enduro bike from scratch, I built the brakes using Xt levers, saint cable, Zee calipers.  Awesome build.

Separate helmet for night riding with light attached.  Still with a visor though.  I still where a pack in summer so no real diff in winter other than I carry more.  Winter additions include food (bars), and gloves.  If it is wet out I climb up with a pair of simple fleece gloves.  Once at the top I put on a fresh pair of riding gloves.  I usually carry at least three pairs of spare riding gloves ( of varying thickness and waterproofness), on winter rides so my pack sometimes looks pretty big.

Yeah, hopefully they use better material than a couple years ago and their quality control upped their game.

Good call on the Range as well as the fork upgrade.  I went through the same dilemma last summer.  I have a Dh bike for whistler and most of Cypress (cherry, sex girl, 5th as well as the east side trails) and I also had a Transition Patrol (medium frame) for Fromme and Seymour.  Could not decide what to get to replace the Patrol, which had many, many days on it.  

In he end I got a large Patrol aluminum frame (2017 vintage, not the new SBG 2018) and  built the bike up with new and old parts (sold the old patrol M bike complete).  The choice for me was perfect.  I got the longer reach and wheelbase by going up a size, but otherwise the bike is perfect.  

The Range has 10mm more travel in the front as well as 5mm more in the rear than the Patrol but otherwise very similar.  It should be a great choice.  Gotta love having the end of year deals at JH.

Cheers