jason profile

No doubt.  But it never looks good to see a whole team of people going in for a rescue on a trail that is un-sanctioned.  Especially when there are local land owners against MTB trails in general.

Agree Cam.  With a spinal or sucking chest wound call for help.  broken wrist/shoulder, etc.  get yourself out.   Was on a loamer this summer with my son and a buddy.  Buddy crashed 3/4 way down and broke both wrists, also broke his helmet.  He wanted to push his bike out himself, but finally relented so that my son and I could help him.  Took about 1/2 hour to push out.  He ended up with two casts and a pin.   Trails remained discrete.

Rule 15 - if you get injured get yourself out.  Don't ride loamer that is above your level and be ready to self rescue if you get hurt.  Do not call in rescue for a separated shoulder (yes this happened over the summer) when riding a loamer.   Get yourself out on your own steam.    You are on your own on a loamer.  Treat it as such and make sure you can take care of yourself.

Exactly.  MTB adopted road bike geometry (think 73 seat and 71 head tube back in the day ), from road biking.  This did not take into account the sometimes much steeper climbs and associated effect on the seat tube angle.  

Also, at the time there was no rear suspension sag to impact the seat tube angle (which is magnified by climbing). 

Current designs are starting to do that but what is likely needed is a seat tube angle with sag on flat land, as well as a seat tube angle with sag while climbing (industry adopted number so every manufacture uses the same metric), to be part of the geometry table. Then design the bike to hit the proper angle with sag and sag plus climbing.

Seat tube angle unweighted on a full suspension bike is irrelevant.

I have experience like Cam.  I started riding MTB with “straps”.  When spd came around I moved in that direction for 10 years.  But an ugly fall off a high skinny sent me to flats.  Vans with crappy pedals until I got Cullies.  Then five ten happened.  Impact low! Heavy as shit but no more pedal slip.  Heaven.  

I tried to go back to spd around 5 years ago and hated it.  I am slow going up anyway so don’t see much benefit of spd there.  For downs I like the heel down and ejectability of flats.

I am on 5:10 impact with one up and Scarab pedals ( diff bikes).  I have a pedal re-adjust move where if I roll over a steep bump I lean a touch forward which allows me feet to un weight enough to move my feet over the pedals.  I seem to get the feet back in the perfect place with this move.  But even if they are not in the right place, I know my feet will work because of the great grip. I can’t see going to anything else.

Have a couple year old jacket.  Looks the same but blue.  Yes it is heavy.  And it does not breath as well as other.  I use this jacket for truly shitty weather.  If I am pedalling up, I just keep the front entirely open.  Due to riding position no rain gets I anyway.  Pockets are awesome.  Have not torn the jacket despite a couple crashes.  Other than weight, I give this jacket full stars.  Especially give it is 1/3 the price of a 7mesh.

Great.  Thanks for the feedback.

Was wondering about the Boxxer combo and making it a real shuttle and park bike.  Not worried about length, most bikes for Dh are that long.  More worried about handling as compared to other 27.5 Dh bikes like the Transition TR11.  Any thoughts on that?

Yes, it sounds like the same issue.  different tune and internals, just won't work.

Hey Aj,

11/6 came off a 2018 Transition Patrol.  It would go on a 2020 Transition Scout running 150/160mm (62.5mm stroke w trunnion).  but unfortunately I just contacted Push and would need an all new shock.  crap.... so I have an extra 11/6 shock if anyone has a 2018 Patrol. 

Yes, about 2-3 months on the Shore (even less if i spend time in Squamish) in winter slop and the rear tire is worn down enough to warrant a new one (I am picky).  And Jerry is right that an 80% Maxxterra is probably better than a 50% Maxxgrip.  Hence the need to replace early, as that first 40% of the maxxgrip is better than maxxterra by a long shot.

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