Dem bicicletas, doe

[Johnny_P]

Test ride a Fuel 27.5 Plus and a 29. Likes the 29 more. The new fuel is pretty rad and more fun than the prior year. Still felt fast.

I liked the SRAM GX more than the Deore.
Rock Shox Sektor felt almost as good as the Fox 34 Rhythm GRIP.
Deore brakes rule nowadays.
Aluminum frames are light.

Bike was fun. Now off to test some Santa Cruz leaded carbon fiber.

Pull dat

Gonna try out my buddy's Camber tomorrow and make a decision based on that. The Trek was nice af doe. I think the Orbea was faster but this was plusher and felt a little more "chug a beer at the trailhead" than the Orbea.

[Johnny_P]

Gonna try out my buddy's Camber tomorrow and make a decision based on that. The Trek was nice af doe. I think the Orbea was faster but this was plusher and felt a little more "chug a beer at the trailhead" than the Orbea.

I think you're looking for something more in the couch category.

Yep. I'm just in4fun at this point.

[fledonfoot]

Could always chug a beer with someone riding an orbea in spandex and a Santa Cruz in jorts.

[fledonfoot]

Knocked out a 57 mile ride with a buddy today - need to do this more.

Broke 300 miles for the month for the first time since June of 2015.

Awesome.

Last night's ride was fucking amazeballs. Completely stupid. Miserable. Rivers. Shitty. Muddy. Wet. Stupid fucking canal path home. Stupid hill up Church Rd to get back to the lot. Dark.

Fucking awesome. One of the best rides I've had in a long while.

[Johnny_P]

I didn't get to test ride the Camber today because we spent more time than we should have at the blueberry thing.

Looking at the specs, the Camber doesn't get Boost spacing. And in the price range I'd be looking it comes with a Revelation or Fox 34 fork if I truly fledwax the shit outta the purcahse. The Fox is fine I guess as long as it has the Fit4 damper. The GRIP fork I tested yesterday was not impressive IMO. I bet they make a decent change this year especially since Trek changed the core philosophy of the Fuel EX this year.... they'd want to stay competitive I'm sure. I'd expect Yari forks, a travel increase, and Boost.

The Stumpjumper comes with a RS Yari. 150mm front / 135mm rear seems excessive for the riding I do doe. Not sure. Unfortunately all Specialized dealers blow and don't carry anything.

I think 120-130 front, 120 ish rear is most ideal for me. Boost spacing for future proofing, RS Pike preferred or Fox 34 Fit4, don't really care much about the rest as long as it doesn't suck. IDK what's out there that fits that description. The Kona Process does, but I'd be committing to riding with a pack every time. The Orbea fits too, technically.

[Johnny_P]

Solid spec Stumpy

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/men/b ... -29/115307

Camber of equal price

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/men/b ... -29/115256

Gets a much dumpier fork and non-Boost. The stumpy is the better bike.
Ugh.

The comparable price Fuel EX gets a Fox 34 Fit4 and nicer drivetrain but aluminum frame. Or for same price carbon frame but lower spec GRIP fork. AHH!

[Apex]

Knocked out a 57 mile ride with a buddy today - need to do this more.

Broke 300 miles for the month for the first time since June of 2015.

Awesome.

Last night's ride was fucking amazeballs. Completely stupid. Miserable. Rivers. Shitty. Muddy. Wet. Stupid fucking canal path home. Stupid hill up Church Rd to get back to the lot. Dark.

Fucking awesome. One of the best rides I've had in a long while.

At least you weren't walking for miles...

Last night was a fucking solid ride doe. I was murdered, but passing someone on a climb was after they smoked me on the lower parts.

Sucks about my flat, but I'll get that rear wheel cleaned up and reseated. Going to order some tire wrenches and Stan's tonight.

[fledonfoot]

Solid spec Stumpy

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/men/b ... -29/115307

Camber of equal price

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/men/b ... -29/115256

Gets a much dumpier fork and non-Boost. The stumpy is the better bike.
Ugh.

The comparable price Fuel EX gets a Fox 34 Fit4 and nicer drivetrain but aluminum frame. Or for same price carbon frame but lower spec GRIP fork. AHH!

It's easier to upgrade a fork than it is to upgrade the frame to carbon.

I think around here 120mm of travel is perfect front and rear, and obviously boost spacing on the front and the rear for a long term rig is a must.

[Apex]

Muddy post-Pate shot before I gave it a bath yesterday.

Creakin' pedals and all!

[Johnny_P]

Creakin' pedals and all!

Fresh pedals just arrived on my doorstep.

Quick, someone go steal 'em.

On my way

[Apex]

Creakin' pedals and all!

Fresh pedals just arrived on my doorstep.

Quick, someone go steal 'em.

8000's or 8020's?

[Apex]

8000's or 8020's?

I did 8000s.

I don't need any of that nancyboy platform crap.

Dat weight reduction.

[fledonfoot]

8000's or 8020's?

I did 8000s.

I don't need any of that nancyboy platform crap.

I'm quite ok with my bitch gear, nancyboy platforms and fat front tire.

I just ordered some sweet ass carbon training wheels.

[D Griff]

s.

I hope to take the ol' 4300 out this week.

[Apex]

I grabbed some tire levers tonight so I'll pop that tar off tomorrow and see what's going on.

[fledonfoot]

I grabbed some tire levers tonight so I'll pop that tar off tomorrow and see what's going on.

It's flat.

[Johnny_P]

My eggbeaters are still going strong after my rebuild
Been beating the shit out of them for 6 years now no problem.

[Apex]

I grabbed some tire levers tonight so I'll pop that tar off tomorrow and see what's going on.

It's flat.

[fledonfoot]

My eggbeaters are still going strong after my rebuild
Been beating the shit out of them for 6 years now no problem.

You should have Zil check them out to make sure the BB's fine too.

[Johnny_P]

My eggbeaters are still going strong after my rebuild
Been beating the shit out of them for 6 years now no problem.

You should have Zil check them out to make sure the BB's fine too.

Its threaded. Should be replaced though. Octalink piece of shit. Lowest level Deore crankset on that bike. 3x9

I could make my MTB into an awesome whip with new wheels, drivetrain, fork, and cockpit. But then I'm changing literally everything on the bike and still have a QR rear.

[Johnny_P]

It's flat.

Tubes?
Need to go tubeless brah. Or not. I run a tube in the rear NFG. That Conti tire refused to set up with stans.

[Apex]

Tubes?
Need to go tubeless brah. Or not. I run a tube in the rear NFG. That Conti tire refused to set up with stans.

It is tubeless. Probably got some crap in the bead when it got burped on the trail.

[Johnny_P]

Ran into my friend Adam last night at the beer store. He's mega bummed. He broke the frame on his Specialized Stumpjumper carbon 29er hardtail. This is after he basically did a frame-up rebuild of it for this year with a SID fork and X1 parts.

He was saying he might get a Kona Process after hearing so many good things about them from friends.

[Johnny_P]

Tubes?
Need to go tubeless brah. Or not. I run a tube in the rear NFG. That Conti tire refused to set up with stans.

It is tubeless. Probably got some crap in the bead when it got burped on the trail.

Ahhhh

I saw a guy burp a tire once. We had just finished pizza ride and are drinking beers and whatnot and he pulls up and tries to do a stoppie in the parking lot right next to us. POP and down he goes

There was a LOT of at that.

[Johnny_P]

s.

I hope to take the ol' 4300 out this week.