The Mountain Bike Thread

Jim in Anacortes said:
Buzzy.. your words induced me to hop on my bike today. For that... I thank you sir.
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Good on you, Jim! And @krusty - I received my EVT SafeZone helmet mirror yesterday; fastened it on and went for a ride this morning. I'm not sure yet exactly how I want it positioned for rear viewing - it is going to take some getting used to. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
Buzzy said:
Good on you, Jim! And @krusty - I received my EVT SafeZone helmet mirror yesterday; fastened it on and went for a ride this morning. I'm not sure yet exactly how I want it positioned for rear viewing - it is going to take some getting used to. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Once you decide how you want it positioned and ride with it awhile you won't want to be on a bike without it. I especially depend on it when riding single track because it lets me see fast mountain bikers silently approaching from the rear.

As a nearly deaf and slow old fart I don't like being suprised by young whippersnappers!
 
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krusty said:
Once you decide how you want it positioned and ride with it awhile you won't want to be on a bike without it. I especially depend on it when riding single track because it lets me see fast mountain bikers silently approaching from the rear.

As a nearly deaf and slow old fart I don't like being suprised by young whippersnappers!
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I'm getting used to my mirror to the point where I look at the mirror and I can see the road behind me; no more trying to twist my arthritic neck around to see behind me. The mirror is adjusted so that it doesn't block forward vision..... pretty cool, thanks for the suggestion

More questions/rambling: So far the only dirt/gravel I've ridden on is the alley behind our house and neighbor's driveway. The alley has loose gravel in places, It's squirrley (don't use your front brake, Buzzy!). When I bought the bike (and had new tires/tubes installed the same day), the bike shop technician said something about running higher pressure for pavement and lower pressure for off road (Crossroads 26 X 1.9, 35 psi to 65 psi). I the assume the tire on my bike is a generic tire and if I were to become some mad off road mountain biker I'd have a wider tire run a lower pressure? (And a much more specific off road bike.)
 
Oh boy...Buzzy has led us into the MTB tire discussion...aka blackhole. Politics might be easier to talk about than MTB tire preference. 😁

You have standard 26" MTB tires so they will feel squirrely on gravel if they are pumped hard. You probably also have standard tubes so you don't want to air down too much or you might end up with a pinch flat. Having said that, if they are rock hard take some out. You should be plenty safe from pinch flats if they have 30-40 pounds in them. If you think you can take them down even more, in the 25 lb range without hitting rim try it.
If that gravel still feels "squirrely" then off-road may not be for you. With MTBs you're never really "sticking to the trail" or road. It's more of a float/slide thing. And always use front AND back brakes when you really need to stop. Otherwise you won't stop in time of that log or fence or gate or hiker. Or dog! Don't get me started on that topic. Biking dogs are worse than fishing dogs.... I'll stop. ;)

If your bike will take bigger tires I would highly recommend it. You'll have more traction (so more braking) and more comfort if you can get up to 2.1 or even 2.3.

You've opened Pandora's box with this one. Haha!
 
skyriver said:
Oh boy...Buzzy has led us into the MTB tire discussion...aka blackhole. Politics might be easier to talk about than MTB tire preference. 😁

You have standard 26" MTB tires so they will feel squirrely on gravel if they are pumped hard. You probably also have standard tubes so you don't want to air down too much or you might end up with a pinch flat. Having said that, if they are rock hard take some out. You should be plenty safe from pinch flats if they have 30-40 pounds in them. If you think you can take them down even more, in the 25 lb range without hitting rim try it.
If that gravel still feels "squirrely" then off-road may not be for you. With MTBs you're never really "sticking to the trail" or road. It's more of a float/slide thing. And always use front AND back brakes when you really need to stop. Otherwise you won't stop in time of that log or fence or gate or hiker. Or dog! Don't get me started on that topic. Biking dogs are worse than fishing dogs.... I'll stop. ;)

If your bike will take bigger tires I would highly recommend it. You'll have more traction (so more braking) and more comfort if you can get up to 2.1 or even 2.3.

You've opened Pandora's box with this one. Haha!
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Huh, Pandora's box, eh! I had no idea this would be such a controversial subject ;-) And Stacy, thanks for the information!! I'm going to move the car out of the garage and the bike in and get a closer look (with my reading glasses) at the various components (and mess with tire pressure). This is the first bike I've ever ridden (and it has been probably 30 or more years since I gifted away my old 10-speed) a bike with disc brakes. WOW!
 
Good recommendations by @skyriver. Depending on the rims and seat/chain stay clearance you may be able to put fatter tires on, and run on trails at lower pressure...though too low and you end up with rim pinch flats (usually two pinches close together...hence the term 'snakebite flat'). I'd ask the folks at the bike shop about fatter tire suitability for your bike frame/rims...and keep in mind that people successfully ran 1.9" tires on trails for years....and the Crossroads have decent offroad tread. The disc brakes are better than the old cantilevers for tire clearance as well.

A good investment is a mountainbike air pump. Some come with a built in pressure gage so you can easily change pressure depending upon terrain. Most of these pumps mount right under the water bottle cage (though you might have to get longer cage screws), and put out air on both strokes. Being able to pressure up for smooth hardback and pavement is nice....and remember that much fatter tires come with their own drawbacks.
 
dang Buzzy, and here I thought my old MTB was old with it's V-brakes, 1st gen oil rock shox, 26" tires, etc was out of date...and it's only 25 years old. lol....in all honesty, I'm considering upgrading....or really just getting a better all around bike (not even MTB).

I'm curious how many have used the belt drive bikes (such as Priority) for general commuter/rec use? A buddy of mine recently did a cross country trip on one and raved about it, but that's my only data point....pretty strong one as he put in the time on it.

OP, apologies for the more generic bike Q...I didn't feel like starting an entirely new bike thread.
 
clarkman said:
dang Buzzy, and here I thought my old MTB was old with it's V-brakes, 1st gen oil rock shox, 26" tires, etc was out of date...and it's only 25 years old. lol....in all honesty, I'm considering upgrading....or really just getting a better all around bike (not even MTB).

I'm curious how many have used the belt drive bikes (such as Priority) for general commuter/rec use? A buddy of mine recently did a cross country trip on one and raved about it, but that's my only data point....pretty strong one as he put in the time on it.

OP, apologies for the more generic bike Q...I didn't feel like starting an entirely new bike thread.
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I've drifted this thread a plenty, keep the drift comin'. I've never heard of a belt drive bicycle. And thanks to Krusty, I'm going to own a nifty moutain bike pump with pressure gage (the bike has a mounting bracket).
 
clarkman said:
dang Buzzy, and here I thought my old MTB was old with it's V-brakes, 1st gen oil rock shox, 26" tires, etc was out of date...and it's only 25 years old. lol....in all honesty, I'm considering upgrading....or really just getting a better all around bike (not even MTB).

I'm curious how many have used the belt drive bikes (such as Priority) for general commuter/rec use? A buddy of mine recently did a cross country trip on one and raved about it, but that's my only data point....pretty strong one as he put in the time on it.

OP, apologies for the more generic bike Q...I didn't feel like starting an entirely new bike thread.
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I'm also fascinated by the belt drive internal gear Shimano Alfine equipped bikes as well...though I'm leery about buying a bike from a distant vendor (Priority). I don't know anybody who actually has one.

REI sells a Cannondale with the same setup...which has a single front fork leg (Cannondale has marketed some mono-fork bikes for years...so they know what they're doing.

The only complaint I've read about is that taking the rear wheel off and getting the cable adjusted properly is a PITA. I need to talk to the REI mechanics about it.
 
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krusty said:
...though I'm leery about buying a bike from a distant vendor (Priority). I don't know anybody who actually has one.
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Oh, same here! My friend is the only person I know who has one (he actually has 3 now) and while I trust his judgement on such things, I'm also a little hesitant....that said, I don't know all that many bike folks either.
 
I still ride my bikes from the early 90's.
I miss the days of long weekend rides and racing.
Now it's basic rides around the valley with my granddaughter and hitting the bike trail with my dad. My dad and I just started riding together this summer. At 84? , he can motor. My dad and uncle quit skiing for good last year, which is very odd to me since they have been on the slopes my entire life . So now it's all about trail riding. Rat bastards are probably gonna die doing something they enjoy.
 
Peyton00 said:
I still ride my bikes from the early 90's.
I miss the days of long weekend rides and racing.
Now it's basic rides around the valley with my granddaughter and hitting the bike trail with my dad. My dad and I just started riding together this summer. At 84? , he can motor. My dad and uncle quit skiing for good last year, which is very odd to me since they have been on the slopes my entire life . So now it's all about trail riding. Rat bastards are probably gonna die doing something they enjoy.
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Been riding for over 50 years as an adult...early years (1970s) touring and commuting bikes, mountain bikes in the 1980's, and added recumbents in the 1990s. Still have all of my bikes.

The older bicycle technologies still work just fine...things like friction shifting, rim braking, smaller more robust rear cog clusters, and rigid frames are simple and dependable, although I do enjoy my full suspension Ghost in really rough trail conditions. But it's a complex piece of machinery, with the capability of adjusting front and rear travel and dampening 'on the fly', and sometimes offers too many distractions rather than just enjoying a nice ride in the woods.

The bicycle industry, much like flyfishing and a host of other recreational interests, must always find ways to 'reinvent' itself to maintain consumption by introducing 'must have' variations on a basic machine that can easily function for decades with minimal upkeep. A few years ago bikes with enormous fat tires were all the rage....but I'm seeing far less of them about these days....it's a lot of work for a human to keep motorcycle sized tires turning.

The current darlings are e-bikes and 'gravel bikes'.....and the circle of bicycle life and arguments about frame geometry/materials/tire size continues.
 
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Amongst the local's here, what is the general opinion on the direct to manufacture brands like YT, and Canyon? It seems after reading a couple articles there may be a large group that looks down on them as they believe it is bad for local mtb shops.

I am buying in less than 30 days and ill admit, the YT Jeffsy is a top 3 for me.
 
DanielOcean said:
Amongst the local's here, what is the general opinion on the direct to manufacture brands like YT, and Canyon? It seems after reading a couple articles there may be a large group that looks down on them as they believe it is bad for local mtb shops.

I am buying in less than 30 days and ill admit, the YT Jeffsy is a top 3 for me.
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I don't really have any local community relationships with other riders (most of my former riding associates are dead or have become couch potatoes) so I don't have a clue (nor give a shit) what 'they' think about direct from mfg purchases. I have, however, dealt with the same owners of a local bike shop for almost 45 years, as well as the good folks at Spokane's REI.

That being said, I do have personal scruples about how I conduct business with local flyshops, bike dealers, and small locally owned businesses of all types.

I will not use a local vendor as a showroom to look at an item that could be purchased online at a lower price. I'm good paying a premium to help keep a local in business, with the expectation I'll receive superior product support. I will, however, purchase items online that the local vendor doesn't offer or is unable to acquire.

Sometimes an object I'd very much like to purchase, such as a bike or flyrod, is only available direct from mfg. In that case I'd be comfortable making the purchase, but I'd be fully aware that one can't expect a local shop to provide any sort of support should a problem occur.

In other words...if I needed help or repair I'd make it clear to the local shop that I expected to pay 'full freight' for any assistance I might need.

Are you purchasing the bike because it possesses some features unavailable on bikes represented at local shops...or is it just a lower cost 'better deal' consideration?

The bikes you identify (both appear to be well-respected brands) are full suspension models...an important consideration might be how comfortable are you rebuilding sophisticated shock, hydraulic brake, and frame pivot systems without local shop support?
 
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krusty said:
I don't really have any local community relationships with other riders so I don't have a clue (nor give a shit) what 'they' think about direct from mfg purchases. I have, however, dealt with the same owners of a local bike shop for almost 45 years, as well as the good folks at Spokane's REI.

That being said, I do have personal scruples about how I conduct business with local flyshops and bike dealers.

I will not use a local vendor as a showroom to look at an item that could be purchased online at a lower price. I'm good paying a premium to help keep a local in business, with the expectation I'll receive superior product support. I will, however, purchase items online that the local vendor doesn't offer or is unable to acquire.

Sometimes an object I'd very much like to purchase, such as a bike or flyrod, is only available direct from mfg. In that case I'd be comfortable making the purchase, but I'd be fully aware that one can't expect a local shop to provide any sort of support should a problem occur.

In other words...if I needed help or repair I'd make it clear to the local shop that I expected to pay 'full freight' for any assistance I might need.

Are you purchasing the bike because it possesses some features unavailable on bikes represented at local shops...or is it just a lower cost 'better deal' consideration?

The bikes you identify (both appear to be well-respected brands) are full suspension models...an important consideration might be how comfortable are you rebuilding sophisticated shock, hydraulic brake, and frame pivot systems without local shop support?
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I agree and relate. As far as your question, yes there are features available on that bike in the form of premium componentry that clearly brands like Specialized, Giant, ect just cannot touch. Whatever decision I make will be the correct one LOL.
 
Back in 2018, when I was looking for a decent hardtail, I couldn't find any size XL frames in the local shops. I'm just over 6'3" with a long back. I gotta have an XL. And that's including Portland and Spokane. And the bikes I could find in the US had crazy shipping charges.
So I had to go direct. I ended up buying my Nukeproof from Chain Reaction Cycles, which is basically the biggest online distributor of Euro bikes. Only $89 shipping across the pond, which was better than most US shops as close as California.

And because of that, I got better components than I would have on similar priced bikes like Specialized, Giant, Trek, etc. Way nicer actually. And a more proven and legit frame with the Nukeproof Scout. Do I feel bad I couldn't support the local bike shop? A little maybe, but if they don't have what you need then there's not much you can do. I try to support them by buying supplies or tuning.

btw, those YTs look like really nice bikes. Interesting they don't even make a hardtail, other than the DJ.

Good luck!
 
DanielOcean said:
I agree and relate. As far as your question, yes there are features available on that bike in the form of premium componentry that clearly brands like Specialized, Giant, ect just cannot touch. Whatever decision I make will be the correct one LOL.
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It's pretty difficult to make an 'incorrect' decision these days on a bike or flyrod purchase, in terms of build quality. Bike components and materials science have never been better.
 
It is most likely my social anxiety but I truly believe I am a magnet for assholes, and can see some person giving me grief when I am minding my own business about to drop in to a trail or something. I know I know, im weird.
 
DanielOcean said:
It is most likely my social anxiety but I truly believe I am a magnet for assholes, and can see some person giving me grief when I am minding my own business about to drop in to a trail or something. I know I know, im weird.
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I have never found fellow bicyclists on trails or road particularly friendly or even polite. Even when bicycle touring the Alcan in Alaska and the Yukon Territories in 1999 the other cyclotourists which were (as you might imagine pretty far and few between) generally unfriendly and unwilling to share info about the upcoming route, and various restaurants/motels made it clear they didn't like dealing with them.

One very nice campground in Tok AK told me they had chronic problems with cyclotourists carving up their picnic tables and trees with initials, names, and dates. One motel owner told me they had many problems with cyclists using room bedding and towels to clean their bikes.

In a pouring rain, outside Burwash YT, I rolled my bike up onto a rustic covered veranda deck. The owner came out and told me to move it out into the parking lot. I complied, and went inside to eat. After a few minutes of determining I was a polite and respectful human being (and without the fussy dietary requirements of many cyclists) the owner told me I could put my bike back on the veranda out of the rain. Hell...any sort of restaurant or other amenity on the Alcan can be 50 to 100 miles apart....a caribou burger and load of greasy fries were plenty welcome since they contain shitloads of the calories needed to pedal 80 lbs of bike/necessary gear (and my fatass) down that long road.

You couldn't meet a ruder bunch on narrow two lane roads than lycra clad pseudo-racers riding in packs...sporting ''stage champion' and 'king of the mountain' jerseys they never earned. MAMILs.

Conversely, I have also been riding motorcycles for decades....and you couldn't find a friendlier or more helpful bunch of folk than motorcyclists....even the 'one-percenter' clubs like the Hells Angels or Bandidos....

Don't understand why this is so....
 
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