The Mountain Bike Thread

[bennysbuddy]

yea, i missed out on the years when i was 0-5 years old at the time... but to be fair my dad had me in a backpack on bikes in the late 80's.. im sure you all were mountain bikers in the 1950s before it was cool. i bet yall even used to poduim the repack races vs tom ritchey!

that's nothing I was jumping a Schwinn stingray bike back in 65, with tube tires & no suspension just like Evil Knievel

 

[Salmo_g]

I have one old Diamondback mtn bike and a few road bikes. I use the mtn bike more for DIY river shuttles than anything else. One roadie I put 35 mm tires on, so it's almost a gravel bike. I used to be a pretty hard core roadie, always training for STP and RAMROD. A neck injury in 07 makes it hard to ride bent over and in the drops, so I put tall stems on all my bikes to ride more upright. So there's no going fast any more, and that's probably a good thing age wise.

 

[ThomasM]

I have one old Diamondback mtn bike and a few road bikes. I use the mtn bike more for DIY river shuttles than anything else. One roadie I put 35 mm tires on, so it's almost a gravel bike. I used to be a pretty hard core roadie, always training for STP and RAMROD. A neck injury in 07 makes it hard to ride bent over and in the drops, so I put tall stems on all my bikes to ride more upright. So there's no going fast any more, and that's probably a good thing age wise.

The road bike with the deep carbon wheelset I posted above runs tubeless 32s. Running a springy Ti frame with tires that wide with low pressure tubeless tires is super comfy.

My gravel bike is optimized for 38-40's as it was built for racing, very much the #1 type in S-t-S's post above. My wife's was built for 42+ since it was more about comfort and stability for her.

 

[Buzzy]

I honestly don't know anything about gravel bikes or what dudes typically use them for... or anything about the culture surrounding them.

I keep toying with getting a "mountain" bike (whatever they are?) but I'm baffled by all the options, variables. I know, go to a shop and look and talk...

 

[krusty]

I keep toying with getting a "mountain" bike (whatever they are?) but I'm baffled by all the options, variables. I know, go to a shop and look and talk...

Do a bit of research on 'gravel bikes'. Probably greatest flexibility for all sorts of terrain. Simplicity and versatility. The 5 wt trout rod of bikes.

 

[Hem]

Great thread idea!!!
Bought my first bike in '85. Started riding seriously when I moved to Montana permanently in '87. I rode that Trek until '97 when I bought a Kona. That hardtail I rebuilt 3 times. I've ridden most of the single track in Southwest Montana. Been riding Utah on and off since '93. Also, done rides in Idaho and Washington. Last year I bought my final bike, a Trek Fuel ex 7.....yep, made the jump from hardtail to full finally. Alot of the best single-track in my area got ruined by atv's in the 90's but popularity has bolstered many new great trail systems locally. Fun having the new Copper City trail system minutes away in Three Forks. I have tempered my riding..."live to ride again". Haha
Still ride my favorites every year, I will never quit. I am amazed by e-bikes but consider them for slackers. No offense intended. In Montana you have to go up, to enjoy the down. Still enjoy going up.

 

[Josh]

but I'm baffled by all the options, variables

I promise you there are far more variables in fly fishing. Anyone who can learn the difference between dries, emergers, nymphs, streamers, spey, single hand, double taper, weight forward, etc can absolutely learn about the differences between mountain bike features.

 

[Tim L]

Guessing at least a few here are on Strava. At any rate, Josh, you opened a bit of a can. Cut early teeth in your back yard (Galbraith/Lookout) around '90 while at WWU and kept my '91 Avalanche till just recently. House currently looks like a bike shop, I have 6 and Peg another 4, but we ride year round usually 5-6 days/wk. The mtb, a hardtail Pivot Les, sees the least use but it's Ohio. Lots of use for gravel and road bikes, plus many Zwifters around here with our crappy weather. I have a Madone for real workouts but likely my 2 favorites are the Diverge and Davidson..

 

[smc]

I love my e bike. So does my dog.

 

[Big K1]

they arnt as fun downhill as you might think. that step from 30 lbs to 50lbs makes a big difference in how "fun" and playful they are on a descent. #earnyourturns ! to me, the best uses for ebikes are comminuting machines., or as training tools for elite enduro and downhill racers who dont have a lift access bike park.

Have you ever ridden a downhill mtb? They are heavy and awesome on the downs!

 

[sal_the_salmon]

just incase any of you are reading this thread and happen to have a cool MTB from the 90's gathering dust... im looking for bikes to bring back to life. only the 90's though. spare parts as well.

i am espcially interested in konas, kliens, yeti, richtey, gt's, and titanium bikes.

 

[sal_the_salmon]

Have you ever ridden a downhill mtb? They are heavy and awesome on the downs!

ive rode a few downhill bikes though not recently. i have not been on any modern e-downhill bikes, but i cant imagine the extra weight (15-20lbs)does them any favors. im just basing it on what local riders and friends have told me of there experiences with them. They are fine, they work, but they are not as playful or agile. It really comes down to what the specific rider is looking to achieve. im not out there doing downhill lines, modern downhill trails scare the shit out of me,. they seem like a great bike for riding up a fire roads to train on downhill trails all day, maybe keep some extra batteries in the car at the bottom and swap them at lunch. mt spokanes trails would be a perfect use.

 

[jaredoconnor]

Do a bit of research on 'gravel bikes'. Probably greatest flexibility for all sorts of terrain. Simplicity and versatility. The 5 wt trout rod of bikes.

I think a 29er XC hard tail is more versatile. With two sets of wheels, such as 2.6" knobbies for off-road and 1.8" slicks for on-road, that covers everything most folks will do. Sure, the gravel bike might get there faster sometimes, but the XC bike will still get there and a bunch of other places too.

 

[krusty]

I think a 29er XC hard tail is more versatile. With two sets of wheels, such as 2.6" knobbies for off-road and 1.8" slicks for on-road, that covers everything most folks will do. Sure, the gravel bike might get there faster sometimes, but the XC bike will still get there and a bunch of other places too.

I see your point (and I have a real affinity for hardtails) but you could do much the same on a gravel bike in terms of tire sets. I guess much of it comes down to how much the rider wants or is able to function as off-saddle forearm suspension.

 

[MT406]

Moab. Whole Enchilada is a must in Moab.

 

[krusty]

My first mtbs were all rigid (rode quite a bit of gravel and simple single track on road touring bikes prior...there were no mtbs). Then HT, but they had pitiful Manitou elastomer front suspension...almost like riding rigid. I got so used to it that I still often find myself locking out or severely limiting travel in my FS mtb. Feel too isolated from the terrain.

 

[sal_the_salmon]

I think a 29er XC hard tail is more versatile. With two sets of wheels, such as 2.6" knobbies for off-road and 1.8" slicks for on-road, that covers everything most folks will do. Sure, the gravel bike might get there faster sometimes, but the XC bike will still get there and a bunch of other places too.

that line is blurry. i think it comes down to comfort. you can put rigid forks on any xc hard tail, and they make suspension forks like the lauf, or even some gravel frames that can run XC front forks. the biggest difference is hand positions and bar choices. lots of people prefer drop bars for longer rides and flat bars for more rowdy riding.



overall, its hard to say which is a better pick for someone, it really comes down to what they want to do on it because there is so many choices from so many frame builders availble these days.

 

[sal_the_salmon]

I see your point (and I have a real affinity for hardtails) but you could do much the same on a gravel bike in terms of tire sets. I guess much of it comes down to how much the rider wants or is able to function as off-saddle forearm suspension.

good point... the gravel bike is basically the euro nymphing of cycling... sure, you can ride it like a road bike (dry fly) or a downhill bike (streamer), but nothing can compare to it when it comes to the effeciancy and "in touch" sensation you get in any use case. you can really feel and react to each rock or root your tire encouters, and not be held back or made to feel dead inside by the floation of a dreded suspension fork (indicator).

it requires precise techniques, air pressures, and reading the trail to be good, but when its good.... nothing can beat it!

 

[Ceviche]

Once lashed down a float tube and all the rest of my gear to my mountain bike and rode the 2.5 miles to Lake Fontal. In the middle of a dry winter and all by myself. It was far from my most productive session of fishing. That actually make me stay longer on (in) the water than I should have.

By the time I hauled my ass out of the water, it dawned on me that I was borderline hypothermic. I could barely work my fingers to unsnap my fins. Somehow I managed to tie all my gear back on the rear rack of my bike. Since my hands and the rest of me were barely functional, I just kept my waders on and hopped on my bike and rode.

In some way, it was fortunate that I rode bike. By the time I made it back to my truck, my body temperature was back to normal, and I was able to get out of my waders. To this day, I still think the ride back probably saved my ass. That was back before I owned a cell phone.

 

[Old Man]

Once lashed down a float tube and all the rest of my gear to my mountain bike and rode the 2.5 miles to Lake Fontal. In the middle of a dry winter and all by myself. It was far from my most productive session of fishing. That actually make me stay longer on (in) the water than I should have.

By the time I hauled my ass out of the water, it dawned on me that I was borderline hypothermic. I could barely work my fingers to unsnap my fins. Somehow I managed to tie all my gear back on the rear rack of my bike. Since my hands and the rest of me were barely functional, I just kept my waders on and hopped on my bike and rode.

In some way, it was fortunate that I rode bike. By the time I made it back to my truck, my body temperature was back to normal, and I was able to get out of my waders. To this day, I still think the ride back probably saved my ass. That was back before I owned a cell phone.

At one time you used to be able to drive to that lake along with that other one up the road a piece. Fished them both one time.