The Mountain Bike Thread

krusty said:
Now that is real service! Looks stout and very functional....I've never felt comfortable with those rack systems that cantilever a large number of bikes far off the vehicle via bumper hitch. The Kingston vertical style design puts the bikes/rack weight where it should be...not at the end of a long lever. I've also owned horizontal rooftop five bike racks for a van that was an absolute nightmare to use.

Looks like putting the bikes in (or extracting) would be very easy, with no need to do it sequentially. This rack style reminds me of how the SteadyRack storage system works....I've got five of my most frequently ridden bikes mounted on the wall in SteadyRacks in my shop, which makes them extraordinarily easy to access.

I've a lifelong mantra about stuff (especially recreational stuff like boats, RVs, and lake cabins)....things that are easy to use GET used. That's why there are always shitloads of lake places for sale (as well as storage lots, marinas, and garages/yards with power boats, trailers, and motorhomes that sit around unused and deteriorating for years).
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That was my thinking. He's not showing any signs of losing interest so I'm gonna be loading/unloading bikes all summer. I want the loading of bikes to be as easy as possible. Also with those fold down tray style racks they make the vehicle so much longer. I paid standard fare on the ferry on the way back and she got out of the booth to look at the rack. Hopefully that doesn't change with 29" bikes on it.
 
A bit late of a follow on about Guy Town Bikes in Auburn.

Steve runs a one man operation in a small converted garage and I can't say enough good things about his services and the man himself. He had Abbys bike back to us right at a week with the corrections and repairs we'd discussed perfectly executed.

Really nice guy, very calm, very personable. Definitely will send more business his way.

One warning related to using Google maps to get there; the software will always try to take you to the alley behind the shop. There's zero entry or parking there. You have to go around to the front in order to access the shop.
 
My 48 year old daughter and her husband are hardcore MTB's, on the trail pretty much year around.
They were here recently and I was checking out their 10 grand bikes, and had no idea how much they have advanced from my Specialized StumpJumper days..wireless shifting, smart suspension, adjustable frame geometry, and so light.
 
I use a Surly Bridge Club hardtail on 27.5 x 2.6" for bikepacking and fishing. It's heavy and slow but it'll tote a lot of gear just about anywhere.
 
flyb0rg said:
I use a Surly Bridge Club hardtail on 27.5 x 2.6" for bikepacking and fishing. It's heavy and slow but it'll tote a lot of gear just about anywhere.
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I just got a bridge club a couple months ago, I've got racks for front and back, how do you transport your rods? In the tube? I'm wondering if I can rig some sort of tube off of the fork hardpoints to carry a broken in half rod.
 
I have a XL frame on my Nukeproof 27.5 so might be bigger than your Surly, but could you do this?
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Rod case is zip-tied to the seat and top tube. I went 6 miles down river on the John Day doing this. It was a little tough on the case, but worked pretty well. Just have to be careful getting on and off.
 
DerekWhipple said:
I just got a bridge club a couple months ago, I've got racks for front and back, how do you transport your rods? In the tube? I'm wondering if I can rig some sort of tube off of the fork hardpoints to carry a broken in half rod.
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Here's the absurdity of what the Bridge Club is capable of. There's a cast iron frying pan in one of those panniers and fixins for fajitas. I know most bikepackers go light, but I bikepack so I can go far and camp comfortably.

I usually just strap my fly rods in the sock with nylon buckle straps/Voile straps to the handle bars. I don't have a great system for gear rods, I strap them to the top tube with the end of the rod sticking out the front like I'm jousting , but some of my fish/rides are done in the dark and it hasn't always ended well.

Trxstle makes some bikepacking rack systems for fishing rods that I've been wanting to try, but so far voile straps are all I've really needed.
 
flyb0rg said:
Here's the absurdity of what the Bridge Club is capable of. There's a cast iron frying pan in one of those panniers and fixins for fajitas. I know most bikepackers go light, but I bikepack so I can go far and camp comfortably.

I usually just strap my fly rods in the sock with nylon buckle straps/Voile straps to the handle bars. I don't have a great system for gear rods, I strap them to the top tube with the end of the rod sticking out the front like I'm jousting , but some of my fish/rides are done in the dark and it hasn't always ended well.

Trxstle makes some bikepacking rack systems for fishing rods that I've been wanting to try, but so far voile straps are all I've really needed.
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Yeah, the main reason why I got the bridge club is it is made to carry stuff!

What tires did you put on it? I'm looking to get a new set to run tubeless.

Anyone else have recommendations for 2.4"+ tubeless tires for out on the Deschutes or John Day would be appreciated.
 
DerekWhipple said:
Yeah, the main reason why I got the bridge club is it is made to carry stuff!

What tires did you put on it? I'm looking to get a new set to run tubeless.

Anyone else have recommendations for 2.4"+ tubeless tires for out on the Deschutes or John Day would be appreciated.
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I'm currently running Continental Cross King 27.5" x 2.6 ProTection setup for tubeless. I wasn't a big believer in tubeless until I ran up the Deschutes.
 
flyb0rg said:
I'm currently running Continental Cross King 27.5" x 2.6 ProTection setup for tubeless. I wasn't a big believer in tubeless until I ran up the Deschutes.
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Seems like tubeless is the last thing a person would want riding where goat head thorns abound. Maybe explain your enthusiasm more?
 
currently doing the research on ebikes..lighter upright cruiser for my wife, mid drive SUV style for me so I can hang with daughter on some of her longer, less vertical trail rides.
Like some of the direct to consumer brands that use Bosch motors, just not willing to roll the dice on warranty issues that a LBS would take care of. So far liking the Aima Key West for wife, Specialized,Trek or Bull for me.
 
Salmo_g said:
Seems like tubeless is the last thing a person would want riding where goat head thorns abound. Maybe explain your enthusiasm more?
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The goat thorns are bad, but all the rocks are worse. If you have a hardtail with 2.6" tires like me, your only suspension in back is to keep the rear tire pressure under 20#. If I'm just trail riding I have it as low as 15. If I'm in waders and packing stuff down the John Day trail I keep up just below 20. The front is rarely over 15 on the trail for better traction. More like 13. I have front suspension so in theory i could have 30# in the front tire, but that's not realistic or comfortable. And horrible traction.
So the biggest threat when using tubes is pinch flats. When the tube gets pinched between the rim and a rock. Tubeless solves that.
Have I gone tubeless yet??? 😁 Nope. If I ever start riding as much as I want to I will.
 
Salmo_g said:
Seems like tubeless is the last thing a person would want riding where goat head thorns abound. Maybe explain your enthusiasm more?
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I have a couple of friends in the bike industry, and practically everyone is running tubeless, it's basically the default now. The idea is that if it's a tiny/small puncture, the sealant will seal it up by itself. The majority of the non-fishing bike people who ride the Deschutes trail just for riding's sake use tubeless tires that are narrower than what you or I would consider.
 
Salmo_g said:
Seems like tubeless is the last thing a person would want riding where goat head thorns abound. Maybe explain your enthusiasm more?
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Running wide tires at low psi (25psi on my gravel bike) is a game changer. I'd never go back to tubes as a mainstay.
All my bikes are set up tubeless now; road, gravel and mountain.

Riding in the AZ desert, I get cactus spines or goat heads embedded in about half of my rides. Just make sure the punctured spot is facing down, pull it out and the sealant plugs the hole in a couple seconds every time. I also carry a tiny electric pump, a super light TPU tube and a kevlar boot for sidewall tears.

Headed back down there next week for a month of riding. Looking forward to the sun and single track.

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DerekWhipple said:
I have a couple of friends in the bike industry, and practically everyone is running tubeless, it's basically the default now. The idea is that if it's a tiny/small puncture, the sealant will seal it up by itself. The majority of the non-fishing bike people who ride the Deschutes trail just for riding's sake use tubeless tires that are narrower than what you or I would consider.
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Dating my self. I'm at least 20 years behind on bike technology. Advanced tech to me was the debate over 21, 23, or 25 mm tires at 110 or 120 psi. on road bikes. With tubes, of course. My mtn bike is close to 30 years old, and the only suspension is the tire pressure.
 
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