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Post by kconner on Sept 7, 2014 22:07:50 GMT -5
I'm currently riding a 2011 Trek Marlin 29er hardtail....my personal opinion is that a hardtail is all you need to ride locally, but that's just my opinion, to each their own. I'm also currently riding a 2.2" Maxxis Ardent Race up front, paired with a 2.2" Maxxis Ikon in the back, both set up tubeless and mounted to Stan's Arch EXs (can't remember the rim width). I'm a heavy guy at 220-230 lbs and run pressures around 23-25 psi (according to my floor pump)....anything below 22-23 and I risk bottoming out the rim.
I'm a big fan of Trek, they've got a decent line up of bikes and have the best bang for your buck at the moment IMO. We also have 3 great local shops that are willing to make deals, and the 2015 models should be rolling in any time now, which means great deals should be had on 2014 models.
Good luck and have fun shopping!
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Post by kconner on Aug 22, 2014 11:05:05 GMT -5
IMO, Brown Wave might as well be two different trails depending on which direction you're riding...the experience is THAT different. Great Wall is fun in either direction...I feel like the climb out traveling CW is longer but more gradual, while the climb out traveling CCW is shorter but steeper-pick your poison. Personally, I tend to like the CW climb out at the end, but prefer to ride all the features (the tight twisty section, drop, Shrimper's Rock, the Great Wall, etc.) CCW, so I'll just end up grunting up the climb out at the end. Generally, people tend to ride everything at FATS CCW, except for Tower....Tower is brutal both ways
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Post by kconner on Jul 21, 2014 8:26:55 GMT -5
Tired trail dog=someone had a good day!
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Post by kconner on Jun 30, 2014 13:18:18 GMT -5
^What he said.
Brake installs are fairly straight forward, just make sure you have the right tools.
If you're going with Shimano brakes, their website is an excellent source for technical info, tips, how-tos, etc.
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Post by kconner on Jun 16, 2014 21:27:40 GMT -5
Rode Skinny today, everything is in good shape. Theres a group of 4-5 small trees hanging low about 100-200 yards before the big rock at the end of Skinny CCW, and a small tree down immediately after the rock. All can be taken out with a hand saw, hopefully I'll be able to take care of them Thursday morning. A "new line" has developed around the rock, this time on the low side. It does not appear to be a sustainable line due to the side slope and gully right next to it, but it's been blocked/unblocked several times, so that's just my two cents worth. There's a new log down just past the first doubletrack crossing after the intersection with Brown Wave(when travelling CCW)....it's a big log, but it's being ridden (chainring marks) so hopefully it stays.
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Post by kconner on Apr 28, 2014 23:04:14 GMT -5
Ross, the 15 minute drink, 45 minute gel and hour endurolyte (which one do you use) works well? Did you eat any solid food? Nutrition/hydration is my killer for long rides. When I do long rides (long for me lol), I'll eat as needed, typically 30-45 minutes. Gels and gummies for me, but I like to do real food every once in a while....I had small crunchy peanut butter sandwiches waiting for me at the SAG for the 51ster ride, just to mix it up. For fluid, I love me some Tailwind....that stuff works wonders, I highly recommend it. I'll do a hydration pack bladder full of Tailwind, and sip as needed. If I'm feeling froggy, I'll carry a bottle of plain old water (in addition to the hydro pack) just for a different flavor.
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Post by kconner on Mar 17, 2014 17:45:24 GMT -5
Looking at doing a gravel ride Thursday/Friday of this week. Does anybody know if the gravel roads around FATS have been cleaned up?
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Post by kconner on Feb 18, 2014 19:49:12 GMT -5
How hard is it to cut trees and take pics while doing a handstand? Thanks for the heads up, how wet is it out there?
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Post by kconner on Feb 4, 2014 13:17:30 GMT -5
Yeah, it has 55 psi as the minimum pressure on the sidewall, so that was just a starting point for yesterday's ride. I also want to try to run then tubeless in the future. I'd guess you could get down in the 40's...but that's a guess. I've never ridden a tire that size. Let us know what works! I know Ross was using his at 50something, but said they felt rock hard at that pressure. Yeah, 60 was rock hard, I'd imagine the 40 is where you'd start to feel some cush. I'll find out for sure shortly.
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Post by kconner on Feb 4, 2014 10:45:57 GMT -5
Very nice! I just mounted the same tire on the front of my cx bike and rode to work on it yesterday. It was comfortable on a mix of streets and the canal tow path. I'm looking forward to trying it out on some gravel! What do you have mounted on the back? Very cool indeed. I'd try dropping the tire pressure some more Keith, I bet you can go lower and still roll fast and not have too much worry about pinch flatting. Yeah, it has 55 psi as the minimum pressure on the sidewall, so that was just a starting point for yesterday's ride. I also want to try to run then tubeless in the future.
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Post by kconner on Feb 3, 2014 22:06:52 GMT -5
For those looking into some of the above tires, I got my first ride in on my brand new Clement X'plor MSO. I went with the 40mm, 60 tpi version, and thanks to a combination of gift certificates and Chain Reaction's volunteer rewards, I didn't pay a cent for these tires! Thanks again Chain Reaction and Santa! Today's ride was just a short ride around the forest service roads around FATS and was riding with tubes and 60psi. The roads were mostly damp/wet, but there was a decent mix of hard pack, loose gravel, a bit of mud, potholes and even some ruts to play around with. The tires were great throughout, fast rolling, and super grippy. Never felt anything slipping or sliding and the corners were awesome. Never noticed a problem with mud packing in the knobs, but I didn't ride the super sticky red clay either. I even played around with them at work yesterday and found that they squirm a bit through sand, but found these tires cut through the sand pretty well and found hard dirt to grip on to. Very nice! Close up of the tread: Luke approves of big tires for gravel roads!
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Post by kconner on Feb 3, 2014 12:12:48 GMT -5
I'm working this Saturday, but I'm off on Sunday. I'm off Saturday and Sunday of the following weekend as well.
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Post by kconner on Jan 31, 2014 13:06:38 GMT -5
I'm a definite maybe, most likely for a short route. It'll depend on work schedules, but I'm definitely interested!
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Post by kconner on Jan 29, 2014 21:47:24 GMT -5
Bartram was awesome this morning! Headed out with D2M2 with 26 degree temps, a slight breeze and virgin snow. Started at Petersburg and did an out & back to West Dam. Great ride! Unloading at the trailhead with a film of ice on the bikes from the drive up: Short break on the outbound leg: Inbound leg at the airstrip:
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Post by kconner on Dec 20, 2013 20:37:42 GMT -5
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Snake '14
Dec 20, 2013 18:19:52 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by kconner on Dec 20, 2013 18:19:52 GMT -5
Koz just got called out!
Get em' Koz!!
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Post by kconner on Dec 16, 2013 10:37:02 GMT -5
Why is it an issue with CX bikes and not MTBs, which also get used in nasty conditions? I dunno. But it does seem like the narrow CX tires end up putting more crap on the brakes than the wider MTB tires. I mean, look how much sand I got on this hub...I don't recall ever getting that much crap on a the hub of a MTB. Maybe CX rides tend to be nastier? I mean, how often do you ride a MTB in similar conditions as what you rode Saturday (other than the Snake )? My point is that CX races/rides tend to go on no matter the conditions, whereas MTB rides tend to be in more favorable conditions, so maybe MTB brakes don't wear slower, they're just not used in bad conditions less often. It would be interesting to get some more insight for sure. The nastiest ride I've done was when I was working my part time job. We worked an event on the canal towpath, and it rained (downpour) before and during the event. Long story short, I ended up completely covered in sand/mud, and our white/black bikes were a nice shade of tan/red clay. I doubt it has anything to do with tires (even though our MTBs have semi slick tires) and more to do with generally sub-par conditions.
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Post by kconner on Dec 15, 2013 22:36:03 GMT -5
I knew that road discs are still new, but I hadn't heard of all the recalls. What seem to be the issues?
I still haven't put huge miles on my CX bike, but I've been happy with my BB5s. I actually just moved my BB7s over to the CX bike for more adjustability, but haven't ridden them yet. I'd like to get my hands on a set of road hydros for a test ride, but I guess that'll have to wait.
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Post by kconner on Dec 15, 2013 16:50:37 GMT -5
Looks like a fun ride, even with rain and mud. I'd like to give this a try next year possibly.
Maybe time to upgrade to some disc brakes, eh?
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Post by kconner on Dec 11, 2013 16:08:51 GMT -5
Yep, my bad, updated the original post. Good eye! This is a good thing....I was working on the 15th, but am free on the 17th
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