Ask the experts

[Huskier]

2. I could get an aluminum Transition Spire frame, EXT coil shock and Cascade link for $2k used.

3. My friend has offered to sell me a current generation Sentinel, either frame only or full bike. Sounds like the build would be fairly similar to the parts I have in terms of beef.

Mix of midweek pedaling and weekend shuttling/park. I like racing local enduros but am not particularly competitive yet. The old bike had similar geo to a size Large Spire, which feels pretty good.

I was more comfortable going faster on a spire than I was on my sentinel, but the amount depended on how straight and chunky vs not the trail and I -think- largely a function of Zeb vs 36. (Didn't run the Spire in the low setting as it was borrowed). It felt ponderous when things get tight and the returns diminish. If you're moving parts around already and plan to throw the mezzer on the sentinel I think I'd safely say that you will continue to be rider-limited not bike-limited. I am currently in that boat with one embarrassing event under my belt.

Also the only thing better than one bike is two bikes. Duh.


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[Roxtar]

You wanted a Firebird.

Its funny, at the time yes.

I bought the Stumpy Evo, Ran it slacker and longer with an X2 for a season.
Now I'm not riding anything too rowdy anymore so I'm back on the Float X with it shorter and steeper. Probably could've stuck with the Switchblade after all!

I will say, I sold the SB to a friend who rode it 4x harder than I ever did, so it's not about the bike - it's about the rider.

Firebird and Switchblade are so, so similar to each other. Lots of overlap.
Pedaling is pretty much the same. You really only notice which one you're on when the trail gets very tight and technical or very steep and rowdy.

[Meconium]

Looking for a Duffel fleet for the family. Basically, big enough to put all the crap in for a bike gear go-bag. Race/overnight, just the bike stuff. Helmet, shoes, change of close, hydro pack ….
Figure something more cube/rectangle that somewhat holds its shape and possibly shoulder straps? 35/40L?
Any recommendations on something that makes life easer vs a jumbled bag with a zipper?
Under $50 each would be nice, if the style works I’ll spend money on something similar when they fall apart.

[Phall]

Friends from college started Orucase, and their duffle is really slick.

https://www.orucase.com/collections/...44492678922495

EDIT: just saw your price constraint. this one's definitely outside it.
Amazon?

[Roxtar]

Friends from college started Orucase, and their duffle is really slick.

https://www.orucase.com/collections/...44492678922495

Not to be a dick but you might want to suggest to your buds that a product video works better if it actually shows features of the product.

[Meconium]

Thanks, looks nice but not spending $450 for 3 duffles.

[ASmileyFace]

That would be rad.

Searched today and couldn't find it. Must have been in my giveaway pile when I bought a bike with Transmission. Sorry.

[rideit]

Thanks for looking!

[Meconium]

What is the advantage of the fox floating axle opposed to just using a bolt on axle with the QR floating bushing thing?

[jackstraw]

Is there a thread on bike travel bags or is it buried in here somewhere? Is Evoc the one to go with?

[toast2266]

Is there a thread on bike travel bags or is it buried in here somewhere? Is Evoc the one to go with?

Depends on your bike. Evocs are nice, but they're expensive and heavy. Heavy = hard to meet airline weight limits with most modern mountain bikes. If you're packing a road or gravel bike, then that's probably not an issue. But saving weight on the bag generally means sacrificing some protection, so it's a gamble.

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[climberevan]

Our cheapest-available Chain Reaction Cycles travel bags weigh 16.5# empty. Nicer ones are heavier....

[Boissal]

Depends on your bike. Evocs are nice, but they're expensive and heavy. Heavy = hard to meet airline weight limits with most modern mountain bikes. If you're packing a road or gravel bike, then that's probably not an issue. But saving weight on the bag generally means sacrificing some protection, so it's a gamble.

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+1 on this. I have an EVOC and have flown my trail bike to Europe a bunch of times in it. Weight is the concern, a 32 lbs bike will be over the limit once packed. I typically remove pedals and cassette to make the cut.
The bag has taken a beating, someone dragged it for some distance over rough pavement instead of standing it up and it has some serious abrasions. The bike's always been fine but I've been super careful with packing (lots of pipe insulation foam and styrofoam blocks to fill in the void).

[jackstraw]

Right on. Yeah, I'm packing a mtn bike, so weight is potentially a concern if I travel with the Bronson. I've never weighed that thing, but it must be 32+ish...idk.

[sb]

https://www.costco.com/intense-951-t...000136517.html

Seems like an ok deal, i see they were 2K earlier but that is done.

[rideit]

I like how the specs are just so incredibly vague.
I guess they know their demographic.

[unitofstuff]

I think my grips might be too small.

Riding long downhills, I get to the point where the bars almost feel loose in my hands. I've been riding a lot more downhill (DV season pass) this year than before, but I never felt this with the old ODI Rogues I used to use all the time. I've got big palms and very medium finger length. Is it time to go back to thicc grips?

[XXX-er]

grips/ seats/ pedals are entirely subjective,

I like OGI lock-ons cuz they are slim and I use them with a work glove that has padded palms but YMMV

i also like that the lock-on ring protects the end of the grip lying in the truck bed or tagging trees

[sfotex]

Ok, someone talk me out of this:
https://outlet.wheelandsprocket.com/...edparentoutlet

Before I do something stupid.

[XXX-er]

Depending on where you ride a gravel bike might make more sense ?

[evdog]

I think my grips might be too small.

Riding long downhills, I get to the point where the bars almost feel loose in my hands. I've been riding a lot more downhill (DV season pass) this year than before, but I never felt this with the old ODI Rogues I used to use all the time. I've got big palms and very medium finger length. Is it time to go back to thicc grips?

For a long time I only used ODI Ruffian grips. These are the really narrow ones. I tried Rogues back in the day but the extra thickness made my hands cramp. Last bike I bought new came with thicker grips but softer grips and those seem to work great for me. Maybe try something softer. Rogues had a bit of padding but that's still just over top of the stiff lock on base.

[Huskier]

Working on some rim musical chairs. The plan entails moving a 27mm rim to serve part time light-duty use on an enduro bike currently set up on 30mm. Will I notice anything? Same manufacturer, both aluminum hoops.

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[toast2266]

Working on some rim musical chairs. The plan entails moving a 27mm rim to serve part time light-duty use on an enduro bike currently set up on 30mm. Will I notice anything? Same manufacturer, both aluminum hoops.

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Your tire will probably be slightly rounder, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Lots of world cup dh guys run narrower rims to get a rounder tire profile. Realistically you probably won't notice it unless you're very in tune with your bike and the lean angles your tires prefer.

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[volklpowdermaniac]

Ok, someone talk me out of this:
https://outlet.wheelandsprocket.com/...edparentoutlet

Before I do something stupid.

whaddya reckon that thing weighs? back in the land of high passes and cool paved mountain roads has me thinking skinny again.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Ok, someone talk me out of this:
https://outlet.wheelandsprocket.com/...edparentoutlet

Before I do something stupid.

whaddya reckon that thing weighs? back in the land of high passes and cool paved mountain roads has me thinking skinny again.