Ask the experts

[Roxtar]

I asked this a while ago, but my current MTB shoes are falling apart after a few years so here goes:

Looking for a new pair of MTB shoes.... would like them to be light (~400g), fairly stiff, and not look horrible. I ride mostly aggressive trail/enduro, never really full-on DH. I kind of like the Specialized Roost, but no velcro strap along the top is a deal breaker.

What kind of pedals are you using?
Reason I ask is if they're Shimanos, the ME7/SPD interface is as amazing as they say. The channel of the shoe just guides you right in. I assume their lighter XC-ish shoes (and the new GF/GE series) work the same.

[BigHerm]

I wear a back protector for lift access and enduro races. POC Oseus VPD, which is a Level 2 (DH) soft vest (with zipper thank god). It's super airy with speed holes in the pads. Can feel breezes even.

Wouldn't wear it pedaling unless hitting double black tech. Haven't tested out the effectiveness yet but the pads are real thick. Kinda bulky, hides my gut real well. Tailbone part kinda annoying with hip pack but I deal with it.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

There's probably a thread I don't know about. Anyway, must ride in Sedona? I'll be there next week. I was there once 9 years ago and rode Slim Shady and Hiline.

I'm hearing I should ride the "pork loops" and Brewer descent. What else? We're staying right downtown with my mom. 6am ride from the airbnb loops would be cool to do before mom and my GF wake up.

[Roxtar]

There's probably a thread I don't know about. Anyway, must ride in Sedona? I'll be there next week. I was there once 9 years ago and rode Slim Shady and Hiline.

I'm hearing I should ride the "pork loops" and Brewer descent. What else? We're staying right downtown with my mom. 6am ride from the airbnb loops would be cool to do before mom and my GF wake up.

At the risk of being Captain Obvious, the three H's; Hiline, Hangover, and the Hogs are all mandatory, regardless of how many times you've done them.

[zion zig zag]

Two part question with backstory. My shock on my smuggler (2019 Fox DPS performance) is making some noise, (swishy/squishy) and a friend told me it’s probably time for a full service and seals, no idea when that was last done, if ever. He tells me thats going to run about $160 from Fox.

I also found a take off Fox Float X Performance from a brand new Smuggler that I can get for less than $300. Supposedly only two rides on it.

Question one: is the Float X a big improvement over what I have? It should have a very similar tune. And 2: are the travel reducers self changeable by someone with little mechanical skill? I’ve taken tokens out of my fork, and videos make the travel reducer add/removal look very easy.

[smmokan]

What kind of pedals are you using?
Reason I ask is if they're Shimanos, the ME7/SPD interface is as amazing as they say. The channel of the shoe just guides you right in. I assume their lighter XC-ish shoes (and the new GF/GE series) work the same.

SPD pedals (Shimano XT trail): I'll look up the ME7s, thanks!

Also to answer a question I asked a few weeks ago, here's a new product from OneUp that is exactly what I was looking for: https://www.oneupcomponents.com/prod...be-strap-mount

[skaredshtles]

SPD pedals (Shimano XT trail): I'll look up the ME7s, thanks!

Also to answer a question I asked a few weeks ago, here's a new product from OneUp that is exactly what I was looking for: https://www.oneupcomponents.com/prod...be-strap-mount

That looks like something that would be incredibly easy to make with a 3D printer.

[ClarkleberryFinn]

Who here rides with a chest/back protector? Do they work?

I had a run-of-the-mill crash about a week ago on a faster shuttle trail, but ended up getting tossed rib cage-first onto the sharp edge of a fallen tree that had been cut out, resulting in several broken ribs, a collapsed lung and an overnight hospital stay. I'm doing well now, but the crash has me thinking about whether, on rides where I feel a full face helmet is warranted, some additional body armour would be smart too.

And are there any chest/back protectors people would recommend?

Hope you heal quick!

I posted this to a similar question in this thread earlier this season:

Anyone use the Fox Baseframe sleeveless chest guard (or something light and comparable)? I've had a few friends with close calls lately and it's made me wonder if I should start wearing chest protection on certain rides... and as a follow-up, anyone have a hookup so I don't have to pay $180?

Tried one on in a shop and it felt great - until I took it off. HUGE pita to get it off and almost thought I was going to rip the seams. The thought of that while sweaty and dirty after a day in the bike park put me off totally.

I bought a POC Oseus VPD Torso instead and v happy with it. Much easier on and off, and the padding is a bit thicker and feels like it reduces impact more (scientifically tested against a few others by slamming my back against a concrete pillar in the shop haha). Used it for a few days in Finale recently and very quickly forgot I was wearing it. A few climbs up to around ~500-600m were totally fine but obviously still a bit warmer than just wearing a bike Tshirt. I like it and would buy again, but will use it primarily for park/shuttle days and leave it at home for long pedal days.

17 bike park/lift days and 3 shuttle days so far this season and happy with it so far - very quickly forget I'm wearing it. Haven't crashed on it though. I don't wear it if I'm primarily pedaling, but some of those lift/shuttle days have had close to 1000m of pedaling involved too and it's still been plenty comfortable.

FWIW I also tried the POC's normal VPD system (ie the one that looks like a rubber shell version of the hardshell protectors) and it cushioned noticeably less against the shop's concrete pillar. Possibly cooler when pedalling though.

[Roxtar]

That looks like something that would be incredibly easy to make with a 3D printer.

Or a piece of aluminum, a drill, and a Voile strap.
But, at $20 for a nice looking one, why bother?

[skaredshtles]

[QUOTE=grskier;6931088]

Or a piece of aluminum, a drill, and a Voile strap.
But, at $20 for a nice looking one, why bother?

$20 ain't worth what it used to be.

[smmokan]

That looks like something that would be incredibly easy to make with a 3D printer.

Buying a 3D printer is way more expensive than sending $20 to OneUp (although it is $30 with shipping, ugh). There's also this one with crappy reviews for the strap itself: https://www.amazon.com/Granite-Porta...748586155&th=1

[skaredshtles]

Buying a 3D printer is way more expensive than sending $20 to OneUp.

Like boats, it's always better to *know* someone with a 3D printer than getting one yourself.

[Roxtar]

SPD pedals (Shimano XT trail): I'll look up the ME7s, thanks!]

I've been on them for five years and love them.
The Shimano hype about the SPD to shoe interface is real and it works. The channel just guides you right in.

They're on closeout now because Shimano just released new shoe models.

[toast2266]

Or a piece of aluminum, a drill, and a Voile strap.
But, at $20 for a nice looking one, why bother?

I built one out of a piece of aluminum and a voile strap. It doesn't really work very well. The tube / whatever's strapped to it slides around a bit and eventually wiggles it's way loose.

No idea if the oneup thing works better, but the channel that constrains the strap seems like it'd help.

[sfotex]

I got a new to me Trek Fuel last week with a Fox Transfer dropper post. I lowered the post a few inches when I got it and the cable lost a lot of tension at the lever causing the cable to get a kink in it. So I either caused interference with the frame, etc. when I dropped the post or I didn't pull the cable housing out when I lowered it. I need to pull it apart in the next few days and replace the cable/see what's going on/think of a shorter post?

Any quick tricks on diagnosing this. or do I just need to eyeball it.

Trek says I should be able to get 295mm of post in the frame, but I don't think that accounts for the cable routing bits hanging off the bottom of the post?

[summit]

Who here rides with a chest/back protector? Do they work?

I had a run-of-the-mill crash about a week ago on a faster shuttle trail, but ended up getting tossed rib cage-first onto the sharp edge of a fallen tree that had been cut out, resulting in several broken ribs, a collapsed lung and an overnight hospital stay. I'm doing well now, but the crash has me thinking about whether, on rides where I feel a full face helmet is warranted, some additional body armour would be smart too.

And are there any chest/back protectors people would recommend?

This is what I use for lift serve https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/gui...rol-Suit,13153
It has definitely mitigated shoulder injuries and back hits. The injuries would have been far worse without. It has the heaviest protection to the shoulder and then the back, light chest protection.

I used to wear this for lift served when I crashed all the time. Heavy moto armor with great coverage.
https://www.acerbis.com/en/motorspor...ctions/0017756

Looking at this EVOC Enduro for some ebike shoulder protection, but since I'm pretty much never wearing a pack anymore (which offered some spine protection) I might want one with back coverage so maybe a Leatt
https://www.evocsports.com/ENDURO-SHIRT/302303121-M

[smmokan]

I've been on them for five years and love them.
The Shimano hype about the SPD to shoe interface is real and it works. The channel just guides you right in.

They're on closeout now because Shimano just released new shoe models.

I wish they'd be on a bigger closeout. $165 is still a little too rich for my blood.

[GeorgiaSnow]

I also have the ME7s and love the fit on my foot. I’m in crankbrothers and they work great with those too.

As far as gear/tube attachment to the frame, I’ve used a variety of the wolf tooth b-rad attachments over the years and really like them. But those are pricier than that one up option.


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[toast2266]

Another reference point: I had ME7's, and while they're definitely a nice shoe, they didn't fit me. Too wide / high volume for me.

[XXX-er]

Another reference point: I had ME7's, and while they're definitely a nice shoe, they didn't fit me. Too wide / high volume for me.

Do ANY Shimano shoes fit you ? I've bought a couple pair cheap on close-out and gave them away to girlfriends cuz they didnt fit

[toast2266]

Do ANY Shimano shoes fit you ? I've bought a couple pair cheap on close-out and gave them away to girlfriends cuz they didnt fit

The ME5's fit me better than the 7's, but they're still a little wider than ideal. I don't think I've tried any of the other current shimano shoes.

[zion zig zag]

Two part question with backstory. My shock on my smuggler (2019 Fox DPS performance) is making some noise, (swishy/squishy) and a friend told me it’s probably time for a full service and seals, no idea when that was last done, if ever. He tells me thats going to run about $160 from Fox.

I also found a take off Fox Float X Performance from a brand new Smuggler that I can get for less than $300. Supposedly only two rides on it.

Question one: is the Float X a big improvement over what I have? It should have a very similar tune. And 2: are the travel reducers self changeable by someone with little mechanical skill? I’ve taken tokens out of my fork, and videos make the travel reducer add/removal look very easy.

Anyone?

[Tailwind]

I can answer the first part.

Yeah it’s a lot better. The float X is really impressive.

Second Part… I always hesitate on suspension stuff when people say they have little skill. It’s easy… but you don’t want to do something dumb.

Anyone?

[toast2266]

Anyone?

A float x will do better than a dps, especially on longer descents. But if you're gonna spend money on a rear shock, I wouldn't bother with a performance level shock. Performance elite or factory offer actual functional improvements that, imo, are worth it.

Travel reducers in the float x are easy to remove / install. Pop open the air can and it's just a couple of 2.5mm bolts. Just keep in mind that you can only change stroke within a set range. So you can change a 60mm stroke to a 62.5 or 65mm stroke, but you can't change it to, say, a 57.5 mm stroke.

[summit]

Anyone?

From what Stumpy owners say, going DPS to Float X is game changing. I have a DPS on my new Stumpy haven't ridden yet still building.

I rode a Smuggler two weeks with a Float X and it was sooooooooooooooooooo awesome. Haven't tried the DPS. I fucking love Transition.

PE/F are more tunable than perf pretty much for any fork/shock. On the forks it often means a different damper. I'd also look at a Topaz.