Ask the experts

[summit]

Just get the one up bars

Yep!

[skaredshtles]

Wherever hands you a 29 inch front wheel and tells you to grow up

Are you replacing or looking to upgrade?

Replacing a stock crabon Giant TRX-1.

Like custom built, or a just a nice pre-built wheel?

Nice pre-built would be fine...

[TCNROMPER]

Where is the current "go-to" place to get a good built front wheel? 27.5, 30-ish mm, 6-bolt rotor. Carbon or alloy is fine...

I just had some built up by speed vision bikes that I can’t find fault with. They have a wheel builder tool on their website so you can see if they have what you are looking for. I went with DT Ex511 on 350 hubs and it was a little under $650 to my door. Of the websites that I priced out similar builds, speed vision was the cheapest option for the build I was looking for.

[Roxtar]

I've heard nothing but good about NOBL.

[Wes Mantooth]

Open to any other suggestions at Lunch Loops. I was drawn to the Ribbon for it's speed and flow. I'll be in the land of tech and figured some faster stuff would be a nice diversion.

Holy Cross is a must do imo but not particularly fast and flowy


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[D(C)]

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?

[skaredshtles]

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?

Damn, dude. I have no recommendations, but ++vibes for a quick recovery!

[zion zig zag]

How often do people replace pivot bearings? My Smuggler uses an Enduro Max kit if it matters. I'm guessing I could just take out the shock and see how smooth moving the swing-arm feels?

[skaredshtles]

Holy Cross is a must do imo but not particularly fast and flowy

I'm with this guy. Holy Cross is a really fun trail. Our go-to Lunch Loops lap over the last <large number> of years has been a shuttle to Ribbon -> Ribbon Connector -> Lunch Line -> Free Lunch -> Holy Cross -> whatever trail back to parking lot

[skaredshtles]

How often do people replace pivot bearings? My Smuggler uses an Enduro Max kit if it matters. I'm guessing I could just take out the shock and see how smooth moving the swing-arm feels?

IME, *extremely* rarely. My previous bike (2010 Reign) I never replaced a single pivot bearing in the 8 years I owned it. I'd check them every now and again, but they always seemed smooth/fine.

[MegaStoke]

I’ve got a Leatt Airfit Lite Tee that I wear on shuttle/emtb/lift served rides. It’s not quite breathable enough for big pedaling efforts, but I also don’t mind wearing it for hours on end.

Haven’t crashed hard since I got it, so I can’t speak to how well it protects, but it seems like a worthwhile amount of protection for riding that also justifies a full face, and knee and elbow pads.

[D(C)]

Damn, dude. I have no recommendations, but ++vibes for a quick recovery!

Thanks! It’s just part of the risk we accept in this sport. I wasn’t doing anything stupid. Recovery is going well, and the pain is way down.

[Andeh]

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?

I picked up a Fox Baseframe Pro vest last winter with the intent of using it when I went to the bike park. I ended up only going once this summer but took a big slam where I got ejected into the embankment, and had no bruising or abrasions on my ribs/chest. I managed to bruise my hip bone even though there's a bit of foam padding on the vest there. Heavy bruising on thigh above the knee pad, and bruising on my elbow under where the pad went. Regardless, I was glad I had it on. If I raced enduro I'd probably wear it for that, but not planning on wearing it for any self-propelled riding. I might wear it for some shuttling. Temps were in the mid 70s with a bit of a breeze and it wasn't too hot, but we were riding chairlifts.

On the same day that I had the big slam, a buddy with me kind of scorpioned and landed on his back on some of those diamond pavers bike parks use to armor the trail. His back was ok, but he got a tramp stamp bruise in the shape of a paver just under where his protector ended. He was wearing one of the Fox hardshell types that goes over your jersey. He was also really glad he was wearing it.

[Wes Mantooth]

I'm with this guy. Holy Cross is a really fun trail. Our go-to Lunch Loops lap over the last <large number> of years has been a shuttle to Ribbon -> Ribbon Connector -> Lunch Line -> Free Lunch -> Holy Cross -> whatever trail back to parking lot

I always like to end on Curt’s Down for some fast flow though usually seem to end up running into a hiker and a dog coming up it


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[skaredshtles]

I always like to end on Curt’s Down for some fast flow though usually seem to end up running into a hiker and a dog coming up it

Agree - Curt's is a great way to finish that ride. Last time we ran into a whole gaggle of bikers riding up it.

[toast2266]

How often do people replace pivot bearings? My Smuggler uses an Enduro Max kit if it matters. I'm guessing I could just take out the shock and see how smooth moving the swing-arm feels?

Varies widely.

I've had bikes where they've lasted years. I've had other bikes where I've killed 1 or 2 of the bearings in 6 weeks. Depends on the bearings, the bike, and the conditions you're riding in.

Pulling the shock will give a pretty good idea if things are rough / sticky, but especially for the minor bearings, you really have to pull the link apart and spin the bearing with your fingers.

[North]

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

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

Not for MTB, but I got one for moto after breaking a rib earlier this summer. I was still recovering when I tried on a bunch of different chest protectors, so I had a really good idea of where I needed coverage. In short, most don't actually protect the mid/lower ribs. Astars A10 V2 and Leatt 6.0 were the only ones that provided coverage that I felt would've prevented my injury (broken #8).

The shoulder pads suck on all of them. I wear the A10 V2 w/o shoulder pads over a jersey and like it a lot. Leatt 6.0 is noticeably heavier and supposedly doesn't breathe as well. I expect either would be fine for lift served or shuttling but totally oppressive for pedaling.

[Thaleia]

I remember doing a Holy Cross, Gunny, Pre-Nup loop that was fun and atech challenge. I can't remember if it was clockwise or counterclockwise.

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Thank you.

Holy Cross is a must do imo but not particularly fast and flowy


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Thank you

I'm with this guy. Holy Cross is a really fun trail. Our go-to Lunch Loops lap over the last <large number> of years has been a shuttle to Ribbon -> Ribbon Connector -> Lunch Line -> Free Lunch -> Holy Cross -> whatever trail back to parking lot

Beauty! Thank you.

I always like to end on Curt’s Down for some fast flow though usually seem to end up running into a hiker and a dog coming up it


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Thank you.

[Roxtar]

especially for the minor bearings, you really have to pull the link apart and spin the bearing with your fingers.

This was brightly illuminated to me when I rebuilt an older set of I9 Torch wheels. Initially just put my fingers in the bearings and spun the wheel; everything felt smooth as silk.
Pulled the bearings and spun em by themselves; rough and gritty as hell

[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