Official mountain biking thread

SlushDoes anyone know anything about building with dirt when it's wet out?
I want to finish a landing, but it has been raining quite a lot. I know when people ride on the trails when they are muddy they get hard ruts in them, would any dirt packed that was muddy get hard too? Would it be like building with clay almost (p.s. Most of the dirt I'm working with is an orangey brown clay) and then having it harden once it is dried out?

Any response is appreciated!!

stupendous-manI don't work with clay a lot, but it is almost impossible to pack when wet. It sticks to your shovel like no other (slap and slide), but when it hardens it's rock solid. In general though the dirt has to be somewhat wet for it to pack and be shapeable, so you really just have to go try it. I do most of my building during the wet months, so come summer everything dries out and becomes solid.

byuboundJust took the enduro rig out for its inaugural ride.

Its name is Persephone.

byuboundJust took the enduro rig out for its inaugural ride.

Its name is Persephone.

SlushLol is that a tire tube chaingaurd? Awesome.

Where did the name come from? I kinda like it

GANDALFI want to have sex with your Bike

-MK-Got my new used custom built Santa Cruz Bullit today, couldn't be more stoked on it!

Fork: Marzocchi 66 RC
Shock: Fox DHX 5.0
Wheels: 26" Mavic Deemax rims and Deemax hubs
Brakes: Sram XO (Front - 203mm disk), Avid Elixir CR (Rear - 185mm disk)
Bars: Race Face Atlas Low Rise w/ ODI Grips
Stem: Syncros FR 50
Crankset: Race Face Atlas
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF (Front - 26x2.5), Maxxis High Roller II (Rear - 26x2.4)
Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX (9 speed)
Rear Shifter: Shimano Deore
Front Derailleur: Sram X5
Front Shifter: Sram X9
Chainguide: Blackspire Dually
Pedals: Azonic A-Frame

DrZoidbergAre fat bikes a trend or something? I was surfing yesterday and that's the third time in a row I've seen somebody riding one on the beach. That is what you call the super fat tire bikes right? This is by the beach, so it's mostly flat and there's probably no terrain to ride mount bikes.

NinetyFourSeriously all I've been riding this year is my Farley 8. Fun as fuck and it rips everything so well. It's kind of like ripping pow skis in the park, it has it's pros and cons but it's ultimately a blast.

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-WZ-Silver star bonus weekend is in 2 days! im so hyped

cdip

is this a nice bike

JuliusJYes. Is it the best bike for you? No idea, what style of riding do you want to do, where do you think you'll be riding, etc?

NinetyFourhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/773365/Aaron-Gwin-Chainless-Win-Leogang-2016-World-Cup-DH-MTB

BoaxI built this up for the summer:

...and been getting some good high local alpine riding since mid-April, the first time biking has really overlapped with skiing for me.

Local lifts open tomorrow and most resorts within a few hours' drive will be open by the end of the month. Pretty stoked.

Have a good summer everyone!

SklarSo,
I have a 2009 Specialized FSR-XC Comp. It looks like the seals on the rear shock are starting to go out, there is some gunk that has been coming out during rides.
The shock is an X-Fusion O2 RLA. It has most likely never been serviced. ( I took the bike over from my dad last summer).


I'm wondering if I should try and rebuild it, or just get a new shock?

It's been hard to find the replacement seals online, I wasn't able to call X-Fusion, I'll try again during business hours and see what I get.
I found a Monarch RT3 on PinkBike that is local for $200.

How much better/how noticable would a new rear shock be?

californiagrowndoes the monarch fit? not just travel, but its length?

Honestly your bike is likely not really worth upgrading. If it is pretty unridable right now, then do what you need to in order to keep on riding, but i would take the money you want to put into it, and save it for a bike that isnt outdated.

that is my very uninformed opinion.

SklarYea, the monarch is the right size.
The bike is fine for me right now, I don't ride a ton, and not super hard. Lots of things on the wishlist that will come before a new bike.

JuliusJThe eye to eye measurement matches? and if the travel works, get it man!

My mountain bike stoke factor is huge. Have a few huge trips coming up.

1. Spokane --> Bozeman --> Medora (Maah Daah Hey Trail) --> MN (midwest cabin time) --> Black Hills --> Jackson Hole and back to bozeman

2. Colorado trail from Denver to Durango. Lets fucking goooo

cydwhitOK! Finally financially ready to grab a ride!

Looking for something I can ride park on as well as "enduro" Probably gonna hop on a Giant Reign unless I find a screaming deal on something else, found a couple of options:

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1790194/

Pros:

-It's a large (I used to have a medium reign but probably should be on large)
-It's already 1x and it already has a dropper
-I used to run all x7 and really didnt mind it at all

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1791411/?directtofirstphoto

This one is cheaper, definitely heavier and more bike park oriented, def could rip some bigger DH on it but I bet pedaling is gonna suck a lot more. Doesn't have a dropper yet. (but for the price difference I could get one) How terrible would it be to ride a bunch of long single track on this thing?

Anybody have any input? or other suggestions? Would probably spend up to $1800 ish but would need to get a killer spec for that price.

byuboundHow hard are you intending to go in the park? Mostly flow stuff, or are you going to be hammering it down really tech lines? The outlaws and totem on that second bike are going to be way heavy for any extended pedalling. However, I would not say revolution 25s and a fox 32 are going to be confidence inspiring in the bike park. About how much park vs trail are you going to ride?
Here are two options I thought looked good in your price range.
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1788826/
Coverts are super fun and still relatively pedal able. This is a good tough build that isn't going to be an anchor going up.
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1690133/
Top of your budget I know, but has a wide range cassette and narrow wide, dropper post, high end drivetrain, and not too aggressive to ride up the hill. Just something to think about.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204385116164789&set=pcb.705146249591038&type=1&theater
If you are set on the reign, this is about as good as it gets in your budget. Wouldn't be as massively heavy as that XO.
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1784616/
This might be lighter than that XO, and bottlerockets are an absolute blast to ride.

cydwhitThanks, real helpful post!

I really don't know riding wise, probably mostly flow, and I was pretty confident on my old reign (not X) in tech gnar. The Totem and Outlaws are definitely a turnoff. But there is a chance I'll end up getting a bike park pass and maybe even make it to Whistler at some point, however, I still want to be able to put 15 mile single track rides on the bike if I need to.

I have a huge soft spot for transitions, and that Covert is pretty nice looking, I'll follow up on that, definitely a fan of bikes people have built up with decent components instead of the stock stuff.

I don't know about that specialized... Maybe a little overkill, I don't really need a coil shock...

That Reign, mmmmm, might have to follow up on that one, real nice looking rig...

Ahaha, of course I would get recommended a bottlerocket, man growing up I wanted one of those SO bad, really don't think I'm gonna go for it though, gotta resist the urge to grab it, throw a dropper and 1x on it and call it a trail bike...

man, looks like I need to go bike shopping in Bellingham, too bad it's exactly the opposite direction from where I'm moving....

Thanks man!

SklarI'm just wondering what difference I'll notice?
Money is kinda tight right now

JuliusJYeah, it definitely matters. Having the wrong fitting shock or too much travel will definitely make your bike feel wonky. Id swing in to a local bike shop. They'll know best. I can take a look and see what you should be looking for later too.

kirbstopperNice looking bike, trail bikes beefed up for the down are where its at if you aren't racing. Depending on where you ride and how extended your downs are, I would get Zee over both of those options. The stopping power between a quad piston brake vs. dual piston is unmatched for a very minimal weight difference. Zee's also have a great price point usually.

dmskiLooking for this exact bike now actually! I need something a little more pedal friendly but can still shred the bike parks. My DH rig is just too much for the single tracks near my work. Looking sweet!

ericajust watched unreaaaaal

ThaLoraxHow real was it?

cydwhitSo I'm probably going to buy a bike from Bellinghams, is there an off chance anybody from over there will be headed towards Moscow/Bozeman anytime soon? It's about a 6 hour drive from Moscow to BHam so I'd either like to try to to have it hitch a ride over or I may just road trip out, buy it, camp and ride for a few days, If I do that I'd be stoked to ride with any locals!

GANDALFFoke her in the j-hole