Bikes and Tundra

Hope your ablation holds! If that is what you had...Have fun at the event

 

Look into one of the those hitch swing outs.

 

Yeah that!!! Probably should read all the replies before replying.

 

Just took my SS bike out.
Still fun to ride especially in the rain, good for skills

 

my kuat has never been a problem with the tailgate without the bikes on it... I added a swing arm from 1UP for when it's full of bikes as the tailgate would hit a bike. Some racks now have them built in.

https://www.1up-usa.com/product/rakattach-2-0/

edit: the kuat pivot is this same arm from 1UP with a kuat sticker on it. The rakattach is the original. I don't know if 1up bought them or if they just retail them from the original designer. I bought mine from the original company years ago.

 

Sold my Rocky Mountain Instinct I've posted before to get the new Element. Downcountry bikes aren't just a hyped silly name, they're friggin awesome!

 

Couldn’t agree more about the Downcountry bike moniker…

I love my Giant Trance. All bikes have limitations so personally I find the argument against them to nonsensical when they are used “accordingly”. Meaning if you want to plow down a steep mountain with rocks the size of a toddler…yeah clearly that isn’t the “right” bike.

I am in NY where is super technical with rocks and roots and my bike is a blast. It never held me back in any way.

Once I had a random rider tell me that my bike was better suited for another trail system (smoother and much tamer) and not where I was riding. It comical how caught up people get in marketing ESPECIALLY in mountain biking.

I have a neighborhood who takes his sons to an off-road park in a bone stock TRD Tacoma with KO 2’s and he has just as much fun if not more than another guy I know who takes his Raptor off-roading.

 

A lot of people would wonder why I would ride my hardtail single speed with flat pedals on a local trail that was really rooty. They thought I was crazy but you learn to be smooth and use your legs more. I have 11 bikes from hardtails to 170mm Enduro.

 

It's a poor carpenter who blames his tools.

Or... ride what works for you and if you need more or less bike for a given task, that's a you issue. I'm an old goat who rides a couch because I've broken myself enough to want less impact on my joints. If you have knees, back and strength to do a trail with a fixie, f'ing good on you! Ride what you want. Ignore fools who think they know things. What you want is a personal choice based on you. If you're getting pissy because someone else had 3mm of extra (or less) suspension travel, you're an idiot.

 

Bingo!

SPP

 

I rode and raced a singlespeed rigid Kona Raijin for years here in the rooty, rock Northeast...always loved that style of riding!

And it was rare to go out on a group ride with others on SS...and never anybody else with a rigid fork.

Stewart Super Six Pack....almost 70 miles (6 laps) at Stewart State Forest, NY...

July 20, 2021 by SPP™ SlowPokePete, on Flickr

SPP

 

Well, I think im starting to get the mountain bike itch... BAD.

Been looking at a few bikes... Trek EX's, Transition Sentinels, SC Hightowers, Stunt-Jumpers, and Rocky Mountain Instinct.

I have demoed the Trek EX and currently have to return the RM Carbon 50 Instinct tomorrow at 5pm but man, that Instinct was a lot more fun that I thought. Climbed pretty easily and the downhill felt like it went right where i wanted it to go. I hardly see anyone with them in my area which surprises me.

I also got a chance to ride the Sentinel in the parking lot of the bike store and really liked how far out the front tire was. Im more into the downhill stuff but dont mine a nice climb. Open to suggestions and ideally would like to stay under $5500 but i know what i'm riding right now is $5800

Im 6', 240lbs and use a large frame. Anyone got other suggestions for more ideas or brands?
A lot of my riding is rocky, dusty, and will have some big jumps and drops thrown in.

Locally I wish I was able to demo a transition but that'll never happen

Anyways, Ill probably be lurking here until I actually get my own bike.




Edit: I come from a dirt biking background so im pretty handy on the bike with moderate skill level. Just i never got into the MTB scene until now for some odd reason.

 

If you end up loving the instinct C50, I have one for sale in my shop that I’d give a good deal on. Lemme know, I know I’m partial the rocky mtn bikes right now. Just as reliable and sturdy as it gets, easily serviceable too.

 

That's good to know, ill keep it in mind. Unfortunately, holidays are coming up and the bike funds will probably be stalled out for a little.

It is nice hearing something about Rocky Mtn since ive never heard anything about them lol. Reason why i demoed it was i wanted to try something different and the shop mentioned it's just a bit beefier plus the extra 10mm of front travel vs the trek.

 

Man, you can’t for wrong with any of those bikes. That transition is a helluva bike. But more importantly
Demo as many as you can and go with what you get along with. I’ve hear nothing but good things about the Sc and the Spesh but I didn’t like them as much. I’m a huge IBIS fan so if people aren’t sure about riding, or on a budget you can’t go wrong with Ripmo Af for the price. But if you can afford it, go big and enjoy whatever you buy. A good price on a RM 50 would be hard to pass

 

Hey. We probably race together back then. I did couple SS races at Stewart.
https://strava.app.link/tdzljptT8tb

 

That's cool!

Looks like we both follow Brian Kelly....holy shit is he strong!

Spent much quality time with BK bullshitting, drinking beer, and enjoying other aspects of nature....

Requested to follow you on STrava.

SPP

 

I had Trek EX8. Was a really good bike and ripped down hill. Heard the Norcos are usually good and stable down hill also. I'm also from a motocross background and have my brakes switched to moto setup on all my bikes. Sometimes I forget to tell the bike shop. Last time the mechanic was riding my bike in the shop and forgot it was setup moto. He said he went over the bars in the shop. Pretty funny. Anyway good luck with your bike choice. Post up when you get it!

 

interesting comment on the brake switches. That didnt even cross my mind until you said that lol.

 

@Dfrink
Here’s the pics of the 1up, tailgate clearance with how deep I have the rack seated. I could pull it out a lot farther but choose to keep it in tighter.

 

My bikes are set up "moto" also. I try not to let anyone else ride them. I would hate to be picking up teeth off the ground.

 

Fellow dirt bike rider as well and the backwards brakes (your set up) just do not compute in my brain lol, I personally find it terrifying.
You would think keeping front on the right would transfer but I just freeze up. The brain is a weird thing.

 

Interesting, I've never thought about switching them. Somehow I must get used to it pretty quickly, I'll have to pay attention next time I ride and see if I have to consciously think about which lever I'm using.

 

Made this to hang our mountain bikes.

 

October 15, 2022 by SPP™ SlowPokePete, on Flickr

SPP

 

Yeah I can't ride a bike if it's not set up moto. I'll crash

 

Well you know on a moto you pull in that clutch when you hit the rear brake. An of course the front brake is on the right.

 

Hey. I do know BK very well. We raced a lot. He destroyed me first year of my SS career but then he never won when I was there. Good times. Strava request done.

 

Thinking about it more I'm pretty sure I do check the levers when I'm moving the bike around before getting on it.

 

My wife rides that same bike. She loves it!