Bicycle talk

Just bought a Manitou Mara for 50% off for my Trance X. From what I understand they are introducing a new model and needed to pump these out.

Everything I have read seems to be favorable. We shall see, my DVO is being repaired under warranty. I have a mod sickness .

 

We Want Pics

 

Found a great deal on a Polygon Strattos S8D road bike. Just trying to figure out geometry before pulling the trigger as I'm between sizes.

I'm just finding out that my hybrid bike from the same manufacturer has very different geometry than this road bike.

My logic is it would be easier to get the bike fitted for me if I get the smaller bike, and just extend reach later on (if needed) by moving the seat back and/or getting an aftermarket stem.

I'm wondering if anyone here owns this model, and can share their thoughts on it.

 

What psi are you guys running in your tires on the trails? I'm 5'11" 265lbs, and what psi is your fork n rear shock? I was told at a bike shop psi in shocks should be half of your weight???

 

This is a tough one. When my kids were growing I would always size their bikes up and adjust their seat and stem for them. Oldest daughter never had a problem with my logic and stuck with biking and still loves to bike with me. Youngest not so much. I can get her out at times but I've learned to not push her as hard. She's loves her mens med bike and she's 6'1". Where as I'm 6'1" and ride a mens xl. Now all bike manufactures have different sizing charts so that also plays a role.

Anyhow, to get back to giving you a really long answer to your questions; it really depends on your skill set. If you are a competent aggressive rider go with sizing up. If your more casual size down. Either way, seat position and stem can be adjusted for your arm length. The key is feeling like the bike is an extension of you.

 

Understanding sag can be difficult. It's not simple math and charts. And setting your suspension up correctly is key to getting the most out of your downhill speed. This article explains it better than I can paraphrase or explain in my own words.

https://blog.rodalink.com/sg/how-to-adjust-mountain-bike-suspension/


But psi in your shocks isn't a simple half your weight rule. Not even close.


edit: To answer your first question tire pressure is also something that there isn't a one and done rule. It's really subjective and personal. I run my front pretty firm, somewhere around 29 and my back slightly softer but still firm. I let my shocks work for me and keep the tires tight for wheel rolling speed. I also manipulate the bike a lot to help with rolling speed over obstacles. An example of this would be I'm approaching a large rock, I'll push the bar down to engage the front shock right before I'm on the rock. The rebound and a slight pull up on the bars keeps my momentum going and then I'll lift the rear of the bike up as it goes over the rock. I'm rarely just sitting on my bike. I'm constantly adjusting my weight with my body position to keep my wheel speed and flow where I want it.

however, when I ride sand I do lower the pressure in my tires.

 

Pending on the following:
tire size (27.5/29r), width (2.4, 2.5, 2.8, etc), composition - (exo, exo+, DD, DH) and compound (3C, 42a, maxx grip, maxx terra), wether or not you're tubeless or tubes, inserts or not, tire pressure will vary greatly.

At your weight, tubeless, no inserts, 29x2.5" exo+ minimum, I would say 29-31psi rear, 27-29psi front.

As far as your shock it depends on the leverage ratio of the suspension that will determine the percentage of sag needed. Sag travel is the percentage of shock stroke taken up by statically standing on your pedals. That's what that rubber o-ring is for on the piston shaft. Each frame would have a recommended sag percentage and not a specific number.

Get fully dressed with helmet, packs, pads and water bottles ( just as you would on the ride) and get on your bike. Balance yourself against a wall or something, cycle the suspension, and have someone slide the ring towards the shock body, grab front brake to step off without pushing into the suspension. Measure the length the ring moves on the shaft, and that's your sag travel.

Say you have 160mm travel bike and the frame recommends 25% sag. 160x 25% = 40mm of sag. Reference your sag travel number against that 40 mm if you're over, increase air psi, if you're lower, the release air psi. Remember since it's a percentage recommendation this formula will work for any weight rider.
Recommended sag usually falls between 18-30% but that's a big difference on how the bike can feel so it's important to get it close as you can to start. Just remember to write down your psi and your weight at the time of measuring. When you get the sag set, it's easy to check before any ride.

 

Wow, thanks for the Info!

 

Thorough.

 

Great info here. I would add rim width to the calculation. The wider the rim, the lower you can go. I am 185lbs in gear and run 18 (f) -19 (r) PSI on 31.5mm (front), 29.5mm (rear) Crank Bros rims.

 

I failed to mention that the stroke length of the shock (shock travel) is what you would be calculating the sag percentage against. (Not the frame's wheel travel) I used the frame travel example just for an easy math example. For a 160mm travel frame, the shock stroke would be close to 60-65mm then the 25% sag would be approx 15mm (not 40mm) that the ring would actually have to move on the shaft for proper sag. Sometimes it's just easier to do it rather than having to explain it! Lol

 

I am a big fan of DVO suspension but I am impressed just tooling around my yard. A few more weeks and I hopefully can get a real ride in.

 

New (to me) bike day!

2023 Marin El Roy

 

Let's see your whip, like that color

 

The MTB I'm showing on page 1 has come a long way, I'm fixing to go tubeless with it this weekend, got the muc off tubeless kit

 

What’s the trail near centerville Texas? Place with the jalapeños burger that’ll put hair on the back of your neck?

 

You talking about TX burger?, as for trails, Fort Boggy State Park???

 

The start of the trail head was called “Fat Chuck”


Ah yes. Rocky Hill Ranch it was.

 

game changer.

 

Be sure to clean everything very well before applying any tape or setting the bead. Tubeless setups should be able to hold reasonable air overnight without any sealant. (Not go completely flat). Once you add sealant, you should ride immediately to get the sealant to bed into the tire's small imperfections. (Don't just spin the tire on the bike) Also, check pressure and adjust before every ride too. A Dart tool is a good addition to your pack when running tubeless and a CO2 cartridge works great for helping set a bead on the trail. Good luck!

 

I have had different results with my wife's Roval rims. I couldn't get the tires to seat. I had the same tires on my Syncros wheels and swapped them and they are doing great and will hold air for months. These are Specialized Sawtooth mainly used for gravel. Best to use some tire sealant for better results with tubeless like @Toyotoholic says!

It seems to be the luck of the draw when you find a set that plays well together. I could run my Schwables without sealant on my road bike and they were great.

My gravel tires are now on my Campy wheels and they lose air daily even with sealant but they are damn nice wheels!

I have a FUMPA Mini compressor pump that I use instead of CO2 Cartridges. I can fill 2 tires quite easily and recharge with USB C.
https://www.fumpapumps.com/products/minifumpa-bike-pump-1

 

Getting the bikes all sorted out for camping and travelling!

 

Got a bit more done today, mounted the second upright bike carrier and checked to make sure the tent can open all the way!

Getting excited to take this out in a few weeks, with the kayaks on the tent racks.

 

Love this bike!

 

Nice whip

 

What's this carrier? looks stout and he internet is telling me I have to grab a carbon fiber bike by the wheels or it'll disintegrate.

 

Looks like a 1Up

https://1up-usa.com/product/2-heavy-duty

 

It's a 1up 2" heavy duty. Great rack.

https://1up-usa.com/product/2-heavy-duty

 

Lol beat me to it!

 

Figured I’d throw some recent builds up.

Specialized Status 140 Frame
Fox Float X
Rockshox Pike Select 29” 150
X01 Shifter
X01 Derailleur
XX1 Chain
Descendant 7K Eagle Cranks
KS Dropper w/ PNW Trigger
NS Bikes Stem
Ritchey Bars
DTSwiss 1900 27.5 Wheelset
Teravail Coronado 27.5x3.0 Tires


I have some 203mm Rotors and Shimano 6120’s waiting to go on.