Anyone have anything they'd like to rant about?

[Clownshoe]

I’m definitely conflicted about this. When I watch a race live in a town where I’m a tourist, or online, or a track walk video, I love seeing the new trails and seeing how they evolve from training to racing.

When these races are in my town, I weep for the trail that’s picked, and I make a mental note to ride it before the race because I’ll probably not ride it again for the rest of the year.

[t.odd]

I’m definitely conflicted about this. When I watch a race live in a town where I’m a tourist, or online, or a track walk video, I love seeing the new trails and seeing how they evolve from training to racing.

When these races are in my town, I weep for the trail that’s picked, and I make a mental note to ride it before the race because I’ll probably not ride it again for the rest of the year.

hahahaha, ditto! <sigh>

but man, if we could get approved quicker for this approach....it becomes net gain over net loss, which is always something we considered a lot.

[toast2266]

Yeah, it's gotta be tough in a place like Whistler. It seems like there are some venues that are more "up and coming" riding locations where it's more feasible to gain approval and agree to build fresh trail to attract the race organizers to the location.

Not at the EWS level, but I've done races where they've roughed in a new trail, run a race down it, then gone back and fixed it up a bit before they opened it to the public. Worked out pretty well; you can build a decent trail with minimal effort by just running a few hundred racers down it.

Agreed though that EWS kinda jumped the shark. It grew beyond the inherent limitations of the format.

[snowday]

Happens but the dog was pissed how I ruined his run


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[mtnjam]

Happens but the dog was pissed how I ruined his run


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

A chain tool, a quick link and some time would have saved the day.

[Roxtar]

Yeah, it's gotta be tough in a place like Whistler. It seems like there are some venues that are more "up and coming" riding locations where it's more feasible to gain approval and agree to build fresh trail to attract the race organizers to the location.

Not at the EWS level, but I've done races where they've roughed in a new trail, run a race down it, then gone back and fixed it up a bit before they opened it to the public. Worked out pretty well; you can build a decent trail with minimal effort by just running a few hundred racers down it.

Agreed though that EWS kinda jumped the shark. It grew beyond the inherent limitations of the format.

Agree.
A lot of times tossing a bunch of racers at a trail is a great way to bed it in. Hell, some of the best trails I've ridden were "built" by motos.

[VTskibum]

Warm Nov day in the 60s, went for a lunch pedal after thinking nah I don't need knee pads for a lunch ride.... queue foreshadowing.

Front tire washed out in leaves around a corner hit the deck and now icing knee. NBD in grand scheme, but I'm annoyed at myself.

[radam]

Warm Nov day in the 60s, went for a lunch pedal after thinking nah I don't need knee pads for a lunch ride.... queue foreshadowing.

Front tire washed out in leaves around a corner hit the deck and now icing knee. NBD in grand scheme, but I'm annoyed at myself.

As soon as one thinks about whether they should wear knee pads (or knee warmers, in the road realm) but then chooses not to, they are almost certainly doomed.

[XXX-er]

Would a knight of the round table not bother with his armor cuz he was just going out for a pack of smokes ?

I wear the knee sleeves/ elbow pads/ helmet always

some people don't wear their padz if its too hot and then they just don't crash

[toast2266]

some people don't wear their padz if its too hot and then they just don't crash

Raises hand.

60's is prime knee pad weather though. Fall in general is a good time for knee pads; cooler temps and greasy trails.

[skaredshtles]

Some people don't wear pads ever.

[Andeh]

If the dirt where I live just gave bruises, I'd be inclined to skip them a lot more often. Instead, even minor falls mean deep scrapes that take months to heal. So gloves and knee pads all the time for me.

[jackstraw]

Some people don't wear pads ever.

My friend who is an OG trail builder of the most tech stuff around never wore knee pads. It blew my mind. Then two yrs ago he cracked his patella. He wears them now! [emoji16]

I always wear them. I typically crash on green trails. It's so dumb, but i get too casual and next thing I know I'm on the ground thanking my knee pads. Skiing is way too important to risk a dumb bike injury.

[XXX-er]

well if its around the golf course on a dirt road or even half a dirt road, places you never go down, places where the old guys with socks n sandals are smoking a dart, knee padz probably arent necesary

but if its real single track with banked berms, rocks n trees to run into, sidehill, bridges and structures where you know you have fallen before, even if its easy IME wearing pads is a good idea

[toast2266]

I always wear them. I typically crash on green trails. It's so dumb, but i get too casual and next thing I know I'm on the ground thanking my knee pads. Skiing is way too important to risk a dumb bike injury.

I had one like that this summer. Spent the day rallying down tech and big jumps without issue. Ate shit on the flat cruisey bit where I wasn't paying attention. Hip is still sore from that one.

[VTskibum]

I was a never ever wear knee pads for past 20 years of riding up until the past 2-ish years when I started riding less XC rides. I've trail I crashed on today probably 100 times before, mostly blue singletrack and has been very dry lately. Just one of those things. Fortunately after icing it and some Motrin swelling has gone down this afternoon. When temps are sub 60 I'm almost always wearing the lightweight TLD knee sleeves or more protection depending on trail.

[Andeh]

OK, why is it that there is no other flat pedal shoe that offers the same grip, fit, and impact absorption as an Impact Pro? I mean, I don't really have any problems with my Impact Pros, other than they're heavy and take forever to dry, but I don't trust Adidas not to kill them off. So I'm always on the lookout for something that I could survive with. And stock up on a spare pair of Impact Pros once a year when they drop to 50% off.

Ride Concepts: rubber is crap in comparison. I wore a pair of Tallacs for at least a few hundred miles, and their rubber is an 8/10, tops, compared to S1.

Specialized: rubber is good, but they're low volume/narrow in the midfoot. Also the midsole doesn't have enough cushion. Plus the length sizing is weird (42.5 = 9.3, 43 = 9.6 for example).

Fox: just tried on a pair, and they're so painfully narrow/low volume in the midfoot that I'm returning without even riding.

Shimano: haven't tried in a few years, but read an interview a while ago with their product designer and his statements about how important the tread pattern was to grip, and not overdoing grip does not instill confidence. The old Freerider VXi was grippy as fuck, and had a completely smooth rubber sole.

[toast2266]

^^^ Ion scrub amp?

I'm not a flat pedal guy, but I like the clip version.

[HankScorpio]

Why are there MTBR threads on my Strava feed?

[Andeh]

^^^ Ion scrub amp?

I'm not a flat pedal guy, but I like the clip version.

I can't find any reviews of the current generation Scrubs, but previous ones didn't indicate that they were as grippy as Stealth. Plus the whole-size sizing only, Euro-tastic styling and colors, high price, and hard to find - I'm not rushing out to try them.

It does sound like the most recent Giro rubber in the Latch/Deed is on par with Stealth/SlipNot, but multiple reviews of the Latch indicate they run a bit narrower than Specialized 2FO/FR Pro, so that's a no go for me. I hope they update the Riddance Mid to have the same rubber, as that looks like a properly chonky, high volume shoe that might fit my flippers.

[Dantheman]

The fit on this fender kit (Specialized Plug and Play) leaves a lot to be desired. The rear radius isn't even close!



The front at least conforms to the tire properly, but only if you slide the stays through the brackets a full 3 inches past the fork. It looks ridiculous.



They were also a PITA to install. I'm considering ripping them off even though I probably can't return at this point.

[singlesline]

Aren’t the stays meant to be trimmed to fit?

Long time since I bought full fenders but I’m pretty sure the last set came with stays that were too long plus little caps to put over the ends after you cut them.

[Dantheman]

The installation instructions didn't mention it and they didn't come with caps. Doesn't change the rear issue regardless.

[Phall]

Yeah, I think that rear one can be slid through where it mounts to the frame and trimmed to still fit within the dropout, and trim down the front ones, or use them for impaling pedestrians.

[Tailwind]

Fenders are a pain to install but yeah the rear just needs to be trimmed and adjusted. The fit isn’t an issue with the fender itself.