Sports MTB Madness!

[DanJ]

That's a 20 minute drive from my house. I've ridden that 4 times this year already, really the closest single track to me.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Is it awesome?

 

[DanJ]

Yea, it's supposed to be the most technical single track in this area. I rode it last year and about 4 times this year and it's still very challenging.

 

[DanJ]

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

That looks fun. My friend Brian said it was pretty awesome to ride. Better then palos just because you don't get in trouble.

My friend Robbie out in CO sent me this. It's his local single track.

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Yesterday was a damn good day to ride. I did about 14 miles on the trail. Seemed like there were a lot of people out there also.

 

[SirMarco]

Went to Rockford to race yesterday. So much better then the shit they are trying to pass as a track in Elgin. You all want to do some 4x racing, Elgin will be doing it once a month I guess. That's all it's good for now. Normal BMX can't happen unless they get that pile back in shape.

 

[DanJ]

Did a quick run on pavement yesterday. Hitting up single track early tomorrow.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I rode 6 miles of single track in the crystal lake trails Friday.

I went to the Des plaines river trails today (my old single track). Was a fun time.

I love this bike. Decently light (28lbs), handles well and it even feels good jumping.

 

[DanJ]

Jumping a suspension bike still feels odd to me. I need to play with the tuning of the fork a bit i think.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I do it with the fork locked out and the gate like half way so it gives but then locks again when it unloads.

I finally got a shock pump so I played around with settings a bit yesterday. Set + to 140 and - to 130. It was a bit bouncy when pedaling hard still but it cycled well. I need to read a bit more on getting rid of some pedal bob

 

[DanJ]

Really? Your fork must be different. I think I'm running like 120/110 and i weigh 200ish and am not bottoming it out.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Yea for sure then

The leg suggested 145psi for a 185 lb rider. I might take it up to 150.

I like the sag but don't like the bobbing. There's gotta be a way to dial it back. Maybe less negative. I've forgotten a lot of my training. I should thumb through my tech book again.

 

[DanJ]

What's your rebound set like? Mine is "full rabbit". Fork leg suggests 130-145, but from all the forums i have read they say that Rockshox recommendations are super high.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I believe somewhere in the middle. Not 100% though

 

[DanJ]

Finally got some 3/16" fuel line around my front brake hose. No more fork scuffs for me, or having to bend down mid ride to push my brake hose away from my tire. Heading out to SWK shortly.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

You jerk. I wanna go there so bad

 

[DanJ]

It was perfect out there today, besides me sweating like a pig.

Met up with some random guy and rode with him for a bit. Thought i was going to puke, guy was too fast.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I feel like puking almost after every big climb

I need to train for it somehow....like sprints or something

 

[DanJ]

This guy was launching off tree roots like they were a hip and all sorts of crazy shit. I immediately came home and put my knobby tire back on the front. I can't carve turns at all.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Haha yea it's not a good feeling when the front washes out in a turn. I need to lower my stem cause I feel to high up in turns and it feels sketchy at times

 

[DanJ]

Rode SWK again yesterday. Was out there 5 minutes on an easy part of the trail and came to a section of tree roots. Usually i just go at my normal pace and let the suspension suck it up, but yesterday i decide to push it. Launched a bit over one root and at the same time i landed and compressed the fork, my front tire hit the front side of a good sized root and sent me over the bars. Never went OTB on this bike, and it is not nearly as easy to eject as it is on a BMX bike. Ended up with a skinned shoulder and forearm and slightly scraped helmet, pretty scary regardless. Would like to go again Saturday pending weather.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Roots and rocks are the devil. I fell pretty retarded like the last time I rode the CL trails. I was climbing one of the bigger climbs and my front tire bounced off a big root and popped up sending me backwards and I didn't get my foot clipped out fast enough and fell. All I did was


I rode my rode bike yesterday. Did sprints till I couldn't do them anymore...ended up riding 13 miles.

 

[DanJ]

I have tried multiple times to ride my SPD pedals at SWK and i just can't. It's way too tight and rocky. Some of the more dirt based trails i can get away with it, but the climbs with loose rocks i end up eating shit without fail when the tire loses traction.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I feel like a total newb riding off road with clipless pedals. I always panic and pull up....which I never do on the road bikes. I'm going to keep at it though. If my friend Tommy T can dirt jump and ride the skate park clipped in I have to be able to ride single track clipped in.