Addiction 2022.3
#2351
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Yep - a couple of old guys on lightweight hardtails. During our ride, my friend and I were talking about a mutual good friend who recently got a new 120mm FS bike. We agreed that HTs were a better choice for us. We don't need to ride faster on rough terrain, or increase the magnitude of the rough terrain we are able to ride. Both of those things increase the damage risk when you make a mistake, and making it home in one piece is a very high priority. We are both good riders with decent tech skills, but being the fastest idiots on the hill is no longer a concern (I do chase climbing PRs, sometimes). Basically, if it's too steep/rocky/challenging to ride on a HT, I probably shouldn't be riding it.
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#2352
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Vice Grip Garage just finished a trip from Tennesse to Winslow, Az. using as much of the old Route 66 as possible in a pick up truck. The number of abandoned towns and buildings was amazing. Some of the businesses hung on longer than others.
#2353
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Yep - a couple of old guys on lightweight hardtails. During our ride, my friend and I were talking about a mutual good friend who recently got a new 120mm FS bike. We agreed that HTs were a better choice for us. We don't need to ride faster on rough terrain, or increase the magnitude of the rough terrain we are able to ride. Both of those things increase the damage risk when you make a mistake, and making it home in one piece is a very high priority. We are both good riders with decent tech skills, but being the fastest idiots on the hill is no longer a concern (I do chase climbing PRs, sometimes). Basically, if it's too steep/rocky/challenging to ride on a HT, I probably shouldn't be riding it.
I also liked McGill trail on Mount Pinos but it's been "discovered" because you can shuttle most of it. Don't like climbing the trail when idiots are shuttling it.
Old bike @9000 feet:
New bike @ 1200 feet.
#2354
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Oh, yeah.."old guys" lol.
#2355
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Pour gasoline down the hole and light it. What's the worst that could happen?
I hear the underground fire in Centralia PA is still burning, BTW. 60 years, all from a fire in a landfill.
I hear the underground fire in Centralia PA is still burning, BTW. 60 years, all from a fire in a landfill.
#2356
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#2357
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I'm not claiming we're the oldest guys around, but 50+ is older than a large majority of the folks I come across on the dirt.
That KHS looks pretty squishy. If it works for you, that's what matters most. I've always had a preference for hardtails, and have fabricated a justification for it
That KHS looks pretty squishy. If it works for you, that's what matters most. I've always had a preference for hardtails, and have fabricated a justification for it
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#2358
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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I remember traveling I-80 back in 1988, going through Iowa, and stopping in a small town. Even then it had obviously seen better days, with only one of what had obviously been several storefronts still open, and one that was nothing but an empty lot, but with front with the frames of the big windows intact. Now? Probably Iowa and the rest of the rural midwest dotted with ghost towns and near-ghost towns.
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#2359
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#2360
Silver Comet Fred
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One of my favorite songs when I was a wee lad was Peter, Paul, and Mary's version of "The Ballad of Spring Hill".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebJFulmETMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebJFulmETMA
#2361
cowboy, steel horse, etc
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#2362
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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#2363
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I'm not claiming we're the oldest guys around, but 50+ is older than a large majority of the folks I come across on the dirt.
That KHS looks pretty squishy. If it works for you, that's what matters most. I've always had a preference for hardtails, and have fabricated a justification for it
That KHS looks pretty squishy. If it works for you, that's what matters most. I've always had a preference for hardtails, and have fabricated a justification for it
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#2364
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It's squishy for sure but when you hit a square edged hole or cross a 12 inch rut it just soaks it up. It's really good on loose rocks, too. The 2.8 tires help there. The downside is the weight when climbing. And pedal strikes. With 150mm of rear travel there will be pedal strikes. Of course, it has lockouts on both ends. I really like it, but I think about something else these days.
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"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
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#2365
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Haven’t learned all the details, but a guy I used to volunteer with for our local MS 150 ride just died. We volunteered together in one capacity or another for more than a decade. He was in charge of the route. Later in our collaboration I put out road signs starting at 6 am the day before the event.
From what I have learned so far, he had recently retired from an engineering firm. I am now contemplating my own retirement plans even more.
From what I have learned so far, he had recently retired from an engineering firm. I am now contemplating my own retirement plans even more.
#2366
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A Trek Supercaliber is my dream bike, but was out of my $ reach. It's a pure XC machine, but includes a 70mm of rear travel. I would consider it more of a "softtail", rather than FS That said, I'm extremely happy with my Procaliber. I almost pulled the trigger on a new BMC hardtail, but was looking at a long path of upgrades to get it to the spec I really want. Buying my Procal on the used market got me all the upgrades, and more. At 21 lbs, it sure likes going uphill.
My first full suspension bike was a soft tail, I think it was 80mm? I had a custom shock made for it and it worked pretty well. Took the edge off, as we say.
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#2367
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When I was planning to ride it in 2013 a guy who had ridden it told me to follow the median stripes, which you can still see, albeit they are faint. A good light is a must. A windbreaker is also helpful as the tunnels are cool. Both times I rode through it was warm and humid. They were refreshing. The one thing I refused to do was look up at the ceilings for fear of seeing bats.
#2368
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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A good day.
Wordle 408 3/6
⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 408 3/6
⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
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#2369
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21 pounds! My Gunnar road bike is a bit more than that! I wanted an Ibis Ripmo but the KHS was so much cheaper and it actually fits me, which is hard to do.
My first full suspension bike was a soft tail, I think it was 80mm? I had a custom shock made for it and it worked pretty well. Took the edge off, as we say.
My first full suspension bike was a soft tail, I think it was 80mm? I had a custom shock made for it and it worked pretty well. Took the edge off, as we say.
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#2370
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21 pounds! My Gunnar road bike is a bit more than that! I wanted an Ibis Ripmo but the KHS was so much cheaper and it actually fits me, which is hard to do.
My first full suspension bike was a soft tail, I think it was 80mm? I had a custom shock made for it and it worked pretty well. Took the edge off, as we say.
My first full suspension bike was a soft tail, I think it was 80mm? I had a custom shock made for it and it worked pretty well. Took the edge off, as we say.
I prefer lightweight - so back in the day went with this Litespeed with an AMP rear ... added 'long travel' kit (80 mm ?) to the RS Judy
I also have a Risse shock for this bike - but used the stock shock which has a titanium spring
this bike was a blast to ride - weighed somewhere around 22 lbs with 1.9 tires
this bike has been sitting for a while
#2371
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When I was planning to ride it in
2013 a guy who had ridden it told me to follow the median stripes, which you can still see, albeit they are faint. A good light is a must. A windbreaker is also helpful as the tunnels are cool. Both times I rode through it was warm and humid. They were refreshing. The one thing I refused to do was look up at the ceilings for fear of seeing bats.
2013 a guy who had ridden it told me to follow the median stripes, which you can still see, albeit they are faint. A good light is a must. A windbreaker is also helpful as the tunnels are cool. Both times I rode through it was warm and humid. They were refreshing. The one thing I refused to do was look up at the ceilings for fear of seeing bats.
a few of my old time dirt bike friends rode there - but I never did
at one time we rode near (and at times on) the railroad tracks in Franklin PA - traveled over some trestles and through a couple of tunnels (on the tracks)
the long tunnels were a challenge - tough to just maintain your balance
the train tracks in that area were transformed into rails-to-trails ... we have ridden some of that area with our bicycles but have not ridden through the long tunnel on the Allegheny River trail ... we did ride through the shorter tunnel on the nearby Sandy Lake trail (pictured above)
.
Last edited by t2p; 08-01-22 at 05:03 PM.
#2372
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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have just one full suspension bike - Litespeed Obed FS
I prefer lightweight - so back in the day went with this Litespeed with an AMP rear ... added 'long travel' kit (80 mm ?) to the RS Judy
I also have a Risse shock for this bike - but used the stock shock which has a titanium spring
this bike was a blast to ride - weighed somewhere around 22 lbs with 1.9 tires
this bike has been sitting for a while
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"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#2373
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I do sometimes wonder about all the old Ti MTBs. I mean, it was pretty straightforward to update my 27 year old Ultimate into a modern road bike, because wheels, brakes, derailleurs etc. all still fit and all. But MTBs have changed a lot in that time, from 26" wheels to 29", and a lot of other changes. A 27 year old road frame with modern components is a modern road bike, but I don't imagine the same is true of a 27 year old MTB frame.
the older stuff is now mostly obsolete and/or better suited to more casual riding
but many small riders - including me - prefer the smaller 26" wheels
and some others do also - including one of my kids that is now 6' ... he prefers the smaller 26" tires ... he has a bmx background
that Litespeed is a 14.5 - can't imagine it with 29" tires ... ? ...
#2374
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About the two people in the tunnel: I had my riding glasses on, and they were shining lights towards me. I only saw two people. In camp that night I looked at the day’s photos as I was sitting around the fire. An intense chill came over me when I realized there had been three people. What made it more scary was that I was the only one in the fairly large campground.
#2375
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agree - off road bikes have changed a ton
the older stuff is now mostly obsolete and/or better suited to more casual riding
but many small riders - including me - prefer the smaller 26" wheels
and some others do also - including one of my kids that is now 6' ... he prefers the smaller 26" tires ... he has a bmx background
that Litespeed is a 14.5 - can't imagine it with 29" tires ... ? ...
the older stuff is now mostly obsolete and/or better suited to more casual riding
but many small riders - including me - prefer the smaller 26" wheels
and some others do also - including one of my kids that is now 6' ... he prefers the smaller 26" tires ... he has a bmx background
that Litespeed is a 14.5 - can't imagine it with 29" tires ... ? ...
I didn't limit myself to casual/easy riding. I can ride almost all the same stuff on this 26" singlespeed that I do with my much-newer 29" HT.
Small female MTB pros don't seem to be hindered by 29" tires.
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Last edited by Eric F; 08-01-22 at 05:11 PM.