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Welcome to 2007, its funny to hear the last 29er holdouts make the same statements we made back a decade ago when the "big debate" was taking pace. Signed, "no camel backs for me", -CJB

That Ritchey is exactly what my bike stable/life has been missing. Shakedown ride at Walnutz was flawless. This is the 1st 29" wheeled bike I've owned and I have to say, it's almost like cheating. Was especially nice to ditch the camelbak and just return to the lot to refill a water bottle. I bet it's been 20+ years of every mountain bike ride with an extra 10-13 pounds of crap on my back.

Thanks for noticing

I completely disagree. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I plan to either be stronger. Today’s challenge was it was so humid that I had to ride without glasses.

Took my geared HT out on the GB again today and realized I now have 3 different mountain bikes with 3 very different feels to them. God for shaking things up and keeping skills sharp.

Built me a wheelie machine.

By the time the humidity burns off a bit it's usually too hot to ride. If you wait until evening or night the humidity is creeping back up by that time. I used to ride road when it would approach the mid nineties but you can manage your effort better on a road bike than on a MTB. On an MTB you're forced to put hard efforts in like it or not. You're also exposed to more air flow on a road bike than an MTB.

I find that the biggest issue with riding packless is not tools, but carrying enough water. Assuming you have only one frame-mounted cage, and assuming you don’t want to wear a waist pack, you’re down to: Revelate feed bag on the bars (can weight them down), seatpost bottle mount (won’t work with a dropper), or bottles stuffed into your jersey pockets - I use two Camelbak Quick Stows as they are more comfortable.

Yeah, I have not mastered the leaving the pack behind but I need to get on that. Every ride has enough tools to fix any major issue but at WC you're never too far out (unlike the GB) so I just need to suck it up and start risking it a little more.

Interesting update from Billy Rice at the Brush Mtn Lodge - it's a FB video, so hopefully the link works. https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/permalink/869120576755374/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCFUFnak_4XSXOJcrYTp8kd1Mu0iQ1b5QpIZr5TA80Ja_TvA-qVi_-ZdtnCsHM8aSIUEMDlrYv-JuIqlrtO1YAm74M68L_LkJ645AJOoSKlDV_FFYsj5qpXHKwnZL0EQl8-EnqJtBBtq_AWuQgL53IuW2EJC8hC1U-p_JngBcQoKVykOmoQclw_cnqWg2AuxOlpTzXS4oSILQEG4hkOBAS1cCJOBAN5lhtKtKLTP0yonR11yXbcuIYj&__tn__=CH-R

We all do!

They're sexy on you though🤣

Beware of that thinking. Many have died before they picked up on their bodies signals. Dehydration and heat stroke will sneak up on you like Mittens🐍

That's the rub for me. Lived in too many places that aren't this hot during the summer and still a bit spoiled. Mountain biking is something i do for fun and riding when its absolutely miserable is not that. If its a matter of staying fit, i'll take the gym any day over 100* , 5mph switchback/ledge trails that i have ridden countless times when its not miserable. My problem is, when something becomes un-fun, i usually stop doing it. Happened with auto racing & off roading and i don't want that to happen with MTB. On the travel tip: We're gonna do a MT Lemmon run in a couple of weeks and will have my BIL shuttle us to the top like bitches🤣 On the heat tip: When i used to head out for early morning summer rides id wear a pair of lightweight running shorts and use triathlon briefs with chamois under it. Not the sexiest thing on earth but god damn, so much lighter & cooler than baggies and no spandex required. https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/mubodo-men-s-cycling-under-shorts-bike-briefs-sports-blue-mountain-bike-mtb-road-bike-cycling-clothing-apparel-bike-wear-micro-elastic_p7263190.html

I've got this pair of Shimano M089 shoes... Really excellent condition... Size 44EU/9.5-10US... $35.

I will be riding as well. This is no different than altitude training, getting your body in sync with the environment.

Chumba Sendero looks perfect! https://www.chumbausa.com/sendero-steel-mountain-bike-29er-27plus

Nice that they come with the tapered head tube now. Mine is 1 1/8" all the way which really limits the fork choices these days.

I'm starting to think this might be the best approach for me as well, with the exception of any trips that I can manage to take to ride in a more hospitable summer climate. Riding in Cali last week was simply amazing and I've had little desire to ride since returning. I wish I could get my wife to agree to just stay there in the summers, which my job would allow me to do. Like others on this thread, I have spent past summers trying to figure out what time of day is best to ride around here. Summer humidity here never goes away. It may feel less humid when you're baking in 98 degree temps, but the dew point late-afternoon / evening is usually only a couple of degrees lower than what it is early mornings. Our dew point here generally ranges from mid-sixties to low-seventies in the summer, which makes it very uncomfortable - period. Throw in temps in the high-nineties and it's downright oppressive. I used to believe that riding between 7-9 in the evening was best but have now concluded that the best time for me to ride is between 9-11 in the morning. Temps are still reasonable and just enough of the morning dew has burned off to keep my goggles from remaining in a constant fog.

Its interesting that you say this. Because just last week I was digging through my own Strava archives and ran across one from last summer. In my notes I had stated that the outside temps of 91* almost felt cool considering the (then) recent temps of 98*. I opined about how much different 6-7* made in my perceptions. Come to find out....there was some science involved in my perceptions. -CJB

Tip - you should always ride. My record is the Greenbelt at 110 (the temperature, not some index.) On the other end of the spectrum it is probably around -20F back in Chicago. It is all about dressing appropriately, hydrating and riding to the temps. At 110 I took it slow. I do believe that there are smarter people than me on this, but I'd rather die of heatstroke from riding than from heart disease from not riding.

Just be careful. I rode right by this guy Wed night, didn't notice until I was right beside. It startled me a bit.