ATXZJ

I can provide

Once you factor in the construction-traffic-rape between austin and dallas, fuel and food, its easily a 10hr drive. My last visit was may of last year so it (might) be better.  Fall would be killer. Dont forget about outerbike 

https://www.outerbike.com/bentonville-2018/

The drive up 49 is nice though. 

On 9/11/2018 at 3:41 PM, mack_turtle said:

I rarely leave Austin to ride. I'd like to go someplace remote and beautiful sometime this fall/winter for a camp/ride trip. Must be less than a full day drive away so I can squeeze it into a three/four- day weekend.

 

Big Bend is the first thing that comes to mind but I don't know much about it. What have you already done and what's on your bucket list?

So where you going?

1 minute ago, throet said:

So is Amarillo where all of these places are, or is there also food and lodging in the town of Canyon? Tempted to go right now given the state of things around here.  

I got a pretty good deal at the best western in canyon. food is meh but we didnt look too hard.

amarillo is super close though if you want good food 

Weather was low 40s in AM and high 60s in mid oct of 2015. All in all its a cool place to ride and visit. Cadillac ranch, Big texan steakhouse & brewery and theres a  fairly decent downtown in amarillo. They have torchys, and rudys so its not all bad. If you go to canyon, stop at palace coffee. Some of the best java ive had.

Comanche was the closest to a SW/New Mexico trail id ridden in texas. IMHO, youre doing yourself a disservice if you dont set aside 3+ full days just for riding in bentonville. 

Rock garden

Wife and I have done day drives to big bend, Bentonville and Palo duro. For a 3 day, I'd do Palo duro. Not worth the drive to Bentonville for just one day. Big bend is cool if you're looking to get off the grid but I'd plan a couple days there too. Riding wise, Palo is just as, if not more serene than BB and the trails are WAY more fun. If you could push to 4 day, you can enjoy the flow trails and the newer more aggressive stuff like rock garden and comanche. 

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/302693/rock-garden-trail

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7004369/comanche-trail-mid

Plenty of camping and lodging in area. It was mid October when we were there and weather was perfect.

HTH- Marcus

See, the reason the repair has held up is because you didnt paint it...........

Sorry, had to😁

Where you looking at?

27 minutes ago, Seths Pool said:

 I ma seriously contemplating moving to the mountains

Best decision you'll ever make.

Sold yo!

Selling my takeoff rear DT Swiss 240s hub. Removed from a factory built enve wheelset with approximately 12 rides on it. Includes new, unused XD driver/ratchet. 142x12 32 hole 6 bolt 

$165.00 obo

SOLD

3 hours ago, TheSarge said:

So the ads should show frail old men on ebikes dragging their oxygen tanks behind them instead of enticing younger?  At this rate we'll have hipsters wearing depends and riding ebikes at City Park.

 

 

Or you could continue to have lazy dipsh*ts riding e-bikes on overcrowded trails here in flatlandia.

Nobody said it had to look like an ED commercial either 🙂

1 hour ago, HoneyBadger said:

 The E-Bike rider very excitedly told me how he finished 1/4 Notch for the 1st time and he was so proud of himself. It took everything I had to not call him out on this B.S he was spewing. I politely smiled and went on my way, but in my head, I was thinking....no you didn't finish 1/4 notch, your bike did, you shouldn't be bragging about this, I feel embarrassed for you, and your lucky godirt isn't here.

I can understand why some people need to ride an E-Bike, medical reasons etc but both of these guys were young, in shape, and had no visible reason to be riding an E-Bike. 

 

^ this

I call BS on the proponents justifying these bikes as something the will give access to people with disabilities or advancing age. Every f@cking industry marketing video or ad has these e-bikes ridden by pro riders or young, athletic people. Not a older or injured person to be seen. Marketing knows that associating e-bikes with people who are perceived as weak or incapable makes them "uncool" and that is the kiss of death. Its a shame too because thats who could really benefit from them. 

Who their right mind is going to spend $5-6k on an "uncool" bike? Nobody, no matter how lazy they are.  

Rant/off

No offense but seriously, f@ck mojo

I would imagine carbon bars have come a long way in over a decade. 

2016 RockShock Monarch Plus RC3 Debonair
AM RS MNRP RC3
200x51/7.875X2.0DB MM B3
New on 06/2017
Used for less than a year and in like new condition. 

Extra unopened 50 hour service kit included

$250.00 obo

2015 MRP STAGE 27.5” 
130-150mm set at 140mm
60 hours
A few chips back of crown, rubbed paint by brake line mount
8” of tube
Complete Factory rebuild, 0 hours ridden after.

$325.00 obo

2016 Manitou Mattoc 2 PRO Fork 27.5"
160mm 1.5" Tapered HexLock SL IVA HBO M. Red
Less than half a season, maybe… 140 hours.
A few paint chips, and break line rubs
Debadged except a big sexy M. 
8.25” of tube

$350.00 obo

suspension.txt

My "american made" carbon wheels carried a 1k-1.5k premium over name brand wheels made overseas for no real advantages other than getting a fancy sticker. I give brands like santa cruz credit for making it work overseas by actually buying the factory (ies) and paying their employees a decent wage. They had to sell the company to do so but hey.....

😁

1 hour ago, HoneyBadger said:

Seth, I think Chromag is the problem, not all carbon bars. Buy Renthal Carbon Fatbar, you'll be happy.

Wife's bikes have had chromag cutlass bars for a couple years and they are a bit flexy for sure. However, she weighs nothing and is a XC/Trail rider at best so fingers crossed. Another bike has performance house brand carbon bars (i think same company that does ritchey) and last pair are enve DH. Also had some promax/box bars on my X bike that took some abuse and REALLY softened up the ride. No issues (yet).

At this point, I dont torque them to spec as the brake levers and shifter actually feel like they are over-tightening the bars. Combine that with a clamp that doesn't apply equal force across the circumference of the bar and its trouble for sure. Carbon paste and tighten till it feels like just enough. Stem clamp bolts are however torqued to spec. You would have almost NONE of these issues with a good aluminum bar like the ones offered from thomson etc.

2nd the renthal comment but wish theyd dial down the gold accents.

20 minutes ago, Anita Handle said:

Still, $3800? dang. 

Still, I think some of these frame prices are frothy. 

Yes, its getting out of hand for sure. Have you seen the prices on the new mondrakers? Good gawd. If I cant buy a frame for a minimum 25%+ or a complete bike for 40% off MSRP, im moving on.

With brands like commencal offering frame-only options now, its gonna be hard to beat the consumer direct model.

From what I recall, Devinci just redesigned their frames to offer 100% carbon VS the 60/40 with aluminum rear triangle found on previous models. Another thing to consider is bigger travel/enduro bikes are more popular and the shocks they feature are now piggyback or more advanced also driving the price up.

Agree about the weekend warrior comment but not for same reason. WW are probably best suited IMHO for carbon as they are not hucking to flat and really pushing the bars beyond their limits. Certainly not around here. I know i can also land stupid heavy at times and would not want to do any DH or aggressive enduro trails with anything but AL.

Like everything else carbon, the insta-fail aspect is what always worries me.

Selling my lightly used kona honzo frame size large. Frame was purchased new last year and has around a dozen or so rides on it with only very minor scuffs etc. Selling with shimano BB, 148 boost maxle and 31.6 seatpost shim only. Can also send more pics if needed and will include a barely used 34.9/125mm lev integra dropper for extra. 

Very hard to find frame in this size, and in this condition.

Thanks