bestbike85

More and more fun out there every time.

Izzo and it’s not even close. The lowest end model for 3k is a ridiculous deal.

A pair of 27.5+ Cushcore inserts with valve stems using discount code HTparty20cush at checkout got them shipped to my door in 4 days for $126.65.

Okay so I skipped the bourbon because it was a Tuesday. Full disclosure here. I installed the Cushcore on new wheels with 36mm internal width, that weigh a total of 300 grams lighter than my previous wheelset. The Cushcore came in a total of 580 grams, so my net weight gain is only about 280 grams. Since I changed 2 variables here between the Cushcore and the wheels, I can’t attribute everything to the Cushcore, but man what a treat this setup is. I like to run low pressures as most of us do, especially in the front. However I have always fought the issue of tires burping in corners which makes me be a bit reserved after the first time I almost eat shit every ride. I started the ride at 12f and 16r and ended the ride at 11f and 14r. Amazing and nothing noticeably different on the road or path than my previous 14f 18r standard tubeless. The biggest things I noticed, I am absolutely able to rail corners with zero hesitation with this. It’s amazing. Per strava I beat my pr on PP by 50 seconds and honestly I was only giving it ~80%. The first time I broke 17minutes I went there to do PP at 100% and was thrilled. I’ll probably break into the low 15min if I give it 100% with this setup soon. TBD. Vibrations are muted to nothing. I tend to catch myself hanging on for dear life with a death grip and get terrible arm pump. Even when I did catch myself doing that this morning there was zero arm pump to speak of. On this a bit more, hard impacts are muted to not really exist anymore. It’s just absorbed and makes for a much better riding experience. Traction is increased dramatically. Obviously by default of running lower pressures and a wider rim I have more tire on the ground. This makes for a huge difference. I was able to claw my way up everything that I’m usually 50/50 on. On this a bit more, with all this new traction roots are never even second guessed about anymore. I will charge a 15-20degree to the side root no problem and trust that the Cushcore with the big tire and wide rim will grab and hold no matter what. Overall I have to give it a 10/10 and I’m not one for gimmicky things. All that said I haven’t even discussed the fact that it can save your wheels and help prevent flats. Some people may buy these for those benefits alone, but I’m more impressed with the benefits I listed above.

Just installed a set of 27.5+ Cushcore in 40 minutes including taking wheels and breaking tires down. Not sure if I watched the right videos to get it done or doing it with tires that have about 60 miles on them made it easier, but that was a piece of cake. Plan to run about 15-16 in rear and 11-12 in the front to start. If I don’t dip into the bourbon tonight may test them out first thing in the morning

Lockhart gravel on the purple peacock. Primo gravel out that way.

Awesome. Sounds like a killer bike. This place needs a continuous bike review thread.

I pulled the trigger last night on a set. Since I’m all in on the hardtail life I figured I could use the help for my knees. Saves $23 with the hardtail party coupon code, so it’s an easier pill to swallow. Should be here in a few days, hopefully the same time my 40mm wheels are.

Barry, I know it’s early in your experimentation here, but what kind of pressures do you think you’ll be running? I find it to be a very tricky game on my journeyman (running 700x43s now, may go to 700x50s one day). I’m not big on changing pressures through a ride, so I tried to find something that balances everything from road to gravel to single track and found 2 sets of pressure. I have my “mostly road” pressures and my “fuck it” pressures, and on these skinnier tires, I know when I’m 1-2psi off of them.

I’m not even mad, that’s amazing.

Good as always. Nice bern additions recently. Also free admission right now.

MBCGA

I rode that today and said out loud “where the fuck is the log??”

Just curious, but if this is the backup bike what the shit is the every day rider?

I am fully committed to running 27.5 x 2.6-2.8. It’s just my kind of setup. I’ve tried and failed going to 29ers. I’m not really good at this sport, so I need all the help I can get and I think the smaller wheels with 2.6-2.8s provides the best ride for what I like. I would run as big as 3.0s if I had adequate tire clearance.

I haven’t owned a Carbon hardtail until now either, so I’ll follow up on this in the coming weeks. I landed on this bike due to its spec and the geometry numbers, which were almost identical to my old Scott scale 27.5+ hardtail. I looked back and enjoyed my time on that bike more than any other bike, so I was targeting something similar and this bike being carbon actually happened to be a by product of all the other things I was looking for, oddly enough.

You tell me what kind of ride you want to do, and I will show up....on some type of hardtail because that’s all I have as of right now. And I’m happy about it.

2nd new bike day in a month and it feels great. I sold the big Norco 29er enduro sled because honestly it was way too much bike for what I like doing and I’ve decided I hate 29ers. That’s the 2nd time I’ve tried to force the 29er issue, and I’ll never do it again. Took all the funds and sunk it into the purple Salsa Fargo and was shopping for a do it all 27.5 hardtail. Landed on a Diamondback Sync’r Carbon. Honestly, at full price it was a great build, but when it went 30% off it was a no brainer. For the record number 2 on my list was the Nukeproof Scout 275.

Nice! Going to be a fun steed.

These are sold.

Just want to say this is huge and cheers to you for paying this forward, so whoever this ends up with I hope really does it justice and it doesn’t end up on Craigslist.

I’ll take the gravelkings. Mine are wearing down at nearly 2000 miles and I love them.

Sync’r Carbon $2,100 Release 5C $3,500 Release 4C $2,800 and on and on. Fun bikes with good geo and great specs. Killer deals over there right now with free shipping.

Price drop here. Trying to move so I don’t have to pack it.

Reduced price a bit. Trying to let a few things go before we move out of Texas.