olddbrider

The problem with all the "studies" I've seen linked in this thread is that they are inherently flawed. The people doing them obviously know bikes and are good riders, but their "research" is biased in so many ways that it makes it impossible to draw meaningful conclusions. Order effect is a big one. In the video referenced in the bikejames.com article a few posts up, flats won by 8 seconds. Well, how do we know the rider wouldn't have been 8 seconds faster (or more) on the second run clipped in? We don't, because you can't account for this bias with one rider doing two runs. That's just one example of flaws in these studies. They could do a lot of things to try and eliminate biases and make these more "scientific" (to use their terms), but in the end it's still not going to settle the argument. To really test this theory, you'd need lots of participants in a very controlled environment and you'd need to vary (and randomize) the order in which the different conditions (flats vs. clipless) were measured. It's probably not feasible or practical to set up this type of experiment, especially when it really boils down to personal preference.

The real question is... Spandex vs baggies?

SOLD

PM forthcoming...

I've got a kiddo heading off to college in the Fall and this seems like it might be a good option. Let me check with the procurement division...

Sold! Good to meet you Caffeend.

Timely posting from the Singletrack Sampler.

I work near the Domain, so yeah, I'm north. I've got them with me today and my schedule is pretty flexible so just PM me if you want to try to meet up.

How dare you speak about Phil that way! My favorite part is a few seconds in when he says "As the name implies, the English bunny hop is the wrong way to bunny hop." He then goes on to say that both have their place in mountain biking...

One of those is called an English Bunny Hop and the other is called an American Bunny Hop. I can't remember which is which, but I'm going to assume the J-hop is the American because it's better and, well, 'MERCA!!!!!

I switched to flat pedals a while back and it's been long enough that I'm convinced I'll never go back to clipless. These shoes are in great shape and have somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 rides on them. Very little wear and tear on the sole, lugs, and uppers. The BOA system combined with the velcro strap make for a very secure, adjustable fit and it also makes it very quick and easy to get in and out of these shoes. Very stiff sole and good traction from the lugs when walking. Here's a link to the same shoe being sold online: https://www.als.com/Product.aspx?pf_id=scott-shoe_mtb_comp_boa&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplp482093&sc_intid=482093&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjszhBRDgARIsAH8KgvdR8z0iNwTPvTn4zrVqeEhjCvcZw_XFLRHG-wAVzfR0XYgay4ThBwMaAs-sEALw_wcB Cleats not included (unless you also buy the XT pedals I'm selling in another post.) Asking $70. PM me if you are interested. We can do PMs on the new forum, right?

Bought these when I bought my new bike back in August of 2017, but after about 10 rides I switched to platforms. I don't have any plans to go back to clipless, so it's time to pass these along to someone else. As stated, these only have about 10 rides on them and they are basically like new. The model # is M8020. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/shimano-deore-xt-m8020-spd-trail-pedals-50-4047 Cleats are included. I'd like to get $70 for them. (I'll also be posting my lightly-used Scott MTB Comp Boa shoes in a separate post if you are in the market for shoes and pedals.)

Nice! Thanks for all the hard work from everyone involved.

I think that's going to be next Neveruary.

Did I miss Blooper Reel Edit #1?

Stop yelling at me!

I mean, I know most folks on here wouldn't wear one of these, but is it worse for a kid to wear this or no helmet at all?

I've had the e13 post for just under a year. I bought it because of the price and the simplicity of the internals. The first post I got developed a lot of play in the top cap and no matter what I did it would not stay snug. To their credit, e13 was very responsive and helpful and eventually replaced the post free of charge. The replacement post has been great. The lever that comes with the post is solid and feels good. I'm still getting used to riding with a dropper, but 99% of the time it's either all the way up or all the way down, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on the infinite adjustability thing. It does have 2 intermediate stops, so every once in a while I'll put it one notch down from the top if I want to get decent leg extension without being if full-on XC mode. Because of the spring-loaded internals, it is pretty jarring when you extend the post, but I have never had any issues with it.

I got tired of moving the BB threading tools, the various reamers and facers, etc. I can go to a shop or find someone here the one time in a decade (or less) I need those kinds of tools. Most of the stuff like that went to a guy who owns a shop in San Marcos. He was trying to put together a second complete set of tools. I'm glad they are somewhere they might get used occasionally rather than collecting dust in my garage...

Yeah, I've whittled it down over the years since I closed my shop. A lot of that stuff on the wall doesn't see much (if any) use any more, but I hang onto it on the off chance a friend or neighbor has an old bike that needs some wrenchin'.

Floodgates opening in 3, 2, 1... There was a thread on the old BikeMojo site (RIP) that had pages and pages of people's opinions on which tires work best around here. Unfortunately, that thread is probably buried under hundreds of pages of bot posts by now, so I guess we'll have to start over. Before talking about specific tires, there are a few things to consider. Do you want to stick with running tubes. Most folks (I would imagine) on this board run tubeless. I can't say that I've ever talked to anyone who regretted switching over to a tubeless setup, although there would be some initial costs if you were to switch. Assuming your rims are compatible with tubeless tires (I'm thinking they might be, given the age of your bike), you'd just need to purchase some Stan's rim tape (or some other alternative), some sealant (Stan's or Orange Seal are the ones that get mentioned around here the most), and make sure your new tires are made to be run tubeless. As for tire construction, you may hear the terms "wire bead" or "kevlar bead/folding". Wire bead tires are old tech and you won't find them on many bikes other than department store bikes or kids bikes. You want folding/kevlar bead tires. They are more expensive, but they are way lighter, easier to work with, and will give you the option of going tubeless. Tire size (width, not diameter) is another consideration. The trend in tires and bike frames has been to go bigger in terms of tire width. I'm guessing your bike came with something like a 2.1 width tire. You might be able to go wider - which would theoretically give you more contact with the ground and a more forgiving ride - but you'd have to look at your frame and fork to see how much room you have. My current bike came with Schwalbe Knobby Nic tires. They are OK, but not exceptional in my opinion. I just recently replaced my back tire with a Maxxis Minion DHR II and I've noticed a big improvement in terms of grip and cornering stability. The DHR is a rear-specific tire. They also make a DHF that's intended for - you guessed it - the front tire. I haven't personally tried the DHF yet, but as soon as my front tire needs to be replaced, that's what I'll be putting on my bike. A big factor in the decision about tires should account for the type of riding you do and the type of terrain you are riding. If I was more interested in speed and minimizing rolling resistance, I'd go with a narrower tire with a tread pattern with smaller knobs, spaced closer together. I'm not fast anymore (or maybe I never was) and I do more casual riding where I'm doing a few jumps and drops here and there, so I've migrated to a bigger tire with more grip. Performance Bikes is closing their shop on Anderson Lane, so you might be able to get a good deal on something there. I have ridden their house brand tires in the past and I thought they were decent tires for the money. I think I rode a Tsali on the back and a Pisgah on the front and that seemed like a decent combination without breaking the bank. Good luck!

Finally got around to unpacking my tools...

Rode Lakeway this afternoon and it was great. Of course, the rain started falling as we were on our way home...

Looks flexy.