throet

Nah I don't have any regrets. I would have still opted for the Remedy over the Rail. This is the bike I really wanted, but nobody was willing to deal on them. 2019 Mondraker Foxy XR 27.5 Bike

$4K brand-new. List was $5K.

Good input. Got antsy and just pulled the trigger on this. Closeout deal at BSS made it even better. https://m.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Trek/Remedy-9-8-27-5,19227

As I continue my research, one bike that is sort of sticking out as a wild card for me is the Transition Scout. While not in the enduro/all-mountain class that other bikes being discussed are in, it appears to be much burlier than it's 130mm travel might otherwise imply. And with the slack HTA and 150mm fork, I'm pretty sure it could handle whatever Spider / Cat could throw at it. The short chainstay provides the added bonus of playfulness, easier to manual, etc, and the price point is spot on. The other bike I've added to my list to check out is the Pivot Mach 5.5. Part of my criteria, which probably seems silly to most folks, is that the bike has to have straight lines and an open front triangle. I just think aesthetically those characteristics give bikes a sportier, cleaner look. For that reason all of the bikes I'm looking at have trunnion mounted shock or shock directly under the top tube. Definitely narrows the list, but there are still plenty of top contenders to choose from.

Perhaps but there is certainly nothing wrong with having a stable of purpose built bikes either. Just comes down to taste for variety, budget, how much room you have in the garage, etc.

I had asked this same question last week on a separate Spider Mountain thread and got similar responses. Still, I'm moving forward with the purchase of a slacker, longer travel 27.5. At under 26lbs with 130mm front and back and 67.5 HA, my Primer isn't suited for the type of gravity riding I want to start doing at Spider and Cat Mtn. I'm also not at all interested in monkeying around with it because it is perfect for everyday use at most of the trails I ride. If anybody knows where I can get a used 2017 Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Team Bike, I'd likely write a check today (unless somebody here tells me something horrible about that bike). Also interested in the 2019 Jamis Hardline A1 but have no clue where to possibly find one to try. Looking at a couple of others in this category as well.

Can't really speak to the parking since I always ride from my house, but I suppose if I had to pick a place to park it would be either 1) Twin Lakes YMCA for W-E looping as I described or 2) Brushy Creek Lake Park for E-W looping with Peddler's / Candyland mixed in.

Starting from west end (YMCA or 183A Trailhead), I like to drop in at Dave's Ditch / Glitch off the BCRT and take the first sharp left up that connects to Rim. Stay to the right at the top and ride through a couple of g-outs before looping back in the opposite direction to stay on Rim. Follow Rim to the end, and take the climb on the right, which is the beginning of Up-and-Over, which leads to Deception (Double Down). Ride that first section of DD W-to-E until you hit the Picnic Bailout. Bail to your left to jump on PicnicX, and go right at the first fork. Follow Picnic X all the way to Picnic, and then stay to the right to follow Upper Picnic. Stay on Upper Picnic and either follow it all the way to the end or you can choose from a number of drops on your left and then follow the rest of Lower Picnic to the end at BCRT. At this point, depending on how much you're wanting to ride, you can follow the BCRT to hit Mulligan, Peddler's Pass, and the Candyland section of trails. When you're ready to head back east, enter Deception (1/4 Notch) at the easternmost end and follow it all the way to the end (1/4 Notch turns into Double Down at the Swag bail). You'll now be back on the jeep road that separates Deception from Up-and-Over, and you will have ridden the westernmost section of Double Down in both directions. Now take Up-and-Over back to Rim and ride it in the opposite direction from where you started. When you get to the end of Rim though, climb up the hill to your left and loop back around into the very top of Dave's Ditch, where there is a really fun swooping descent. Caution here though that if it's wet and slimy, it can be very dangerous. You'll end up coming out of the ditch back at the BCRT where you started. Now if you still have something left in the tank, head over to any number of ascents up to the ridge sitting behind the YMCA. At the top, to the right of the cement drainage ditch that is near the 183A trailhead, you'll find the Snail Trails that are great fun with a few challenges mixed in. Just riding the Rim, Deception, Picnic loop that I described will give you 1.5 to 2.5 hours of riding depending on your fitness and abilities. Adding in any combination of the other stuff can give you another 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on various factors, such as how many laps of goodness you choose to consume at Peddler's Pass.

Well … I never said dude couldn't shred! It actually looks like he's riding without a dropper but with his seat lowered. His brother clearly is sporting a dropper. Great story and vid BTW. When you're as accomplished as Nino, I suppose the whole family get's outfitted with sponsored gear.

It wouldn't be so with a dropper

If you take away the argument surrounding terrain and what's safe with or without a dropper, then it really comes down to riding style. If you wish to emulate Nino Schurter, you don't need a dropper. If you wish to emulate Bernard Kerr, you need a dropper. Really just comes down to how you want to ride.

Bingo!

Speaking of endos, what do you think the chances are of one occurring here?

Wait a minute! If that was a jogger, they're definitely minimalist. Maybe a baby bigfoot going in circles?

Especially if you have a rotator cuff issue!!!

I always ride Gnargasm CCW (E-W) and loop back into Snow White for the return. Looks like I'm missing a small piece of Snow White by always riding it that way. Sometimes I interrupt the loop to go down the wooden feature and out-and-back on Caddyshack. Either before or after completing the Gnargasm-Snow White loop, I go out-and-back on Gumdrop. Most of my Brushy rides are confined to everything west of the Sport Park, but when I take the time to hit Peddlers I'll often make the extra trek eastward to hit the Candyland trails. Speaking of not riding for weeks, I'm sore as hell from just riding a couple of hours each on Sat and Sun. Thinking about sneaking out for a recovery ride at lunch time to make the pain go away (and before more rain rolls in)!

That's a really good point. At a minimum I suppose that I should try it once on my Primer and then follow that up with a rented longer travel bike just to see how much difference it will make.

My dilemma is this. I'm really excited to give this a go and thinking it will be a great riding venue for the summer time. Problem is, I've been a huge proponent of shorter travel (120-130mm) bikes for around here, with short chainstays and wheelbase for that playful feel. My 2017 Primer 29er has been perfect for me on everything I ride around Central Texas, but I think I'm going to want more if I start hitting Spider Mountain and possibly Cat Mountain. My 2014 Trek Remedy 29er would provide a little more travel and smooth out the bumps better, but it's old school geo with cramped cockpit and long stem to compensate. I think I'm going to want a modern, relatively slack (65-66 degree HTA) 27.5 with 150mm travel and relatively short chainstay and wheelbase. The newer 27.5 Remedy 9.8 would probably fit the bill, or maybe something from Germany like this Focus Sam.

Hard to believe that on a day like today after so much wet weather I had the trail all to myself this afternoon. Rode Snail, Rim, Picnic, Mulligan, Deception, and Rim again. Never even ran into anybody, except a group that had me hemmed up on Rim for a few minutes before they turned left at the end, and I turned right to hit Up-and-Over. It's amazing how sometimes you can feel really sharp after a couple of weeks off the bike. Didn't have the legs for a lot of climbing, but definitely had the energy and awareness needed to attack all the tricky features. Suppose the cooler weather helps too. Will see how it goes tomorrow when it's a bit warmer.

Yep this is the kind of golf I like to watch! Only difference between him and me on this hole is that I would have been using my Texas Foot Wedge to get out of the woods.

I got a <$50 3-gallon compressor at Walmart that works great. Paid another $15 for hose and accessories. Don't see that same one anymore but this could fit the bill. Rollback pricing! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Campbell-Hausfeld-3-Gallon-Inflation-and-Fastening-Compressor-with-Accessory-Kit-DC030098/785722491

They should hire the fired Cedar Breaks gate attendant, and her friend Mike of course.

Speaking of great covers …… even Daltrey and Townshend are mesmerized by this performance honoring the Who.

I'm intrigued by the idea of using this venue as a summer escape from my ordinary riding. During the plague of heat and humidity in the summer here, my rides get shorter and I have to take breaks when my body temp climbs too high. Frankly, those rides aren't even that enjoyable. Seems like zipping down multiple runs while cooling off in between would be a much better summer alternative, even wearing a full-face helmet and pads.

Congrats man!