[konifere]

If my Shimanos end up being too shitty, I have a set of new TRP Slate T4 Evo ready to install, but my previous "Radius" mechanicals were fine even at the steepest/longest Sentiers du moulin trails, so it should be fine. I still have those as another option to try. To be fair, the Level seemed alright, but my no-Sram-parts policy is still in effect so I couldn't keep them They are now on my previous fat bike that I've sold to a friend, and since I'll be the one fixing his bike if something happens, I'm glad that they were working well.

 

[konifere]

@canadmos Yes I might have gone too deep...but now I know that everything's good for the long haul. The spoke tension was too high (120-130kgf with the tires on), so I lowered that to 90-100kgf. Many spokes are too short (2-3 threads poking in from the nipple), but they should hold up since I'm not riding that bike into big g outs or drops.

If you remove your rotors, make sure to have a Wera t25 hey key handy. My "regular" t25 would damage the bolt heads since they were like 15Nm tight with blue loctite. I've seen that many people couldn't take the bolts out without destroying the heads, but I was able to do it with the Wera hex. The hub's threads still looked perfect, so I replaced most of the bolts, torqued that to 6Nm and that was good to go.

My front wheel axle's holes aren't perfectly lined up, so I need to be careful when threading the axle, but the rear one is perfect. The rest of the bike was really well made, and everything is straight. Seems like a frame worth upgrading... which is what I'll try not to do too much!

 

[Jozz]

Damn you went deep

It was super tough snow today, but the tires seem to do alright. I was definitely the weak link...and the deep snow on the climbs. I put studs in them, so that'll be interesting to try out.

The Level brakes are a little agricultural but actually worked better than the Shimanos I have on the old fatbike. We'll see how they are on bigger hills..

The Level are downright dangerous. I'm a light weight and they just faded so quick. And they were icing like crazy. Imagine, I replaced those with Guides which we know are much "better"

Tried to find a deal on Dominions but can't justify the price right now.

 

[Jozz]

@Jozz How do you like the Mastodon ? Which version is it? I'm thinking about getting a V2 100mm for the Garneau, but that wouldn't really be needed...

I've got the regular comp set at 100mm. Normally I wouldn't think it's needed on groomed winter trails. But we're I ride we got some stuff that is being groomed (by me mostly) that includes really steep chutes and gap jumps and drops. Trails I wouldn't have attempted with my old fatbike with carbon fork.

Only gripes, this winter I rode often on no snow cover with rocks and roots and kinda discovered that the basic comp damper needs some tweaking. Feels like it's under damped. Rebound is at full slow and it's still a bit fast.

 

[Jm_]

Nope, dropper's f*cked. They assured me this would work great down to -20...This is why you keep prior warranty replacements on hand PNW to the rescue.

Update though, WT is taking care of the dropper. Supposedly the early ones have a fluid in them that "goes bad" and the updated ones have a new fluid that doesn't suffer from the same issue. It worked great right up until when it didn't. Glad they are standing behind it.

Thanks for the message. It looks like your post was built in October of 2022 prior to us switching to our V2 blue dropper fluid. We found the original clear V1 fluid was not clearing the air as quickly from the fluid.

The 2" of squish sounds exactly like what we have seen with some of the original batched dropper posts that were using our V1 fluid. We can send you a return label and get this swapped out for you.

 

[ICEBALL585]

First ride of 2024. It was 25*F with 20+mph wind. Perfect weather for a ride.

 

[dump]

 

[scrublover]

 

[dump]

 

[canadmos]

Holy balls it's cold out.

Trails kinda sucked. Poached some groomed nordic ski trails, but they were soft and deep. Could even see where the skiers were sinking in spots; made for two hectic downhills.

 

[Jm_]

Holy balls it's cold out.

Trails kinda sucked. Poached some groomed nordic ski trails, but they were soft and deep. Could even see where the skiers were sinking in spots; made for two hectic downhills.

Your bike looks cold. No bags with jackets, whiskey, etc.

 

[canadmos]

Your bike looks cold. No bags with jackets, whiskey, etc.

We had a pre ride beer in the warmth. I haven't even put a water bottle cage on this bike yet.

The pee stop was risky in those temps..

 

[konifere]

I can feel the cold! It's -22C today and I can't figure out how I was motivated to go ride in those temps in the previous winters. Still haven't taken the GL3 out, but the more I wait, the more I am tempted to upgrade (unneccessary) stuff on it, so I better act quick.

I prefer those hiking trails to the groomed trail center ones. It feels more like exploring in the woods, especially at night (I ride 95% at night on the fat bike).

 

[canadmos]

I can feel the cold! It's -22C today and I can't figure out how I was motivated to go ride in those temps in the previous winters. Still haven't taken the GL3 out, but the more I wait, the more I am tempted to upgrade (unneccessary) stuff on it, so I better act quick.

I prefer those hiking trails to the groomed trail center ones. It feels more like exploring in the woods, especially at night (I ride 95% at night on the fat bike).

Yeah we usually just follow where the snowshoers go, its usually good enough.

Even where they groom the trail here, the snowdogs or whatever they use suck, so it still needs snowshoes or just people riding on it to make it better.

But man, if you have the opportunity to sneak onto some nordic trails that are groomed hard and have some hills, they are a blast. You have like 10-12 feet of trail to drift around on - hitting 60kmh on a fat bike and having to turn can be a little puckering.

Just gotta watch out for those set tracks, they're like magnets and have sent me into the bush a few times.

 

[Jm_]

I can feel the cold! It's -22C today and I can't figure out how I was motivated to go ride in those temps in the previous winters. Still haven't taken the GL3 out, but the more I wait, the more I am tempted to upgrade (unneccessary) stuff on it, so I better act quick.

I prefer those hiking trails to the groomed trail center ones. It feels more like exploring in the woods, especially at night (I ride 95% at night on the fat bike).

Yeah, the machined groom is boring to me. We got tight twistiest in the woods and some DH tracks that we stomp out and they are tons of fun...but the machine groom is "meh", I get bored quickly there.

-20C DHing last night, it was great. I tried goggles to go faster. Contacts rule. 5700 lumens so I could burn through my tinted goggles (worked just fine).

 

[scrublover]

 

[Jm_]

Best damn winter trail system in the

world

 

[dump]

 

[dump]

 

[canadmos]

Trails were pretty good, even if it was pissing rain.

This hill sucked. Made a wrong turn and went up one of the steep double tracks. Derp.

 

[HardtailHack]

Last week I got told there was a pump track near Home. Went for a ride to have a look, I'll be damned, a pump track.

 

[canadmos]

Last week I got told there was a pump track near Home. Went for a ride to have a look, I'll be damned, a pump track.
View attachment 206788

View attachment 206789

Is that the same one Jack Moir just shot a vid at? Looks fun.

 

[HardtailHack]

Is that the same one Jack Moir just shot a vid at? Looks fun.

Yeah, there's a bigger one that has just opened at Dungog but I can't find any vids.

 

[CBJ]

Yeah, there's a bigger one that has just opened at Dungog but I can't find any vids.

I need to remind you that your have hardtail in your RM name so giddy up and get on down there and rip that hard tail around that pump track!

Damn now I want a track like that in my back yard, I want a HT and some nice weather like that too.

 

[canadmos]

Oh jeebus, forgive me for I have sinned.

I underestimated how warm it's been and laid down some nice ruts.

This section of trail on the edge of a pond was a little sketch.

Aborted and did a loop on the path back to the car. What a struggle.

 

[HardtailHack]

Fitness ride today, got 6hrs of decent sleep so I knocked out 45km today and 24 the night before.

 

[Jm_]

Pet Peeve, trail designers that leave eye-level hazards in the trail. Other than that, fabulous ride and ending with fresh snow.

 

[jdcamb]

Still the greatest thread. Thanks everyone.

 

[Jm_]

4th pic even has my laser beam!

 

[dump]

Clear roads and kinda warm… so I hit the hills. Felt good to stretch the legs!

 

[dump]

Chilly and grippy this morning

 

[scrublover]

I had fun. On a bike. Some people ought to try doing the same.

 

[6thElement]

Had to brake for the car in front...

 

[Jozz]

Texas...

 

[dump]

Texas...

View attachment 207059

great photo!

 

[canadmos]

 

[jdcamb]

What light are you running?

 

[canadmos]

What light are you running?

That handlebar light is an "old" Cygolite TridenX. Its not the absolute brightest, but it still runs great for being ten or however many years old.

 

[dump]

Oppressively grey today

 

[canadmos]

Oppressively grey today

View attachment 207074View attachment 207075

Same, same. And supposed to rain as well.

Sun is scheduled for an appearance later this week, though.