jocristian, how was the race? Anybody know of a site that lists all (or most) of the trails in NC? I had no idea these trails exsited, and it's nice to know there's options not too far from the triangle.



and my back account's gonna hate me as I just finished this Niner RIP9 build but I've just started eyeing the Niner Jet9 RDO (http://www.ninerbikes.com/jet9rdo) I think it might fit my riding style and the local trails a bit better. Anyone else going to the Niner demo day this Sunday (http://www.meetup.com/torc-nc/events/69812792/) ?

6/20/2012 12:38:45 AM

^You'll have to post pictures when you get finished.

Race was good. I finished 4th which was my best finish so far this season. I absolutely love the trail. The challenging climbs were great and then you get rewarded with nice long smooth descents with small table tops on the way down so you can get some air if you want.

http://www.trianglemtb.com has quite a few of the trails around the RDU area and in central NC.

http://southernclassicmtb.org/ is the link for the race series I am doing. Even if you aren't racing, it lists some of the best single track in the NC/SC/VA area.

http://www.singletracks.com/ has the biggest list of all mountain bike trails. The only problem is, they list a bunch of trails that aren't really mountain bike trails and it can be a bit outdated, but if you sort through the reviews, it isn't bad.

6/20/2012 6:41:43 AM

Thanks. I knew about trianglemtb, and I've ridden crabtree, harris lake, garner, and beaver dam. Guess I'll find out what the Chapel Hill trails are like this weekend.


The RIP9 is pretty much finished



ignore the random assortment of headset spacers I was experimenting with the stem height

6/20/2012 1:31:39 PM

That thing looks nice! You running tubeless, I assume? What tire pressure do you run?

6/20/2012 2:12:10 PM

^^Didn't see New Light on your list. I hear that's the hardest in the triangle area.

Haven't made it out that way myself. One of these days I'll get good enough. More than enough trail I already know about in the area to keep me busy.

6/20/2012 2:24:05 PM

Thanks. I'm actually not running tubeless yet. In the 4 years I've been riding I've never had to change a tube on my mtn bikes. From what I understand if I go tubeless with sealant I'll need to remove my tires, scrap out the old sealant, remount, and refill every 3-6 months, and that just seems like a big pain. I haven't convinced myself it's worth the hassle yet, but I do have all of the supplies sitting in my Amazon cart in case I decide to bite the bullet. I've gone as low as 24 psi with tubes. I'm running IRD Fire XC Pro 29er tires on this one, and I ran the Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires on my 26".


New Light seems like it might be a little out of my league, plus it's a good 45min drive from my place, so I haven't ventured over there yet. It's actually be a long time since I've been to Beaver Dam, too. Harris Lake is closer, and I don't have to pay to get into the park.

6/20/2012 4:37:34 PM

Just got my Jabber last Friday.

6/20/2012 9:27:51 PM

Looks good. I can see why you wanted the white Niner fork, although the black doesn't look bad at all. That chainring and sprocket almost look 1:1! Which crank is that exactly, the M785?

6/21/2012 6:29:33 PM

Thanks. I'm actually glad the white fork wasn't available now that I have the black one on there. Yes, that's the M785.

I'm enjoying the ratio for now, will probably beef it up later this summer.

6/22/2012 8:38:58 AM

what is that 32:20?

6/22/2012 10:21:28 AM

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

snapped one of the stem steer tube bolts while trying to readjust my stem in a hurry this morning

luckily the Cary Cycle Surgeon hooked me up with a loaner stem while he tries to extract the rest of the bolt

6/22/2012 3:14:26 PM

I'm in Boone for a few days- good shop to look at mountain bikes?

6/23/2012 6:55:17 AM

I didn't start riding until I left App, so I don't have personal experience with any of the shops up there, but I know there's only a couple of them. Try the list here http://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/bicycle/bikeshops/ Banner Elk is basically the small town at the base of Sugar Mtn, and it's also just down the road from Beech Mtn.

6/23/2012 3:26:52 PM

I have been thinking of getting into mountain biking lately but not really sure where to start in terms of getting a bike. I won't be doing anything extreme or anything like that, more likely just some trail riding (I am in Dallas so there aren't really mountains or anything ha). Not trying to break the bank on something more fancy than what I need but don't want to totally cheap out either. Suggestions for brands to look for and features? Will probably look for something used to get more bang for my buck. Also, given my Small amount of criteria (because I am not really sure where it is worth spending more) how much should I expect to spend on new or used to have a decent, respectable bike?

6/24/2012 12:44:41 AM

So I bit the bullet and ordered a Jet9 RDO frame today. Should be here next week

7/3/2012 10:49:07 PM

Anyone want a free threadless stem? I just replaced it with a 100mm one that is better suited of my medium bike frame. I don't know exactly how long this one is other than it's longer than 100mm. It's free to the first person to come and get it.





[Edited on July 6, 2012 at 3:38 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2012 3:33:35 PM

I tried to convert my front tire to tubeless today and failed. After lots of cussing, elbow grease, and soap suds I'm guessing I can't get the bead seated properly because air is leaking from around the valve stem. I need more pressure for it to seat, but it starts leaking around 20psi. Guess I'll need to find someone with an air compressor.

7/10/2012 9:31:26 PM

yeah, in my experience, its nearly impossible to seat the bead without a good air compressor. After you get it seated, keep it at like 50 lbs overnight and it will still likely lose a little air by morning. Just pump it up and ride on it--that's the best way to distribute the sealant.

7/11/2012 6:32:29 AM

finally snapped some pics of the RDO all finished, though it is covered in mud from Crabtree today

7/30/2012 11:18:59 PM

anyone got recommendations for a good indoor trainer?

8/29/2012 12:55:00 PM

anyone have opinions on the Shimano MT33L clipless shoes?



or another pair of SPD compatible shoes that aren't aggressive cycling shoes? I don't trail ride much anymore, but i'm tired of riding around town without being able to clip into my old Gary Fisher.

12/3/2012 2:04:58 PM

I personally wasn't a fan of the more all purpose SPD compatible shoes I had. They were shimano, but I can't remember the model offhand. It wasn't that the shoes were bad, but they were too stiff and still had the metal cleat on them so they weren't great for walking around, but they weren't really stiff enough for hard mountain biking either. Ended up being bad for both.

I'd go with a toe clip for just general riding around town stuff. Then you can wear a legitimately comfortable pair of shoes for when you aren't on the bike.

12/6/2012 10:00:07 AM

thanks, the Shimano were on sale for $50 so i went with them. at that price they should be fine for what i need.

12/6/2012 12:02:27 PM

does anyone ride a smaller framed bike? As i mentioned in my shoe post I ride an old Gary Fisher hardtail. It's still in good shape, but i've had it since High School (10+ years) when I was riding aggressively multiple times a week.. It's an 18" frame but i'm now 6'0" with a 34" inseam.

for greenway/around town riding it's fine, but i can tell it's a little undersized. is there anything I can do to make it feel "bigger"? especially if i ever do decide to take it back on the trails?

would a bike like this have any resale value?

12/7/2012 10:27:05 AM

I personally like riding a bike on the smaller side--particularly on trails. Gives me a better ability to maneuver it and whip the backend around. With trail riding, you don't have to worry about aerodynamics so being upright is fine and typically more comfortable. You could raise the seatpost or replace the stem and that could make it fit bigger.

What about it makes it feel small?

Assuming it's in good shape and a 26in, you could probably get a couple hundred bucks for it. If it's 29in, you could get 3-400.

12/7/2012 1:01:06 PM

it depends what you're doing with it...

i went from a p2 short for urban riding (about the smallest frame you can get)

to a enduro XL... and the xl to a while to get used to but i can whip it around a trail as fast as i could the p.2 i have always been able to turn sharp enough that traction is the limiting factor on both bikes... (with both on 26"x2.6s" thats' pretty significant) my timing was off a lot though on the enduro when i first go it but we cool now.

12/7/2012 1:05:46 PM

26ers

maybe that's why it appears small? i think my buddy's bike, who i ride around with most, has 29ers so it gives the appearance of being a taller bike.


the only real way it feels on the smaller end to me is when pedaling while seated, i don't get quite the leg extension i should. probably not as big a deal for an MTB as a road bike.

12/7/2012 1:12:51 PM

Have you tried raising the seat up? A good rule of thumb for getting the right seat height is to put your heel on the pedal and your leg should be fully extended as you sit on the seat.

12/7/2012 1:16:34 PM

not my pic, but this is my bike.

^yeah, i'm going to lift the seat even more. i've also read replacing the stem can help some too. but i don't really feel "bunched up". i guess i just needed to realize it's not a hybrid/cruiser bike and it's not going to ride like one (higher handlebars, more upright riding stance, faster on road performance).

i just need to take out to a trail and remember why i used to love riding it.

12/7/2012 1:24:48 PM

Get a bigger bike, stem change can un bunch you some but can't fix leg extension on makes a bike feel more sluggish to me than an actual big bike. Seat posts are only so long and bend easily when over extended.

And a decent new seat post and stem is probably worth more then that frame is.

12/7/2012 1:39:11 PM

don't think i'm going to buy a new bike just to ride around Elizabeth and Noda. at least not yet.

12/7/2012 2:09:34 PM

Imma 'bout to get a new bike, had mine for over 12 years. Probably won't spend over $600 though. Any suggestions? I was going to start at Performance Bike's or All-Star Bikes.

12/7/2012 2:15:27 PM

If you (or anyone) wants a free 110mm (I think) stem, let me know. I replaced the one on the bike with a 100mm stem that fits me better and I don't want to just pitch it out. There are pictures of it on this page...

12/7/2012 2:52:32 PM

Craigslist is the best value IMO, but otherwise http://www.bikesdirect.com is the best bang for a lower budget on a new bike. What kind of riding are you looking to do?

12/7/2012 4:04:44 PM

Thanks! Mainly just moderate trails, Crabtree Lake, for example. Did a lot of downhill when I lived in the mountains, but not anymore. These days, I ride around town and the neighborhoods more than the trails.

12/7/2012 4:29:21 PM

So it's been a while, maybe 2 or 3 years, since my last MTB outing (which was a Gary Fisher Marlin 26er on the G2 frame which I LOVED, but I eventually outgrew the stock components).

Looking for something solid in the <$1k price point. I came across this:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_x7.htm

Anything else I should be considering or can I beat that setup from sourcing my own components and building it from scratch? I'm under the impression that building your own to save $ only works if you are either after specific components/combos or you go really high end and build it slowly over time as sales/discounts become available.

[Edited on December 28, 2012 at 10:40 PM. Reason : .]

12/28/2012 10:39:00 PM

It's gonna be hard to beat that build for that price even if you pick up used components over time

12/29/2012 9:57:13 AM

So, granted, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to components, but you could most likely find a much nicer used bike in the $1k range. The components could definitely be worse, but Avid Elixer 1s and Rockshox Recon fork are the low end models of those respective manufactures. Don't get me wrong, you could definitely have lots of fun at Crabtree, etc. with it. It's just that if you want to get the most bang for you buck and are willing to do the legwork required when shopping for used bikes you might be able to find a better deal.

I can tell you from my own bike building experience that unless you're going really high end it's hard to beat the price of an assembled bike. Like you said, only then does it really only works if you're going for a very specific setup and/or you're sitting around waiting for everything to go on sale.

12/29/2012 11:49:28 AM

Just swapped out my 20T cog for a 16T. It has put a hurtin on my legs so far but my strava segment times are a whole lot better.

Heading to Wilkesboro in a few weeks to do little camping and riding. Anyone ever been to Bandits Roost Campground at Kerr Scott Lake?

4/24/2013 8:09:05 PM

Is storing a bike by hanging up side down on hangers by the wheels going to hurt it over time?

6/16/2013 3:56:00 PM

I don't think so. The wheels take much more pressure when you are sitting on it than the ~25lbs divided between two of them they will take hanging. I even hung my bikes vertically on the wall for a wall on one hook by the front wheel and it seemed to be fine.

6/17/2013 7:20:47 AM

Quote :

"Is storing a bike by hanging up side down on hangers by the wheels going to hurt it over time?"

I don't have any experience with it, but it's my understanding that the problem might be with the suspension fork where the oil might drain out of the reservoir or even past the seals, if they were bad. I suggest contacting the fork manufacturer to see what they say, as that could be complete BS or might only apply to certain designs.

Quote :

"Heading to Wilkesboro in a few weeks to do little camping and riding. Anyone ever been to Bandits Roost Campground at Kerr Scott Lake?"

Did you ever make it up there? If so, how was it? My gf and I were going to go up there a few weeks ago, but it also happened to be the same weekend as the BURN 24 Hour race.

[Edited on June 17, 2013 at 10:16 AM. Reason : q]

6/17/2013 10:11:41 AM

It's a rigid frame and pretty light. Thank you for the feedback. I am taking my mountain bike, but we just don't have the room for three bikes where we're staying.

6/17/2013 12:19:57 PM

^ Ah. I did mean to tell you while we were talking about Boone that there's actually not a lot of places to mtn bike up there. For legal places, you've basically got Rocky Knob (http://rockyknob.wordpress.com/) and Emerald Outback (http://www.emeraldoutback.com/). I haven't been to Rocky Knob yet, but it basically seems like an Intermediate+ freeride park. I have been to Emerald Outback, and it's mostly VERY rooty XC singletrack with a lot of climbing. I might've enjoyed it more if it hadn't been +85 degrees and +90% humidity @ 4000ft elevation. I've been told by multiple people that there are some bandit trails down in the Pisgah area. You can probably get a local to show you around. You can also drive down the mountain to Wilkes and Kerr Scott. Kerr Scott might even be closer than Beech/Emerald Outback, depending on where you're living.

6/17/2013 1:58:10 PM

We're about 10mi down 105 from Boone, so I will certainly look into those places to ride. We saw on Facebook several months ago that one of the ski mountains turns their slopes into mountain biking trails during the off season.

6/17/2013 3:24:35 PM

^^ Unfortunately we got rained out. We setup camp Friday evening in the dark and the trails were shut down around 8am the next morning. Big let down. Hoping to make it up there again soon if we can.

6/17/2013 3:24:46 PM

Sucks about the rain. This year has been crazy wet.

^^ If you're down 105 outside of Boone then you're closer to Sugar, Beech, PIsgah, etc. Rocky Knob is right at the edge of town on 421, after you come up the hill from Wilkes. Sugar Mtn definitely has DH trails with lift access (only on the weekends?), but now that you mention it, looks like they may have a little XC singletrack, too (http://skisugar.com/summer/trailmap.pdf) Beech Mtn is where Emerald Outback is located. If you can do any of these on a rigid, then you've got some skills

6/18/2013 10:45:05 AM

I won't be doing any of those things with a rigid frame. I didn't even enjoy doing Lake Crabtree with the rigid frame Tricross. Hence why it is being put into deep freeze and my mountain bike with disc brakes and front suspension is coming to Boone.

6/18/2013 10:50:34 AM

^^ I did Sugar last summer on my rigid 29er. That was the last time I will do that.

6/18/2013 1:55:13 PM

^^ oh, I misunderstood. Once you figure out where the Pisgah trails (Raspberry Ridge?, etc.) are, please report back. I've talked to a couple of people about them, and they've tried to explain how to find them, but I don't remember much besides they're down 105 towards Linville. I'd love to ride them once. I really, really want to ride down Raider Camp Creek trail, but the problem is once at the bottom you either have to climb all the way back out the way you came, or carry your bike across Harper Creek, ride past a bunch of campsites, and out to the trailhead parking lot, which could lead to a lot of trouble.


In other news, there's another Niner (http://www.ninerbikes.com/) Demo day at Crabtree this Saturday, June 22. More details at http://www.meetup.com/torc-nc/events/123952972/ I plan on being out there first thing in the morning to take a spin on an Air 9 RDO. I don't need another bike (have like 6 already), but I'm wondering if a carbon HT might be nice to have.

6/18/2013 4:35:55 PM