Comments on: New Year’s Ride: Mountain Biking

By: Jon Grinder

Jon Grinder — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:31:00 +0000

Well, when I say “thaw”, I really should say “melt”. My favorite trails have a couple of feet of snow on them. And, since snowmobiles aren’t allowed on most of them, there’s not much way to ride them until the Spring Thaw.

Redbike: I built up both a 650b and a 29er, last year, so that I could compare all 3 popular mtb wheel sizes (29er, 650b and good ol’ 26…not to mention the 69er I rode for part of 2008). I ended up falling in love with my 29er after doing a 24-hour solo race on it. I run a rigid fork, and mustache bars, so it rides very much like a super-monstercross. Apparently, in my old age, I have turned into a retrogeek.

Now, I’m all about the 29er for “real” mountain biking, and I ride a Bridgestone XO-2 with 26″ wheels and 1.35″ wide knobbies on the road and for “cross-style” rides.

By: Apertome

Apertome — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:52:21 +0000

Steve: I imagine you could do these trails on a cross bike, or at least the easier ones. The harder trails have some rocky sections that would be a real problem, although even those you could do; you might have to walk a few places, but I have to do that even on a mountain bike. I’ve seen a couple of people riding out there on cross bikes, they were hardcore/insane, but it can be done.

Redbike: congrats on the new bike! I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on it, too.

By: Redbike

Redbike — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:46:13 +0000

I’ve just gone down the 29er route myself and i’m keen to know just what other rides think of them (good and the bad).

So far i’ve not had chance to test the bike off-road in ‘normal’ conditions due to deep snow /ice here in England.

By: Steve A

Steve A — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:58:02 +0000

Very nice looking trails. Except for the creek crossings and maybe the frozen ruts, they look like you could do them on a cross bike?

By: Apertome

Apertome — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:45:09 +0000

Jon: we have the opposite problem around here. The trails freeze at night and thaw during the day, making for a muddy mess. So, until spring, frozen trails are the best we can hope for.

By: Chandra

Chandra — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:21:42 +0000

Don’t worry about the cold, am making sure I eat enough for all of us LOL!
Glad you had fun !

Peace

By: Jon Grinder

Jon Grinder — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:56:44 +0000

Man, I’ll be glad when our trails thaw out.

Looks like you had a great ride. I’m a bit jealous…