The Mountain Bike Thread

I used to stuff mine in the CRV but with the Fiesta ST I had to get a 1 1/4 hitch and rack. Found a thule T2 rack for $100 and turned it into a one bike rack.
 
94toytruck said:
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Ha, I stuff my bike in a car that cost less than the bike. I get some looks for sure.
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I def did that 100q everytime before I got the $5 rack!
 
I’ve been trying to whip myself back into a shape other then round lately, so it I’ve been riding the “parts bin” hardtail. It’s killing the blue trails and shorter blacks. Modern geo, 170mm upfront and 2.6 tires is great. All lower elevation trails under a couple miles. I don’t think it’d be as fun for the big descents, but I’ve got other bikes for those things.

With the weak winter, the trails are opening up fast down low. All the migration closures are lifted, so it’s game on. Decided to treat myself to an e-bike ride and blasted up to snow line.
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Up until this point(~7800’), it was nothing but dry dirt and smiles. I turned it around here, the snow field in the background is completely covering the trail.

Side note- glamazon brake rotors. I bought a set over the winter and I’m not sure I’m sold. They’re on the pig (55#) and I can’t say I’m in love. Might have something to do with the hashed rear tire, but just didn’t feel inspiring on a the descent. Might move them to the hardtail (34#) for lighter duty braking.
 
Ergon Warrantied my saddle once I found the right link to get the process started. Had to jump through a bunch a hoops to get there. Happy as the WTB saddle I borrowed of my kids bike isn't as comfortable. I went with the SM-E Mountain Pro on this one partially due to many of the others being out of stock on their site.
 
It's been a busy past three weeks so I haven't been able to hit dirt lately. Was in Ft. Worth visiting my sister over the weekend and was planning on getting in a ride today or tomorrow, but unfortunately my normal stomping grounds behind my house got lit up. Thank God we're ok, though. Wind has been west and east, so we're in the clear, but can't say the same for others.

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Bodj Built I have my bike in Newbury Park if you want to do something after 4:30.
The bad: fire, the good: great line of sight now on Ham Radio and Feral Pig. I am guessing it is going to need a week or so to be rideable.
 
Endlesstrails said:
Bodj Built I have my bike in Newbury Park if you want to do something after 4:30.
The bad: fire, the good: great line of sight now on Ham Radio and Feral Pig. I am guessing it is going to need a week or so to be rideable.
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Maybe I can on Thursday. I don't have my bike today. We flew in late last night, and I didn't have it in me to load the bike, while also loading my son and dogs to drop off at my mom's on my way in to work today.

Edit: you usually do the BLGT Thursday rides. I skip those since they overlap with my son's bedtime. That's precious time for me right now.
 
Endlesstrails said:
Bodj Built I was thinking about checking out Haskel Bike Park in Santa Clarita Saturday morning.
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I've been looking at it, too! We're going to be in SD this weekend so I can't. Basically all weekends are shot for a month or so.

Jumping back to Ham Radio talk - have you seen anyone do the jumps on it? I don't know how a modern mtb is supposed to fit on the lip. They need to be longer takeoffs or more mellow I think?
 
Bodj Built said:
It's been a busy past three weeks so I haven't been able to hit dirt lately. Was in Ft. Worth visiting my sister over the weekend and was planning on getting in a ride today or tomorrow, but unfortunately my normal stomping grounds behind my house got lit up. Thank God we're ok, though. Wind has been west and east, so we're in the clear, but can't say the same for others.
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Gnarly. Glad you guys are ok. I think this fire season might be a scary one.



In other news we took the kids racing in Ashland for the Spring Fling(Spring Fling MTB Festival 2026 — Wild Rogue Events) last weekend. My 8 year old did the Saturday super d which was a 9ish mile drop. He knocked it out in under 40 minutes a landed 7th in 13 and under. The weather was wild, we got snow at the top and dry, sandy conditions at the bottom with everything in between. Pretty awesome race and cool to see my son start to make some tactical moves on race lines and where he pushes vs saves energy.

Grom train down a jump line headed to the start. My fingers were frozen, but we double glove'd the kiddo with his winter riding gloves under my wife's winter riding gloves and it seemed to work well.
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The start was also lookin snowy
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Tacky dirt half way
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Dry at the bottom
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Sunday was the grom enduro. Both 5 and 8 year old raced in the 10 and under category. They only had 2 stages in their race and both were lower down on the mountain. I got to chase the 5 year old.
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He had been talking about "getting podium" all weekend. I told him there were a lot of big kids twice his age in the category, so not to get his hopes up and we were just getting used to racing at this age, but he kept it up. Turns out he and his brother went 1 and 2 for their class.

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I love riding up there and the number of kids racing was awesome. We'll definitely be back next year.
 
Bmxbry9 said:
Sandy Johnson dude! That is awesome! I saw you were riding up there, that looks like a sweet race to check out
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The super d is a pretty rad gong show that I'd probably like to race even if I wasn't already bringing my kids up for the enduro. There are 3 climbs you have to sprint pretty hard and a couple of flat sections you need to also go hard for, so I'd probably lose just because of fitness alone, but it's still one of those awesome things that forces you out of your comfort zone while hauling butt on fun trails.
 
Heck ya! That is rad, I love riding Ashland. Hoping to make a trip up this year. Is that a series the boys raced in?

I raced the Georgetown enduro last weekend and got 6th in sport. They had 2 stages that were pedaly in the middle that smoked me. Overall had a great time went and camped the night before with some buddies
 
This is your reminder one mans trash is anothers treasure. Booted my tire last night with a empty honey packet so I could tube up and finish my ride. I've done this with a lot of things over the years but these packets are nearly perfect and pretty thick.
 

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RusM said:
I'm actively trying to get better at biking this year. Actually did some little drops at the bike park yesterday and have been trying to jump.
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For the PNW area there are some good classes at good prices through the Evergreen MTB Alliance:

Classes

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is Washington State’s largest mountain bike organization. Internationally known for creating Colonnade and Duthie Hill mountain
www.evergreenmtb.org www.evergreenmtb.org

For more personalized training, Fluidride is damn good. My son and I have done a few classes with them back around Covid. Good instructors that are really good at seeing what works for you and how to improve:
fluidride.com

Mountain Bike Classes and Clinics — Fluidride

Learn how to cornering, jumping, how to hit drops, decrease your race times and find flow on mountain bike trails like never before. Simon Lawton and his instructors will have you riding with consistency and confidence.
fluidride.com fluidride.com
 
My son came over on Mother's day weekend and we snuck out for a quick ride while my wife was fawning over our grandson.

First time out on a trail since breaking my ankle last June. It was fun, but I was rusty as hell and my ankles sure felt weak. The new e-bike is awesome, I probably would've only made half that if I was on the analog bike.

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Tech Tim said:
My son came over on Mother's day weekend and we snuck out for a quick ride while my wife was fawning over our grandson.

First time out on a trail since breaking my ankle last June. It was fun, but I was rusty as hell and my ankles sure felt weak. The new e-bike is awesome, I probably would've only made half that if I was on the analog bike.

1st-ride-back.jpeg
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E-bike or analog, just keep moving!!!
 
We went to the new Haskell Canyon Bike Park in Santa Clarita. So rad that the city built this for the public. Some good trails. Three regular jump lines (I didn't get past beginner on the DJ. I could probably do the intermediate but true gaps was un motivating. Beginner and a full mirror image two direction asphalt pump track. A mulch jump. Two real big slope style lines. A dual slalom track. I guess there is a downhill/hardline style section but we just saw it from the top of the ridge. Looked like real big gaps. And a basic "skills" section.

All the DJ jump lines are real well taken care of with guys sweeping and watering. Some parts of the MTB trails up the canyon have already started degrading into silt beds as they are not putting any water down on the MTB stuff. I wasn't a fan of the transitions on the black diamond MTB jump lines so the jumps got in my head early and I didn't want to push to clear them. They were not crazy big, just harder to get speed for and real steep.
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My son on the "beginner" jump line.

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Endlesstrails said:
We went to the new Haskell Canyon Bike Park in Santa Clarita. So rad that the city built this for the public. Some good trails. Three regular jump lines (I didn't get past beginner on the DJ. I could probably do the intermediate but true gaps was un motivating. Beginner and a full mirror image two direction asphalt pump track. A mulch jump. Two real big slope style lines. A dual slalom track. I guess there is a downhill/hardline style section but we just saw it from the top of the ridge. Looked like real big gaps. And a basic "skills" section.

All the DJ jump lines are real well taken care of with guys sweeping and watering. Some parts of the MTB trails up the canyon have already started degrading into silt beds as they are not putting any water down on the MTB stuff. I wasn't a fan of the transitions on the black diamond MTB jump lines so the jumps got in my head early and I didn't want to push to clear them. They were not crazy big, just harder to get speed for and real steep.
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That place looks awesome. We might have to pull over and give it a session next time we're down that way.

My kids have been asking for more DJ type stuff, so I took them to the polo grounds in Aptos this weekend. Not nearly as cool as where you are, but it works for now.
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Little bro also wanted in on the action. He had to pedal his balls off on that tiny 16" bike just to clear the first table, but he got it figured out.



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Sandy Johnson said:
That place looks awesome. We might have to pull over and give it a session next time we're down that way.

My kids have been asking for more DJ type stuff, so I took them to the polo grounds in Aptos this weekend. Not nearly as cool as where you are, but it works for now.
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Little bro also wanted in on the action. He had to pedal his balls off on that tiny 16" bike just to clear the first table, but he got it figured out.



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Between Sapwi in Thousand Oaks and now Haskell, there would be plenty of available jump lines within and hour of each other. Haskell is a way more complete experience. While you are down, you can meet up with Elliot and share old truck stories. :lmao:
 
Endlesstrails said:
Between Sapwi in Thousand Oaks and now Haskell, there would be plenty of available jump lines within and hour of each other. Haskell is a way more complete experience. While you are down, you can meet up with Elliot and share old truck stories. :lmao:
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That would be a good time! The Minister of Activities has already got us scheduled for a mammoth trip AND a San Diego trip this summer, so I'm not sure when we'll be in your neck of the woods next, but it's on the list of places I want to go ride.
 
Sandy Johnson said:
That would be a good time! The Minister of Activities has already got us scheduled for a mammoth trip AND a San Diego trip this summer, so I'm not sure when we'll be in your neck of the woods next, but it's on the list of places I want to go ride.
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Sapwi - Thousand Oaks is close to the 101. Haskell in Santa Clarita is fairly close to the 5. I know it will be a long drive from home to San Diego, but if you plan on breaking up the drive, there are two good stopping spots.
 
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