Video: 40 Seconds of Hardtail Shredding in California
In preparation of adding some more Timberjack models to our lineup, Salsa decided to fly a few folks out to California for a dirt trails session away from the snow and ice-covered landscape back here in Minnesota.
Along with creative director Kelly MacWilliams, still photographer Marty Wood, and videographer Jules Ameel, we brought in one of our sponsored riders; Javier Zuniga of Austin, Texas.
Javier is a young gun with mad skills and an enthusiastic personality; he loves riding bikes.
A couple of years back, when I had my first sponsorship discussions with him over a phone, he was still in high school and I was thoroughly impressed by his ability to hold a polite conversation with a much older adult. That isn’t true of some young folks today, and I’d encourage any younger riders that are reading this and dreaming big to realize how important those interpersonal skills are. Trust me, sponsorship is about more than just being able to ride a bike.
But ride a bike Javier can!
While it had been about 4 years since he’d last been on a hardtail, he quickly got a feel for the Timberjack. “That bike is super easy to manual,” he said. “I had to adjust to not having a rear shock to pre-load for jumps and such, but once I got my groove back, I was able to visualize and ride some lines that they weren’t expecting.”
To my eyes, the riding Javy showcases in this short are the ever-present reminder that developing rider skills is the most important thing a mountain biker can do. There will always be the latest and greatest bike for sale, and it’s human nature to want those things…
…but Javy riding a Timberjack is a great reminder that you can’t put too high a price on great bike skills.
For more information on Timberjack head to Salsacycles.com
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But the timber jack is a really versatile frame. Good for bike packing.
I’m not saying it’s a bad bike. I actually really like it. But I’m replying more to this thread, about it being good for the majority of people on here. I would disagree. I think a more aggressive hardtail would be suitable.
So yeah, another twenty five per center here, no hardtail in my garage, just FS and FS.
Hardtail are for pump tracks.
The statement that a full squish is always better is just as ignorant as the statement that a hardtail is always better. Hardtails make mellow flowy trails fun again. They're for far more than pump tracks. I've met so many people who bought full suspensions because they feel that the full suspension is for a more serious rider. Only to find out years later that they prefer a hardtail on their mellow trails.
Those of us that ride hardtails on hard trails are sick in the head, but we still have fun.
The 75% discussion is further up in a different thread. I don't know what 75% of pinkbikers ride.
My initial impression is around the same, getting used to not preloading a rear shock is odd. But my descending times are not too much slower than my big bike and it’s honestly just about as capable.
On a side note; those trails look like a glass lake compared to the trails I frequent.
Just in general, I feel like upsizing is too popular now - it’s like with sixth grade boys buying shoes two sizes too large because they think girls go around noticing “big hands, big feet, big - - - -“.
MgMaggot just sent me a private message with the trail attached. Thank you MgMaggot! I claim NO credit for this, go over, and check him out! Here’s were it is:
www.trailforks.com/region/soquel-demonstration-state-forest/?activitytype=1&z=12.4&lat=37.07634&lon=-121.89023