MrChrome

- I took a big hit 8 years ago; I crashed in a semi-technical section of trail and hit the ground violently......I took a few seconds to figure out what happened, then started wiggling my toes, then ankles, knees, and so on until I was at my collarbone which was broken --> everything else seemed okay.......I sat up and judged how my head felt - I had cracked my helmet but was not concussed (I've had one before so I know what it's like) so now it was time to load up and get out; I was 4 miles from my car so I used my phone's GPS to determine my position and the shortest way out.........luckily, both my bro and training partner were with me so I took my left arm and cinched it into my camel back like a sling, picked up my bike and started pushing.......a bit over 2 hours later, I drove myself to the emergency room where they did nothing - your collarbone is so close to two main arteries that they let the internal hemorrhaging coagulate before performing surgery......point is, check yourself real careful before getting up and trying to move.........

- I am a teacher: my students just don't get their grades real quick.... ;0)

Tools......almost have a complete set for working on any / all bikes and, no, I am not a pro bike mechanic......but really love my new air compressor.....

- need to visit this place.........

- a new seat for the Tallboy AL......and time to ride if the rain will dry up (southeastern U.S. is pretty sloppy right now)........

- without reading all of the comments section, I'll add my 2 cents; lack of STANDARDIZATION is going to kill much of the momentum in this industry. I can't afford to continually make changes and my bike won't accept some of those changes so it makes me mad when they make changes year after year after year. Should a part wear out, I can't count on the industry to supply what I need to continue to use the same bike, forcing my hand to buy something else which SUX. And the LBSs have got to hate it, too - they can only stock so much inventory which limits their more experienced customers' needs to make changes on the fly without having to order (find on eBay / Craigslist) parts. Whether you grow the sport or not, it's already pretty big with lots of trails coming into existence due to local clubs, but we have to ride something and it can't always be a new rig......

- depends on the course / rider.......personally, sometimes I ride flats, sometimes clipless because no two trails are the same.......to make the best of this situation, I have some CBs Mallet 3s..........

Will let the dust settle, then get something. I've been riding since the 1980's and have gone for years without an adjustable seatpost and I think I can go a bit longer without one. I've read too many posts of people's hydro-posts slipping and I'm not spending a ton of money for something that will slip after a season or two.

"...a fact of less competition." Hmmmmm, really?! - then you go race and win, digitalsoul...........I'm sure Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski would disagree with you........

Also, nice to see the southeast spotlighted for serious MTB action - we may not be Whistler, but we do have some awesome trails...........