ethanm

Hard to leave pinkbike but this article is the cliched nail in the coffin for me. There is a reason this is the top mtb site. That reason used to be great content. Now the reason is click bait and sell outs. The recent attempt at more moderation was long overdue and I hate to bail. I just rather be riding than read one more uninformed article or comment. Say all you like, I will not be reading it.

Evergreen does great work. However, if you bike around the world you will see that even Evergreen could learn a thing or two. Thankfully, we are in a time of strong advocacy with talented trail builders.

Firstly, very well done! That is not an easy ride but just fantastic terrain. You did a fantastic job of describing the experience as well as providing some great photos. Secondly, for anyone considering this I would highly recommend riding the Sheep Creek trail after the 7 Summits. It is a fine descent and way more interesting than dropping the Cascade.

This bike was announced a few months ago. It was well reviewed and has been very popular. I ordered one 2 months ago and was told I will have it in my hands in Canada in September. For those of us who are LBS first shoppers that just seems to be the reality. I only found one in stock in BC and not my size. Granted, the Ripmo is generally going to be more stocked than a Ripley in BC. Yeah, it would be great to already have the bike but at least it seems worth the wait. Ibis seems to be behind the initial demand but they most likely will catch up quickly. I have been told by multiple shops they are expecting a big whack of them in September as well up here.

I can never forgive Manitou for my Nixon. 3 complete failure/subsequent repairs in less than a dozen rides. Ultimately they downgraded it to a much cheaper and heavier coil replacement because they could not solve the problem. Worst bike industry company I have personally experienced. Others I have given second chances, but this was the trifecta of breakage, expense and bad attitude. I imagine nobody from back then even works there anymore but I just cannot get over it. I guess I should feel lucky no physical injuries occurred in the process.

I think some might be focussing a little too much on the 3000 ft of descending for this one run. You can do 30,000+ feet of descending at Retallack over two days of riding if you are a solid rider. All of it is purpose built for riding. Their thing is basically ride a trail once to learn it and then pin it the second time. You will get many unique runs. I have been fortunate enough to have ridden more places than most and Retallack is one of the best. I have not ridden Barr. I will put it on my list but do not miss that that vid run is just a sampler to the overall experience.

I planned to stay a week this Summer and left after a couple of days. I had been through the nice little town of Harrisonburg before and really had regretted not being able to ride there. Riding there this Summer had moments of pure bliss for sure. However, many of the trails were very overgrown and poorly maintained. I know that will tick off a lot of people and I am sorry. I was early season so maybe they get at it late. I got absolutely shredded by brush. I do not mind adventure rides and I did not feel the rides were overly difficult so this is not ability not pairing up well. Many of the rides involved big dirt road climbs. This article gives props for the rides being a short drive away but there are plenty of great places you do not need to get in the vehicle or do so far less. Camping, driving and parking can be pretty darn sketch too. I might be a bit jaded as was nearly killed by an oncoming truck sideways at high speed on a backroad. Considering the news lately, probably should not be surprised by the politics of the area with the amount of confederate flags everywhere there. This is not the first very positive article on the area that I have read raving about the scene. I very well may have had bad luck. Harrisonburg has some really nice services. People were friendly. I generally try not to post negatives on PB. I just feel, like any road trip, be prepared to have a different experience. Be ready to move on if it is not working for you.

Thank you to all that made this video happen. To see Tom Ritchey still passing on his knowledge and riding a bike he just built, made my week. Much respect and the more content like this the better.

Di2 is the best thing I have used to date that gives me the desired range I like on my trail bike. I hear and understand why it is not for everyone. I think about my drivetrain far less with it, it has proven to be durable and has provided quicker and more precise shifting. It is also far more stupid proof that is given credit for. My 1X on my all mountain bike irks me every ride. It jumps gears when ratcheting over obstacles, lacks range (not Eagle) and is slow and awkward in comparison.

How do we want to try to sell bikes this year? Let us round up some of the best dang people that live bikes and make a mini movie celebrating everything that is good about riding. Write the checks and only put our name at the end. Well done Diamondback! Nice job getting the Kootenay all stars together with Secco. Seems like Lacy is onto something here. My low moment with the bike industry from earlier this week just has been undone, thank you!