yupstate
- Member since May 11, 2016 O+
- Male
- Albany , New York
- 1 Followers
- 454 Trailforks Points
Recent
yupstate henryquinney's article
Mar 18, 2024 at 7:32
23 hours
Henry's Waffle House: All-Mountain Bikes Are Back, and They're More Pointless Than Ever
@ridedigrepeat: I think that depends on the person and their trails. Also just their general preference. I have a "wildly capable" 120 bike and I just take it everywhere now and almost never ride my other bikes. If I could only have one bike..honestly I'd be torn. I'd hate to lose this 120 bike. I mean it's nice to have the longer-travel bike for a ride every once in a while..but not sure I'd throw away the 120 bike and get a different mid-travel bike just to have "one bike".
yupstate henryquinney's article
Mar 14, 2024 at 12:06
Mar 14, 2024
Henry's Waffle House: All-Mountain Bikes Are Back, and They're More Pointless Than Ever
@totaltoads: I do agree you can just buy some of the older bikes but of course everything has it's lifespan and it's nice to have new things every few years IMO. But if you can keep the maintenance up and the frame lasts then an older bike will work. I have been fitting the "all-mountain" need the last few years with a 2018 Pivot Mach 5.5 that's around 28-29lbs and of course has that 160mm Fox 36 and some EXO+ tires. I've ridden at bike parks pretty successfully and also it can scoot around an XC race course about 95% of the speed of a race bike. But I'd like something new and 29" :-)
yupstate henryquinney's article
Mar 14, 2024 at 11:22
Mar 14, 2024
Henry's Waffle House: All-Mountain Bikes Are Back, and They're More Pointless Than Ever
I agree that the problem isn't with all-mountain bikes as a theory, it's with all-mountain bikes as they are being built by most manufacturers in the last 5 years. They are mostly 32-35lb sleds that only differ from Enduro race bikes by .5* HTA/STA and 10mm of suspension. What we need is a large crop of 140-150mm bikes that are 27-30lbs with 75-76* STA and 65-66* HTAs. Not much exists like that today.
yupstate mikekazimer's article
Mar 6, 2024 at 11:28
Mar 6, 2024
First Ride: The 2024 Rocky Mountain Instinct Gets Updated Geometry & In-Frame Storage
@Keegansamonster: I thought Pivot or anyone else using DW usually meets with Dave Weagle when creating a new model and goes through the plan for the bike, intended use, specific layout, intended leverage curves, etc. and they come up with a plan? I'm not claiming to be an expert but I'd bet Pivot or other brands licensing DW would say it's still driving their prices up. Again, if you don't find that innovative then those are not the brands for you; for sure.
yupstate mikekazimer's article
Mar 6, 2024 at 10:30
Mar 6, 2024
First Ride: The 2024 Rocky Mountain Instinct Gets Updated Geometry & In-Frame Storage
@Keegansamonster: Your opinion about it being innovative or not aside...I believe Pivot, Ibis, etc. have to license their usage of DW-link so it's going to make them more expensive. Now that may not be worthwhile to you or someone else and that's fine, but it does make them more expensive.
yupstate dariodigiulio's article
Mar 1, 2024 at 12:02
Mar 1, 2024
Review: 2024 Norco Optic - High Pivot, Short Travel
@WheelNut: Yea I wasn't calling out the "wisdom of some" as yours specifically. Just seems to be a theme around here lately with articles and videos. Weight doesn't matter and long travel climbs like short travel, sometimes better because that smooth suspension is better at technical climbs. I think numbers can be very misleading without full context or if someone is looking to prove a point with them. They can be tweaked or explained to prove whatever point you're looking for. Something as simple as twisting words. Like if you had 10 of something and now have 8 of them. You lost 20 percent.......or did you previously have 25% more than you have currently? Same numbers, different percentage.
Is smoothly climbing up a gravel road at 250 watts and comparing two bikes efficiency the same as ripping around an XC course where you may be pedaling at 5, 6, 800watts at times? Standing and stomping on the pedals at times, sitting, leaning, etc? If I cruise along on the highway with my pickup truck I can get 22mpg and my wifes silly little SUV only gets 28. Not a huge difference! But guess what happens if we're ripping around town and stomping the gas? I get 8mpg and she gets 15. Now her MPG isn't 27% better its almost 50% better!!! Aren't numbers fun?
yupstate dariodigiulio's article
Feb 28, 2024 at 12:33
Feb 28, 2024
Review: 2024 Norco Optic - High Pivot, Short Travel
@WheelNut: "There was a good test done, maybe here on PB, last year where they compared long travel vs short travel bikes on a climb and the advantage the short travel bike has was basically nothing, which was quite interesting."
Yes weight doesn't matter and long-travel climbs like short-travel. This seems to be the latest wisdom from some.
yupstate dariodigiulio's article
Feb 28, 2024 at 10:15
Feb 28, 2024
Review: 2024 Norco Optic - High Pivot, Short Travel
@WheelNut: I guess that's why I was saying "I liked the days"...like those days are gone now. Or at least the bikes are few and far between. Then again, I mean you call out downcountry..but think about it. Most downcountry bikes are 120mm and this bike is only 125mm but like 4-6lbs heavier than most of them. It's not so much that a 33lb bike is an issue...I just don't understand what the benefit is of only having 125mm on a bike like this. Like what would be the downside of it being 140mm rear travel with adjusted kinematics?
yupstate dariodigiulio's article
Feb 28, 2024 at 7:55
Feb 28, 2024
Review: 2024 Norco Optic - High Pivot, Short Travel
I think it looks nice overall aesthetically. But I am confused also by who the target buyer would be. It performs like a longer travel bike but it's a shorter-travel bike. I guess I'd just get a longer travel bike that weighs 33lbs? I liked the days of a short-travel bike, that weighed under 30lbs for a basic build, pedaled like a short-travel bike, but then you were like "damn this thing can rip downhiill too!". Now it's just like....well its a good descending, fun bike considering it's only 125mm. Why? What is the lack of rear suspension travel doing for you?
yupstate epic-rides's article
Feb 21, 2024 at 12:51
Feb 21, 2024
Race Report: New Course Records for Solo Women by Momber & Duo Men's by Morton/Lideen - 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo
@Scott86Otcx: 90% bike, 10% rider is what they always say! J/K, awesome achievements by everyone involved in the event, it's wild. For me I'm happy to see Allied staying as relevant as possible for a small company. I'd love to see them grow and expand their MTB line so keeping my fingers crossed for more press like this.