10 Products I Loved in 2021: Mike Kazimer
As 2021 comes to a close, it's time once again to take a look back at the products that stood out above the rest. The Pinkbike Awards, which are decided by a panel of editors, are on the way, but in the meantime you'll also be able to read about our personal favorites, the items that left a positive impression on each of us. The concept was borrowed from our colleagues over at CyclingTips - you can read their lists here.
![Kavenz VHP 16 review]()
Kavenz VHP 16
2021 was a year full of high pivot bikes, and I spent time on new options from Cannondale, Devinci, Norco, and Forbidden. It was the Kavenz VHP 16 that got the party started last winter, and it ended up being one of my favorite bikes of the year.
I'm a huge fan of the raw aluminum tubing and the overall industrial look of this VHP – there's something very appealing about its utilitarian appearance. The fact that Kavenz offers semi-custom geometry is a nice touch, allowing riders to get a dream machine welded up with their preferred numbers.
On the trail, the VHP 16 was impressively quiet, and an absolute blast to ride on tight, steep trails, which just so happens to be the type of trail that I prefer. It also offered up a ton of grip, something that tends to be in short supply here in the Pacific Northwest, especially when the ground is covered with a layer of slippery slime. Overall, Kavenz did a great job with their first bike, and it'll be interesting to see what they come up with next.
Price: Price: €2,495 - frame only, no shock
More information: 77-store.com/Store/Kavenz
![Troy Lee Designs Skyline pants]()
Troy Lee Designs Skyline Pants
I know, there's nothing to see in the above photo, but just imagine that it's a picture of some of the comfiest mountain bike pants in existence. TLD's Skyline pants are light and well ventilated, which makes them wearable on all but the hottest of days. The fit isn't overly baggy or ridiculously tight, and there's plenty of room to accommodate knee pads.
Personally, the main reason that I've started wearing pants as much as possible when riding is the ease of post-ride cleanup. My fall and winter rides tend to be muddy more often than not, and with pants there's no need to deal with muddy knee pads or trying to scrub your legs clean before going inside.
I want to also extend an honorable mention to POC's Consort waterproof coveralls. Yes, they're crazy expensive. And yes, the fit could be less baggy in some places and snugger in others. But you know what? Those thoughts never even crossed my mind when I was out riding during the atmospheric river events that have been occurring with alarming regularity this year. Instead, I was very, very happy with how dry I was, and how the coverall design kept mud and grit from finding its way down the back of my pants.
Price: $109 USD
More information: troyleedesigns.com
![Transition Spur Kazimer]()
Transition Spur
As fun as it is to ride big squishy enduro bikes, it's nice to be able to mix it up with a speedy little bike every once in a while. This season it was the Transition Spur that took on that role, the bike that I used for my longest rides of the year, and for those after-work hot laps where I wanted to cover as much ground as possible before the sun set.
I built it up fairly light without going overboard in order to make sure it could descend almost as well as it climbs – yes, grams could be saved by ditching the Code brakes, or going for the Stepcast version of the Fox 34, but I hate being underbraked, and the Grip2 damper in that fork works very well.
After a full season of use it's still going strong, and there are plenty more muddy miles in its future this winter. I'll probably swap out the tires for something with a little more meat to deal with the slop, but otherwise there's nothing else to change – there's a reason this ended up on my list of favorite things.
Price: $3,199 USD (frame only)
More information: transitionbikes.com
![Maxxis Shorty]()
Maxxis Shorty
It looks like there's a bit of a theme going on in this list, and it involves finding traction on steep, loose trails. For that task, the new Maxxis Shorty is one of my top picks. The revised version is more predictable on hardpacked sections of trail (think rock slabs and roots), with plenty of grip for loose terrain, whether that's from mud or dust.
As I wrote in the review, “the Shorty comes into play when the mud gets deep enough to overwhelm the Assegai - its square knobs and more open profile allow it to keep digging in after the Assegai would have tapped out.” For me, the Shorty sees constant use from October until April, and then takes a break during the drier summer months. Shorty season means there's less focus on going fast and more focus on staying on the bike, and even that can be a challenge at times.
I like those perfect summer days as much as anyone, but I also take a slightly perverse pleasure in heading out in wet, nasty conditions just to see what happens. More often than not, a good time ensues despite the dark, dreary weather.
Price: $83 - $100 USD
More information: maxxis.com
![Silky Big Boy]()
Silky Big Boy 2000 Folding Saw
Not only does this folding saw have one of the best model names in the business, it also cuts incredibly well thanks to its 14” blade. I haven't found any human-powered option that cuts smoother or faster, which is why the Silky usually makes its way into my pack after a big storm, just in case I come across some blowdown that needs to be taken care of.
I also treated myself to an electric chainsaw this year, the Ego Power+ 18. That saw's been super handy to have for the bigger stuff, but it's the Big Boy that sees the most use due to how easy it is to transport, and the fact that it's almost unnoticeable when it's in my pack.
Price: $75 USD
More information: silkysaws.com
![Schwalbe Big Betty tire review]()
Schwalbe Big Betty
The Big Betty returned to stake its claim in Schwalbe's lineup this year, where its strong braking performance and good longevity earned it a place on my list of favorites. No, it's not the lightest option, or the fastest rolling, but I'm willing to overlook those traits due to this beefy tire's ability to dig in and hold on when things get loose.
Price: $94 USD
More information: schwalbetires.com
![Specialized 2FO Roost shoe review]()
Specialized 2FO Roost shoes
For years it seemed that Five Ten's hold on the sticky rubber market couldn't be broken. Stealth rubber has become the benchmark that all other flat pedal shoe sole compounds are compared against, and for good reason. Recently, we've finally seen a few options emerge that are on par, if not stickier than what Five Ten offers. For the record, I've had good luck with Five Ten's shoes, it's just that part of me worried about what I would do if they ever left the mountain bike world. That's not exactly a reason to lose sleep at night, but it was still a concern that would flit through my brain every once in a while.
With the introduction of Specialized's 2FO Roost shoes I'm no longer worried. The SlipNot SuperTacky rubber is actually sticky, and the tallish hexagonal lugs provide plenty of traction, even on pedals without super tall pins. I'm not totally sold on the suede finish of this particular model, but they have been holding up reasonably well, although I did have to use a dab of Shoe Goo to fix some delamination on one of the toes. That seems to have done the trick and allowed me to put them back into regular rotation.
I'm sure Specialized have more options in the works, and now that the sticky rubber code has been cracked I'm excited to see what else gets released. Fingers (or toes) crossed that a model with a lace cover and slightly higher inner cuff is in the works...
Price: $120 USD
More information: specialized.com
![Photo Tom Richards]()
British Columbia
Oh, Canada, how I missed you. One of the reasons I moved to Washington was to be as close to Whistler as possible, which made the border closure in 2020 a hard pill to swallow. As the summer of 2021 began I started to think that I'd need to come to terms with the concept of another summer without any A-Line or Dirt Merchant laps...but then things finally started to change.
The border restriction relaxed, and I was able to get over to start making up for lost time. The North Shore, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton – it felt amazing to be able to have those riding zones back in the rotation again.
Here's hoping that things continue to return to some form of normalcy. Bentonville, Akansas, may claim it's the mountain bike capitol of the world, but for me British Columbia is the rightful owner of that crown - I haven't ridden anywhere else that comes close to convincing me otherwise.
Books & Music
Last year I had Robert Caro's The Power Broker on my list, and was amazed by how many people contacted me to say they'd read, or really wanted to read that book. It turns out that reading isn't totally dead, which makes me very happy. This year, I continued my Caro kick and finished the first volume of his massive Lyndon B. Johnson biography, The Path to Power, which also makes it onto my recommended reading list. Some of my other favorites from this year, in no particular order, included:
West With the Night, Beryl Markham
Beyond, Stephen Walker
Hidden Valley Road, Robert Kolker
Homesick for Another World, Ottessa Moshfegh
Moonglow, Michael Chabon
My dream job (other than the one I already have) is to be a correspondent for NPR's All Songs Considered – I'd happily listen to new music all day and then discuss it on a podcast. There was no shortage of good music this year across all genres. Mdou Moctar popped up a lot, and recently I've been on a 200 Stab Wounds kick. I'm not usually the biggest death-metalhead, but this Ohio-based band absolutely shreds. Plus, not only do they have an amazing band name, their albums have titles like Piles of Festering Decomposition – I can appreciate their dedication to the genre.
Kavenz VHP 16
2021 was a year full of high pivot bikes, and I spent time on new options from Cannondale, Devinci, Norco, and Forbidden. It was the Kavenz VHP 16 that got the party started last winter, and it ended up being one of my favorite bikes of the year.
I'm a huge fan of the raw aluminum tubing and the overall industrial look of this VHP – there's something very appealing about its utilitarian appearance. The fact that Kavenz offers semi-custom geometry is a nice touch, allowing riders to get a dream machine welded up with their preferred numbers.
On the trail, the VHP 16 was impressively quiet, and an absolute blast to ride on tight, steep trails, which just so happens to be the type of trail that I prefer. It also offered up a ton of grip, something that tends to be in short supply here in the Pacific Northwest, especially when the ground is covered with a layer of slippery slime. Overall, Kavenz did a great job with their first bike, and it'll be interesting to see what they come up with next.
Price: Price: €2,495 - frame only, no shock
More information: 77-store.com/Store/Kavenz
Troy Lee Designs Skyline Pants
I know, there's nothing to see in the above photo, but just imagine that it's a picture of some of the comfiest mountain bike pants in existence. TLD's Skyline pants are light and well ventilated, which makes them wearable on all but the hottest of days. The fit isn't overly baggy or ridiculously tight, and there's plenty of room to accommodate knee pads.
Personally, the main reason that I've started wearing pants as much as possible when riding is the ease of post-ride cleanup. My fall and winter rides tend to be muddy more often than not, and with pants there's no need to deal with muddy knee pads or trying to scrub your legs clean before going inside.
I want to also extend an honorable mention to POC's Consort waterproof coveralls. Yes, they're crazy expensive. And yes, the fit could be less baggy in some places and snugger in others. But you know what? Those thoughts never even crossed my mind when I was out riding during the atmospheric river events that have been occurring with alarming regularity this year. Instead, I was very, very happy with how dry I was, and how the coverall design kept mud and grit from finding its way down the back of my pants.
Price: $109 USD
More information: troyleedesigns.com
Transition Spur
As fun as it is to ride big squishy enduro bikes, it's nice to be able to mix it up with a speedy little bike every once in a while. This season it was the Transition Spur that took on that role, the bike that I used for my longest rides of the year, and for those after-work hot laps where I wanted to cover as much ground as possible before the sun set.
I built it up fairly light without going overboard in order to make sure it could descend almost as well as it climbs – yes, grams could be saved by ditching the Code brakes, or going for the Stepcast version of the Fox 34, but I hate being underbraked, and the Grip2 damper in that fork works very well.
After a full season of use it's still going strong, and there are plenty more muddy miles in its future this winter. I'll probably swap out the tires for something with a little more meat to deal with the slop, but otherwise there's nothing else to change – there's a reason this ended up on my list of favorite things.
Price: $3,199 USD (frame only)
More information: transitionbikes.com
Maxxis Shorty
It looks like there's a bit of a theme going on in this list, and it involves finding traction on steep, loose trails. For that task, the new Maxxis Shorty is one of my top picks. The revised version is more predictable on hardpacked sections of trail (think rock slabs and roots), with plenty of grip for loose terrain, whether that's from mud or dust.
As I wrote in the review, “the Shorty comes into play when the mud gets deep enough to overwhelm the Assegai - its square knobs and more open profile allow it to keep digging in after the Assegai would have tapped out.” For me, the Shorty sees constant use from October until April, and then takes a break during the drier summer months. Shorty season means there's less focus on going fast and more focus on staying on the bike, and even that can be a challenge at times.
I like those perfect summer days as much as anyone, but I also take a slightly perverse pleasure in heading out in wet, nasty conditions just to see what happens. More often than not, a good time ensues despite the dark, dreary weather.
Price: $83 - $100 USD
More information: maxxis.com
Silky Big Boy 2000 Folding Saw
Not only does this folding saw have one of the best model names in the business, it also cuts incredibly well thanks to its 14” blade. I haven't found any human-powered option that cuts smoother or faster, which is why the Silky usually makes its way into my pack after a big storm, just in case I come across some blowdown that needs to be taken care of.
I also treated myself to an electric chainsaw this year, the Ego Power+ 18. That saw's been super handy to have for the bigger stuff, but it's the Big Boy that sees the most use due to how easy it is to transport, and the fact that it's almost unnoticeable when it's in my pack.
Price: $75 USD
More information: silkysaws.com
Schwalbe Big Betty
The Big Betty returned to stake its claim in Schwalbe's lineup this year, where its strong braking performance and good longevity earned it a place on my list of favorites. No, it's not the lightest option, or the fastest rolling, but I'm willing to overlook those traits due to this beefy tire's ability to dig in and hold on when things get loose.
Price: $94 USD
More information: schwalbetires.com
Specialized 2FO Roost shoes
For years it seemed that Five Ten's hold on the sticky rubber market couldn't be broken. Stealth rubber has become the benchmark that all other flat pedal shoe sole compounds are compared against, and for good reason. Recently, we've finally seen a few options emerge that are on par, if not stickier than what Five Ten offers. For the record, I've had good luck with Five Ten's shoes, it's just that part of me worried about what I would do if they ever left the mountain bike world. That's not exactly a reason to lose sleep at night, but it was still a concern that would flit through my brain every once in a while.
With the introduction of Specialized's 2FO Roost shoes I'm no longer worried. The SlipNot SuperTacky rubber is actually sticky, and the tallish hexagonal lugs provide plenty of traction, even on pedals without super tall pins. I'm not totally sold on the suede finish of this particular model, but they have been holding up reasonably well, although I did have to use a dab of Shoe Goo to fix some delamination on one of the toes. That seems to have done the trick and allowed me to put them back into regular rotation.
I'm sure Specialized have more options in the works, and now that the sticky rubber code has been cracked I'm excited to see what else gets released. Fingers (or toes) crossed that a model with a lace cover and slightly higher inner cuff is in the works...
Price: $120 USD
More information: specialized.com
British Columbia
Oh, Canada, how I missed you. One of the reasons I moved to Washington was to be as close to Whistler as possible, which made the border closure in 2020 a hard pill to swallow. As the summer of 2021 began I started to think that I'd need to come to terms with the concept of another summer without any A-Line or Dirt Merchant laps...but then things finally started to change.
The border restriction relaxed, and I was able to get over to start making up for lost time. The North Shore, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton – it felt amazing to be able to have those riding zones back in the rotation again.
Here's hoping that things continue to return to some form of normalcy. Bentonville, Akansas, may claim it's the mountain bike capitol of the world, but for me British Columbia is the rightful owner of that crown - I haven't ridden anywhere else that comes close to convincing me otherwise.
Books & Music
Last year I had Robert Caro's The Power Broker on my list, and was amazed by how many people contacted me to say they'd read, or really wanted to read that book. It turns out that reading isn't totally dead, which makes me very happy. This year, I continued my Caro kick and finished the first volume of his massive Lyndon B. Johnson biography, The Path to Power, which also makes it onto my recommended reading list. Some of my other favorites from this year, in no particular order, included:
West With the Night, Beryl Markham
Beyond, Stephen Walker
Hidden Valley Road, Robert Kolker
Homesick for Another World, Ottessa Moshfegh
Moonglow, Michael Chabon
My dream job (other than the one I already have) is to be a correspondent for NPR's All Songs Considered – I'd happily listen to new music all day and then discuss it on a podcast. There was no shortage of good music this year across all genres. Mdou Moctar popped up a lot, and recently I've been on a 200 Stab Wounds kick. I'm not usually the biggest death-metalhead, but this Ohio-based band absolutely shreds. Plus, not only do they have an amazing band name, their albums have titles like Piles of Festering Decomposition – I can appreciate their dedication to the genre.
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Unless you were referring to "f*ck Walmart", in which case lots of people say that seriously.
Bentonville sucks.
Summary: I am much happier on a daily basis in a more laid back bike friendly (yes friendlier than Denver) area. I ride more now on a daily basis than I did in Denver due to traffic and overcrowded stale Front Range trails. Are there ski lift DH trails here? No, but there is some shuttling not far in Eureka Springs and I get to Winter Park or Whistler a few times a year with exception of COVID mess.
In addition, I have more access within a 50 mile radius and the NWA region is only growing trails thanks to Walmart money. I hated Walmart as much as the next guy till I move here. The Walton Foundation advocacy is top notch.
Now, all that said above, Whistler still is my favorite place on Earth. The whole PNW has a tremendous thing going for it that is close to impossible to reproduce when it comes to terrain.
Yes, the 'MTB Capital of the World' is a cheesy marketing ad thought up by the Chamber of Commerce. Almost EVERYONE hates it. However, the vibe here is great, everyone is friendly and I couldn't be happier.
Denver is not a very bike friendly place despite all the marketing around it, aside from being flat it's downright dangerous to ride a bike around, roadies are regularly getting hit by drivers and land managers are not friendly to mountain bikes. Denver is the "Queen City of the Plains", it's very flat despite what Vail Resorts, City and County of Denver, and Colorado Tourism want people to think. Want to live close to mountains and in a city with all those amenities? Check out SLC among many others.
I fully support people moving out of state and if you're considering moving to Denver, or Colorado in general, you should really consider other places as well. We have no water, no dispersed camping anymore because it's so damn crowded, regular wildfires causing the the air quality to suck even more than it already does, there's no oxygen so be prepared to be out of breath all the time, the trails are filled with horses and their shit, and the cost of living is ridiculously high, especially if you want to live relatively close to any mountains.
Bentonville sounds cool. It sucks here, if I didn't have so much family here, I'd seriously be looking into leaving too.
Everything you just said about Denver is exactly what SLC is growing through right now. SLC is projected to be the No.1 housing market positioned for growth in 2022. Small condos similar to mine in my complex are currently selling at 200% of what I paid for it.. There is nothing special about it and I live on the west side. The bike trails are overcrowded and the traffic to the ski resorts is ridiculous. The solution for the ski traffic is to spend $1 billion of taxpayer money for a gondola. The drought in Salt Lake continues as well as throughout Utah. The Great Salt Lake is drying up. On some days, Salt Lake leads the nation in air pollution. The inversions here suck.
Bentonville sounds great to me too. I read an article where Bentonville will pay $10,000 to move there. Anybody on Pinkbike want to buy my condo for $1 million. Please contact me.
“Blame your local custom home builder”
I fabricate a lot of the trail signs for the region on my cnc router, and it’s staggering how many signs I make. The rate at which new trails are being built here is impressive.
I rarely drive more than 50 miles to hit our ‘remote’ trails, there’s not much traffic, and I can ride to trails from my house in under a mile. I have a single speed, a ‘downcountry bike’, and an aggressive trail bike- and there are trails here to enjoy them all to their fullest.
Having said all this, it’s no replacement for ‘real’ mountains. Colorado, Pisgah, Utah… it helps to get out of town a few times a year to mix things up. I find myself seeking out things like loam, high alpine views and terrain, and long epic rides that don’t get anywhere near civilization. It’s hard to justify ‘mtb capitol’ without these things…
But it’s a very nice place to live if you love bikes.
I couldn't agree more. I live in Fayetteville, Arkansas and there a are so many choices for riding within 45 minutes. Old school rocky single track, check. Long XC, check. Sweet flow trails, check. Hubs with mini jump lines, check. The only time of year where riding is a challenge is the spring mud season caused by freeze/thaw. There is a great community of riders and you can find your niche, whatever it is.
In the winter we sometimes get some “nice” views but it’s nothing like out west. Not Even Close
NW Arkansas is a weird mix of south and Midwest. I’m here for a job that I love, but if that job existed out west I’d be there. I feel lucky that it’s as good as it is, but everything is relative.
I’m sure the pace of life is great, but (at best) that part of Arkansas is 10-15 years from a local community of trail builders who will do something worth riding (like Ahab, Hangover, or for a Front Ranger, On The Rocks).
Road riding in Fayetteville area is good…….
Arkansas DOES have decent road riding…….
Hella good skiing in the Wasatch, but that’s gotten awfully crowded.
If you want to get more rad, not so much.
It’s like the Olive Garden or riding. Huge portions but what you’re getting isn’t all that great.
Come on down I'll show you around. We can have beers see if Yuu can keep up . The shit talking is lame and you will notice at no point did I shit talk other areas. Almost everywhere has something to offer.
I’m not trying to make the point that it’s better than other destinations… just different and a lot more diverse than most people think.
I’d be happy to show you around, or share the list of more exciting trails that are mostly outside of the typical tourist areas.
@wyorider what trails should I ride if I find myself in / around Laramie?
@mikekazimer You gave credit where credit is due to BC, and somehow this turned into a debate about NW Arkansas. Sorry!
First, get a VMBA membership, because it's good karma but also because it gets you free weekday bike park passes, shop discounts and access to Little River State park (more on that later).
Places to ride:
Perry Hill- not a huge system, but good elevation and every trail is killer. Slabs, tech, flow, everything
Little River State park- just one or two flow trails, but best flow trail you'll ever ride
Cochrans is sick but you knew about it
Burke Mountain in Kingdom Trails, make sure to the top trails, amazing
Stowe trails- didn't get to Cady Hill, but supposed to be sick
Mad River system- didn't get to it but looks huge and saw a few shuttle outfits
Killington ofcourse
Bolton Valley is supposed to be super techy and sick, but didn't get to it, etc.
There is so much!
Feel free to hit me up if you’re ever headed to NW Arkansas- I’d be happy to send you a list of my favorite trails / show you around.
The best tip I have for this region is to talk to locals about what’s newly built and go there... Partly because the level of trail building is so high, and also because our soil has a lot of rock in it (to put things mildly). As a result, the character of trails changes really quickly as weather and riders break up the surface and those baby heads emerge.
In Fayetteville where I live, we have a dedicated club that does a lot of hand-building- it turns out hand-cut trails hold up a lot better than the majority of machine built stuff. Many of the pro builders are now mixing machine / hand-built trail, and better maintenance means that lots of trails are being re-built too.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRW8dEyGKts
Regarding Denver’s MTB trails there are none last time I checked. Aside from Ruby Hill Bike Park and the jumps off 6th & Feds both downtown. Officially Denver has no mtb trails on their mountain parks lands and they are not friendly to adding any. My community is home to many Denver Mountain Parks, I’ve tried many times to open up a dialogue with the city and they have no interest in supporting mtb trails.
The neighboring counties do have some, even a few bike only directional trails, be prepared for those to be crazy crowded on any weekend though. Here in Jefferson County, the land managers are not the most welcoming to mtb user groups as most trails are mixed use and some even are being converted to hike/horse only from mixed use.
My point was that there’s probably better locales, more friendly to mtb, than Denver marketing might lead you to believe
BC = Bring Cash and Big Climbs
I actually wonder if this is the same dude I met at a trailhead a while back, who dismissed Colorado trails as nothing since they weren't CaNaDiAn BlAcKs. Fun guy.
Also I'm dead broke.
It looks like a sorted frame, well done!! One day...
I prefer the freeriders, as the thicker heel & sole in the 2FOs makes me feel not as ‘in touch’ with the pedals
Agree with the suede comment above though, but also that it’s standing up surprisingly well (although definitely wouldve got the DH version if they hadn’t come out 5mins after I bought mine)
They are crap.
Years of reading how good they are and wham. Disappointing
Kepep the good work up for 2022.
Bikeflog
BUT, I don’t go there because the riding is better than BC.
I go there when I want a change of scenery and some dry days to ride.
There’s something about finishing a ride and not having to spend the next hour cleaning off yourself and your bike.
It’s been raining two months straight so far this fall in BC.
"After a full season of use it's still going strong"
Ahoy Mike.
This is an expensive bike! If today's norm is to get expensive bikes that hold only for a season, then surely something's wrong...
A bike at this price range, should be capable to last for years.
Am i wrong?
I would be, actually. But it would have to be products that can still be bought, so that would be difficult (except second hand).
@mikekazimer
Bought to replace 2.25 Michelin mud for more confort and versatility but I got an expensive tire wrongly marketed (2.4 "wide trail" is a joke on them)
Mike, you should treat yourself to a little Spur-duro before you pass her along. It's a great DC bike in stock form. But throw some real dampers on both ends and let the magic happen. I have a 130 Pike with a HC97 and an Ohlins TTX in back. Let me tell you, I'm smiling ear to ear after taking that on a rip. The big air can fits. It's magical.
That said, I skipped the Skyline pants for Fox pants, and found my happy place with FlexAir. Maybe because I'm in SoCal and not the PNW. Have you ever got on with Fox pants, Kaz?
It blows me away how often we stop and trees that look like they weigh a ton can easily be pushed off the trail, yet you can see dozens of tracks going into the bush to avoid it.
I have a Fiskars saw with a 12" blade in my pack for the ones that need it and it is surprising how thick a tree can be cut through with that blade. Thinking of upgrading to the Silky.
Bottom-line: trail karma is real. Take care of your trails!
I've been really enjoying all the podcasts! I feel like we have some similarities when it comes to riding and such. If you ever make it down to Moabylon I'd love to show you a couple trails. Peace & Grease in the new year~ @Rasquatch13
But i listened to Implore and The Secret, though.
Metal for my bike, Metal for ears!!!
Not hatin’ on it but its the difference in actual “mountain” riding and just rolling around in a labyrinth of human-made silicon implants that while fun is just too developed and commercial- kinda like Wankermart
Anyway: not to bash, I meet buds there to ride annually but to compare it to Whistler or Pisgah, PNW or Monarch Crest is laughable. Its like comapring fine art to cartoons and the fine art in this example is not Bentonville
I ended up going to a few shows (I was only 15 at the time). Notably Hatebreed at some shows around Bridgeport and Earth Crisis. I can imagine Bane was amazing
Knock knock, hi Transition, Mike sent me..size large Spur please with a Deore build. Thanks!
super practical to deal with a jerk on the trails in an instant!
Hey Mike,
After spending time with both the Optic and Spur, which one did you prefer for your "downcountry/trail" riding?
My finger is hovering over the add to cart button!
Cheers!
I picked the jibb as I was worried about the bottom bracket height (I ride lots of chunky jank on the north shore and hate pedal strikes).
I like it but I still sometimes daydream about a banshee titan, or Madonna. The kavenz is sorta in that category as well.
no punctures the whole season
Overall I would recommend the Betty :-)
Loads of mediocre spec-built trails.
But for Gumby’s who can’t hack better/harder riding, they can brag to their non-biking friends about their destination riding trip. Just like having that Steamboat day ticket wicket on your Columbia Bugaboo jacket all winter.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG7fLOmlhYg
Here's a random favourite : Balthazar - Losers. (no, finns don't only listen to metal)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub82Xb1C8os
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlywcuw-1TU
@chacou I second Iron Reagan. Those guys are fun, good call.
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Mullet Bikes
Lastly.. Mullet Bikes
In this case, it has neither the agility of smaller wheels or the (in every other way) superiority of bigger wheels.
After our laps on DM or even Crab Apple, we can fly back here. I will show you around, hit some laps and grab some beers. No shit talking...unless you enjoy that.