Pic of the Day

[Dax]

I always fancied Whistler in summer but I think it will be the Alps instead .

Do both. Whistler bike park (and Squamish, north shore, Sunshine Coast, etc) is fantastic, but so are the alps. Very different riding and styles of trail.

 

[Binhill1]

A ski-day-pass is $300+ now. I can’t imagine what a family and accommodation would cost. The Whistler village is nice but very touristy now.

2022 last time I was there that was six times I had been but last couple times prices very expensive but I loved that place . I went to Three Valleys a few weeks ago . I find I've been getting more scared at skiing the past few years especially when folk behind me. Plus visibility was poor this year for a few days so that's my last ski holiday definitely. Last year was awesome blue sky's every day at same place 3 vallees I said I should make it my last but didn't. On a plus note my wife said you will need to find something else. So that cycling trip I've always fancied should happen wherever it is. Rant over

 

[Stihldog]

2022 last time I was there that was six times I had been but last couple times prices very expensive but I loved that place . I went to Three Valleys a few weeks ago . I find I've been getting more scared at skiing the past few years especially when folk behind me. Plus visibility was poor this year for a few days so that's my last ski holiday definitely. Last year was awesome blue sky's every day at same place 3 vallees I said I should make it my last but didn't. On a plus note my wife said you will need to find something else. So that cycling trip I've always fancied should happen wherever it is. Rant over

Several years ago two of our boys were in CrankWorks at Whistler. One was volunteering and the other was competing. I couldn’t believe the lineups. My wife and I wandered the village for a few days. Lineups to everything. Chaos! My wife visited the souvenir shops …I babysat the dog. Unbelievable for the summer.

 

[The Hodge]

Several years ago two of our boys were in CrankWorks at Whistler. One was volunteering and the other was competing. I couldn’t believe the lineups. My wife and I wandered the village for a few days. Lineups to everything. Chaos! My wife visited the souvenir shops …I babysat the dog. Unbelievable for the summer.

Didn't know what you were talking about for a little while there ..
Lineups ..over here that would mean the names of the players starting (as an example) a football match ( to clarify.. that would be soccer in your country ) ..what you have described is a queue ..

 

[Stihldog]

Didn't know what you were talking about for a little while there ..
Lineups ..over here that would mean the names of the players starting (as an example) a football match ( to clarify.. that would be soccer in your country ) ..what you have described is a queue ..

A Queue? I don’t think we’re allowed to use “fancy” words like that. This is Canada dude!

 

[KnollyBro]

I've got to confess that the Boogieman would be my worse nightmare. I find the North Shore type boards really freak me out. But much Kudos for riding them.

Completely understandable. It has been a steady progression of skill development, practice and several injuries to get to the level where I can flow down most of the trails around here. Riding with others who are better than you helps a lot! Boogieman is a Double Black for a good reason!

 

[Binhill1]

Several years ago two of our boys were in CrankWorks at Whistler. One was volunteering and the other was competing. I couldn’t believe the lineups. My wife and I wandered the village for a few days. Lineups to everything. Chaos! My wife visited the souvenir shops …I babysat the dog. Unbelievable for the summer.

I was there one day queues were mega but not for skiing to get in pub at 10 am . Martin Luther day so they come from US as they can get a drink at 18 in Canada . Well I was told that anyway.

 

[Stihldog]

I was there one day queues were mega but not for skiing to get in pub at 10 am . Martin Luther day so they come from US as they can get a drink at 18 in Canada . Well I was told that anyway.

Yup. My son-in-law was a bar-tender there for a few years. He said Ausies were absolutely crazy, hardcore.

 

[Binhill1]

Yup. My son-in-law was a bar-tender there for a few years. He said Ausies were absolutely crazy, hardcore.

Full of young Ausies. I found everyone very friendly to be honest.

 

[Stihldog]

Full of young Ausies. I found everyone very friendly to be honest.

I agree, they are friendly …very friendly.

 

[Binhill1]

I agree, they are friendly …very friendly.

I meant Canadians . But yes Aussies are a friendly race as well. Europeans not nearly as welcoming but they probably don't understand me ì have a strange Doric accent ,if yi Kenfitamean.

 

[Arminius]

I meant Canadians . But yes Aussies are a friendly race as well. Europeans not nearly as welcoming but they probably don't understand me ì have a strange Doric accent ,if yi Kenfitamean.

Scots, Texans or Bavarians? All the same!

 

[Stihldog]

Get a few drinks into an Aussie and look out! Canadians are really nice , until they pickup a hockey stick…then they become a plastic surgeon or dentist.

My wife is Scottish …so most times we get along lol.

 

[RustyMTB]

Another bit of high quality photography in which we hid from a gale in the vain hope we might not get drenched. We got drenched.

 

[KnollyBro]

I got stuck in Vancouver for a night flights to Europe all cancelled 3 days delayed. And when I arrived in London 3mm of snow . All flights North 3 day delay so train up to Glasgow overnight there , train to Aberdeen no trains going North of there so Bus to Fochabers and taxi home.

The Boogieman looks the business. Just I don't do jumps that big anymore if I ever did. Aye you were pechin a bit going down there you must be gettin auld ?. Heavy breathing I mean.

Being from one of the colonies, my English appears to fall short of what you may have actually said. Its not that the jumps are that big on Boogieman but if you do all 3 trails together (Boogieman Upper and Lower to Empress), it is around 10 minutes of Double Black tech trails with many significant features on them, that usually have me holding my breath and closing my eyes as I go over them! The heavy breathing is half fear and half effort!

 

[arTNC]

It may be February, but in Texas today it was 64 degrees...not uncommon this time of year. Got a great ride in on the new Rail 7, and the updated Marz Bomber coil fork and Fox DHX2 rear shock were awesome.

 

[Stihldog]

It may be February, but in Texas today it was 64 degrees...not uncommon this time of year. Got a great ride in on the new Rail 7, and the updated Marz Bomber coil fork and Fox DHX2 rear shock were awesome. View attachment 134006

Great bike and nice upgrades . Good riding weather too.

Ahhhh? Did someone else install the front tire? The air valve …it’s not between the XX logo on the Maxxis tire!

Is that a spoke magnet on the front wheel? Just curious .

 

[arTNC]

Great bike and nice upgrades . Good riding weather too.

Ahhhh? Did someone else install the front tire? The air valve …it’s not between the XX logo on the Maxxis tire!

Is that a spoke magnet on the front wheel? Just curious .

LOL!...you wouldn't believe how many times I've been asked about the presta valve location. I'll tell you straight up that I've never considered or worried about the location of the valve vs. sidewall markings on my bikes. Now, on my motorcycles and automotive tires I certainly do because in most cases there are marking elements on the sidewalls that contribute to tire balance. I've never understood the angst that some, maybe many, have about adhering to the valve location issue on a bicycle. Oh...this helps when attempting to locate the puncture in a tube? Who is still running tubes? Oh the humanity!

But seriously...I haven't run tubes since the dawn of roll-yer-own tubeless setups with packing tape and latex/cornmeal sealant. All fun aside, the wheel magnet is for a computer because the Purion display is horrible at reading real time speed, and it has no average speed reading. On the trail you see in that picture that I ride at least 3-4 times a week, it's fun to compare my fastest averages and real time speed in certain areas.

 

[jcarlson9]

Great bike and nice upgrades . Good riding weather too.

Ahhhh? Did someone else install the front tire? The air valve …it’s not between the XX logo on the Maxxis tire!

Is that a spoke magnet on the front wheel? Just curious .

Do you mind giving me an idea of the cost for the components? I have the same bike and would like to upgrade as well, thanks.

 

[Binhill1]

Cold out today especially the feet. Probably too much stopping and talking and not enough pedal power. 2.35 hrs moving time another 2 hrs lip moving time . Stove wasn't liking the temperature so it was chilly.

 

[arTNC]

Do you mind giving me an idea of the cost for the components? I have the same bike and would like to upgrade as well, thanks.

Well, I work part time at a friend's local bike shop in my retirement years...Trek, Specialized, Santa Cruz...so employee cost and employee purchase benefits came into play. I'm a mechanic and not so up on the retail end of things. Plus even retail prices of many bikes and components are being discounted a fair amount to where I can't even keep up. The internet is probably your best guide as to trying to figure out pricing. Sorry for not being able to adequately answer your question.

As to why I made these changes, I've pretty much always been a big hit bike guy...SC Bullits, Nomads, etc. Plus I come from a dirt motorcycle background, so coil suspension has usually been my preference. I will say on the Rail in particular, that I added a longer, 170mm, air spring shaft to the Domain RC originally on this bike, and frankly I think I could have lived with it. It was pretty decent, and that air shaft mod is cheap.

The rear shock, however, was seriously lacking IMO, and I wouldn't have been happy with living with it. The Marz coil fork was just a really good buy that I couldn't pass up at the moment.

 

[Stihldog]

Do you mind giving me an idea of the cost for the components? I have the same bike and would like to upgrade as well, thanks.

That’s a good question. I’m not sure I can help though. There’s so many possibilities and personal preferences. Sry.

 

[arTNC]

That’s a good question. I’m not sure I can help though. There’s so many possibilities and personal preferences. Sry.

Now hold on there a minute, Stihldog...you noticed the air valve location and the tiny computer magnet on the front wheel...but...had no comment on the size of the rear cassette? I am disappointed...LOL!

But really that's the thing I get most of the observational comments about.

 

[Stihldog]

Now hold on there a minute, Stihldog...you noticed the air valve location and the tiny computer magnet on the front wheel...but...had no comment on the size of the rear cassette? I am disappointed...LOL!

But really that's the thing I get most of the observational comments about.

9 speed? Cool. I was probably distracted by the background scenery or my e-magnifying glass temporarily shutoff.

 

[arTNC]

LOL!...yes, 9-speed Shimano Cues...had it on my other emtb. Our shop demo Rail 7 has the OEM 12-speed setup and no one uses those two lowest cogs.

 

[Mcharza]

Back at home after almost 4 weeks skiing in Japan. Time to switch back to mtb scene?
This was a picture I got of myself and I don't even recognise myself from that

 

[Binhill1]

LOL!...yes, 9-speed Shimano Cues...had it on my other emtb. Our shop demo Rail 7 has the OEM 12-speed setup and no one uses those two lowest cogs.

So do you need to add spacers

Back at home after almost 4 weeks skiing in Japan. Time to switch back to mtb scene?
This was a picture I got of myself and I don't even recognise myself from that View attachment 134058

Always wanted a Japan ski trip . Someone told me it can be horrendous for visibility so that put me off. I'm hopeless skiing anywhere when visibility goes.

 

[El Grifo]

Batshit Boatshit Crazy

 

[arTNC]

So do you need to add spacers

Always wanted a Japan ski trip . Someone told me it can be horrendous for visibility so that put me off. I'm hopeless skiing anywhere when visibility goes.

No, no spacers. I did have to remove that 12-speed cassette hub and attach the traditional cassette hub to accept the 8-11 cassette design that most of us are familiar with...super easy to do. People who want to run the 50+ cassette cog setups are obviously free to do so, but I don't think it's necessary on most of these emtb's with stronger motors like the Bosch-4 and others.

With my 11-36 9-speed gearing, for fun I've shifted down to the 36T cog, and the bike is practically unrideable. It pretty much just wants to launch or wheelie...LOL! Now, I am riding in Turbo, and I'm sure it would be different in those lower power selections, but I just don't ride there. Understand that I'm not trying to preach or rail against the 50+ tooth cassettes or riding in lower power ranges, but if you're a Turbo choice rider then maybe there's no need for 12 cogs and super low gearing.

Again, I'm a dirt motorcycle guy so my approach to riding may be different than others. Also, if you're riding in locations where extreme battery conservation is necessary, then lower power and higher gearing is more understandable. It's all about choices and applications.

 

[Binhill1]

No, no spacers. I did have to remove that 12-speed cassette hub and attach the traditional cassette hub to accept the 8-11 cassette design that most of us are familiar with...super easy to do. People who want to run the 50+ cassette cog setups are obviously free to do so, but I don't think it's necessary on most of these emtb's with stronger motors like the Bosch-4 and others.

With my 11-36 9-speed gearing, for fun I've shifted down to the 36T cog, and the bike is practically unrideable. It pretty much just wants to launch or wheelie...LOL! Now, I am riding in Turbo, and I'm sure it would be different in those lower power selections, but I just don't ride there. Understand that I'm not trying to preach or rail against the 50+ tooth cassettes or riding in lower power ranges, but if you're a Turbo choice rider then maybe there's no need for 12 cogs and super low gearing.

Again, I'm a dirt motorcycle guy so my approach to riding may be different than others. Also, if you're riding in locations where extreme battery conservation is necessary, then lower power and higher gearing is more understandable. It's all about choices and applications.

Ok so you wouldn't get the mileage I understand . Easy to work two wheels with different cassettes though. I agree we could live with less than 11 gears on an ebike .