It’s the last day of February, and a beautiful day at that. The dirt on the trails is incroyable and the smell of spring is engaging. If I’d had a bit more time I would have fully had a nap in this beautiful sunny spot I rolled across on Pipeline. Thank you to Ken, David, and Chris², the trail was perfectly itself today.
It feels like spring. Piles of new products I don’t care about are on the horizon. Although, I did receive an exciting {to me} box with a couple of interesting fresh and refreshed bits today. Most brands {that I would love to work with} can’t even be bothered to return my e-mail asking to be added to their media list, so I’m doubly extra grateful to folks {that I love to work with} who support my passion project.
{And yes, I have more than a few long, long-long, and long-long-long-term review items to update. Look for a ‘Yep, That’s Still Rad’ roundup next week.}
Anywho, on February 28th, I’m feeling smooth even though I’m running a bit rough. There are only fifty days or so until Easter so let the secret training begin!
The Tremblay Show
I have friends who loved it, but I didn’t really connect with Drop-In TV. It was years later that I interacted with Dylan Tremblay, a few times years back working for Pope Jimmy at SuspensionWerx, and I have to say that he’s an absolute prince. Bike nerd, collector, enthusiast, gentleman and most important to this context, his stoke knows no clique.
It turns out he has a YouTube channel – @TremblayShow – and here I’ll shout out Stephane at Pinkbike for sharing that fact, or I would probably have missed it.
I think the ultimate compliment for the video that Stephane shared – Dylan riding his CA$100 ‘Green Machine,’ a vintage Cove Bikes stickered Ritchey – is that it’s fun. Quirky and fun. Mountain biking. Definitely worth the click.
Drinking Water, Penny Style
I have not been drinking enough water on rides and I blame the No Quarter Climb, which I have been riding the most frequently. On most other rides I drink on the go, but on No Quarter there are limited opportunities to drink and pedal, at least with my skill set. I take plenty of breaks but a couple quick squirts of H2O aren’t enough, and I’ve been finishing up with a significant hydration deficit for months.
{It’s been bad enough that I’ve been considering switching back to a hydration bladder to ensure I’m getting the right amount of l’eau flow.}
Enter a change in hydration technique that is showing awesome results. Every time I stop for a quick rest I unthread the top of my bottle and drink from it. Squirts on the go, glugs when I slow. And what a difference it has made!
I’d love to claim this hydration maximization technique as my own but, honestly, I’m just copying my friend Penny. If you’re similarly bottled-up and suffering from a lack of hydration on technical rides, I’d highly recommend adopting the same unthread-when-stopped water intake regime.
Secondhand Laces
It turns out quite a few I know, woman folks specifically, have an extra pair of just-a-teeny-bit-too-small still-so-fresh Five Ten, or equivalent, shoes kicking around. Claire is now covered for the next few sizes. Turns out I just needed to write about her mom’s used kicks and BOOM. Shoes.
{Thank you, your generosity is appreciated friends.}
In the past I’ve tried a few different gear-based community building projects – Giving The Gift of Guides / Saddle Library – with middling results. In this case, I would love to be able to link said nearly new kicks with shoe-hungry groms, and appreciate folks offering them, but it’s not something I can take on.
That said, the folks you know with kids {and teens} who ride know other kids {and teens} who ride and footwear {and pedals} are the most important contact points that are so often overlooked. You wouldn’t believe how many nice-enough bikes we see in the shop with the shittiest pedals.
If you have a pair of lightly used mountain bike shoes taking up space in your closet, they will absolutely make some parent’s day. Just ask around, and thank you, in advance, on their behalf!
Meeting/MEATing Myself
No Quarter is aptly named and today I surrendered multiple times only to find myself back on my bike pedaling after a few steps. I had plenty of notice that it was going to be a solo ride and I did really think about riding Will’s Arcturian today. You know, for the simple fact that 30×10-42t 11-speed drivetrain is a lot more forgiving than my #1FG setup.
But for Fromme Friday I always ride my single-speeded WZRDtastic Waltworks V2 one-speed, so, that’s what I did. I paid the price, not for the first time on a solo ride, but I loved every minute of it. Yes, even the minutes where I was walking.
Relatively speaking, wow am I in poor shape. I’ve been under the weather for a month, not riding near enough, feeling a bit beaten up. Hey, as long as the airing of excuses happens pre-ride it’s fair game right? But meeting myself where I’m at {and MEATing the crap out of myself on the single-speed} and having fun anyway is awesome.
Thanks for being patient with yourself Drew-Bob! It’ll get better {or at least faster.}
The Return of Weight Weenieism
While I couldn’t give a shake what my bikes weigh, I am genuinely excited about the pendulum swinging back to the land of “The claimed weight of our widget is 5% lighter than the claimed weight of their widget.”
This is for three reasons.
- I am truly hoping the laws that govern ‘What’s Old Is New’ will dictate a return of Plus-sized 27 & 29 x 3″ rubber and shaving a couple grams off of magnesium fork lowers seems like an aggressive resetting of current norms.
- It will jumpstart folks buying new {lighterweight} shit which is good for bike companies and shops and even better for getting the inventory up in the used market. Come buy your 100-gram lighter weight fork and then sell your current one for cheap!
- Warranty culture is moving fully towards the ridiculous in mountain biking. You crashed and tore your shirt? Have it repaired or buy a new one. Same goes for rear derailleurs and carbon frames. The industry has been massively overbuilding frames and rims to be able to support no-questions-asked expectations, and hopefully the gram-counting crowd can save us from this slide.
And look, this gram focus of more performance for the same weight or lower weight for the same performance is here. If you’re not opting in to weighing a your spoke nipples at least enjoy the advantages {new and used} of folks’ obsession with the latest, greatest, and lightest.
Mullet Magic
This one is for the hardtail crowd. I had two folks this week tell me that they moved from a dual 29″ setup on their rig to a mullet arrangement with disappointing results. And yes, I understand, the difference in radius between a 29×2.6″ tire and 27×2.6″ tire is not nothing. And, it’s only worth doing if it’s a net benefit for a given rider.
But here’s the thing. Take an i30 650b/27″ rim, install a CushCore Trail or Pro insert, and throw on a terrain-appropriate 27×3″ tire like a Schwalbe Magic Mary or Specialized Ground Control tire and watch, and ride, as everything makes perfect sense.
The wider tire, and much lower air pressure, adds significant traction and comfort with the hardtail setup. And most, many, much of the 29’er frames out there that can clear a 29×2.6″ tire with room are going to have no problem with the 27×3.0″.
I’m not claiming that everyone, or anyone other than me even, will love the 27+ over the 29+/- setup. But if you’ve already gone to the effort of lacing up a 27″/650b hoop and you don’t mind investing a bit of money in experimenting, why not grab some rubber and give is a go?
Larry Talker Tunes for the Week
Model-T had a busy week and had to skip Fromme Friday on the most beautiful day with the most beautiful dirt in ’25.
This is an uncharacteristically short submission by Terry Walker, but FM had me dancing in my chair from chord one, so he must have figured it would speak for itself. Enjoy!
Take it away Terry Walker:
A great new album (2024) from a “classic rock era” band. A bit “80’s pop-like in spots”, but holds its own with classic rocking’ riffs and a catchy chorus on every track.
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