Bikelopnik

"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker) 07/06/2016 at 14:54 • Filed to: Two wheels good, HPV

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I found a new section of moderately technical single track at lunch today, with 100% more bridge than the area I usually ride. What did you do for lunch?

AntiSpeed > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:01

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I went to Chipotle. But the parking lot was full, so I ended up going to the Qdoba next door. I had steak tacos, just steak and cheese, with a Dr. Pepper.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > AntiSpeed 07/06/2016 at 15:03

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There's a qdoba near me but I haven't tried it. How was it?

RallyWrench > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:03

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Nice! I’m going for a road ride at lunch.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:09

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I haven’t been ridding much at lunch lately but after work about 3 times a week. This is our typical office parking job. My coworker has a Specialized stump jumper.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > RallyWrench 07/06/2016 at 15:09

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It was a good ride but the heat almost kicked my ass. I hope it’s cooler than 94 wherever you are.

RallyWrench > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:12

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It is, only in the mid 70's. Heat is why I do road rides on lunch instead of mountain, though there’s trails very near my work. Since mountain is lower speed and involves a pretty gnarly climb on the hill nearby, by the time I get back to work I’m cooked and bright red all afternoon, not so good a look in front of clients. At least on the road there’s good ventilation regardless of heat.

AntiSpeed > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:14

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I don’t think it’s as good as Chipotle but it’s worth trying.

interstate366, now In The Industry > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:15

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I'll go for a ride later if it doesn't rain. Doing things around the house right now.

lone_liberal > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:20

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Sat at my desk and answered a snarky email with my own snarky email.

OPPOsaurus WRX > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:23

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i’m going for a ride this afternoon. Its going to be sweaty

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:25

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There’s a nice trail about 15 minutes away from office. Since I get an hour for lunch, I keep meaning to bring my bike with me to get in a good lunch ride, but I’ve been too lazy to throw the bike rack on the car. One of these days I’ll get around to it...

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/06/2016 at 15:35

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Nice! The only Salsa I have is my seat post. I’m in the market for a new bike this fall. How do you like it?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 15:46

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Well this is a fairly old bike (2009), and I still love it. Compared to newer bikes I have ridden it is still relevant and holds its own. In general 29er hard tails are great everyday bikes. They don’t make this model anymore but they do make the el mariachi which is similar, but with a steel frame. Niner makes a bike called the EMD 9 which is a great value too.

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/el_maria…

DynamicWeight > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 16:00

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Damn, I wish there were trails that close to my office. I ride my bike here but there are only road rides around here. Well, and a gravel path that’s reasonably sweet but would probably take my whole lunch.

I have to get in the car and drive 30 minutes to get to a trail. The flip side is the trails are amazing .

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/06/2016 at 16:00

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Thanks. I’ve been riding this frame since 1996, and I haven’t upgraded to another hard tail because I know how it behaves, the geometry works for me, and I somehow haven’t cracked the frame despite a number of admirable attempts. I’ve been test riding dh, all mountain, and fat bikes from devinci, santa cruz, trek, GT, and specialized. I just can’t figure out what I want.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > DynamicWeight 07/06/2016 at 16:06

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Believe me, I know how lucky I am be a 5 minute ride from some of the best single track in the area. It’s the only way I stay sane in this job.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 16:10

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Jeeze, such a selection. I guess you will have to figure out if you want a dual suspension or not. I have both and ride both my dual suspension and hard tail about equally. I love the dual suspension on the downhills, the hard tail if fun but it doesn’t jump or take drops very well. My wife just got a BMC Speed Fox, a 130mm travel trail bike and she loves it.

TooLazyToNotBurner > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 16:13

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Nice older Trek there! I’m really jelly of biking at lunch as I’m not permitted to bring the bike up to work. I did get out a couple of times on the weekend though. Summers are just too short.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > RallyWrench 07/06/2016 at 16:20

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Despite the heat, a cloud of deer flies was surprisingly good motivation to ride harder than I should have today. I have a cold room in my lab, so I ducked in there for five to cool off after I got back. It was heavenly.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > interstate366, now In The Industry 07/06/2016 at 16:21

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Mud=fun!

The Lurktastic Opponaught > lone_liberal 07/06/2016 at 16:22

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Sounds like an average day in my office.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/06/2016 at 16:28

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Part of the problem is that I want my next ride to be something I can use year round. The difficulty is that I’m in Maine which means snow, and something like a 650b plus bike doesn’t quiiiite have the float for snow, but it kicks ass most everywhere else. As much of a compromise as a fat bike is, it does everything I want in a mostly competent fashion.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 16:33

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There are some 29er frames that will take a 650b+ tire, so 29er for speed in the sumer and 3" tires in the winter? Forgot the specific models but Trek Slash? Specialized Fuse? I live in NW Montana so I pretty much hang up the bike when the snow flies and nordic ski and downhill ski december-march.

Chasaboo > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 16:33

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I had Açaí for lunch.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/06/2016 at 16:49

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Good to know, thanks. I’ll look into those. I used to ride in the summer and run in the winter, but back problems put an end to my running career, so I need a ride that’ll allow me to stay in the saddle year round.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > TooLazyToNotBurner 07/06/2016 at 16:56

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Thanks! I’m extremely grateful to have an employer that encourages us to ride by making bike storage, shower facilities, etc. available to us. Summers are short around here too, so I'm looking into a fat bike to stay on the trail year round.

TooLazyToNotBurner > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 18:29

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I've heard something sterling reports of the fat tire bikes but I haven't converted myself. Do you get enough good snow to warrant a fat tire, or just move up to a 29er with 2.9" regulars?

The Lurktastic Opponaught > TooLazyToNotBurner 07/06/2016 at 18:47

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We typically get at least 10 feet a year. The snowmobile trails are the most rideable because they’re groomed, but there are some good xc skiing areas that don’t mind fat bikes so long as we’re not too hard on the surface. I borrowed a friend’s fat bike a few weeks last winter and a few weeks earlier this summer, and I absolutely loved it. It climbed like a goat, descended lines I’d never consider riding on my hard tail, and was one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ever ridden. There was nothing I couldn’t ride. I rode granite block sea walls, unimproved forest floor, rutted ATV trails, beach sand, and snow. It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t light, but it went.

TooLazyToNotBurner > The Lurktastic Opponaught 07/06/2016 at 20:36

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We get 3-6' of snow, but I usually take the dog when I go out in the winter with snowshoes. Biking would be fun, but for the number of times I’d get out, I think I’ll stick to what I’ve got.
If you are looking for a new bike anyhow, that might be the ticket to fill a gap in the quiver. Nothing saying you couldn’t use it year round anyhow. I hear they are great on sand, gravel and anything loose so long as speed isn’t a requirement.
Make a post if you ever get one, I'd be keen to see how it pans out for you.