New toy

"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust) 05/31/2018 at 21:33 • Filed to: Bikelopnik

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I started riding single track 27 years ago, with my last new ride being a 2004 Giant VT2 (I’ve been on an 8 year hiatus for bad reasons). Holy shit have bikes changed.

The aforementioned VT Two

Fewer gears, bigger wheels, wider tires, infinitely better brakes, wider handlebars, shorter (nearly non existant) stems, internal cables, carbon frames (that are getting rather affordable), square frame tubes, dropper posts (/swoon)...to say I was overwhelmed when I started shopping would be an understatement.

2018 Fuel EX 8 XT

I ended up choosing the above Trek for multiple reasons. Picked it up from the LBS after work this evening, and a quick spin on some gravel multi use trails later, I’m beyond thrilled. Can’t wait to spend this weekend reacquainting myself with the local single track networks and finding out how it handles some more technical terrain.

 Granted, a lot of what I’m happy with would have existed on any bike (things related to my 14 year tech update). 29" wheels give zero fucks about small objects/obstacles/gaps. Hydraulic brakes are almost scary good (my old two finger grip quickly turned into an index finger-only finesse after finding out exactly how precise they are). I’m itching to get to the bottom of a steep descent, and return the seat to riding height with the flip of a lever, as opposed to stopping to fiddle with a quick release.

I quit a 22 year pack-a-day (or more) cigarette habit 4 months ago. Started logging daily miles on a stationary at the beginning of May, with plans to buy a bike if I’d stuck with training and enjoyed it. After hitting the trails this weekend with a few friends on an old borrowed spare hardtail, I realized how much better riding was when your lungs and heart worked properly (and how much I missed being in the woods). I started smoking at 16, and looking back now, I can see my cardio/aerobic deterioration from late teens to mid twenties, to early thirties. Christ, I was a moron.

TL/DR: Bikes are awesome, cigarettes are bad, thanks to functionoverfashion for the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and yay bourbon.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 21:44

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Mountain bikes have come a long way in just eight years let alone 26 years. My 2010 vintage XC bikes, whilst still awesome, might as well be roadies compared to what’s available now!!!

benjrblant > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 21:53

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Right on! Hope you enjoy it. The GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain is a crazy piece of engineering.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 21:59

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Treks Arch rival evil enemy is my stump jumper.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 22:05

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I found with the 29s i lost a little agility, i think you probably have a higher center of gravity. I also have 28 speeds. The bigger wheels and extra gear really makes a different. I’m most doing cross country so I have a hardtail. Disc brakes kick ass but the hydraulics are awesome.

functionoverfashion > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 22:07

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Hey thanks for the shout out! Man, I don’t even have a really good reason for not riding much between 2006 and 2014. But like you, I borrowed bikes (and rode my old hardtail Cannondale) to prove that I would do it, and I bought a then-new 2014 Trek Fuel full suspension something... it’s not “old” now, but it’s certainly not amazing. I do still love it, and the 29" wheels are phenomenal for the rocky/root-ridden trails I ride near me. Bikes have come a crazy long way, and also they’re not cheap!!

Cheers, and happy riding. I’m quite sore now from my night at Highland. It’s time for bed. If I hadn’t had several beers on a weeknight already I’d be having some bourbon, too! It’s a friend’s wedding this weekend and all the out-of-town guests were partying, so I crashed, with my wife and kids.. we were more than welcome but not *exactly* invited. Always fun!

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 05/31/2018 at 22:12

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Yeah, I had the idea in my head going into this that current bikes would be mild to moderate improvements over my 2004 FS bike. I was really underestimating current tech.

syaieya > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 22:13

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I want to get into biking but my knowledge ends with my 3 week stint as a bike assembler at Toys R Us 5 years ago.

All I have is big box specials and used bikes from the 90s. 70 dollar mongoose, 25 dollar big sur with a knot in it, and a marlboro special folding fuji bike.

Trails around here arent plentiful so i may look into road or hybrid bikes. I saw a velodrome last weekend drivin to the 500 and that looks proper cool.

Good on ya for droppin that smokin habit. Keep at it. 

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/31/2018 at 22:30

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I honestly went into it expecting 29's to feel like a penny farthing, my mind nearly made up on 27.5s.

The stopping power and control on the hydraulic brakes is just insane.

bob and john > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 05/31/2018 at 23:35

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I have a 2010 Fuel EX 8. last year before they went to 29 inch wheels.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 06/01/2018 at 01:19

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Congrats on the sweet bike! Really digging the murdered out look with the all black everything. I have a 2015 EX 8 and somehow didn’t get to use it at all last year. Definitely hitting up some local trails soon. I found that the stock handlebars don’t inspire a lot of confidence... maybe I’m still not used to the wide grip, or maybe they need to be rotated upwards a bit. Otherwise fantastic bike - exceeds my abilities.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 06/01/2018 at 03:00

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Yeah! 29ers unite!

You will love riding task trails with that thing. I can’t wait to get out and ride either. But I’ve got to do some work on mine first. New stem, new rear shock, and fork service. Hoping to pick up a 1x12 drivetrain at some point too.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 06/01/2018 at 08:07

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My BIL has a sweet 29” Cannondale lefty. Makes me Jealous, but I’m focusing on getting a good road bike first because I just don’t gat to the trails often as they’re all 20-45 minutes away. Where as I can hop on my road bike and just go. I do want to get on a single track again tho. When I did it last I was on a no suspension 27” 90s Raleigh and it was a blast I can’t imagine how fun it is on a modern bike.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 06/01/2018 at 08:24

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Dude. Good freaking choice!

First piece of advice I may give is swap out those stock pedals for some RaceFace Chesters (or similar flat pedals with tall pins) and look for a deal on some FiveTen Freerider shoes. If you have some old vans or flat bottomed shoes those will do fine. You’d be surprised how much difference it makes with keeping your feet on the pedals over janky surfaces (rock/root gardens).

Lokiparts > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 06/01/2018 at 13:20

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I miss mountain biking so much. I was hoping to really get back into it this year, but now with my wife working most evenings I just don’t have the time. Not to mention none of my friends are into it.

Hopefully I can manage to find a little time in the future because I live so close to some very good trails that it would honestly be a shame not to get over there and ride at least occasionally.

I actually rode over there with my kids the on Monday, but there was no way I could do anything pulling two trailers behind my hybrid bike. So I just took them to the playground instead.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > functionoverfashion 06/01/2018 at 18:51

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Your earlier post about Highland (I should probably reply there, but my mother tells me I’m a non-conformist) makes me think we’ve got pretty similar situations going on. I’ve got probably 110 miles of well maintained and ridden single track at two networks within minutes of my home and office (some accessible from my back door without touching car/pavement), mostly rocky/root laden single track, with some pretty decent climbs. Oh, and Snowshoe, WV is a 3 hour drive.

Tentatively planning a trip for late summer with a few friends (though I doubt I’ll be hitting the road gaps this season). There’s a bunch of rental property available at good rates in the summer as ski/snowboard is their bread and butter, and DH rigs/full body armor are available for rental.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Lokiparts 06/01/2018 at 18:58

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Oh man, that section of trail looks beautiful, not a rock or root in sight. Even the manicured jump sections in my area usually require picking the right line through rocks and roots, or you’re hitting the jump in a less than ideal position/speed.

Hope you can at least figure out a few hours on the weekends/etc, and the kids are interested as they grow old enough to join you. I’d love to be able to show my kids the ropes and ride with them.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/01/2018 at 19:10

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The trails I’m riding now I started on in the late 90s on a full rigid bike, and front shocks, then full suspension bikes were a big improvement. I’m dying for the night to pass (and hoping we don’t get thunderstorms, stay dry!) so I can get out on the trails in the morning and see how this new bike does.

I’ve thought about getting a road bike, but I don’t trust drivers around here. Even with the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby, which is known for cyclists, I had a few close calls as a kid/teenager. I rode in Poland for awhile, and it was amazing. Even on smaller roads, I felt more comfortable.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 06/01/2018 at 19:24

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Thanks man, I’m pretty thrilled with it so far.

The bike shop set me up with a pair of studded DMR pedals, and some pretty worn running shoes bit to them surprisingly well. I’m thinking of trying an old pair of DC’s that I’ve got to see how they hold.

functionoverfashion > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 06/03/2018 at 21:38

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That’s awesome, it really is so much fun and good exercise at the same time. I’ve spent a big chunk of my life pursuing sports like this, where you can have fun with friends AND get good exercise and also maybe risk your life, lol. That which doesn’t kill me... etc.

Cheers