(Update: there is so much tire! )I've done a thing, again

"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97) 09/01/2020 at 23:32 • Filed to: None

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Update:

Took it out on a little 8 mile loop trail just outside of Las Cruces in the foothills of the Organ Mountains , out on the national monument. It was freaking fantastic!

This is a trail I’ve ridden several times in the last two weeks on the gravel bike since I got the (not as) fatty wheelset for it. A nice mix of some rolling climbs and and decent, mixed in with numerous technical bits going down into, crossing, and back out of rocky arroyos. Compared to doing this trail on the gravel bike, this new Stache feels like cheat mode. I could take any line I wanted to, and easily went over or through anything out there. It laughed at the patches of soft gravel and sandy arroyo bottoms. All but the biggest rocks were no more a matter than “did I feel a bump, or just hear it?” I got back to the Pajero way faster than I’ve ever done before, and almost took a second lap before my better judgement decided against it.

There is so much tire and so much grip . What I feared about the effort to turn over that much tire turned out to be unfounded. It rolls over easy, and over seeming just about anything. The ride is so smooth, and I was probably still 1-2 psi too high on the pressures. The GX Eagle drive train rocks, and there was always another to gear to drop down to on the climbs. Compared to the gravel bike, I can spin out of gear on descents on faster parts of the trail.

If someone had told me even six months ago I would own a bike with hydraulic disk brakes, I would’ve laughed at them. Now I think they’re just about the greatest thing ever. The last couple of miles of the trail are a generally flowing descent back to the truck. On the Journeyman with mechanical disk brakes, my hands are on fire by time I get back to the truck. Tonight on the Stache I felt ready for another lap when I got to the truck.

Original Post:

This Trek Stache 9.7 followed me home from the local bike shop this afternoon. My savings account may never forgive me. My new tubeless skinnier skinny wheelset for the Journeyman was ready to pickup, too.

I test rode the bike the other day on lark, thinking it would be a pig. It turns out to ride like anything but a pig, and the frame is even my size. It had me smitten, and I had been entertaining the idea of putting in order for good hardtail on the theory that bike inventory will be a thing that exists again someday.

The 29x3.0 tires feel like it can roll over anything, and I had the shop set them up tubeless before I took it home. Now I just need it to stop pissing rain to go for the inaugural trail ride with it. There are just some freebie VP racing pedals I bolted on it that were thrown in with my Journeyman when I took it home in May, but I’ve got another set of Shimano EH500 pedals on order for it.

I’ve owned good cars that cost less, but it rides so very nicely.

Tripper > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:45

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Siiiiick congrats!!

Ssfancyfresh > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:45

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That’s a cool bike. It was in my short list a while back. I ended up with a Kona Honzo, but I still like these 

PowderHound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:49

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Congrats! I don’t think I could do a hard tail. Plenty of people ride them around here but I feel like even my 115 rear travel isn’t enough and I bottom it out on the regular.

I have some vp-001 pedals that I like but as with most things I haven’t tried a lot of what else is out there. I also slightly refuse to ride clips.

I also love those ESI grips. I had some lizard skin moabs that came with my bike and after a year switched to the chunky. I’m on my second pair and they greatly save my hands that tend to clamp up in an  arthritisy way

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > PowderHound 09/01/2020 at 19:53

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Compared to my gravel bike with rigid fork and the second 27.5x2.2 fatty wheelset for it, this fells heavenly over bumps.

I love being clipped in. It feels so much more secure, and there is much more power and efficiency. I run Shimano EH500 pedals, which are clipless on one side, and platform on the other. It leaves the option for not being clipped in where called for, or riding to a brewery in sandals.

PowderHound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 20:04

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I would imagine compared to a rigid! I ride an old rigid to work as a commuter and sometimes of just little bumps it can be jarring.

One of these days I may try to clip in but I started out mountain biking with flats and became accustomed to making them grip. There was only once in fruita where I felt like clips would really have helped me out because it was a flatter out and back. I’m sure it helps uphill but something seems to be working okay  for me at the moment. 

Nom De Plume > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 20:07

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That should provide some fun when you finally get out on it.

Make sure you spend some time with normal shoes learning how to jump it. That means learning how to crash and fall more than anything else but jumping without your feet connected will add to the learning curve considerably.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/new-jersey-passes-the-wear-and-tear-test-1844731769

TheRealBicycleBuck > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 20:24

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I used to ride clipless, but I can’t find shoes to fit my wide feet and I tracked my knee pain down to a lack of rotational freedom when I’m clipped in. Now that I’ve switched back to platforms with clips, both my feet and my knees are much happier.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 20:42

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A bike shop...with bikes in stock?

What is this, 2019??

Seriously though, nice bike,  congratulations!

BeaterGT > PowderHound 09/01/2020 at 21:01

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Love my ESI grips. Will be the first thing I do on a new bike aside from pedals.

BeaterGT > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 21:05

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I’ve ridden a friend’s Stache and it was awesome...wait what . Seriously though, ni ce pickup!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 21:08

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Sweet! Looks like a legit build kit too. Should provide miles and miles of good trail riding. I have a dual suspension and a hard tail, I ride them both, a lot. They both have their place. I tried 27.5+ a few years ago and didn’t really like it that much. Went back to standard 29x 2.3/2.5. 

benjrblant > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 21:12

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awwwwwwww yissss

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 09/01/2020 at 21:34

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Ha! They haven’t bikes in stock writ large since I got my Journeyman in May, but there’s a few things in the shop. Anything like the occasional Marlin or 820 , or any other sub $2k bike, gets snapped up as soon as they put it out, but there’s always been a handful or two of higher end bikes on the shelf. If you want a $4k -8k mtb or road bike, they’ll have a few things around.

TheRealBicycleBuck > PowderHound 09/01/2020 at 21:34

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The best thing you can do to smooth out the ride is buy a bigger set of tires. One of my favorite commuting bikes was a rigid MTB with 1" slicks.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 21:50

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I just bought an FX 2 last week for piddling around town and some cardio.

They let me ride an electrified road bike and dual-suspension MTB while I was there. Have you ridden any of the electrified Trek bikes? They’re freaking nuts.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 21:51

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Nice! The pike is a fantastic fork. Now you just need to find some real trails!

Ooh, by the way, trailforks pro is 50% off for early adopters for a short time.

Itsmemupos > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 22:37

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Love it! I didn’t go that far up the ladder a year ago. But I love my Stache 5. Converted to single speed, H unt trail wide wheels + 2.6 wide tires. I liked the grip of 3in tires but getting the pressure right was such a pain. Way easier with the lower volume tires and still have loads of grip.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Nom De Plume 09/01/2020 at 23:04

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I can do that on the Journeyman unclipped. I messed around with that some on the new bike as I was setting it up before the ride, but it will take a bit of practice. The weight distribution and center of mass on it are way different than the salsa.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/01/2020 at 23:07

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That part I’ve got covered. There is a big mtb community down here, and legit trails I can ride from my house. There’s also the monumental loop that was created and mapped out by a friend of mine. A whole bunch of my friends have been long-time mountain bikers, I just get to join them out on the trails now in addition to drinking beer with them in town.  They’re already trying to recruit me to train for their race team.

jminer > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 23:39

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Looks good! Sounds like from your ride report it's the perfect bike for you.

Nom De Plume > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 23:44

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C ongrats on the fancy carbon hardtail. It looks very light.

Chariotoflove > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/01/2020 at 23:47

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I’m shocked to hear anybody say that in 2020, although as you might guess, I haven’t used pedals like that for a long time. I do remember when the first generations of clipless pedals came out though, that that was a common problem and that companies built in a lot of adjustable travel to deal with it. Guess they didn’t fix it for everyone. Also, skinny, euro-sized racing shoes were a pain for those of us with wide feet. I empathize.

Clips are naturally adjustable; you just pull the strap until you’re comfortable.

Nom De Plume > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 23:48

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You updated just as I replied.

That grin will stick around for awhile.  Once your rhythm and comfort on it are a bit higher the fun really starts.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > jminer 09/01/2020 at 23:48

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I think we're going to have a of fun together.  Doing giant downhill jumps doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me at 35, but I think this will be a lot fun to mash on more moderate trails.

InFierority Complex > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/02/2020 at 00:07

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Stop making me miss that part of the country.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Nom De Plume 09/02/2020 at 00:25

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That has certainly been the case with the gravel bike.  I suspect the same thing will happen as I gain more trail experience.  

Cash Rewards > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/02/2020 at 05:19

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Hardtail, no front derailleur, rock shox: this bike is perfect

TheRealBicycleBuck > Chariotoflove 09/02/2020 at 07:40

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T o be fair, I never tried a set of Speedplay pedals. I’ve stuck with SPDs. The big downside of SPDs (for me) is re- centering float. Whenever I need to spend a little time at a different foot rotation, there’s constant pressure to recenter my foot. If the spring tension is loosened to reduce the pressure, there’s a risk of unintentional unclipping. I was fine with the compromises for years, but as my knees get older, compromise is less of an option on longer rides.

I’ve often thought of starting a line of extra-wide cycling shoes to fit my duck feet. Then I come to my senses.

You’ll get a kick out of my pedals. Ancient off-brand triple-traps with plastic clips and straps. :)

Chariotoflove > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/02/2020 at 07:54

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Wow, they look like Sears & Roebuck’s finest from 1975. But if they get the job done comfortably, then they’re the right choice.

People have such diverse leg geometry that it shouldn’t be so hard to adjust your center and your float either way. I’m surprised at Shimano, except for the earlier generations which were known for being quite rigid, as I remember . I’ve never even seen Speedplays in action. They always looked so weird to me, like, “somebody stole the pedals off this bike and left these stumps.”

TheRealBicycleBuck > Chariotoflove 09/02/2020 at 08:06

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I think I got them with my first Nishiki MTB in the early ‘90s , but I can’t remember if they came with the bike or if I bought them from the shop. I love the confused looks when I roll up to a group ride with these things. Rest stops are amazing. I’m the only one not crunching gravel with every step.

“. .. somebody stole th e pedals off this bike and left these stumps” is the perfect description of S peedplays! First laugh of the day. Thank you, sir!

Chariotoflove > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/02/2020 at 08:25

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I live to serve.

I haven’t seen a Nishiki in ages. It was my sister’s Nishiki road bike that I got run over on while my Colnago was being painted. That poor bike. It died too young.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Chariotoflove 09/02/2020 at 08:35

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I sold mine. It wasn’t a fanstastic bike, but it was solid and it got the job done. I made a series of questionable decisions regarding that bike, but repainting it and selling it gave me the funds to buy my first Cannondale. It was a big step up from the Nishiki. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 09/02/2020 at 08:41

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I've not ridden an e-bike, but I find them interesting as a concept.  

Chariotoflove > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/02/2020 at 09:11

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Yeah, they were serviceable is about all.

nermal > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/02/2020 at 10:43

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You’re falling down the rabbit hole and it will only get worse.

I just put a coil shock on my bike and after one ride am converted to the Cult of Coil Springs. Probably gonna get a conversion kit for the front next.

Enjoy the bike but don’t read about any other biking related stuff until you’re ready to drop the cash on more parts and bikes . The entire industry is designed around attacking the fiscally responsible part of your brain, and encouraging more and more and more buying. There’s literally no end to it .

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 09/02/2020 at 11:03

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I aso want to pickup a true road bike at some point, but that will have to wait until next year and I can save some pennies.

For spending more money, now that I've got a second bike the accessorizing gets to start all over again, although this time around I'm not starting from scratch and I've got a much better idea of what I want on the bike.

ST80MND > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/03/2020 at 09:24

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Stache 9.7! Great bike man, good choice. There is no denying how much better riding is on a quality steed.