I was with a friend yesterday while he took the rear wheel of his MTB to a shop to look into going tubeless.

While discussing that with the bike boffins, I looked around at different bikes.

I wish I noted and remembered the brand, but I fell in love with a MTB that if it weren't for the ~$2500 tag, would be mine, now.

It was a beautiful art deco sort of pea green, with a slightly sloping top tube (giving the boys their space) and huge fsckin' knobby tires. It was a thing of gracefully brutish beauty. It had front suspension, didn't notice the rear.

Talk to me for a NY minute about bikes (bicycles) and it's immediately apparent I know nil about them. And that it doesn't bother me.

I don't 'mountain bike'. This would be strictly a street bike. Not at all appropriate or a good use of the bike, though I would swap out the huge knobbies for an equally huge street tire, if there is such a thing.

It just looks that cool.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

close ?

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The Phorum Wall keeps us safe from illegal characters and words
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of one's own ignorance. -Benjamin Franklin
BOYCOTT YOPLAIT [www.noyoplait.com]
[soundcloud.com]

If it's just for the street, your life will be harder with a bike like that. My commuter is a mtb from 1998 and I have 2.2" wide, fairly smooth tires. 26" wheels.

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I've tried mountain bikes with springs and whatnot. Terrible for street riding. I get this weird 'whirl mode' going. Give me a basic bike... i'll take my weight on the pedals and take the shock in the knees if I'm going to hit a bump. And those 'cruiser' bikes just seem to golly darned big. Ok, fine, if I want to ride on sand or volcanic ash in a post Yellowstone eruption apocalyptic scenario....

What those guys said. I absolutely hate riding my mountain bike on the street. It is so fricking slow and cumbersome! (and it's a relatively lightweight one).

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

.....what about those tight lycra/spandex bike shorts.........can more people wear them.....and wear them more often..................???

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

A pic of my actual foot as a size reference, and a bike...

Cycling is a medium. Do what makes you happy.

---

Cycling is a medium. Do what makes you happy.

Thank you. Much appreciated.


Here's the bike:



[www.santacruzbicycles.com]

There were four on the showroom floor, in 27.5 kit, priced from $1799-$2500. None were kitted as a single speed, but it's an option.

I understand the dynamics of an MTB on the street. I've ridden an older big box bike without suspension. I wasn't fond of stops as the high seat, height needed because of the high crankset, meant I was uncomfortable. The Chameleon's top tube takes all that out of the equation.

I doubt I'd run out and get one. At least I'm pretty sure I won't. It just caught my eye.

I liiiiike it.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Well, for what it's wirth - I'm quite happy with my recent bike procurement; I've been taking it out for a spin every evening lately:

Santa Cruz has always made nice stuff -- but never cheap.

Kinda surprised that its 29lbs for a hardtail.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Bicycle weight is pretty unimportant.

Once you add the weight of your tools, light, water bottle,and the human riding the bike, a few pounds up or down makes little difference.

Maybe not for everyday commuting -- and certinaly no good $1000+ bike will feel bad -- but compared to a 60 lb cruiser... night an day.

So I would have to disagree. Crowding 30 lbs is heavy.

My 1989 Bridgestone MB-1 is 24lbs and it feels and rides light -- many days on the flume trail, and riding home up kingsbury grade made a difference... =)

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
freeradical
Bicycle weight is pretty unimportant.

This is true to a degree. Plus or minus 2 or 3 pounds you're not going to notice unless you're going up steep hills or racing sprints (I've done a lot of both of those). I should know, I ride a vintage road bike that's about four pounds heavier than the carbon bikes several of my riding partners ride, and I regularly beat them. That said, once you start getting up in weight above 5 lbs or so, you will definitely notice sluggishness in acceleration and slower or higher effort hill climbing.

That said, the weight is not the main reason that mountain bikes are slugs on the road. It's the tires and suspension. Knobbies especially are literally a huge drag to ride on pavement.

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

For that bike, putting street tires on it would be fun. I'd rock that. Keep in mind the fork needs to be serviced every so often and that's not trival.

Bike weight matters, even if you're not racing. This is especially true on rotational weight. I dropped 200g per tire and it made a HUGE difference. The bike was so much more lively and easier to pedal.

---

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Here's what I'm riding these days. Carbon fiber S-Works Enduro 29/27.5 Just over 6" of travel front and rear. I've got both 29" wheels (shown) and 27.5"+ wheels for it. Scooped it up about 8 months ago and damn is it fun to ride. It is an absolute beast. This is immediately after I did a full re-build...it hadn't ever been this clean (other than when new) and never will again.

Someone locally had that frame for sale for $1k. I wasn't able to get to them before it sold. That's a nice setup.

I've ended up with a lot less travel than you, and other than the bike park, so far it's been okay. 140mm front, 115mm rear.

---

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Heres my MB-1 (well not mine, but really close)

26" wheels. No travel front or rear, no shock and 150 MM front stem. Longer the better back in the day. bar ends and titanium handle bar, narrow too. gumwall tires, rim brakes, all XT. Modded rear deralier with short arm from a 105.

24 lbs and so much fun to ride/race. Climbed crazy good. Always got long looks from other riders.

Im sure if I switched over to some lighter wheels/tires I could lose a couple more pounds easy.

Im way out of the loop, how does the 1x setup work compared to a 2x or 3x? seems like the chain would throw all the time...

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2018 02:50PM by jdc.

Quote
M A V I C
Someone locally had that frame for sale for $1k. I wasn't able to get to them before it sold. That's a nice setup.

I've ended up with a lot less travel than you, and other than the bike park, so far it's been okay. 140mm front, 115mm rear.

$1k for the frame is a bargain! And if it came with a fork too that would have been even more of a steal. To bad you weren't ables to scoop in on it.

Quote
jdc
Heres my MB-1 (well not mine, but really close)

Im way out of the loop, how does the 1x setup work compared to a 2x or 3x? seems like the chain would throw all the time...

Those MB-Zips, MB-1s and 2s were great bikes in their day!

1x drivetrains are incredible! I made the change several years ago and can't ever go back to multiple front chainrings. Simplifies the whole mental process down to a single shifter on the right allowing the left to be dedicated to a dropper post lever.

The engineering is very impressive on these setups and I very rarely drop a chain. The front ring has a "narrow-wide" profile such that the alternating teeth are thicker and thinner to fit somewhat snug on the narrow and wide links of the chain. Tolerances are tight but it holds on extremely well. The rear cluster has very engineered ramping profiles that allow smooth shifting over very large span of cogs.

I run a SRAM 1x12 Eagle set up. The rear is a 10-50 tooth range and I use a 30 tooth front chainring. Depending on the set-up this can cover and exceed the gear range of many 3x9 setups without any of the gear redundancy. The chain angle does get interesting. Definitely not a straight chainline in any of the higher or lower gears. This presumably adds a slight be of inefficiency and additional wear but it absolutely works and is well worth it. Love my 1x12!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2018 01:24PM by Bo.