Any mountain bikers in here?

RideSand

RideSand

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Ive been into it for a long time. Got pretty serious in high school and into college. Actually was asked to leave my university because I was riding more than I was going to school and the grades were not there (I did ace western civilization somehow) so thats fun.

Anyways, its been a while, but Im back. Sold my old Enduro SL and got myself a modern 29er and love it. A ton of fun again, and faster than any other non-e-bike Ive ever ridden. We used to be super big into night rides out here in the summer, and I want to start that up again. Two questions....

Anyone in Phoenix/Scottsdale want to go, and what lights are you using for faster than cruising speeds on the trail after dark? I used to run a dual light set up on my bars and then a single light on my helmet - both NiteRiders. The dual lights had a wiring issue a while back and are done. Dont even think they are still around.  The single helmet light has been on the Schwinn Twinn for years, cruising the neighborhood, which is great, but the helmet mount is likely gone forever just because it hasn't been used. Looking for another helmet mounted option that isnt super heavy or crazy expensive. Doesn't have to be crazy bright, or have a built in battery, but something below $200 would be awesome. Seems like everything Im seeing just isnt what Im looking for. Anything!? Thanks all

 
I bought a new trek slash 8 (Aluminum 29er) last year and what a difference there is in this slack modern bike compared to my old ancient 26" wheel mountain bike. I haven't been riding it much at all unfortunately. When I had, it's a hard bike to jump. What I mean is that the old bike popped off every little rock and root whereas this thing just soaks it all up. It will jump but I need to put work into it. Adjusting my riding style will be huge. 

 
I ride / race MTB, Gravel and road. Did a 12hr out your way (McDowell) a while ago with a friend, he belonged to a club (ride libre) and they seemed to be a pretty cool group based out in that area. May be a good place to start.

 
Got a buddy who rides out of his house in DC ranch every day but he rides early morning before work. 

 
Was a "professional?" shop wrench for about 9 years before becoming the resident transaxle "expert?" here on GD.com. 

Ordered up the first model year Trek Slash 9 back in 2011 while still working in a shop in Santa Barbara (waited 3 months for it, back when waiting for anything more than a few weeks wasn't a "thing"). It was the top-o-the-line rig that only me and new world DH champ Aaron Gwin rolled up on at the first Southridge winter series races that year.

Since people love throwing the "game changer" term around, this bike was exactly that for my riding abilities here in Santa Barbara. This bike was actually designed specifically for SB trails (the suspension engineers worked in Santa Clarita and rode SB trails monthly). It's basically a full blown DH bike that can actually climb decently. I know many people did not like the dual air chamber rear shock because it doesn't preload and jump well, but damn that bike can soak up some nasty rock gardens at speed. 

Been my only ride for the past 10 years, mostly because I like it so much and I refuse to pay the insane prices for a newer 27.5 or 29er bike that doesn't have a dual front chainring (I like having that granny gear). I need all you guys to get out and break more trans parts so I can afford a new bike.

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raspadoo said:
I ride / race MTB, Gravel and road. Did a 12hr out your way (McDowell) a while ago with a friend, he belonged to a club (ride libre) and they seemed to be a pretty cool group based out in that area. May be a good place to start.
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I can ride to the McDowells from my house, and plan on doing the 12 hour this December! There is a great shop at the top of the hill (Dynamite Bike Lab) but they tend to stock top of the line stuff, which is great, but a lot of it is not what I need right now. My wife was talking about a group that gets together there once a week for evening rides, which sparked the light search. I ought to just show up to one with the old NR and learn some stuff....

 
RideSand said:
I can ride to the McDowells from my house, and plan on doing the 12 hour this December! There is a great shop at the top of the hill (Dynamite Bike Lab) but they tend to stock top of the line stuff, which is great, but a lot of it is not what I need right now. My wife was talking about a group that gets together there once a week for evening rides, which sparked the light search. I ought to just show up to one with the old NR and learn some stuff....
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Cool I may be out there as well for the Zia Dawn to Dusk again. Cool riding area (except for the cholla)  :thumb:

 
raspadoo said:
Cool I may be out there as well for the Zia Dawn to Dusk again. Cool riding area (except for the cholla)  :thumb:
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Oh the cactus is great! Trying to get a 3 or 4 rider team together - do you do it solo? 

 
At 42, getting closer to time to hang up the cleats for good and looking at getting back into mountain bikes.  Great thread.

 
RideSand said:
Oh the cactus is great! Trying to get a 3 or 4 rider team together - do you do it solo? 
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Did not solo last year, wished I would have, I was coming off of a BWR and a 12hr time trial. It was a relatively very easy mountain bike loop, I'm used to a lot more vert'. 

 
RideSand said:
I can ride to the McDowells from my house, and plan on doing the 12 hour this December! There is a great shop at the top of the hill (Dynamite Bike Lab) but they tend to stock top of the line stuff, which is great, but a lot of it is not what I need right now. My wife was talking about a group that gets together there once a week for evening rides, which sparked the light search. I ought to just show up to one with the old NR and learn some stuff....
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The loop up at McDowell was fun, gentle slope for a climb and then the downhill in the sand was almost flat but you could get a lot of speed going. We did it for a while until we found the Spruce Mountain loop outside of Prescott. That run was worth the time on the road, We would usually grab a bite to eat at some booshy restaurant in town after the ride. 

We had that Mountain Bike trail book and I think we rode about 80% of the trails that were in it, plus raced two of the Cactus Cup races they had at Westwrold.   

 
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