BoaxSo I had my first ride clipped-in today (XT Trails & Teva Pivots). Feeling really good, not too "locked-in" at all like I thought I might be.
Just a cruise around the winter XC ski trails to get the feel of them, then home past the first jumps. "Maybe just one hit" on the small tabletops turned into 5-6 laps, feeling more comfortable in the air than I normally do. I'm sold.
I had them pretty much on the lightest tension and unclipped once in the air but got away with it. Should I just crank them up? A lot of my riding is very very technical so planting a foot ocassionally (or at least knowing that I can unclip easily) is very useful. I can twist out of ski bindings at 11 standing still, so shouldn't have a problem, but when you're about to bail off a bike while thinking "oh shit this is going to hurt", is the unclipping motion still instinctive?
Nice man! How did the cleat installation go? Were you able to dial it in the first time, or did it take a few spins around the block and minor adjustments to get it all settled?
Hearing the "not too locked-in" part makes me think you went the right direction with SPD's rather than Times/Crank Brothers.
With experience the motion will be instinctual. If you're feeling pretty good about the effort it takes to unclip and you have experienced some "pre-release" turn it up a bit. You can always turn it right back down. There are two tension adjustment screws on each pedal. I run mine set equally on each side.
Many years ago, back in the days of V-brakes, I was following a friend of mine on some private homebrew trails and he bailed in front of me so I veered out of the way. When I realized I should be paying attention to where I am going, rather than my friend still tumbling down the trail, I came face to face with a 4 foot diameter tree. The only thing I remember is my front tire hitting the tree dead center and my bike launching me forward. Somehow I was able to unclip with both feet and turn sideways in the air allowing me to literally fly past the tree and end up in the brush below.
.nylesI assumed he was looking for used anyway considering the price range. There's only maybe some decent hard tails for that much.
I don't much like the word either, but it's an easy way to describe a light all mountain bike with around 150-160mm of travel that crushes everything.
I myself am gonna sell my trek scratch and getting either a heckler with the R build or the cannondale Jekyll 4 (with the pike not that bogus looking lefty, Idc how it performs it looks goofy haha).
With 2015's on the way, or already in shops, I'd look around to see what kind of deals are still around on past model years before spending any money on a bike that I couldn't personally inspect before payment. Again, there are damn good deals out there on used bikes though. Just be careful if you do go that route.
Haha, don't read into my post too much though. I'm about as incoherent I could possibly be post ride. It was a good day, but I hit the wall way too early. My rear brake had a sticky piston and I was apparently riding with unwanted resistance until I noticed being way more exhausted on the climb than I should be. Enjoyed a much needed breather and fixed the brake to satisfaction. It definitely took it's toll on the rest of my day though.
Enduro...riding uphill at a leisurely pace, enjoying the scenery, chatting with your friends or fellow riders and/or passerbys on the trail. Getting to the top or start to ride as fast as you can, push the limitations of your self and your equipment. All while trying to out-do the competition and bragging rights among your slow friends.
...yeah, that sounds like normal mountain biking to me. Call it what you will, but the "enduro" specific products these days are too much. Specialized not included in this opinion, as their Enduro model was around before this nonsense really caught on.
Agreed, 140-160mm of travel with your choice of 26"/27.5" wheels (depending on preference) is perfect in my opinion for most peoples' general mountain biking. Trail/All Mountain; however people can actually distinguish between the two. Whatever, it's biking. Marketing and fads sell shit. End of story.
What aren't you liking about your Scratch?
