Comments for Singletrack.com

Comment on Wildside Video with Max Plaxton: Taking it to The Max by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:16:00 +0000

Max is the 2011 USA Cycling Pro XCT champion. NORBA no longer exist.

Comment on Destination: St. George, Utah by Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

“True Grit is poised for a year of record growth” …

Well, it is in its second year, a year after they cancelled the only race half-way through. Any growth over last year would set a record. Also, stop referring to everything as “the perfect” this or that … doesn’t sound like it is the perfect anything … it had problems like anything else, they cancelled the event for Christ’s sake.

Comment on Tech FAQ: On Shifting Big-Big by Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:45:00 +0000

Ever get an answer to your question? I’ve wondered the same thing.

Comment on Destination: Prescott, Arizona by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:57:00 +0000

What a great article! I have been mountain bike riding in Prescott for 24 years and it just keeps getting better. I get to live here and ride all the time. The network of trails we now have available is as good or better than what I used to leave the state to find. We have a lot of months of great riding every year. We are having winters with more snow and ice the last couple of winters and I will take that over drought and fire danger any time. People should come to Prescott and check it out for themselves. This article is just what we need to let the community embrace the positive economic impact cyclist bring to Prescott when they make it a ride destination.

Comment on Destination: Prescott, Arizona by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Comment on Tech FAQ: On Shifting Big-Big by Marc

Marc — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:18:00 +0000

I’m curious— Why don’t you recommend the Park chain length checker?

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by D.J. Cox

D.J. Cox — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:29:00 +0000

@david- My wife and I frequently ride our tandem on our Saturday morning shop ride and before I made the switch over to have a disc brake in the back, I loved to have us both ride as hard as we could with the drum brake on. It was nice to get a work out and great conversations.

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:47:00 +0000

“Emphasis on breathable materials.”

I would like to add the vapor barrier (VB) system, which emphasis non-breathable material.

When I started mountaineering a few years ago I did research on the best way to keep warm. I discovered the vapor barrier system which consist of a non-breathable material close to the body. The point of the VB is to trap heat next to your body. The key to using the VB properly is venting. An awesome byproduct is wearing less bulky material yet still maintain comfortably warm.

The coldest I’ve ridden so far is 10*F with a 5 to 8MPH breeze. My set up for rides 40*F and colder are as follows:

1) Winter L/S top.
2) Winter bib
3) Knee-high 3mm neoprene socks (Non-breathable)
4) Gore Wear Packlite jacket with detachable hood (Non-breathable)
5) MTB shoes
6) Craft 3mm neoprene shoe covers (Non-breathable)
7) 3.5mm neoprene kayaking gloves (Non-breathable) 5.5mm neoprene Bar Mitts (non-breathable)

With this set up while riding approximately 15MPH with said breeze and said temp. , I still had the jacket unzipped half way down and the top unzipped a third of the way down.

Also; contrary to popular belief, Gore Tex /Gore Wear does not breathe as they advertise! They technically breathe but no better than regular silnylon. On a scale of 0 to 10, 0 meaning does-not-breathe and 10 meaning breathes very well, Gore Tex/Gore Wear is about a 2 or 3 at best!

I use Gore Tex/Gore Wear as a VB layer. When I’m in the back country snowshoeing or summiting, I use the Gore Wear Packlite jacket as both a base layer (With a polypro shirt under it) and an outer layer. When I’m on the move I have just the polypro undershirt and Packlite jacket covering above the waist and a polypro long-johns and expedition Gore Tex bib covering from the waist down. After camp is set up at the end of the day I just add a down jacket and down pants while I’m hanging out with the temp. at -15*F and a 3 to 5MPH breeze.

Comment on Niner Patents 29-Specific Suspension Tech by Vik Banerjee

Vik Banerjee — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:48:00 +0000

My FS bike has a pivot below and behind the BB – it takes a beating on rocky techy terrain. So far so good, but each time I hear the impact my VISA card cringes!…;-)

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by Bryin

Bryin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:31:00 +0000

if your water bottles freeze in a matter of minutes it is too cold to ride, any accident or mechanical can kill you.

Comment on Review: Avid XX World Cup Hydraulic disc brake by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:23:00 +0000

I used Avid XX, Elixir X0, Elixir and CR brakes extensively over the past few years and experienced a wide range of problems with all of them, some of which were just what rob_james described in his comment. I switched over to the 2012 XT brakes a few months back and could not be happier with them. Bleeding is a breeze, the fluid isn’t nasty DOT fluid, the brakes feel great, and their power tops that of any of the Avid brakes.

Comment on Taming the 29er Trend (at Least a Touch) by conrman

conrman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:48:00 +0000

Choose the right tool for the job at hand. There are several tools to turn a bolt, but some are more versatile, some fit differently, some are cheap and some are fancy. Bikes are similar in this respect. I love my Jamis Dragon 26′ team racer, I used to be able to ride it past 95% of riders on 90% of the trails. Now, I’m older less aggressive and get beat up at speed on descents. I am not as fast as I used to be. I got back on some late model trail bikes and was amazed (older F.S. bikes were pretty flexy). at the versatility. Sold…..then I rode a Light hardtail 29er through some singletrack covered in head and pumpkin size boulders (26 inch wheels would have lost momentum and stuck eventually). Sold…..again! For getting wild and aggressive (motocross like)riding the F.S. 26 is tough to beat. For rough climbs and cruising single track or ? the 29er is golden. I’m really torn but the Dragon’s days are numbered for sure!

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by david sundby

david sundby — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Great article. It is tough to dress well for winter riding. If you do not have proper gear, stay at home and watch Made in Manhatten or something. Booties or shoe covers are essential and should be mentioned , same with bar mitz for extreme condtions. The
importance of a good meal before the ride should be stressed. Emphasis on breathable materials, especially wool, cannot be overstated. I saw a neat undervest of mesh wool
yesterday ( vintage campagnolo). Something like that would be great. It is important
to ride for survival rather than ultimate training effect… If you climb too hard you’re are bound to be a sweaty mess on the top. If you are cold, increase your cadence. I had a drag brake on one commuter so I could create resistance to keep with wind chill down while I would pedal like mad. That kept me warm!

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by Eric O'Brien

Eric O'Brien — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:58:00 +0000

There are at least five sentences that need correcting.

Comment on Four phone apps to kick off your New Year’s resolutions by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Weak article. When’s your review of the “9-speed and the pros/cons over 8-speed” coming out. Sorry Competitor, this wasn’t worth paying the tech guys to update and include the article online.

Comment on Interbike tech: No Nonsense bikes from Foundry Cycles by Vik Banerjee

Vik Banerjee — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +0000

Another QBP company? They are starting a new one seems like every week!

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by Dee Costa

Dee Costa — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:10:00 +0000

TCDR.

Too cold. Didn’t ride.

Comment on Review: Niner Air 9 Carbon by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:50:00 +0000

Which models failed?

Comment on Review: Niner Air 9 Carbon by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Not much more to this story to be said. I was riding along under normal riding conditions for my area when I had a rock get kicked up and struck my bike on the non drivetrain side chain stay. The way Niner’s warranty reads this would be covered under a warranty replacement. Niner argued that this was a collision but this type of use falls under their definition of normal use and not a crash replacement per their own warranty… Many emails later and nothing was resolved. The fact is simple, a frame should not fail under this type of use, and it was inproerly designed. Niner “stands behind their design” but yet won’t release their Finite Element Analysis model for the frame but they would not… So take my story however you want… The truth is unless you can afford to buy a new frame every six months DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE because it will break and they will not help you out…

Comment on 10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding by Scott Fulmer

Scott Fulmer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:51:00 +0000

What, you are not heat regulation either?