I run 2-pot slx brakes and they are great. I just replaced rotors and pads and I’m realizing how comically bad I’ve needed to do this for a while now. I’m almost having to relearn how to ride because my braking power is so much different now. I don’t mind the feel of Shimano brakes, and I know that the world is divided on this issue.
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Reach or Servowave?
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Free stroke is what you get with XT and above. Reach is adjustable on all of them, either with an allen or a knob.
I’m not sure Servowave is adjustable.
the full adjustment range is usually pretty narrow
and then the bite point wanders anyway
I’ve always heard about the bite point wandering on Shimano brakes, but never experienced it myself. Maybe it’s something to do with the free stroke adjustment? I don’t think I’ve ever had it on the BL-MT500/501.
I would like to break this bike, or untwist it.
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I’m seeing a disconnected BB shell in its future.
People still make and buy fat bikes?
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That looks like something you’d see at the Taipei bike show.
Seat tube is cracking at the weld under the bottom stays, I gare-ohn-teeee it.
I mean it’s a Lynskey
you were gonna crack even a traditional road frame with short reach rim brakes
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Since the quarantine began, Fox has been doing Dialed episodes with Jordi Cortes that are setup-related rather than race footage. I’ve been using some of the videos to get my cockpit and suspension setup and tuned. The Norco was a mullet with a Fox DPS rear and RS Pike front. Having a 36 has been a bit of a learning experience for tuning.
Since I needed to visit Vantucky anyway, I woke up early and took the MTB. I think I have my rear set up the way I want it with the 0.4 spacer. I couldn’t really hammer the corners because it was pretty slimy, but I think I want another token or two in the fork. I was only a few seconds off my PR that was set in the dry.
I’ve been cleaning up the 4x4 trail going up behind my house as it melts out, picking up branches and clearing all the small down trees we could move… It’s now 98% melted up to 9,500ft, but there are two of these widow maker trees hanging over the trail. Wouldn’t want to pass under them on a windy day. That one had a pretty good brace by way of another smaller tree it’s pushing over.
The road won’t open to motorized traffic for 2 more months, so gotta hike in to get a saw up for the other trees. Provides access to some pretty good DH tracks that should be ready to ride soon (probably also needing clean up).
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Here I am breaking my friend’s winch as I destroy his backyard building some trail.
To the left and just underneath the big rock are just some of the rocks that I dug out of the “ground”, if you can call it that, which makes up the local topography. Maybe 3 of those plastic tubs worth of dirt? It’s just all rocks!!
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Was hitting this little table over and over on the Jones until I accidentally oversent it a bit and just landed to flat in the paved path. It felt good tho so I did it again and my front end made a terrible screech upon landing. Rotor contacting caliper maybe? Or QR hub interface settling, or truss fork bottom wanting to come out? Anyway, now I have to look the bike over. I guess that’s about as much jumpz as one might want to do on a Jeff Jones, haha.
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With a QR axle? It might have been the tire contacting the inside of the fork leg.
Doubtful on a Jones fork. It was a metal on metal screech similar to Shimano rotor noise.
My buddy has been shredding on a jones for years. I don’t think it’s an issue with the design or anything.
nah of course not
From “I went for a ride here are some pictures” thread.
It’s a blast on the downhills! Just motors over stuff, and I love leaning it over in the bermed corners it’s just got so much traction. Dropper post lyfe is wonderful, 1x is working fine, wide bars are working well.
I’m struggling with some other things that I’m not sure if it’s just getting used to a new bike with a geometry that I’ve never ridden much, or if it’s more my particular style and terrain so I want to set the bike up differently. (maybe even outside the zone of what the bike was designed for).
Aside from wheel and tire size, a big difference with this new bike is the long wheelbase, long front-center, slack head tube, and lotsa wheel flop.
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Exiting corners, especially swoopy bermed corners, I often run a bit wide at the exit. I swear I’m through the corner fine but it’s like I stopped turning fraction too soon. I think part of this is where my center of gravity is on the bike, the long FC and slack HTA, and how my previous bike handled corners and I simply need to learn to corner differently. Like my butt feels like we’re around the bend but the front wheel is way out there just doing whatever it wants.
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Big wheel flop on even moderate uphill climbs is a major bummer. I feel like I’m putting way too much pressure on my hands and have to really take care to not let the front end wander all over.
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Wheel flop and long FC on walking-speed techy rock sections is annoying. Part of it is just getting used to the front tire being at obstacles a fraction sooner than my previous bike. But also that long FC and wheel flop mean making precise line adjustments seems trickier to keep the bike properly under me for slow speed balance.
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I feel like I REALLY have to lean the bike over hard to get it through corners. Thankfully the tires have plenty of grip and have been predictable and catch-able when they let go. But on tight trails my lean is limited by trees and stuff that stand on the inside of corners so it can feel tough to get the thing to start turning(see #1 about exiting wide this is all related I assume).
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Entry level bike has entry level suspension. I really need a rear shock with some position between open and full hard. Probably could use +10mm fork travel with a bit more adjustment. Right now it doesn’t feel balanced front/rear in terms of suspension performance. I’m also near the upper limit of weight for this bike which probably has a lot to do with it.
Overall the bike is awesome and as Trek’s cheapest full-sus bike it comes equipped with the right stuff to just ride right out of the box. I’m stoked to keep riding it and learn where it excels and where I need to re-learn some habits.
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