Mountain Biking - Big meat and a "push-button" ...

Alright all you reserved prissy lycra-clad peeps...I'm sorry about the hypermasculine/tacky title. I couldn't help it. Soooo...let your imaginations run wild! Bring on the Spam!

I got some new Cross Country tires. I got tired of that freakin' Freeride crizzap, so I went with some "skinney-Minnies".
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02812.jpg

I don't know why they worked, but the profile of the Nevegal allows me to fit a 2.5" in the rear. (heehee, neener-neener)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02814.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02811.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02810.jpg

The Excavators must have had a slightly taller casing b/c a 2.35" Excavator rubbed my chainstays. The Nevegal seems to seat a little closer to the axis, so it fits in the bulge of my frame pretty well.

Round 2 is my "broken seatpost"...for some reason, every time I try to shift my front derailleur...my stupid saddle drops to the floor.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02806.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02807.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02809.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02816.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/DSC02805.jpg

You're going to like that post.

I wish my bike could fit a telescoping post, but alas a 26.8 seatpost size won't allow for it.

You're going to like that post.

Already do...and all I've really done so far was a trip to work and back.


I wish my bike could fit a telescoping post, but alas a 26.8 seatpost size won't allow for it.

Do you have "post envy"?:lol:

Not really.

Too bad...I have frame envy.

I can't complain about my frame, but compared to a DMR or Sinister or something like that...I envy. It works for me though, so I'm not gonna moan about it.

I am officially using you as a benchmark to see how that GD holds up to a thumping.

You already have some nice wheels thurr with the Hope/DT's - are you thinking about building up the wwjd wheelset as a backup?

edit: and there's nothing wrong with that frame as long as the geo is good and they keep replacing them when they break...

I'll be sure to keep a running review on tap. One of the things that ultimately steered me toward the GD was the fact that my Thomson would occasionally slip or twist unless I broke a finger clamping the QR down. It was just fine with a non QR collar. Now I have the non QR collar AND the adjustability. RAWK!!


I don't have the coin to have a nice wheelset as a backup. Actually, I don't have enough coin to have a nice "backup" anything. This is why I'm now riding a nearly 33lb XC sled. It has to last, or I can't get it. Given the last couple of seasons...I was trying to think ahead JIK I biff my wheelset this summer. I actually took a little time with my spoke wrench and got the EX's back in shape for the most part. The new meat "should" be a little more forgiving too. They may hold up a while longer, but when I do nuke 'em...I want to build the toughest, most advanced wheelset available.

I want to tell eveyone who isn't familiar with big tires, I saw Ed's bike yesterday and the front tire is as big as a motocross tire! Seriously, take the front tire off your dirt bike and mount it on your bicycle.
That's what Ed is rockin. Ha Ha, he'll still break it!

Why did you go with such a big tire out front? The 2.7/2.5 Nevegal combo is what my V10 came with and it sucked...the front tire was way too big and heavy...steering was terrible. The bike is much more nimble and handles quicker with the 2.5/2.35 Nevegal or the current 2.5/2.5 Minion combo.

Gotta try everything, never. The steering doesn't suck at all with the 2.7/2.5 combo on mine. Staircases are smooth as glazz. The one thing I AM finding out is that they are alot of work...that was to be expected.

I got out with B2B and a few other people today and like I told him "If I don't get in much better shape by summer, I'm gonna have to go back to the 2.5/2.35 combo. They kinda kicked my butt...especially in KS. I mean come on, man...it's KS. You can get by with 1.95's all day long. It sure is fun though when you DO hit the crappy terrain...soo smooth, man.


The funny thing is that we got about 1/4 mile in the woods or so and hit "mud-over-ice" type of crap. It totally sucked. My foolishly massive meats were picking up so much crap and packing it in to the frame...it was just wrong. We ended up riding some gravel and pavement over to a wood-chipped trail. It was fun trying to hang with B2B and his "squa" with this silly thing, hahaha.

I'll be sure to keep a running review on tap. One of the things that ultimately steered me toward the GD was the fact that my Thomson would occasionally slip or twist unless I broke a finger clamping the QR down. It was just fine with a non QR collar. Now I have the non QR collar AND the adjustability. RAWK!!


I don't have the coin to have a nice wheelset as a backup. Actually, I don't have enough coin to have a nice "backup" anything. This is why I'm now riding a nearly 33lb XC sled. It has to last, or I can't get it. Given the last couple of seasons...I was trying to think ahead JIK I biff my wheelset this summer. I actually took a little time with my spoke wrench and got the EX's back in shape for the most part. The new meat "should" be a little more forgiving too. They may hold up a while longer, but when I do nuke 'em...I want to build the toughest, most advanced wheelset available.
That is exactly what Jesus would do.

This "squa" really liked the nev's. They maneuvered the mud &corners much to my liking. Of course I wasn't rocking the Binford 3500's-Tim , But I did notice that you had no trouble catching alot of air here and there as usual. Don't think the extra weight will keep you earthbound. :) From Toni

Staircases are smooth as glazz.

It's amazing how much less stuff I broke when I stopped doing stair gaps. I'm just sayin'.



They kinda kicked my butt...especially in KS. I mean come on, man...it's KS.

I always feel like that in January.

This "squa" really liked the nev's. They maneuvered the mud &corners much to my liking. Of course I wasn't rocking the Binford 3500's-Tim , But I did notice that you had no trouble catching alot of air here and there as usual. Don't think the extra weight will keep you earthbound. :) From Toni

Well now...if you got yo'self a profile and hung out in here now and then, I'd even refrain from posting such vulgar titles. You could hang out with Siu and "get all silly-like".:D

Had fun riding with you guys, can't wait to taste the lasagne:love:

After trying to keep up with you in that loose gravel and soft woodchips on those "mighty-meats"...I'm about ready to tone it back down a bit and be happy with the next size down.;)

Why did you go with such a big tire out front? The 2.7/2.5 Nevegal combo is what my V10 came with and it sucked...the front tire was way too big and heavy...steering was terrible. The bike is much more nimble and handles quicker with the 2.5/2.35 Nevegal or the current 2.5/2.5 Minion combo.

I went back out last night a couple times. Once with the 2.5/2.7's and once with the 2.35/2.5's and I think for now...I'm sticking with the 2.35/2.5's setup. If I decided to go downtown and tear it up, I'll prob change back, but the acceleration and rolling resistance was VERY noticeable.

Heck that's 1.5lbs of rotating weight, hahaha. Not to mention the extra contact patch on the ground.

For the record though...if I were in a more gravity oriented area...I'd be balling big-boy tires. The suffering to the top would be worth it IMO. I'm glad I gave 'em a shot.

To all of the ruffled feathers:

I'll try to keep my titles and content clean.

(runs and hides with tail between legs)

You've got to be kidding me.

Should have said renob.

I ride 26x2.0 :o

I ride 26x2.0 :o
I do to man, Ed's just out there! Fo Shizzle

You've got to be kidding me.

Should have said renob.

It was renoB envy...no problem. I've been around it all my life;)

I do to man, Ed's just out there! Fo Shizzle

Give it time, man...you will soon be seduced by "the dark side". The extra volume, bite, and cush up front is truly addictive.

I ride 26x2.0 :oThose are for mountain bikes? I see them at my local LBS shop but I always figured they were road bike tires.

What they really need to do is build a unobtanium woven casing and develop a 2.7" tire that only weighs 450g. I'd probably buy it.

Those are for mountain bikes? I see them at my local LBS shop but I always figured they were road bike tires.

Lots of climbin ;)

Just about everyone does...in one manner or another :)