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Cyclocrosser looking to take trails to the next level

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Cyclocrosser looking to take trails to the next level

Old 01-23-17, 10:44 AM
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Cool bike! Now get out there and ride! Like you, I'm firmly in the skill development faze. A few bumps, scratches, and bruises aren't permanent at least...
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Old 01-23-17, 01:11 PM
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Congrats! That is an awesome bike. My buddy rides an Intense similar to that geo and travel and also XC races on it. He bombs down the descents compared to guys on pure XC rigs. And, yes a dropper post is an easy and fun thing to have on a bike. I have a f/s XC bike with one and it's worth the extra 1/2 pound. Have fun!!!
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Old 01-23-17, 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Panza

I picked it up for 1/3rd off the MSRP but it was still a bit more than I was originally hoping to spend.

I took her out for a good 2 hour session at the state park and I'm exhausted. I had an average HR of 187 BPM (my max is 204) for 80 minutes of biking.
I really need to dial in my skills and get better at MTBing. Perhaps pick up a dropper post for these rocky descents.
The bike handles bumps superbly compared to the CX but the downside is that I can't just pick her up and run up obstacles -- but that's probably cheating.
Interesting, but from the spec sheet that bike came with a dropper post? KS Dropzone R
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Old 01-23-17, 02:44 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by hig4s
Interesting, but from the spec sheet that bike came with a dropper post? KS Dropzone R
i thought the same thing. Even the lowest spec'd WFO9 came with a dropper. Both the 2, 3, and 4 Star come with droppers but -- after some research... Pink Bike Reviews

Originally Posted by Pink Bike Reviews
WFO-9s originally did not come with a dropper post, which was an avoidable mistake on Niner’s part, but a running change and a corresponding price increase is planned, so all future WFOs will come with droppers.
I guess I have an earlier model -- they later updated them to come with droppers. It's a Trail/Enduro bike.
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Old 01-23-17, 05:50 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by bmthom.gis
Cool bike! Now get out there and ride! Like you, I'm firmly in the skill development faze. A few bumps, scratches, and bruises aren't permanent at least...
I've just been practicing in my backyard and I can say it's really... hard. I have fallen a several times today "practicing"... I can't hold a trackstand yet.

I've manual'ed a few times but it felt like a ton of effort. The seat always feels like it's in the way but I don't want to blame it. My best manual that I held for more than 15ft was because I purposefully tried to loop the bike. I couldn't.

I'm scared to ram the seatpost with my crotch and haven't been able to bunny hop yet.

Originally Posted by bikeme
Congrats! That is an awesome bike. My buddy rides an Intense similar to that geo and travel and also XC races on it. He bombs down the descents compared to guys on pure XC rigs. And, yes a dropper post is an easy and fun thing to have on a bike. I have a f/s XC bike with one and it's worth the extra 1/2 pound. Have fun!!!
I think I really will try XC with it. I really enjoy CX so I think I'd enjoy XC as well : )

Last edited by Panza; 01-24-17 at 09:35 AM.
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Old 01-23-17, 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Panza
I've just been practicing in my backyard and I can say it's really... hard. I have fallen a several times today "practicing"... I can't hold a trackstand yet.

I've manual'ed a few times but it felt like a ton of effort. The seat always feels like it's in the way but I don't want to blame it. My best manual that I held for more than 15ft was because I purposefully tried to loop the bike. I couldn't.

I'm scared to ram the seatpost with my crotch and haven't been able to bunny hop yet.


I think I really will try XC with it. I really enjoy CX so I think I'd enjoy XC as well : )
Just lower the seat all the way down when you're practicing. The Niner may be more difficult to wheelie/bunny hop than some other bikes because of a longer wheelbase typical of 29ers.

Having said that, a longer wheelbase is more stable descending and better for keeping the front-wheel down on steep climbs.

And I if I had to hop over a bunny to save it's life....I'm pretty sure I'd be eating rabbit stew for dinner...
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Old 01-24-17, 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Panza
I guess I have an earlier model -- they later updated them to come with droppers. It's a Trail/Enduro bike.
Easy to correct, you should be able to find a KS eTen for $140 or less, that is what I added to my bike. Works fine.

Originally Posted by gsa103
And I if I had to hop over a bunny to save it's life....I'm pretty sure I'd be eating rabbit stew for dinner...
Yeah,,, Pretty much same for me. It would be, "I think I got it, front wheel over, OHHHH!!! "
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Old 01-24-17, 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Panza
I've just been practicing in my backyard and I can say it's really... hard. I have fallen a several times today "practicing"... I can't hold a trackstand yet.

I've manual'ed a few times but it felt like a ton of effort. The seat always feels like it's in the way but I don't want to blame it. My best manual that I held for more than 15ft was because I purposefully tried to loop the bike. I couldn't.

I'm scared to ram the seatpost with my crotch and haven't been able to bunny hop yet.


I think I really will try XC with it. I really enjoy CX so I think I'd enjoy XC as well : )
Last time I tried to manual was in a parking lot. I got about 15 feet and then hit a speed bump. D'oh! Sprained my wrist on that one.
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Old 01-24-17, 09:03 AM
  #34  
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I felt my rear wheel slip out and I steered into a tree. The seat did a number on my manhood. Was I too weighted on my bars maybe to lose the traction? I lowered my seat post by about an inch to be the same as my cross bike.
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Old 01-24-17, 09:15 AM
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Is your ride set up tubeless? Brian, the owner at your shop is a solid citizen. Be sure to have them give your bike a once over after say 10 -20 hours of use. Cables, der, adjustments etc. Also the shops rides, and Nemba meet ups.
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Old 01-24-17, 09:43 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Leebo
Is your ride set up tubeless? Brian, the owner at your shop is a solid citizen. Be sure to have them give your bike a once over after say 10 -20 hours of use. Cables, der, adjustments etc. Also the shops rides, and Nemba meet ups.
Yes it's a tubeless set-up. I haven't had the chance to meet Brian yet, but I've met Adam who's a pretty nice fella. : ) I might be afraid to embarrass myself in a groupride but I also want to improve...
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Old 01-24-17, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Panza
Yes it's a tubeless set-up. I haven't had the chance to meet Brian yet, but I've met Adam who's a pretty nice fella. : ) I might be afraid to embarrass myself in a groupride but I also want to improve...
Find a beginner friendly group ride.
Since you're already biking regularly, you'll have no trouble keeping up from a fitness perspective. You need to work on technique, which improves rapidly. But since you'll be able to keep up on the uphills, you won't slow anyone down.

As for trees, probably just a combination of minor mistakes.
Weight a hair too far forward. A tiny bit too much brake. Over-correcting in response.
And lastly, LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! If you stare a tree down, you're going to hit it. Don't see the trees, see the gaps.
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Old 01-24-17, 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by gsa103
Find a beginner friendly group ride.
Since you're already biking regularly, you'll have no trouble keeping up from a fitness perspective. You need to work on technique, which improves rapidly. But since you'll be able to keep up on the uphills, you won't slow anyone down.

As for trees, probably just a combination of minor mistakes.
Weight a hair too far forward. A tiny bit too much brake. Over-correcting in response.
And lastly, LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! If you stare a tree down, you're going to hit it. Don't see the trees, see the gaps.
I was really practicing looking through turns, especially on the switch backs, but in emergencies its like everything goes to hell haha... : ) Guess I have to always remind myself. I forgot how much brake I used in response, the discs are strong. I'll dial it back to 1 or 2 fingers.

Thanks for the advice, I'm searching on FB for beginner MTB group rides but... I dont think many beginners want to ride in 30 degree F weather with snow and slush right now haha!
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Old 01-24-17, 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Panza
I was really practicing looking through turns, especially on the switch backs, but in emergencies its like everything goes to hell haha... : ) Guess I have to always remind myself. I forgot how much brake I used in response, the discs are strong. I'll dial it back to 1 or 2 fingers.

Thanks for the advice, I'm searching on FB for beginner MTB group rides but... I dont think many beginners want to ride in 30 degree F weather with snow and slush right now haha!
Join Nemba GB group. Rides at the Fells and LLF all the time, all year too. The GB group does a beginner "practice your technique" ride once a week, after mud season.
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Old 01-24-17, 11:17 AM
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Wet leaves are evil. They will make you slide all over the place.
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Old 01-24-17, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Leebo
Join Nemba GB group. Rides at the Fells and LLF all the time, all year too. The GB group does a beginner "practice your technique" ride once a week, after mud season.
Sounds great Leebo, I'll join.
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Old 01-24-17, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by FrozenK
Wet leaves are evil. They will make you slide all over the place.
Dry oak leaves are the devil. Dry oak leaves with frost under them, with a cupped tread containing acorns, well that's just not right. At all. After crashing and burning 3 times in 100 yds. I just walked over a hill to another area.
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Old 01-24-17, 12:44 PM
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what is this thing frost you speak of?
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Old 01-24-17, 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by hig4s
what is this thing frost you speak of?
It's for real riders with elevation other than an overpass. And days where you don't sweat out your shorts. And the land of Patriots, you know, where we go the superbowl on a regular basis.
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Old 01-24-17, 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Leebo
Dry oak leaves are the devil. Dry oak leaves with frost under them, with a cupped tread containing acorns, well that's just not right. At all. After crashing and burning 3 times in 100 yds. I just walked over a hill to another area.
For some reason I imagined you crashing and spontaneously lighting on fire three times in a row.
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