Haha! Most of them are like tree trunks. It's just me with the scrawny bird legs.

And thanks!

Finally got my trimmer so I can maintain my local trails.

Was looking at RedMax, Shindaiwa, and Stihl. Ended up with a Stihl FS90. Can't wait to get out there and tear into it. The locals were recommending the FS85 b/c it's still a 2-cycle and it's lighter, but this one is pretty light but they d/c'd the FS85. They don't make a big 2cycle with a bike handle anymore. The biggest they have is the FS70 and it's a loop handle. I was going to get the FS110, but I don't really need the extra power as much as fuel efficiency b/c of the walking miles.

Stihl couldn't get their large bore 2-cycles past the EPA, so they switched to a "4-mix" which has more power and torque anyhoo. It's a 4stroke/2stroke hybrid. It has valves, but it's still 50:1 with no oil reservior. Over all, the consensus seems to be overwhealmingly positive. My other local trail maint crew from Kansas highly recommended the FS90 to me...though they're spending most of the time spraying Glyphosate instead b/c it's like a tenth the man hours. Using 4gal backpack sprayers from homedepot.

Hey, you like you're already a few beers in too!

^^ Pint glasses instead of medals. I like the way PA folks think.

Still waiting to hear back from my LBS (ie for them to hear back from Fox) about bushings for the RP2. In the mean time, I ordered & just received a 661 Comp helmet, partially for the the Big Creek DH course (& a pending trip this summer to Spokane, hopefully this time it'll really happen) & partially for DH longboarding.

$80 shipped from Jenson, & I'm again impressed with the value 661 provides with their helmets. Feels snug in all the right places, doesn't leave my chin feeling exposed like my old cheapie full face did from when I was a kid, & it's surprisingly light (though my last full face was a motorcycle helmet). Hopefully going back up to Big Creek for a trial run next Tuesday, with a lot more confidence this time. After looking at the map, we realized that there's a paved path that leads straight to the DH course so you don't even have to fool with the XC on the way up.

Going to be finding out what the hype is all about with the continental Race King as a tire for dirt jumps.

I just drove through the NY Finger Lakes district. I waved at gastro but he didn't wave back. :-(

You crazy Canadians and your wacky customs! A 'wave' with only the middle finger outstretched is not considered a wave down here.

Oh and a news flash: Olympics be damned - - curling is not a sport. It's croquet without mallets and balls that don't roll.

Someone tell the elder gentleman that the winter Olympic games were 2 years ago.

All kidding aside, you'd probably like curling. At the leisure level it's a drinking sport!

Here are some results pics of my brand spanky Thuper Duper Stihl FS90:

My first trip out, I cleared a .5mi section of flowy thick veg. Most of the gnarlier terrain is so rocky that there's not much of a need for trimming. My first time out, I didn't want to clear an Interstate corridor, so I just did a head-width on either side of the trail.

Here's my first time out:





I showed it to the locals who occasionally trim out there and they said that it wasn't near wide enough. They recommended 18"-24" on either side of the trail + another 18"-24" of angled out "interloper" cut. Assuming the trail is already a foot wide...that was like 9 feet of corridor!!! What the fliznip?!!

So I went back out and hit it again:

My axe:





1 week after I bought my Stihl, my Dad called and asked if I had any use for his old gas powered "J-Handle" brushcutter. AAAAARGH!! Could have saved 4bills.




I think I'll still take his and throw a brush knife on it so I can clear the larger crap with it...I will save string that'a'way. It's not as powerful as the Stihl but I'd only use a brush knife a fraction of the time, so I'd rather have a more comfortable, smoother rig set up with a string head. The FS90 is definitely a nice rig. Smooth and powerful. Good balance between power and fuel efficiency.

9' is absolutely ridiculous. You only have to do enough to keep it reasonably clear until the field gets mowed. If they want more, let them get out there and do it themselves.

I only have the FS55R, feeling kind of inadequate right now.

I agree...when you get "into the woods" where everything's tight, it's not quite like that. There are so many stinkin' ticks in that tall grass on those open areas though, hanging on to the tops just waiting to jump ya. My first trip out there I agree was slightly inadequate. I went back out a few days later and there were a few leaning interlopers hanging into the middle of the trail after the rain.

They sent me a diagram the other day that showed a 1.5 trimmer-head-width off the lip of the trail...and another 1.5 head-width at a 45deg angle to get the leaners. Trim limbs and shrubs a minimum of 6'1" high...preferably 7'3" high. Stand in the center of the trail and hold your arms out. Anything that you can touch should be lopped.

Regarding field mowing? It don't happen here. There's not enough man-power through parks and rec to mow fields. They just do a bush-hog width on the side of the roads and spray guard rails with glyphosate / glyphase. This is the reason they were so elated to have me volunteer. Over on the Kansas side, they are almost exclusively using spray. It's so much more efficient...and the environmental footprint is minimal compared to fuel and exhaust. The Glyphase only kills what's already growing and only what it physically touches.

Got the bushings ordered for the RP2 yesterday. Guy at the shop said they should be here by next Friday. If it gets in early enough, I'll be heading back up to Big Creek to test out the new shock & the new helmet. If not, I'll have to wait impatiently through a work-filled weekend

Also not directly unrelated to MTBing, but if all goes well I'm going to have a two week transitional period in between jobs coming up soon, & will likely spend a week of that in Spokane. I'll have to see how things play out with money & buddy passes & Johnny Law & all that jazz, but that's the plan so far so make up for the failed Spring Break trip.

Makes my little straight-shaft-but-weenie WeedEater look like a kids' toy workshop model


Anyone got a scythe for sale?

Ya, bad tick year. I miss the southern ticks - big and fat and easy to feel crawling on you. Now I'm dealing with these insidious little deer tick nymph tiny ninja bastardds.

The higher the better IMO. I would much rather deal with arm scratchers than face slappers.

Got a couple. The romance dissolves quickly.

ed, I highly recommend the double standard:

I imagine that's true. I recall 'double-digging' being touted for turning garden soil. I have a rototiller now. Peeling spuds and drawknives may be cool and artsy log peelers but I think I'll try a pressure washer next time. Technology rocks.

I was wondering about those. I've only used the single. It ain't bad, but I'd like to try a double.

This new mobile app rocks! Now I will actually be able to be on the forums more and spice it up again!

What's the app called?

this is generally not mountain biking but you should see my friends new bike:

it has crank brothers candy pedals so I guess that is generally a mountain bike pedal.

Dubya tee eff man!

Sam, it's called ”bike forums”

I thinik that's the EdThreadStarter app. God help us all.





Well, and it has 'dirt drops' too I suppose, so why not?

I'm the happiest father in the world. My daughter who just turned 11 this last month has saved $200 and wants to buy a mountain bike.
BTW, we don't have CL or Ebay here in Japan but we have Yahoo Auction. Unfortunately $200 bucks isn't going to get her anything decent here.
Anyway, I told one of the local frame builders here about her wish, and he has come up with a solution. He has a new small frame (she is currently only 140cm) which he can't sell in his shop because it has a "blemish" in the paint on the top tube. (I looked and it's nothing)
For $200 bucks she can have the new frame and forks, and all the used parts in his shop (I mean everything including wheels, cranks etc) as long as I build it using his tools. Now how can I say no to a deal like that.
My daughter is tickled pink.