good times [MENTION=418438]TimothyH[/MENTION] :).

Last weekend I rode MTB myself with a buddy at Lake Hodges, good spot. Very challenging terrain! Then yesterday I rode 115 mi on a road bike surrounding an off season team training ride. Needless to say I'm hungry ATM.

Tim,

Nice! You will have a lot of fun riding mtb. The guys who ride mtb are pretty cool. Got in over my head at Allatoona once, and was talking to another rider, who offered to show me the way off the trail. It was a really hot day and I was pretty dehydrated too. Yet the guy didn't mind how slow I rode and stuck with me.

Make sure you get at least a front suspension, technical single track can really beat you up. There are a lot of new skills to learn too like riding rock gardens, clearing logs, and picking the right line on the trail. It will also push your limits to new levels too..

When does Allatoona close for hunting season?

Dave

Join the cult!

MTB will make you a more skilled road/track/CX/grave/whatever rider as well. You have to handle the bike much more proactively than other disciplines. But the secret is really in bonsai Dave's post above - picking the right line. Even with an infinitely capable machine, (meaning long travel FS 29"), "picking the right line" is something that applies to TT/pursuit, full on DH MTB and everything in-between.

Right now it is closed before 10AM for turkey hunting.

It is completely closed for the months of November and December and will reopen Jan 1.

I'm looking at the Pivot Mach 429SL (pricey!) or a leftover Mach 429 Trail. I probably won't buy until the spring, or maybe look for a deep discount during the winter.

The variety and options are bewildering.


-Tim-

Do you have the ability to test ride, demo or borrow? MTB Is so diverse!

Given that you already have a gravel bike and like doing long rides on that, something more "trail", "all mountain" or "enduro" might be a good choice.

Tim,

Allatoona Creek has demos a lot. I have seen Specialized, and a few other manufacturers there offering free test rides.

I can picture you on a light xc bike, they usually at least have front suspension, a little bit more aggressive position, and will be lighter than full suspension.

Dave

Today I rode to the station (the first part of my morning commute) on the old Bottecchia that I've been converting to fixed gear.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1950/...823e1fa4_b.jpg

That photo was from last week. Since then I got the headlight and taillight mounted and wired up; lights always on.

Not sure I'm done yet. I'm planning to do a very flat 200k brevet in a couple weeks, and I'd like to ride this bike, but I don't seem to have it dialed in yet.

Yeah, going to have to start going to the demos at Allatoona and Blankets.

I'm looking at the Pivot Trail 429.

https://www.pivotcycles.com/en/bike-trail-429-1

It seems to be universally lauded as a great all around mountain bike.


-Tim-

Today I should be getting my new(used) pedals and may go on a smal ride to test them if they come early enough.

Today I made a couple hub polisher bands. Needed to bring out my shmancy Buck knife to taper the leather because it was too thick originally to install the snaps.

https://i.imgur.com/0VIJqbm.jpg

today I filled in the shotty heart tattoo on my toe and also "gave out candy" (I ate candy because we had no trick or treaters in our hood)

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8c9ecad468.jpg

Today I'm selling my CycleOps Trainer I scored for 5 or 6 bucks for 60$ Score! I never hage money!

Nice my kind of bike. Built kind of like my SS/FG RandoCross FunTime Machine. Always loved the rando bikes and having a nice single speed version is just fun plus vintage stuff is always cool.

Today I'm leaving work early so we can go on our last Mt. Laguna MTB camping trip of the year. It starts getting cold.

I'm excited!!! Just packed up the car, gonna head into work a bit early b/c things are as busy as always. I'm stoked to leave after work so I can drive up the mountain and send it off some nice mountain meadow trails!!!

Dr.'s appointment at two. I don't know if I'm riding or getting a ride. My hip and back are mighty sore today so probably the former.
I just know I have to be home pretty quick after to watch my niece.

Today I went to a hematologist's appointment, got my meds refilled and then took my neice on a ride around the block a few times.
She's getting pretty good if I do say so myself.

It's a spacer that goes in the drive side dropout. usually seen on cheaper frames to help with wheel position/alignment for index shifting.

Thank you sir! After helping him gather / clean his stuff for the swap he said I could have the frame set including headset, stem, bars, grips, seat post, and saddle. It's an '86 Sierra... nothing to write home about, but FREE is GOOD haha. Will make for a fun single spd gravel bike I suppose. It's already sand blasted and ready for paint ;)

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...afcef011db.jpg

A nice Shortish leisurely ride across town with a couple friends. Wish my 24\" buddy wanted to do more on his teeny tiny Bikestockles.

Nice, sounds like a good project. Funny enough, I picked up a High Sierra today.

https://i.imgur.com/pw0szHp.jpg

Today I bought an IRO Rob Roy to be my winter bike/possible SSCX racer.