Mountain Biking 2020

[Ken_R]

Yea, we’re going to hit Moab and Fruita. We just seem a long way off from skiing.

Years like this Im thinking late start to winter but it can all change with a storm or 2 in November. Still, looking warm in the lowlands.

 

[Mothertucker]

 

[ZionPow]

Yea, we’re going to hit Moab and Fruita. We just seem a long way off from skiing.

2 weeks ago the traffic into Moab was terrible. Avoid the weekend if possible!

 

[Wilhelmson]

Quick ride in the snow before it got dark.

 

[ZionPow]

We rode North Fork today. Some trails were still dusty while the shaded ones were snow covered in spots. Still good conditions.

 

[4ster]

We rode North Fork today. Some trails were still dusty while the shaded ones were snow covered in spots. Still good conditions.
View attachment 113666

l was up there twice this week, luv what they’re doing to the place

 

[Tom K.]

A fine view from the endpoint of today's ride. We've got a couple more days before the weather turns again. Planning to make the most of them!

 

[firebanex]

Because soon enough, you'll have snow!

Couple of shots from the weekend, went for a super mellow daytime ride with my wife, dad, and sister. Fresh snow never gets old doesn't matter if you're sliding, rolling, playing, or walking through it.

 

[Tom K.]

Because soon enough, you'll have snow!

True! We had 4 or 5 inches, and it went away, but more is coming soon.

One thing I know nothing about is fat biking, and I'm considering one here at my new much-more-wintery-location. I'll start a thread. Maybe you and others will chime in with some input.

 

[Lvovsky /Pasha/Pavel]

few weeks ago...

 

[firebanex]

Oh my, today the temperature just dropped out the bottom. It was like a cold dark January ride but in November, my garmin temp sensor recorded an average of -29*f for tonight's ride. Lights worked perfect but my phone even in a pocket closest to my body still just about got killed by the cold. There is a special kind of fun with these sorts of rides, sort of like overcoming a great obstacle and doing barely a 6 mile ride in terrible trail conditions.

And yes, the Jack Russel Terrier ran with us for about half the ride. She had booties and two coats on and seemed to be okay as long as we kept moving. When she wasn't running my friend sticks her in a sling inside his coat to rest and keep warm.

 

[AmyPJ]

Oh my, today the temperature just dropped out the bottom. It was like a cold dark January ride but in November, my garmin temp sensor recorded an average of -29*f for tonight's ride. Lights worked perfect but my phone even in a pocket closest to my body still just about got killed by the cold. There is a special kind of fun with these sorts of rides, sort of like overcoming a great obstacle and doing barely a 6 mile ride in terrible trail conditions.
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View attachment 113954

And yes, the Jack Russel Terrier ran with us for about half the ride. She had booties and two coats on and seemed to be okay as long as we kept moving. When she wasn't running my friend sticks her in a sling inside his coat to rest and keep warm.

How do you not get frost bite on your nose? Do your eyes freeze open? That's crazy cold!

 

[4ster]

Oh my, today the temperature just dropped out the bottom. It was like a cold dark January ride but in November, my garmin temp sensor recorded an average of -29*f for tonight's ride.

WOW! I think -24° is the coldest I have ever been skiing, I couldn’t imagine it on a bike !

Meanwhile in Utah although temps have been getting below freezing at night it has been close to 70° by afternoon the past couple of days. The warm weather is forecast to continue till Saturday when things begin to cool down to the balmy teens.

@AmyPJ on Sunday

From 8K’ on Monday

9K’ blue

Yesterday afternoon.

 

[AmyPJ]

WOW! I think -24° is the coldest I have ever been skiing, I couldn’t imagine it on a bike !

Meanwhile in Utah although temps have been getting below freezing at night it has been close to 70° by afternoon the past couple of days. The warm weather is forecast to continue till Saturday when things begin to cool down to the balmy teens.
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@AmyPJ on Sunday
View attachment 113958

From 8K’ on Monday
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9K’ blue
View attachment 113960

Yesterday afternoon.
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I'm kind of liking this warmth, with winter coming in with a bang this weekend. Way better than an October snow that ends up turning to a layer of instability under the winter snowpack. The forecast is definitely looking better for the skiers in us starting this weekend.

 

[firebanex]

How do you not get frost bite on your nose? Do your eyes freeze open? That's crazy cold!

Most fat biking is at pretty low speeds, so wind isn't much of a factor and it's not all that cold once you get moving. I also seem to have the blessing/curse of running quite warm, so I can usually get away with wearing lighter layers than most people I ride with. I was continually adjusting exactly how much of my face was covered with my buff depending on how much heat I was generating by riding. I do have to keep close attention on my cheek bones and tip of my nose as I have frost bit them in the past. All that said, my eyelashes like to freeze together and make my life interesting!

 

[Tom K.]

I rode once in Butte MT at minus 18, but @firebanex has schooled me!

It was fun. There was only two inches of bone dry powder on the ground. No need for fat bike stuff at all.

 

[Tom K.]

More of the same in the new backyard, so to speak. Really loving the larch factor here!

Storm heading our way...

 

[firebanex]

We got a storm rolling in tonight too anywhere between 6 and 14 inches over the next few days. Going to have to wait till it all stops before biking again. Trying to ride in super fresh deep snow is really.. not fun.

 

[Mothertucker]

@firebanex, I thought I was crazy for starting a ride at °121F and still rising. From 2016.

 

[nay]

2 weeks ago the traffic into Moab was terrible. Avoid the weekend if possible!

We bagged Moab due to the storm. Still riding a lot. My DHX2 shock developed a small leak, and I’ve been curious if air would just be better since I do a lot of fast big hit riding and the linkage was designed around an air shock. So I picked up a never been used DPX2 as a spare while Fox rebuilds the DHX2 under warranty.

Interestingly, the DHX2’s 52.5mm of travel includes the rubber bump stop on the shaft, so it’s really less as you can’t fully compress it. Although the 2.5mm plastic travel reducer could be snipped off easily.

I can feel the weight difference just picking up the bike, it feels like more than the raw numbers.

And...it’s a LOT faster. Specialized has the DPX2 as standard spec on the new 2021 Evo, and the rear isn’t dragging through stuff, much better big hit resistance (as expected). I dropped 7 secs off a rowdy .6 mile downhill yesterday. Which was funny, because I got to the bottom thinking I was slower and feeling less planted, but actually was just hauling ass.

Not much travel at full compression left. I’m adding 2.5mm with a second never been used DPX2, will keep this one as a spare, and am selling the coil setup.

I should have it right at 30 lbs in 160/160 travel when I’m done. Absolute shredder as a trail bike.