What to get: MTB edition.

[Tim Kelley]

@TwoWheelsDC 122835 wrote:

Well, I took the day off to go with my wife to a medical appt., which ended late enough to make going into work pointless, but early enough to go try out some bikes. Test rode a Trek X-Caliber 6 and immediately fell in love. The bike also happens to fit me perfectly, was a color I really liked, AND Spokes gave me a nice discount due to a tiny blemish on the frame, so I went ahead and put a deposit down. I looked at some others, but, AFAICT, there’s not much variation in bikes at this price point, so I don’t really feel like riding a bunch more is going to be of use, especially since the Trek fit so well. I ultimately decided against the Motobecane because the price was barely lower, with slightly lower spec components, and getting a ready-to-ride shop with free maintenance and nicer components offset the price difference.

The Trek doesn’t come with tubeless ready rims, but when I buy a winter wheel set, I’ll get tubeless, then use the stock rims to mount studs. Now I just gotta sell some bikes to make room in the shed….

Congrats on new bike day! I’ve had an X-Cal for the past couple years and it’s served me well and has taken a ton of abuse.

[hozn]

Yeah, good choice! Congrats on the new bike! I keep thinking about an X-Caliber frame to build into a HT.

I can build you some wheels when you’re ready. And I have bulk Stans (Tesa) tape and clipped out tube valve stems if you want to just see how well the rims work tubeless.

Chances are descent they will work. But I tested a conversion of my son’s 20″ wheels and it didn’t really work (without a compressor), so I ditched that plan; his only flat to date was a pinch flat when he rode straight into a curb. I suggested his technique was a bit wanting.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@hozn 122840 wrote:

I can build you some wheels when you’re ready.

Yessss. I’ll probably just deal with tubes for the time being, since I’ll use the stock wheelset for studded tires, and I think it’ll be fine sticking with tubes for that purpose.

I do have to say that the bike I rode had pretty low pressure in the tires and it kept freaking me out…gonna have to get used to that.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 122836 wrote:

Congrats on new bike day! I’ve had an X-Cal for the past couple years and it’s served me well and has taken a ton of abuse.

Now I gotta sign up for the MoCo Epic. I’m thinking the 50, but maybe that’s too ambitious…50 on the road is no problem, but on trails I know it’ll be quite different.

[hozn]

@TwoWheelsDC 122850 wrote:

Now I gotta sign up for the MoCo Epic. I’m thinking the 50, but maybe that’s too ambitious…50 on the road is no problem, but on trails I know it’ll be quite different.

Yeah, road and trail are quite different. 50 on those trails (relatively easy, super fun) is probably closer to 100+ mile road ride esp for less experienced on the road. OTOH, just plan to be out all day and celebrate if you beat that expectation. It is the MoCo EPIC after all.

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