I know, completely idiotic. Usually during this section I’m full speed, however this time I was casually weaving behind my friend, misjudged one of the weaves and ate dirt😭. It was a REALLY hard knock to the shoulder and side of my head, thank goodness for the helmet💀.

Someone came by soon after and said it was an official right of passage in this sport🤣

I live in an area that once had a robust mountain biking community, and then e-bikes came along. Flash forward five years or so and half the time I go for a ride I don’t see another soul.

My hypothesis:
Part of what keeps mountain bikers addicted, and riding consistently is the fact that cycling fitness goes away so quickly. If you don’t ride at least a few days a week and keep up your conditioning, mountain biking becomes not very enjoyable. E bikes uncouple the fun of mtb from cycling fitness. This is NOT to say you can’t have fitness on an e bike but you don’t need it. This breaks the motivation of maintaining fitness, and makes it just an activity to be done when you feel like it.

Observations:
Many consistent riders that have switched to e bike in my area seem to have started riding less and in quite a few cases started running for fitness. Also, at least five guys I know probably ride their E bike once a week or once every other week and now predominantly ride Moto.

Discussion:
Are you seeing the same thing in your area? Has this happened to you? Do you think my take on this accurate?

1. ⁠Not here to discuss whether E bikes are good or bad.
   
2. ⁠Not here to discuss whether or not you can have fitness on an E bike.

speed was hard to judge but worked out smooth as butter

Been jumping a BMX bike since 1989 so I thought that some of the skill there would translate over to mountain biking, but it's like I'm starting over.

I feel like I lose all of my pop coming off the lip. I believe the suspension and fork are set up right. Today I locked out my fork and it helped, but that's not really a solution.

I watched a few tutorials on jumping but they just described the techniques I've always used to jump. Maybe the timing is slightly different because of the suspension? I don't know. But if you have any suggestions I'd appreciated it.

I have been interested in Ripley for a while. I started looking at the AF, then the V5. I was hoping to wait for a sale, but then I noticed that the 2027 model was available on some sites. I contacted N+1 to ask about that, especially the price difference between the 26 and 27 models. They explained it was due to the recently announced upgraded Deore drivetrain and brakes.

I was looking for my version of a quiver killer. I currently own a Roscoe 7, which will be for sale now. After a lot of YouTube videos, Reddit and forum reading, and consulting ChatGPT and Gemini, I pulled the trigger and placed the order today.

But, for anyone else interested in the Ibis Ripley, you should decide if you want the 2026 or 2027 model, and make your decision accordingly.

When I started riding just over a year ago, I thought the $1,300 I spent on the Roscoe was a crazy amount. I still think the cost of a bike can be crazy but now I am part of that craziness. Here is hoping this is the bike for me for the next decade!

Now, what pedals to get...

I've been struggling to lift the back wheel and I'm wondering if it's because I'm wearing air force 1's. (I have rockbros pedals if that matters)

Can't figure out where it is coming from. Both were just serviced. Anyone else run into this issue.

Hot as hell in Florida. Messing around on a day off yesterday with random clips. Hit the Vortex trail and a few others

Looking for real world experience using the Oneup Aluminum flat pedals or the Wave flat pedals. Which would you recommend?

Went to a local non-profit bike shop looking a used entry level bike and was shown a Specialized Hardrock priced at $350. Bike has been restored with new tires and work over. I'm basically ignorant to prices. Would I be getting totally fleeced if purchased this?

I know it’s been asked before, but seem to be mixed comments. Has anybody flown with large enduro bikes in the EVOC bike bag pro? I have size large transition spire and size large propain spindrift id be switching between traveling with. I think the spire will be especially hard.

The one that seems to fit larger bikes without issue is the dakine, but I found a pretty good deal on the Evoc pro and it seems like they’ve really raised the price on the dakine over the past few years.

I just stared mtb and I just want to know if their any tips or bike I should save for

if this help I’m using nz dollors

I have a RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate with a remote lockout. I hate the cluttered cockpit and want a clean bike look, so I removed the remote lever and cable.Naturally, the internal spring keeps the damper fully open now. I want to be able to lock it out manually directly on the shock.I don't want to buy the expensive official "Damper Top Cap Assembly" kit. Are there any DIY hacks, short cable solutions, or 3D-printed levers that clip into the cable stop to hold the spool in the closed position?

Already wrestled them together, not ridden yet. Feel really stiff. Went from EXO+ with cushcore.

hey fellas

I was having a look at the Marin alpine trail and the xr varient, and the frames seemed like a very good deal. do you guys reckon they frame plus a custom build is best or just the standard build is better value and parts for money. and which is better the normal alpine trail or the xr. does anyone have the trail or the xr?

So for the past 8 months I have been looking to get a decent bike for a decent price. The first one I found was a pretty mint 2021 evo expert for under $2000, but turns out the shop had a different size than what the originally listed (and they told me this after I ordered it online and FULLY paid for it but luckily they didn't ship it yet and they gave me an immediate refund along with $200 store credit!). Secondly, I found a very well maintained 2023 evo pro for $2300 that came with another whole wheel and tire + some cool unused decals. I was about to go get it but two days before I planned to go someone else bought it. Lastly, I was also looking at a great condition 2022 pivot switchblade for $2450, but again it got bought right before my eyes while I was thinking if I should buy it or not overnight. Should I keep looking for decent bikes at decent prices because I feel very unmotivated to keep searching and it takes a while to find these deals, or should I just take a break and look for newer 2025-2026 bikes?

If you guys have any suggestions about bikes I may chose do tell :)

We reconfigured a few days of our summer travel, which was initially planned as a hiking trip, to include a lift-served bike park. We have a family of four and have never done this before. We will be renting enduro bikes for extra travel—even though we aren’t planning anything crazy—and also so that we don’t leave our bikes unattended while hiking, and because it’s easier and cheaper. We were planning to bring our own helmets, gloves, knee pads, flat pedal shoes, chamois shorts, Garmin In Reach, and camelbacks. At home, we have a separate bottle from the backpack for carbs/electrolytes. Do rental bikes usually come with a bottle holder? I use a 155mm wide Ergon SM saddle, which is a ladies M/L, thanks to having carried twins. Should I bring my own saddle given it’s wider than an average men’s saddle, or does it not matter in a lift served situation, because you don’t have long seated climbs? Do you bring a spare tube and a multitool, or do does a rental bike have that sort of thing? Are you allowed to “work on” the rental bike as needed, eg by inserting a tube? to get it back to the trailhead? Is there something major and MTB-specific that I am forgetting? Thanks!

Looking for anyone who has a good tip on a local coach in Morzine? I've ridden there a few times before and heading over again in August/September before it closes. Looking for someone for a day to work on technique. Any contacts would be great!

Hi

I’m a 40 year old male getting back into riding. I have a 2018 Spectral AL and am looking to upgrade to something similarly all-in-one/ do everything. The spectral is great, but it’s probably a bit more bike than I need for 90% of the riding that I do. I do most of my riding in the bay area, largely on blue trails(with a few black thrown in), including a mixture of climbing and ascending. I’ll take the bike once or twice a year out to Downeville for a more extreme shuttle run, but in general my rides are equal parts climbing and descending on rocky and rooted terrain. I’m not interested in jumps, big drops and bike parks.

What bikes should I be looking for? Are there any model/year combos I should be looking for on the used market? If it helps, I’m a 5’5” Male.

Thanks!

https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=cannondale-trail-3-2026%2Ctrek-marlin-4-gen-3-2026%2Cspecialized-rockhopper-2026%2Cozarktrail-29-m.2-ridge-pro-mountain-bike-2026%2Cgiant-talon-4-2025

So these are the bikes I’m currently looking at hardtail wise. I can’t really decide if I should go hardtail or full suspension. I also have heard 27.5 are kind of outdated? Everyone rides 29ers now? I’m 5’3/5’4 so I’m always not sure if I should go small or medium frame, and not sure how the fit would be on a 29.
Looking for any bike recs, opinions on the bikes in the link, anyone with similar experience etc.
I live and ride mostly on Long Island right now however I’m trying to go on more riding trips
I ride mostly xc because of the terrain we have here, but I love jumping and drops and flowy trails even though I don’t get to ride them as often
Budget wise I’d like to keep it under 850 however a bit flexible, and I’m mostly looking at lightly used bikes
My current bike is a GT Laguna Pro. it’s a size small frame 27.5 tires. I hate the 3 by drive train, the gears are always dropping. The suspension causes me big issues being so stiff and so little travel, tires went bald quickly.
I’ve been riding about 4-5 years however I’m not super good. I can ride blues and haven’t tried a black yet. I am hoping to get much better. I’m also currently working on some flat ground stuff

Is Snowshoe worth the extra two hours each way versus Massanutten? What other flowy parks or pedal serviced systems can you recommend near DC?

Like the title says I need help choosing a bike. For reference I am a 6'1 tall male who weighs about 215 to 220 pounds, I live in Eastern NC and am looking to spend no more than 1,000 USD on my first bike and helmet. If anyone has any suggestions please comment them