The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 10 - Getting Nerdy About Bike Setup
Art by Taj Mihelich
I have a good friend who, despite being normal as far as I know, insists on having the nose of his seat down at what must be a 30-degree angle. Another long-time riding buddy of mine points his brake levers at the ground, literally; my wrists are at a right-angle when I get on his bike and try to stop. He also zip-ties a pump to the side of his fork, and locals know him as 2-Poo Stu, but those are stories for another time. Point is, a lot of us have some, er, unconventional setup preferences that probably look more than a bit strange to everyone else. Sometimes we just don't know any better, like when we all wanted the handlebars on our downhill bikes to be as low as possible. Ugh. But sometimes it's for a very good reason; 2-Poo Stu's wrists are inexplicably straight when he's on the brakes, despite the levers aiming straight down, and my other buddy swears that's the most comfortable seat position for him. Can't argue with that.
In our tenth episode, we get down and dorky with bike setup, including those "unconventional" preferences that a lot of us seem to have. Kaz and I go over our tastes on suspension, cockpit, tires and pressures, pedals, and anything else on a bike that he could be wrong about, and we also choose a full-suspension design to ride for the rest of our lives.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever else you get your podcasts.
THE PINKBIKE PODCAST // EPISODE 10 - GETTING NERDY ABOUT BIKE SETUP
May 27th, 2020
Whose setup still includes bar-ends?
Hosted by Mike Levy and featuring a rotating cast of the editorial team and other guests, the Pinkbike Podcast is a weekly update on all the latest stories from around the world of mountain biking, as well as some frank discussion about tech, racing, and everything in between.
Previous Pinkbike Podcasts
Episode 1 - Why Are Bikes So Expensive?
Episode 2 - Where the Hell is the Grim Donut?
Episode 3 - Pond Beaver Tech
Episode 4 - Why is Every Bike a Trail Bike?
Episode 5 - Can You Trust Bike Reviews?
Episode 6 - Over Biked Or Under Biked?
Episode 7 - Wild Project Bikes
Episode 8 - Do We Need an Even Larger Wheel Size?
Episode 9 - Why Are We Doing a Cross-Country Field Test?
Hit us in the comments with your suggestions: What do you want to hear us talk about? Would you be into watching a video version, or are our dulcet voices enough for you?
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The forest is criss crossed with fire road too help the firefighters putting off forest fires, so almost any hill has a fireroad on it. It's a perfect way to go up, never too steep, it goes where we want to go. So in term of social riding it's perfect because it's easy to talk with your buddies when you pedal a large and 6ù grade fire road. It's not hard on your leg and it's very quick to climb in term of D+ per hour.
Basically, 90% of teh riders here literraly hate technical climbing single tracks.
30 psi in my min....... oh nevermind.
I weigh 71-74kg/157-163lbs and used to run:
FT 17.5 psi / Maxxis / Minion DHF / 29x2.5 / EXO / 3C Maxxterra / tubed-less / Entity hookless bead 30mm rim
RT 21.5 psi / Schwalbe / Nobby Nic / 29x2.6 / APX / Addix Speedgrip / tubed-less / DT Swiss EX511
And never had a puncture or tire roll using those setting on my local trails.
www.trailforks.com/region/puncak
Do you think people are 'berming out' the trails for Strava times?
Curious your take on Strava Leaderbords in general especially with the changes to Strava lately?
Lulz - that's what she said?
For the past 5 years the whole mtb industry has been obsessed with getting oir seats lower. Dropper posts probably being the best mtb invention ever. But then why is it that at the top level (world cup dh) does everyone seem to have the posts jacked to the top? Lol wouldnt you think i f anyone benefited from no seat in the way it would be them. Yet even bruni who isnt a tall guy rides with his seat level with the stem??? Wierd no?
Topic idea: Do a show on the range of advocacy and trail access issues related to mountain biking -
What responsibility does the media have to promote responsible trail use? Are trails getting dumbed down? What role do/should bike companies play in eMTB access issues? Is there less appreciate for trail building/maintenance with the younger generation? Is trail building portrayed enough in the media?
There are a lot of interesting topics about trail access that myself and many Pinkbike folks would love to hear your opinions on, especially issues related to what role bike companies and the media play in creating and solving trail access issues.
I have an alloy process 153, cost under $3K USD, I love the bike but definitely want it to be lighter and don’t plan on getting any other model. Having a spare frame of the same bike seems a bit odd but it’s fun to build up a bike at the same time.
How much do you weigh? Can you lose the equal amount of weight?
My main reason to go to a carbon frame on my E29 was to get the SWAT box. Fully stocked up, the bike weighs about 40 pounds. Carbon on my XC bike is to be light, of course. But I weigh 142 pounds today at 5'8", and consider myself "out of race fitness", so the pound I lose on the bike actually matters to me as getting sub 138 is really damn hard.
I did keep my aluminum E29, I know it isn't worth anything (I ride my bikes HARD).
On the other hand, if you want carbon...why do you need to justify it? Just go get it if that's what you want.
On the other hand anti-coagulants prevent coagulation which would cause excessive loss of pressure (blood volume).
Your last month sounds like my average 6-12 months.
Only concern - at the current rate...a few episodes from now, Levy is going to have what.... 6 or 7 bosses?? Not sure how those other fellas get to call themselves Levy's boss - not yet heard anywhere where they are more knowledgeable, etc... :->
If someone wants to waste $250 on a manual machine by all means do what you want with your money, but lets not pretend that it's an intelligent investment in mountain bike skills. Take that $250 and go to a qualified coach for a couple of lessons. Also if you can't learn how to build a manual machine I think that learning how to manual is way out of your skill potential.
I don't think there is any connection to mechanical skill (building a manual machine) and your riding skills (being able to manual).
Additionally, if you can't manual or bunnyhop, you probably can't speak to how important they are on the trails. Those are skills I use ALL the time.
I have a mix of flat and clip in systems (I race road, triathlon, XC, and enduro). I do prefer flats for trail/enduro, but I will on occasion clip into my enduro and notice a small improvement in my times...but it doesn't make me happier so I rarely do.
It's common to have a heavier (or at least equal) tire out back because of the additional weight over the rear wheel. I'd be afraid the Agarro out back would get shredded. That combo looks good though.
Weight prevented me from trying Vittoria tires for years, turns out that was a huge mistake on my part.
I do (huck norris) but an insert is a stop gap for a tire that's not supportive or durable enough. I run one because my rear wheel takes a beating even with a proper tire and psi. 1000g is my general sweet spot.
My experience with the 2.35 martello (960g) was pretty good but definitely pushing the lightweight limit of what works for me, my terrain, and riding style. I ran it on the front for a couple months then moved it to the back.
Anyway, I'll still consider this combo but also looking at the 2.6 DHR2 as a front once my e13 wears out. It's 1035g in EXO+ casing but who knows, maybe the 2.6 martello still rolls better. The 2.35 was fast on the front. And would match the 2.6 DHR2 to a 980g 2.5 Aggressor on the rear (which I already have laying around).
Or i could go with the 2.6 Agarro out back once the snow comes back.
corsa 28, corsa control 28, terreno zero(650b) 47, terreno dry 33, terreno mix 33, mezcals in all sizes and widths(27.5 2.25, 2.35, 2.1 and 2.25 on 29" wheels, barzo in 2.25 as a front tire for my xc bike when not in full summer/dry conditions, morsa on 26" and diff. combos of morsa, martello and mota on 27.5 wheels.
then I switched to assegai front and dhf back and discovered grip!, I suggest to try the same combo. You will be amazed at the cornering grip and, especially, at the stopping distance; I had to relearn some tracks as my breaking points were suddenly in other places. these days I'm running dhf-dhf and I'm still very happy; on anything other than a shuttle/park bike, I feel that assegai is too much of a drag.
bottom line is, I am fully recommending vittoria tires but, me personally, I would stop using them on anything 'higher' than a full suspension XC bike. the road ones are crazy(read unbelievable) fast, the gravel ones are fantastic and the xc ones have the perfect blend of grip and speed(even though mezcal in front can be a little wahsy; not the barzo though) but for serious trail riding and mountain-biking, the difference is sooo great you wouldn't believe!
happy riding, cheers!
Side knobs are also pretty weak, tore more than a few which left me high and dry on some big loops.
Yes, that was exactly my experience with martello and mota. Good rolling for the size, not so much grip, not very resistant. From the bunch, Morsa, Martello and Mota, Martello was the best IMO.
Tires are all compromises and even your particular bike makes a huge difference in what tires work well for you so your experience may vary. I don't see the fascination with the Assagai as far me it slows me down so much anywhere besides pointed straight down hill that the slowness alone is a major factor in it's high grip. If I could go as fast on it as I can on other tires, it wouldn't grip as well, imo.
I agree with you about the assegai. I even mentioned that I am not using it anymore do to it having a very high rolling resistance.
But man, Martellos does not even is at the same lvl with DHF or a MM; and trust me, I tried multiple combo; almost 1 year I had morsa front to back, then Martello front, Morsa back for a couple of months. Then Martello front to back for 1 year and, before I switch to Maxxis, I had the Mota front-Martello in the back from April to July(last year). Morsas were 2.3 but the Martellos and the Mota were 2.5 DH casting. They aren't even close to DHFs and MMs, and hell no close to Assegai.
They do have one thing I appreciated, beside the good rolling, and that thing was the predictibility. It is like my hands were on the tires, that is how good I knew where I am with them and how much I can push them....aaand, it was sort of funny drifting pretty much everywhere but, once I made the switch to DHF and Assegai, I started to realize what grip really is and how much I can push a bike/tire.
If you use them on a trail bike...for small to epic rides, then they could be pretty good. If you want to smash 'the downs', look somewhere else.
I maintain my opinion, they are some of the best tires on the planet but, only from road to xc. Above xc, there are other brands/models that work so much better.
Either way, good luck!
By not saying anything Pinkbike is ignoring it. You don’t have to say the word to do it.