MtnBikeRiders.com

For the past year or so, I’ve been saving my nickels, quarters, and the occasional folding currency for a new mountain bike – specifically, a geared 29er hardtail. After a lot of waffling and agonizing, I ended up ordering a custom Niner EMD9 build through Speedgoat Cycles. I initially wanted just a couple modifications off of a stock build they had, but ended up being able to work out several component changes for exactly the right price (thanks Michael C.!).

For everyone wanting to know the specs, here you go (the rest of you, skip down to the pretty pictures).

2012 Niner E.M.D.9 aluminum frame with tapered headtube
Fox 32 FLOAT 29 100 RLC FIT 15QR Tapered Fork
SRAM 2×10 X7 drivetrain (derailleurs, shifters, cranks)
Shimano XT Ice Tech brakes
Stan’s Notubes Arch EX 29er wheelset
Continental Race King 2.0 tires
Easton EA50 stem, bars, and seatpost
WTB Silverado Pro saddle
Weight: 25.22 lbs

I now have about 6 hours on the bike (3 rides in 3 states, thanks to a recent family trip!) and I have to say I’m having a blast. It’s a solid ride – could be lighter I suppose, but I have no complaints since it’s lighter than my Monocog! I’m also really enjoying the Fox fork (no surprise there), the 2×10 drivetrain, and the XT brakes.

For the frame itself, I have to say it’s a really nice balance – very maneuverable, I can loft the front end easily, which is a nice change from the stable but ground-loving Monocog. I’ve also found it to be a capable climber – the last ride I went on (which I’ll be devoting a separate post to later!) involved some pretty crazy rocky and rooty climbs, and the bike handled them all – I made a few mistakes in picking my lines on unfamiliar trails, but it’s not fair to blame the bike for human error!

I’m still making adjustments and shaking things down, but I’ve been really happy with my purchase so far. A couple changes may be in order – for one, I still have to get the tubes out of my tubeless-ready setup, and I also want to take some weight out of the seat post (it’s 400mm and I could probably do fine with 300mm). Overall though, I’ve got a sweet and fun ride that can handle a wide range of terrain with ease. If you’re in the market for a new hardtail 29er that doesn’t totally break the bank, I definitely recommend checking out the EMD9.

If we went back 10 years you’d see that I NEVER stretched before riding. I always thought that I needed my legs fresh for the ride and all stretching ever did was make my legs tired. I heard it from Lady P and other folks that stretching will help prevent injuries and yada yada yada. Did I listen? Nope. In fact when I started DH racing, I never would stretch and would always poke fun of my team mate, Dan Burdett because I’d often see the dude in fancy Yoga poses where the bottom of his feet would be touching his head. Heck I’ve even seen his wife take his foot, pull it behind him and then she’d grab his arms and put her foot into his back just to “stretch” out his quads and pecs…

But now that I’m a bit older, 35. I’m starting to notice that my muscles aren’t as strong or quick to move as they used to be. I’ve found that I often will need to stretch before and after ride. Man what sucks about this whole business of getting older is that I developed Tennis Elbow just from doing bunny hops and that if I don’t stretch my calves out, they’ll ache like crazy!

So if any of you readers are around 25, start stretching now because you’ll end up like me at 35, all messed up because I didn’t stretch and because of it, I’ve got some messed up muscles…

Editorial-Since we have a backlog of items to review, we’ve recruited a local legend named “Dial Tone” or DT, to review the Cardo B-1 Duo. DT comes to us with years of riding experience as well as having an affinity for all things technological. Below is his first impression on the Cardo.

Have you ever gone on a ride and wish you can still stay in touch with your faster friends who have ridden so far ahead you need to yell to get their attention? Or how about wishing on having GPS instructions given to you will riding while the music is playing? What about being able to take a call while riding? How about about combining all?

The Cardo BK-1 Duo can do all of the above.

The Cardo BK-1 Duo is a Bluetooth intercom system that can connect up to 3 riders up to 500 meters or 1640+ feet. Not only that, the BK-1 Duo can be paired up with a cell phone, a GPS unit, MP3 player and it has built in FM radio! The company also claims to offer “intuitive Voice Command operation” and a “Click-to-Link” for a fast and instant connection.

I was given this daunting task of reviewing this comm system. At first glance you can tell this is going to be a quality product. The box the BK-1 Duo comes in is similar to the cases that Oakley sunglasses come in. The product is also presented well upon opening; instead of zip ties and cardboard, its velvet-mouse fur material and foam.

There are a lot of these pieces so avoid the temptation of opening everything without consulting the manual first. Being a red-blooded American male, I started unwrapping wires willy-nilly only to stop and eventually ask myself “what is this thing for?”

The BK-1 Duo manual is literally a small pocket book. I was relieved to see that the book was thick because it was printed in other languages as well.

After doing a quick assembly to see what the unit would look like, I plugged in the BK-1 and went to bed knowing by the time I wake up in the morning it will be done charging. By the way, according to the manual, charging only takes 3 hours.

Today I got to try out the most basic function of the BK-1 Duo with RL, the intercom. We tested it at the parking lot of the Fullerton Loop, a popular bike (multi-use) trail in Orange County, California. Reception was clear and boom mic was sensitive enough to pick up our voices without yelling. Tested within 100 feet, the BK-1 Duo performed nicely but we did noticed some static or “breaking up” in the transmission. This was apparent when the both of us were no longer in line-of-sight of each other. Perhaps there were other electronic devices around us that was causing interference. Both of us were holding the units in our hands and while I did place the unit on top of my head as if it was mounted on top of a helmet, some of the static did not go away.

More testing will be done to see if the static was just a fluke or interference and how it will fare when put to real-world use on the trail or bike path.

For more information on the Cardo BK-1 Duo please visit www.cardosystems.com

One of our favorite sponsors is The Sweet Cakery. Based out of Fullerton, they are known for their custom cake designs, but their claim to fame would be their famous Cake Pops.

The Sweet Cakery offers a variety of Cake Pop flavors, chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and even carrot cake. These pops can be crafted to have fondant characters or made to fit your event’s theme.

You’re probably wondering why a treat company is sponsoring a mountain biking website? The answer to that question is rather simple, mountain bikers love sweets too! Each pop is just enough for one person to enjoy without going overboard. Cake Pops make great party favors or even as replacement to the birthday cake.

If you recall, we’ve talked about Northrock Bicycles before. In fact I was surprised that our server stats show that the keyword “Northrock Bicycles” gets the most amount of hits. So I figured I’d revisit the subject and provide you guys some better photos. Well for one let’s get one thing straight, I’ve called and called, sent emails and left messages for Northrock Bicycles to call me back to see if we can get a demo unit to test out. But they never got back to me each time I’d reach out. So going to Costco was the next best thing. Mind you this isn’t a formal review, it’s more of a snap shot.

This is the Northrock Bicycles XC6

It’s basically an entry level mountain bike.

24 speed drive train.

WTB Tires.

One thing that sucks about Costco, the assembly team that puts these bikes together don’t really pay attention to the details. Just look how overly rotated the handle bar is.

Price point is pretty hard to resist, $349

When you go to Costco, they’ll usually have one or two assembled, but for the most part, they come in boxes and you’ll have to put it together yourself. These bikes are 95% assembled. All you really need to do is put the front wheel on and the handle bars.

Here’s the spec sheet.

So there you have it. The Northrock XC6, like I said, it’s not much of a review since we didn’t get a chance to put it through the paces. Perhaps if Northrock ever got wind of this article, they’ll let us try one out.

A shot that I took from my ride on Saturday that I thought I’d share with you all.

Well, if you have AAA automobile insurance, you might be covered. I recently spoke to an agent and asked him specifically the question, “If my bike that is on my hitch mount rack falls off while I’m driving and the bike hits another car, will I be covered?” Since this was such a foreign question that he has never heard about, he called their Underwriting team and they verified that with their policy, the damage caused by their insured’s bicycle will be covered.

Just to be sure that your auto insurance will do the same, it would be best to talk to your agent to get more info. It could be different for each carrier.

As a part of the MtnBikeRiders.com racing team we are sponsored by Serfas. This year they have provided us with sunglasses. I was able to pick out two models from the product line. After perusing the website, I was able to find two pair that were available with polarized lenses. Polarized lenses are a requirement for me when it comes to sunglasses. Not only are they better for your eyes, they look better and are clearer from the wearer’s perspective. When it comes to sunglasses, I ALWAYS wear them. They might as well be permanently attached. I don’t go outside with them. It’s like my smart phone, almost always within reach.

The two models that I chose are the Syke Out and the Force 5. Both models came with several different sets of lenses, a nice protective microfiber pouch for cleaning, and a good quality case. The different lens options included with both glasses are the following from light to dark: clear (great for night riding!), light tint (rose), polarized (brown/amber), and dark tint (grey).

The Syke Out glasses have been my go to riding glasses, and they have been outstanding. They have a metal, adjustable nose-piece and open or exposed lens edges on the bottom. This is not my preference for a nose piece, but I have not had any issues with it. I tend to find the plastic uni-body more comfortable. When it comes to riding glasses, I have found that a high-contrast amber lens tint has been the best. The Syke out lens (polarized lens) is a light brown/amber tint and is a touch light as well than the Force 5. It has been great for riding in all daylight conditions. These glasses DO NOT slip off my face at all while riding. They stay in place no matter how much I sweat. They breathe excellently, and do not fog up till you stop moving for too long. I do use some lens cleaner that includes anti-fog properties, but these glasses did not really need much help in that area. The lenses have good clarity, and have held up with with 6 months of riding so far. I generally have to replace riding glasses once a year because they just suffer to much abuse are are scratched. The Syke Out’s are still in great shape with no major scratches. My only complaint is not really a legitimate one, but in super dusty trails, I have had trouble with dust in around the glasses and in my eyes, but the only real solution here would be googles. So I don’t really count that as a negative here.

The Force 5 glasses were closer to my aesthetic preferences, so I wear these to work, driving, hanging out, and generally anytime I am not riding. The lenses are a little darker than the Syke Out’s, which I think is good for more relaxed situations. The styling actually reminds me of some Black Fly glasses I had back in the day. They are light and uber-comfortable.

I would recommend both of these pairs of glasses from Serfas. They have held up well, under high use and abuse and still look good with lenses in good shape.

Syke Out Verdict:
Breath-ability: 5/5
Fit/Comfort: 4/5
Lens Color/Shade: 5/5
Clarity: 4.5/5
Lens Durability/Scratch Resistance: 4.5/5

Force 5 Verdict:
Breath-ability: 4/5
Fit/Comfort: 5/5
Lens Color/Shade: 5/5
Clarity: 4.5/5
Lens Durability/Scratch Resistance: 4.5/5

Since my bikes and I are on the outs right now I will post an HR. That’s a Hiking Report, not the chick in Human Relations that has no sense of humor and makes you sit through sexual harassment training every year.

Lately work has been the wedge in my biking relationship. My bike scowls at me when I get home for the lack of attention. She turns her back to me in bed. She says I spend more time with my coworkers than with her. However, for all the vitriol in our arguing, the make-up will be awesome (pics and video sure to come).

Last week we went camping up north in Kings Canyon NP. Last year we went to Quaking Aspen and until a month ago we planned on returning this year. However, a coworker suggested Kings Canyon and we all bit. He spun tales of bears, s’mores, starry nights, epic hikes, rushing rivers, and fermented beverages. Not one to miss a new adventure we packed the truck, tied down the kids, and drove for hours.

In my pre-planning for the trip I found out bikes are not allowed in the national park. Effin savages! The campground itself was great. There is certainly no shortage of spectacular views. If anything, you could complain that there are too many trails to hike and be overwhelmed my all that gorgeous nature ‘n sh!t. We (wife and kids in tow) set off for a morning hike. We decided on linking the Zumwalt Meadow Trail with Roaring River Falls for a sub 4 mile hike. As soon as we set off all I could think of was how great this would be to be on a bike. After a couple hundred yards and hearing the jubilant laughter from the kids I realized the benefit of hiking a trail sans bikes. The kids were free to hike and explore and pick up rocks, pine cones, and acorns without worry of a biker tearing around the next corner. Although, being the ever-protective, vigilant dad I was still on the lookout for snakes and nettles and such.

The hike did not disappoint one bit. Upon reaching the waterfall at trail’s end the family was a bit beat. I left them to eat the snacks we packed as I set off on the return alone to pick up the truck. We all enjoyed the trail and agreed that this would be on our yearly return list. We only scratched the surface of the hiking potential of the area. Maybe next hike I will take a set of handlebars and hold them out in front of me.

On the return I decided to cross the river. When the kids aren’t at your heels you can say, “I can walk 50′ on a felled tree to cross a river.” And here’s the proof. Although my son would have had a blast crossing it too. Just don’t tell your mother.

After racing Super D this past winter at Southridge, I knew I needed to started working toward a bigger travel, slacker bike. I had ridden the Santa Cruz Butcher at the last year when SC’s demo fleet came through town, and had thoroughly enjoyed that bike. I started keeping an eye out online for used frames, and eventually I had success! This started the several month long process of bike building and part hunting. Now that I had the new frame, I put up ads to sell my Giant Trance to help fund the new build. I pulled all the upgrades I had made to the trance off that bike and swapped them over to the new frame, brakes, bars, grips, saddle, & dropper post.

BTW- I apologize for the quality of all the pictures in advance, as they are all from my cell phone as this build came together in free moments here and there and random late nights.

Next I found a used Fox fork. It was a bit of a drive to go get, but worth the savings. Note: This is just a reminder to ALWAYS measure twice, and here is why. I got the headset installed and when to install the stem and found I was 5mm short on the steerer tube. The steerer tube did not even pass the centerline of the stem bolt. Not really enough pot to clamp on to. Now, I had not cut the steerer tube, but I had just tried to install it in the state I received it. I had only eyeballed the length when I purchased the headset which came in two varieties, standard and low rise which left about a 5-10mm difference between the two. “What’s 5mm?” I thought, plus that one’s cheaper. Well, it turns out it is the difference between a safely installed stem and, well, a not so much safely installed stem.

I ordered the wheels new, which was pretty much the only part major part I was not able to find used. Good thing I ordered them early, as they took almost twice as long as expected, 6-8 weeks. But it was worth it! They looked good, and ride even better! For extra stiffness I went with the 10mm axle in the rear, instead of the standard 9m skewer.

The last parts I needed to complete the build at this point was the drive-train. I knew I wanted to but 2×10 on, but had found exactly what I wanted yet. I had been talking with several other friends trying to make a final decision on what I wanted to use for the build when I got a, “Hey, I’ve a whole extra drive-train sitting on the shelf at home available.” It was an offer I could not refuse.

I was finally wrapping up the build and couldn’t wait to get out and ride it. I have neglected to mention, but the same time as I was finishing this build my SS ended up with a cracked frame and was sent out for warranty replacement. Now the pressure was really on to finish the build so I could get out and ride. I had gotten wheels, rotors and cranks on so I was able to finally sit on the bike and get a feel for it for how it was coming along. I scheduled a ride with a friend for the next day and all I had left was to install and tune the derailleurs. The night before the ride I ended up having to work late and had just enough time to run to the LBS for the final part I had forgotten. I did not have the end caps for the derailleur housing! Without these the derailleurs were useless. I literally showed pulled up at 7.00 at night at closing to the closest shop to my house. The lights were off, but I stepped in anyway, and caught them just closing up. Doesn’t get much closer than that.

Here is the info on the build.

Build Spec:
Frame: Large Santa Cruz Butcher w/ Rockshox Vivid Air
Fork: Fox 36 Float RLC 160mm
Dropper Post: Rockshox Reverb
Drivetrain: Sram XO/X9
Wheels: Industry 9 Enduro Hubs w/ Stan Flows
Brakes: Shimano XT 180/160
Bars: Raceface Atlas
Grips: Ergon GA-1
Tires: F-2.3 Specialized Clutch Control R- 2.3 Specialized Butcher Control
Final Weight: 31lb 13oz

One thing I found out after the first ride is that I had incorrectly installed the stem. For some reason, I thought I had a zero rise stem, and I had just pulled it from the previous bike without much inspection. Well, evidently, it is a 5 degree rise and flipping it around made a huge difference in the feeling, mainly on the climbs. It took me several rides to dial in the suspension to a comfortable place, but now the Butcher is nothing but fun…. on the way down of course. I won’t be entering any XC races or hill climb contests on this bike, but I’ll get to the top eventually. The slacker head angle has given me increased confidence on the descents and am able to attack them much stronger than before. I have a Big Bear trip scheduled in a few weeks, and will give the Butcher a good weekend long workout. In the meantime, I have had plenty of fun tearing up the local trails on my new all-mountain build.