FRESH TRACKS

We got the first real snowfall last night - about 4 inches of real heavy wet stuff. Chances are it's not going to stick around too long, which at this point in the season is fine with me. Of course we got out and rode in it.


After few trails out the front door followed by a couple of miles on the slushy bike path we made it to Beddy to check out the single track.


The Sun is out, snow on branches = Nice day in the woods.


The trails were all rideable. Only downside was the occasional sapling bent across the trail covered in heavy wet snow. I gave most of them a good shake so they'd stand up again.


The trees weren't the only things the snow was sticking too - my bike must have weighed 43 pounds. File this ride under "it's good to get out" or "beats sitting on the couch".

CAPE ANN TECH

This is a tricky climb up to this point then the downhill is sketchy with a few roots running lengthwise down the chute.


Same roller, different day...


different bike...

FRIED TURKEY YO

Watching the oil boil.


I like Sally's taste in cars.


Nice sunset on the lake.


Finally immersion.


The finished product.

PIVOT MACH 429

I've been riding this on and off since the start of last Summer, a lot more recently since my single speed went back to it's creator for some modifications...Have I mentioned that I love this bike? This is why...

Super stiff chassis: There's discernible no flex in the rear end. This was evident early on in my first test rides coming into a 90 degree corner at the bottom of a long straight downhill. PIVOT specs the new shimano bb30 press in bottom bracket. This allows them to make the pivots and the downtube seattube intersection that much wider. It's noticeable how rigid the back end of the bike feels especially when you are pushing it through the corners or on long rough fast downhills.

Plush yet efficient suspension: Some people describe this as a race bike but I don't get that since to me it feels plush as hell. Trail chatter is pretty much gone and big hits are clobbered. Setup is key as you need to run 1/3 to as much as 1/2 of the shock in sag in order for the suspension (dw link) to work as designed. Also, leave the pro-pedal off and run the shock wide open. Standing to hammer up climbs works too and surprisingly doesn't seem to affect what's going on with the back end of the bike at all. On steep climbs the suspension linkage doesn't "sink bug" or squat under power so it's not so much of a struggle to keep the front end planted.

29 inch wheels: Combine the big wheel with the stiff frame and plush suspension and not much slows you down once you get this bike rolling.

Handing: It's not nervous or twitchy or free-ride slack either and handles the slow speed technical stuff without that clumsy-about-to-tip-over feeling. Bottom bracket height is good, not too low or too high. Overall very balanced and normal, just get on and ride as you normally would since there's no weird handling quirks you need to "get used to".

Sizing: I'm 5' 9.5" riding a medium. PIVOT says that I'm on the cusp of either size but I couldn't imagine riding a small. I like the long 24" ETT.

I've made just a few changes to the bike since I bought it.

Thomson Post. It came with a cheap Ritchey setback post, and I prefer a straight post.

Thomson Stem. I swapped the cheap Ritchey stem with the protruding knee smashing bolts for a Thomson. This allowed me to use up the last of my Thomson NUE certificates.

MAX Flite Saddle: I usually run old school Selle Italia Flites, but on a fully I like something wider with more padding since you spend more times weighting the rear suspension through the rough stuff.

Miscellaneous: Oury lock on grips and Lone Peak saddle bag with the old toe strap holding everything together.

Negatives, there are a few and I wont qualify them with the usual positive comment.

Weight: I don't have a scale to weight it but this bike much be approaching 30 pounds. Keep that in mind if you're a weight weenie and don't have a mint to spend on high price upgrades.

Front end flex: The front fork can feel whippy when you're really hammering through the rough. It would be nice if PIVOT speced a through axle front fork.

This is a great bike that I plan on keeping for a long time. Stop by JRA Cycles to see the whole line of Pivot mountain bikes.

THANKSGIVING

ET CÆTERA

NOVEMBER

Nothing interesting to say about this month.


It's getting cold, it's wet and it gets dark at 4:30pm. Yey! The fair weather commuters and fixy hippsters are off the roads and we're hitting up a few night mtb rides per-week.


There are tons of leaves down. The make the trail hard to follow but also make for guilt free skids. Soon they will get beaten down into the trail by thousands of wheels.


Right on.