Playing in the dirt.

[ITA97]

I joined a friend for a ride on some local mtb trails this afternoon. It marked the first time since breaking my wrist and arm the Stache has been on dirt. It was a glorious afternoon and it was good fun. We took it easy with an out and back loop out of a couple of flow trails. She hadn't ridden dirt in awhile, so we skipped the technical stuff and just played on the flow trails.

This marked only the second time in the last three weeks I've ridden a bike with brakes and gears. They almost feel like cheating after my fixie.

For reasons I ended riding the Salsa for the Zombie ride last night, which has made for two rides in two days on bikes with brakes and gears. It turns out just three weeks of fixie riding has had an effect on my legs. Without really trying I properly mashed both the road ride last night and on the trail today. I look forward to the legs I'm going to have next summer.

[spacekraken]

I still don't know how you pull that off with the fixie, but I also had like 1100' of ascent on a 12mi ride yesterday so not sure how I would've fared without gears. Very very cool though!

That trek looks like a blast. Does the dropper and seat post bag together work alright?

[jminer]

@ITA97 looks like fun! I drove through your state on I-40 today. It was pretty. Not many places to make pitstops though and every rest stop was closed.

[annoying_salman]

Can I borrow the Pajero / Montero to play in the dirt instead?

[ClassicDatsunDebate]

@jminer you guys are already back in AZ?

[ITA97]

@spacekraken said in Playing in the dirt.:

I still don't know how you pull that off with the fixie, but I also had like 1100' of ascent on a 12mi ride yesterday so not sure how I would've fared without gears. Very very cool though!

That trek looks like a blast. Does the dropper and seat post bag together work alright?

They're not an ideal pairing, but it works. The saddle bag doesn't quite let the post drop all the way, but it isn't an issue for anything I'm riding.

I've been considering if a fanny pack could be the storage solution I'm looking for. I prefer not to ride with a backpack, but I'm thinking something around my waist would bother me less. My top tube bags always house my wallet, keys, phone and usually a small snack or two in case someone bonks on ride and needs some quick calories and glucose. The saddle bags always my flat kits, spare tube and toolkit. Despite being tubeless I still carry a tube as a last resort spare. On the is Stache, that 29x3.0 tube means a really big saddle bag.

[ITA97]

@annoying_salman said in Playing in the dirt.:

Can I borrow the Pajero / Montero to play in the dirt instead?

Yes!

[ITA97]

@jminer said in Playing in the dirt.:

@ITA97 looks like fun! I drove through your state on I-40 today. It was pretty. Not many places to make pitstops though and every rest stop was closed.

With the current Covid restrictions that doesn't surprise me. That could be compounded on I-40 West of Abq going through the various reservations. They can and have been quick to restrict access/shut down stuff to outside visitors and travelers.

[SilentbutnotreallyDeadly]

@ita97 what you want is a Henty Enduro...
https://henty.cc/shop/enduro-backpack/

[lokerola]

Gorgeous scenery. Looks like a great place to ride!

My knees would never survive a fixie ride. Maybe a single speed with a freewheel.

[jminer]

@classicdatsundebate said in Playing in the dirt.:

@jminer you guys are already back in AZ?

Slept in Kingman AZ last night. About to leave the hit and drive the last 600 miles to the new home today.

[ITA97]

@silentbutnotreallydeadly I've seen those. I'm thinking a race face quick rip pack is what I'm leaning towards.

https://www.raceface.com/products/stash-quick-rip-1-5l-bag

[ITA97]

@spacekraken And yes, this bike is a ton of fun on trails. It is a 2020 Trek Stache 9.7. It is capable of way more than I am on the technical stuff. Despite only being a hardtail and not full squish, the 29x3.0 tires have so far never left me wanting a FS bike. Setup tubeless, I ride them at around 12/14 psi and they just keep on gripping and soaking up the bumps. They have enough floatation to laugh at sandy arroyo crossings.

[spacekraken]

@ita97 Ah that sounds so fun. I'm perpetually on the hunt for FS bikes but only cause the local downhill is literally a mountain with 5000' vertical haha. For anything reasonable plus tires and a nice front fork sounds perfect.

As much fun as all the various frame bags are, I think pretty soon I'm gonna go to a well fitted compact backpack for water/supplies. Seems well worth it especially on an FS where mounting points are limited to say the least.