All the sweet bikes and parts. Mmm … parts.

Switching from XC to trail shoes?

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Hi Lee,

I attended your Oct 21st class in Temecula with Jon Farinholt. I was the guy with the white Ibis.

I have been wearing a pair of Sidi SRS Race Dragons (with the twist-up nylon gut tighteners) for the past 10 years. They are tight fitting, lightweight, and perfect for cross country rides but I now question their applicability to the kinds of riding we were doing Saturday that included rocky and tricky technical downhill chutes and descents.

I have also noticed that I am reluctant to unclip (and put my foot down) going down steep (and or) rutted chutes. because the shoes have little grip (probably because the replaceable “treads” are worn down, and this has decreased my confidence and probably contributed to most of my get-offs and crashes.

So I am wondering whether I should get a pair of the contemporary “tennis-shoe” designs favored by most riders today. I do like all the advantages that clip-ins offer though, and I would like to continue to use my XT MTB “mini-platform” pedals.

What are your thoughts and recommendations on this?

Also, thanks for a very very memorable experience. All of us were impressed.

Thanks.
Bill

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Cane Creek DB INLINE on a Specialized Enduro 29?

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Lee

Question for you regarding my Enduro 29 – is there any reason you would caution me away from a Cane Creek DB INLINE versus a larger volume shock? I’d love to retain the ability to carry a large water bottle … yet am not sure if I’d be better off going with a larger volume air can – either DB AIR CS or Rock Shox Monarch. The current setup has the stock FOX FLOAT CTD, which I’m not a fan of (needing to run high pressure to avoid bottoming out).

John

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Shock upgrade for 2011 Specialized Enduro?

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Hi Lee

I’m the happy owner of a 2011 Specialized Enduro Expert (and of her sister Big Hit 2008) and i love her. i wanted to ask you a suggestion, since i would like to upgrade my FOX RP23 shock to something more beefy. I’m a heavy rider and sometimes i feel the rear end not tracking perfectly the ground. This happens only on long rocky and messy descents (i ride in the Dolomites).

Now i know that specialized uses a proprietary shock size and pivot to attach the shock to the frame, and i wondered if you came with a solution for this.

Thank you for your time, i loved your Mastering MTB skills 😉

Francesco

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The ZipGuide: not fancy, but it does the trick

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I’ve never had an issue with the clutch on my XTR rear derailleur, but I appreciate a little extra confidence when I’m DHing on my S-Works Enduro 29.

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Loving the 2015 FOX 36 RC2

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I have a half dozen rides on the 2015 Fox 36 RC2.

My shoulders are a good test of bump absorption, and they like this fork.

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Bracketing a 2015 FOX 36 RC2

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I am loving the new 36 from FOX. After just a few rides, I’m riding faster and more confidently, and my shoulders are holding up better than normal.

With a wide range of both low speed and high speed compression adjustment, the 36 RC2 is highly tunable. And it deserves to be tuned properly.

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Karate Kid bottom bracket repair

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You never know when a mechanical issue will test your kung fu skills.

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Scalpel in the middle, chainsaw on the sides

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In the post about the new Specialized Slaughter tire, which comes in 650B and 29 sizes, David asked:

“Hi Lee – do you have any suggestions for similar 26″s out back? I love this concept!”

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Butcher vs. Purgatory for the front?

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In the post Early impressions: Specialized Slaughter tire, Tjaard asked:

“What is your feeling on the Butcher vs Purgatory for the front?”

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I know girth is important…but really?

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Lee,

Hey there! Its EJ from Tampa. I did a clinic with you at Mulberry Gap this spring. After the clinic I came back and really tried to process all of the great coaching and begin to apply it. As always it is a work in progress but I am definitely seeing results as I am finding better and cleaner lines on my local trails that I had always struggled to keep my composure.

Anywho, recently read your article on your clinic with Curtis Keene and your tire selections. Great stuff! It was timely as I am in the final stages of pulling the trigger on a new ride. I hate to say, that I am pretty convinced to get a big wheeler. Since I am smitten with my current Ibis Mojo SL, I have decided to get the Ripley with the new Cane Creek DB Inline rear shock and Pike 140 front fork. Since you have ridden with me, you know I am not race oriented and really want a capable and fun trail bike. With that being said, my questions are:

1.) In your experience, would a rider of my ability notice a significant difference riding carbon hoops? For reference I currently ride 26″ I9 Torch Trail 24 spoke aluminum wheelset.

2.) Current trends with carbon wheels have the inner width up to 35mm. For 2.3 tires is this overkill? What rim width do you see as the sweet spot for a 29er trail bike?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom you share!

Eric

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Early impressions: Specialized Slaughter tire

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Many of you are running Specialized Butcher tires on the fronts of your all-mountain/enduro bikes.

The Butcher is a versatile and dependable choice. But what do you run in back, especially if you want faster rolling?

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P3: an even better tool for the job?

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At my coaching office (Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO) I generally churn out laps on a carbon, suspended 29er: either a Specialized Camber or Enduro. Up the dirt road, down the slalom or slopestyle, repeat, then some pump track and dirt jump laps. It’s park riding for old guys — or is it XC training for someone who prefers sine waves?

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