All the sweet bikes and parts. Mmm … parts.

Is a Fox 34 burlier than a 32?

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Hey Lee,

I have repeatedly read your articles about the Stumpjumper FSR 29. I own a 2012 model and I’m quite happy with it. The only problem is my stock fork (Fox 32 Float 29). My crown always got “loose” and starts cracking (more or less always after 3 to 6 months of use). The 1st and the 2nd time I got a new crown/steerer tube. Now it’s the 3rd time I have to visit my local bike store and ask for replacing it.

I’m pretty disappointed with this fork and I would like to change it to something with thicker legs and more travel (140) but will my problem then being solved? Is the crown/steerer part of a Fox 34 more stable than mine?

I started biking 2 years ago in Austria (Alps), I don’t think my riding style is too aggressive for this bike (I have no problems with the frame, the rear suspension or the wheels, just with the fork).

Thank you very much for helping…

Daniel

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The “perfect” bike for the trainer?

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Lee,

I started your Pump Up the Base program a couple of weeks ago. Initially, I put a slick on an old mountain bike and mounted the bike on a trainer. However, the gearing on the mountain bike is too low to get to the speeds needed to create enough resistance on the trainer for some of your exercises. So, I am looking to buy a road bike for training purposes.

It appears that there are a couple of main categories of road bikes: bikes oriented to racing that have aggressive geometries and stiff frames and bikes oriented to endurance riding that have more relaxed geometries and somewhat less rigid frames. Considering that the bike will primarily be used for your training program, is one of these categories of bikes preferable over the other?

Ron

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Tuning a Specialized Brain for braaap

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Lee,

How will i find the sweet spot for an Epic EVO Brain for pump or trail?

Peter

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So close in Utah

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After the Saturday coaching session in Utah (see Radness in Salt Lake City, UT), I was exhausted but we had to rock a trail ride. Chris is a seasoned XC racer. Judd is a new-school ripper. The three of us made a perfect platoon of braaap!

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Bike for Megavalanche?

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Hi Lee,

A mate and I are looking at training up for the Mega Avalanche 2014.

We were wondering what bike you would recommend?

We have watched lots of videos and noted that it is really a mix of DH rigs and AM bikes.

Would the Specialized Enduro be an option or should we step it up to the Enduro Evo?

Thanks

Rhys

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Radness in Salt Lake City, UT

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Last weekend I trained a bunch of high school mountain bike coaches, tried some Cannondales and rode a sick trail.

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Fail: Rockshox Reverb

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It’s time to tell the story of my Rockshox Reverb experiment.

UPDATED MARCH 21 with a resolution.

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Why did I ride my Stumpy 29 for Sea Otter dual slalom?

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Hi Lee,

The Sea Otter Classic dual slalom is coming up. 2012 was my first year and it was a blast–I am looking forward to 2013. Sea Otter, when you take into account travel, entry, and the practice-qualies-main spread across days scheduling, is the most expensive race in my amateur season.

So I am trying to choose the right bike and I thought you would have serious insight. This is because you own a Specialized SX and a sweet Specialized P3 pump-track hardtail yet chose to race a Stumpy FSR 29 in 2012.

I own a Specialized SX and yet keep being drawn toward the absolutely ripping Nukeproof Snap hardtail I race USA BMX on. Incidentally, I started racing BMX because of Mastering Mountain Bike Skills and a dumb crash in last year’s Sea Otter dual slalom! Best cycling advice I ever took.

My question, put simply, is why did the trail/AM bike come out on top for you? And was that decision purely personal, or was it informed by a general principle that will help me choose to bring a 26 lbs hardtail that rules on hardpack or a 33 lbs dual-suspension slalom bike that seems tailor-made, but is a wildcard.

Unsurprisingly, my SX does not shine on the BMX track, and the only local, legal slalom course was shut down shortly after I bought the frame. Or should I just borrow my father’s old Stumpy FSR!

Thank you very much,
Matt

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Enduro 29 vs Stumpy 29 geometry?

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Hi Lee

What do you think about the Enduro 29er vs Stumpjumper 29er in regard to the chainstay and head angle. The Enduro has got a 2cm shorter chainstay and a slacker head angle. What are the diffrences? Is the Stumpjumper geometry better for uphill and the Enduro better for the downhill?

Looking forward to your thoughts on this topic!

Best regards

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Bike setup: “My lower back hurts when I ride”

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A whole lot of us have said that, haven’t we?

Lower-back pain has many causes including serious injury, poor technique, limited mobility, inadequate strength and — of course — bike setup.

Check this out:

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Big bikes are rad, and here’s why

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Lately Mike Levy at Pinkbike and I (Big suspension and big sine waves) have told you that downhill bikes are too unwieldy and gnarly for average riders. That most of us are best served by mid-travel bikes. Well, that might be true, but let’s look at the opposite side of the travel chip:

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Are you pumping too hard?

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Yeah har har.

Most riders are way too passive on their bikes. For most of you I say attack all backsides. Crush them!

If you’re already an aggressive pumper, especially on a suspended bike, consider this:

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