Going Long and Hard.

[Steve Vai]

Don't get fired between now and next week?

They'd probably still take me. I'm the only mountain biker at the shop.

 

[Kaleidopete]

In other news, Specialized is sending me out to California next week for a camping trip. Anyone been to Montana De Oro State Park? Looks pretty dope from pictures on the interwebs, anything I should definitely make sure to do?

Besides find this and swim through it?

Yikes! I think that's a worm hole that comes out in Nome!

 

[Steve Vai]

Snow melt in the FF has left much flooding around the Lake.

 

[Patrick]

What are you running for gears there????

 

[Steve Vai]

What are you running for gears there????

Still didn't swap it from Ultra Mode. 24t up front, 10-42 cassette.

 

[pooriggy]

I had to dismount from the skis Tuesday and walk through that. My feet got a bit wet. I stayed on the fire roads, there was less blowdown and it was easier to get around trees that where down. Did you notice the trees down around the horse stable were already cut out.

 

[Steve Vai]

Yeah, I was surprised at how much was cut out already. I just cut through the park into Hidden Valley yesterday.

 

[Jeremy]

Still didn't swap it from Ultra Mode. 24t up front, 10-42 cassette.

Allaire gearing? 😛

 

[Steve Vai]

Hey, good news. They swapped me into to the first session so instead of fixing flats at HoH, I'll be on a beach in California. Sorry, not sorry.

 

[Kaleidopete]

So. I've been reading a lot of unrideable snow condition posts around the interwebs. At the deepest last week I was in snow up to my knees, see pic above. 100% rideable. Here's the super secret Pro Tip.

View attachment 65278

Carry one of these with you. When the bike stops because snow is too deep, remove your valve cores. Pro Tip #2 - This only works with 100mm rims and 5" tires. Anything less and you're better off buying a Plus bike because you ain't going anywhere ungroomed.

OK, I get the valve core hole part, but what's the open end for?

 

[Steve Vai]

Not sure, I always use the hole side.

 

[FitmanNJ]

OK, I get the valve core hole part, but what's the open end for?

Possibly spokes??

 

[Steve Vai]

Oh duh, it's for a valve extender if you're running deep rims.

 

[Pampa]

Hey @jimvreeland you've probably seen this short (The Frozen Road) already, but if not, I think you'd enjoy it. I just saw the trailer and I'm going to watch the full short now (24').

 

[Steve Vai]

Back from Cali!! Damn, was that fun. I can't tell anyone what I was riding because I signed some paper. But, damn!! Here's some pics with no bikes in them. I have a bunch with bikes that I can post in 6-weeks or so. We also went to the Sram Test Facility, but they straight up took our phones there. Got to meet a bunch of the folks that I've sent emails to about the products I test for them. Was super cool. I also got to sit around a campfire with Mike Sinyard making S'Moreos.

 

[Steve Vai]

Here's some pictures of rocks.

 

[terrabike01]

I had to dismount from the skis Tuesday and walk through that. My feet got a bit wet. I stayed on the fire roads, there was less blowdown and it was easier to get around trees that where down. Did you notice the trees down around the horse stable were already cut out.
View attachment 65459

Of course they were.

 

[Pearl]

leaked photo of jim

 

[thegock]

There are HUNDREDS of trees down in the FF. I haven't hiked much of the 25+ miles of trails since the storms but it is ridiculously hazardous. E.g. in one third of a mile, there were over 25 trees down. I didn't see much evidence of TM, either.

 

[MadisonDan]

I didn't see much evidence of TM, either.

duh