PINKBIKE FIELD TRIP
8 Bikes VS The Impossible Climb
Bro-science in the name of climbing
Welcome to the Impossible Climb. Again.
While the last so-called
Impossible Climb was a wide, steep section of trail made more difficult with beer can slalom gates forming tight switchbacks, strategically placed logs, a watered-down rock slab, and some banana peels (?????), Sedona's rocky singletrack required no such gimmicks. Mother Nature did most of the work for us this time around, making sure that traction was questionable at best, and that there'd be a cactus to catch me if and when I tipped over before I could unclip. I wish we remembered to bring tweezers.
The rules were the same as last time: All eight bikes got two attempts, and I had Mike Kazimer inflate the tires (19 and 21 psi) and make sure the sag was correct across the board. For an added dimension, I also rode the bikes in order of how much they cost, starting with the most expensive ($3,149 USD for the Norco Torrent) to least expensive ($1,300 for the Calibre Bossnut). Yes, deputy Fun Police, I was obviously more tired going up the climb for the sixteenth time than I was during the earlier attempts. And yes, this is definitely bro-science with a capital BS, but that doesn't mean we can't learn a few things along the way.
A lot of cactus and a bit of heatstroke eventually saw a surprise winner: The 27.5" wheeled Bossnut shook off my medium-low expectations to set the high mark not just once, but on both of its uphill runs. Who doesn't love an underdog story?
-Santa Barbara CA
Average rainfall Vancouver BC is 47" in the city and up to 63" towards the northern mountains
Average rainfall Smokey Mountains is 55" in the foothills and up to 85" in the mountains
Knoxville TN 50" in the city
Asheville NC 44" plus 10" snow
Atlanta GA 52"
Roanoke VA 42" (this is one of the drier places in the south)
So yeah, all the talk about where it rains the most is nonsense, wettest place in the Continental US is the Southeast. Of course there are super wet places like in the Ho Rain Forest, but in terms of wettest urban places, nothing in NA is soggier than the south.
From the canary islands with love
BroScience approves of this message.
BroScience approves of this message.
Before BroScience...
We currently live in the age of enlightenment...
I will see myself out.
I have a 2014 Norco Sight and have been unable to clean a local climb for four years. Rode a 2018 Sight on the same climb and done without thinking.
The only way that you can claim that the bike makes a huge difference is if you do tests where you normalize for things like getting used to the bike, fitness level variation, weather, tires, suspension settings, and so on.
I like Mike Levy very much, but this test is completely awkward.
And what Kazimero did during that test? Hum...........
Bravo Mike Levy for the effort and the good mood ;-)
Then I bought an Enduro in 2010. Heavier bike by a good 6 pounds, but the full suspension and geo made it a better climber under these conditions. I no longer spun out over the water bars. I made it up this part of the trail with the Enduro EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. It didn't matter what the trail conditions were. This bike made it up.
Same rider, same conditions. Different bike, different results. Don't fool yourself -- the bike can make a difference.
Yeah, no suprise there, those are the characteristics that make tech riding easier.
As a reformed 29er fanboia and current 27.5 rider, I concur, 29" wheels are no bueno for anything tight.
This message brought to you buy people who have figured out the con.
It was a 1 month test in rough super technical terrains in Spain.
Such a difference in switchbacks, technical trails, and to relaunch.
Since that, I stick to 650B `cos it`s a perfect balance... for me though.
I do find the 29er hype funny, but whatever, different strokes and all that.
I love my 27.5 so much that I am setting up my GG Pistola 29er with 27+ wheels!
Lesson: Bikes are fun. Enjoy the bike you have.
Thanks for the jinx, on week 5 of isolation/hibernating.
Australia: hold my Bossnut
But hey, riding all year round is great. Just need to be done by 0600 May-Sept.
aaaah... moving north. For that, I envy you.
Ever try duct tape?
Had a friend in Sedona that pulled a ton out and she may have tried tape.
Not much on land that'll actually be dangerous other than snakes, and I've heard the US has plenty of those too
Bikes matter, skills matter but I'd say practice (repetition, familiarity) is imperative.
m.pinkbike.com/news/welcome-to-the-2020-pinkbike-field-trip.html
Mtmw (Mar 23, 2020 at 13:20)
Hill climb challenge prediction:
First bikes up don't do well.
Last bikes up do very well.
Conclusion: learning a technical climb takes time.
Seriously PB, what the bleep is with all the bleeping?
I have no idea what this says about me, or any of the bikes, or really anything at all. Maybe the best bike for that trail is a short wheelbase and a low front end.
after admitting that, I have just decided that when proper riding starts again, I will go and ride those switchbacks until I can clean them on a mountain bike .
This field trip has been awesome so far!
2 runs up the mountain per bike. Test only 2 bikes per day with an hour rest in-between each test might be a better way to do these bro-science test?
I dunno, maybe?
@TheR: The #1 component that affects a bikes climbing ability is the tires.
@panaphonic: Well, lemme break it down for you; bike with tires is rideable, no tires no ridee. Simple as science.
Norco Torrent HT S1
Santa Cruz Hightower D
Commencal Meta TR Ride
YT Jeffsy Base 29
Vitus Mythique 29 VRX
Giant Stance 1
Kona Honzo
Calibre Bossnut
But I’ve not ridden for around seven weeks, #protecttheNHS.
It doesn't have that name! It's a Vitus, not a Vitus.
I remember JKW did something like this that was actually challenging.