Pedal Review: Xpedo Faceoff 18

I have been using Xpedo brand pedals for a few years now. I most recently switched back to flats. I bought two different models, the Face-off 18's and the Spry. This review will cover the Face-off 18 as I am still testing the Spry (and loving them).

So a little about the brand, Xpedo makes many different pedals that bear different names and have been in the pedal making business a lot longer than most people think. Have you heard of Wellgo? Think of Xpedo's as a high class Wellgo.

Anyways here are the specs from Xpedo: MSRP $99

Weight:	385g
Body:	6061 CNC Aluminum
Spindle:	CroMo
Bearings:	1 Cartridge
Bushings:	1 DU
Pins:	20 Replaceable straight pins per pedal
Size:	99x100x22 (mm)
Colors:	Black/Silver, Red/Pearl White, Gold/Navy Blue

When my pedals arrived I was very happy with the feel of the bearings as well as the light weight feel of the pedal. My bike has a low bottom bracket height and my main concern is a low profile pedal that I can minimize strikes as I am pushing up or down the mountain. The main concern I had with this pedal was its durability. It seemed to have a lot of space for rocks and branches to get caught up in and this did happen a few times. To my surprise no damage besides scrapes resulted from my encounters with rocks and twigs. 

These pedals have a fairly good sized platform but a lack of pins, or should I say the pins lack grip, they are round and flat and when it gets wet out or when I hit that rough rock garden I lost a little confidence. 

I am hard on my gear and these pedals might not be suited for the all mountain/Enduro/Downhill guy.  I think better pins would make a difference. 

Pros:

Price

Weight

Platform Size

Cons:

Durability

Pins (Lack of/pin design)

Thinkness/profile

Bottom Line: I am again an all mountain rider, I like going down trails fast and hard, but I need to climb to get there. I would not purchase this pedal again for myself but think it would be a great upgrade for someone maybe more trail oriented or someone who doesn't want to make that leap to clipless. 

Tire Review: Schwalbe Hans Dampf

(Front after 500 miles)

I have had Hans Dampf 26 x 2.35 TrailStars mounted on my Knolly Chilcotin for a few months now. The Trail Star is the softer durometer tire. I recently purchased a new rear Pace Star, medium durometer. (both pics are of the trail star) I run these on Stans Flow Ex wheels, tubeless of course, 22 psi front, 30 psi rear. (I am a heavy rider)

A little about the tire; they are very true to there size. They come in around 700-800 grams according to Schwalbe. Which is respectable for that large of a tire. So down to the nitty gritty. These tires are great when riding loose over hardpack conditions. I wouldn't put a trail star on the back again as I ride a lot of rock gardens and dry conditions. These tires hook up great in the corners when your air pressure is set right, can get loose if ridden to high...I know thats common sense but these seem to be very touch with just a few pounds to much.

The biggest complaint I have about the Hans Dampf is the price and the durability. Durability will be an issue with any "soft" tire though so I just choose the harder compound (pace star) for the rear. The tread pattern is excellent and has been used by many name brand companies.

Pros:
Great selection, 3 or 4 different durometers
Good cornering, transitional tread is great
Easy tubeless set up.
Fast Rolling

Cons:
PRICE ($70 on Arts)
Durability
Air Pressure sensitive.

All in all this a great tire from a great company, if you are not worried about dropping $70 per tire and you understand that softer, grippier tires mean less life you won't be disappointed. I personally am going to try the Magic Mary's next. I want something similar but a little more aggressive so I the MM's will fit the bill.

(Rear after 500 miles)

Picking the Right Mountain Bike Tire

Well the age old question....which mountain bike tire should I buy? This is actually easier than you think. There are a few things you need to consider. First and foremost what kind of riding are you doing and second what is the trail condition? Are you riding in superb hero dirt every day or are you riding on the dry loose over hardpack that you see a lot here in the Bay Area?

Another thing you need to think about is your budget, as we all know there are tires out there that can run upwards of $90 each. What makes these tires $90, well one thing is, people buy them so why not charge that much if people will pay for it.

The next biggest thing in the price difference is the tires durometer, or hardness, in most cases a softer tire is going to "stick" to the trail better, but with softer compounds comes left tire life, they will wear out faster. But on the other hand a tire that is harder might last longer but it won't grip the trail as well.

Another thing that I have learned over the years is all the big name tire companies copy each other....I know crazy right...but look at some of the favorite tread patterns out there, Schwalbe Hans Dampf, WTB Vigilante, Kenda Nevegal, Conti Trail King, Maxxis High Roller...Not exactly the same but close enough.

With that said I think the next thing you need to look at besides price is how well they fit on your wheelset, for example, the WTB TCS line of tires is extremely hard to get on and off a Stans Flow EX.

So, back to trail conditions. If you are an all mountain, trail rider and riding on loose over hard pack I would take a look at a tire that has a medium to soft durometer with good transitional treads, these are the knobs between the edge of your tire and the center knobs. These transitional knobs will help prevent that loose feel while cornering. Schwalbe Hans Dampf is a great example of this. In the summer I run the PaceStar compound (Medium) on the back and the TrailStar (soft) on the front. This seems to work well on loose over hard pack conditions.

I am not a Schwalbe fanboy by any means, they came on my bike and I can get them at cost, if I had to pay full price I would not use them, I would most likely run on some Maxxis High Roller II's.

SOOO to recap;
1. Budget
2. Type of Riding
3. Trail Conditions
4. Wheelset compatibility
5. Durometer

Don't forget you can find similar tread patterns from all manufactures, you like most things in life are paying for the name and advertising.

Big Rock Trail Review, Lucas Valley, Marin County

Big Rock trail head is located in Lucas Valley. You can't miss it, off US 101 you take the Lucas Valley exit and head West. When you see a "big rock" on your right park. You will see the trail on the North side of Lucas Valley Rd, and a trail to the South. Big Rock is to the North, again, next to the big rock. Loma Alta Fire Rd is to the South and we can touch on that trail later, it leads to the infamous "680" trail. 

So once your all geared up and ready you can begin your 1400 foot climb to the "Towers".  It is around 3.5 miles from the Rock to the Towers. This trail is not technical but it can test your stamina and legs. A VERY FIT and VERY FAST rider can get to the top in 30 minutes or less. An average rider can expect anywhere from 45-70 minutes to the top. 

Well over half this ride is on open singletrack, only the top 1/4 is fire road. I did this trail as an up and back but it can be a very long loop if you decide to go past the towers and ride the ridge trail East, there are tons of trails and possibilities so to keep this simple I will just discuss the up and back. 

Back to the trail, it is a very well groomed trail, nothing technical, just some steep sections and some leg burners. I wouldn't say this is a an advanced climb but maybe a little intense for beginners or younger kids. 

This like most trails is a multi-use trail and is used more by hikers than Mountain Bikers usually. OK, so back to the trail, so once you fight through the singletrack leg burners you come to a wood fence (see picture) and you have an awesome view of Lucas Valley as well as Skywalker Ranch....you feel relieved and happy....you saddle back up and pedal around the corner and see the Fire Road "wall"....ughhhh, thats right you have about half a mile of fire road left with three steep short sections to battle through...you can see the towers...just focus and pedal you will be there before you know it. 

Once to the top you will ride past the big tower and from there you can look to the North and see all of Novato or to the South and see all of Lucas Valley, great views!! 

Now the fun begins, you get to go down what you just pushed up. Great sight lines and not technical. It is easy to get going very fast and like I mentioned before there will be hikers so be careful and ride with control. 

Video of "711" Trail: Backside of China Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBuxg0fet30

New Bike: Knolly Chilcotin Build and First Ride Review

My new bike came in Wednesday and I can't be more excited. I bought a 2013 Knolly Chilcotin, Medium Frame. I had Wrench Science in Berkeley build it from the frame up. So here is the complete build:

Frame: Team Orange Chilcotin Frame (Med)
Drive Train: Shimano XT 2x10
Brakes: XT with Ice Tech Rotors, 205mm front, 180 mm rear
Fork: Rockshox Pike 160mm
Shock: Cane Creek DB Air: 160mm
Wheelset: Stans ZTR Flow EX
Hubs: Hope Evo Pro 2
Tires: Schwalbe Hans Dampf Trail Star compound (Tubeless)
Seatpost: KS Lev 120mm
Handlebars: RaceFace SixC
Stem: RaceFace Turbine 70mm
Grips: ODI Rouge clamp ons
Pedals: Xpedo Baldwins

Total Weight: 31 pounds on the dot

Frame is orange and I got everything in anodized blue I could.

So onto my first ride. I picked it up Wednesday afternoon but didn't get it our until Thursday afternoon. I wanted to take it easy and really get a feel for the bike so I went to China Camp. This is my go to trail when I want to get a quick workout or only have an hour to ride. It is also pretty tame and I knew it would give me the opportunity to get a feel for my new bike. This is something I recommend for even the most seasoned riders, whenever you get a new bike give yourself some time to learn it especially if you coming off another bike you had been riding for a long time. 

Onto my ride, I started my two mile pedal up and could tell a huge difference it the angle of the bike. The head angle on the Chilcotin is much steeper than on my old Sortie and the steering was different on switchbacks. Not bad different. My Sortie had a short front end and  a long back end. the Chili is opposite, longer front end and shorter rear end. When I say that I am referring to the head angle (rake) and the length of the chain stay, or from the crank to the rear axle. 

The patent four by four suspension gripped and made climbing easy, note I say easy, not fast, this bike as you can see is a more of and All Mountain bike, but even with its 31 beefy pounds and plush suspension the linkage didn't bob or take up my pedal strokes. I was very pleased. I am never in a race to the top, but I do like to push it going down and that is what this bike was made to do. 

Another difference that was noticeable at first was my top tube length, I could tell I was sitting more upright. I was used to more of a XC posture. At first it felt very awkward but I soon realized my lower back enjoyed this posture much better. 

By the time I got to the top it felt as if I had been riding the bike for a year. I started my decent and quickly realized I was on a completely different beast. This bike soaked up every bump and I had complete control, the wide handlebars and shorter stem made the steering responsive and the softer wider Hans Dampfs grabbed every corner and didn't let go. 

I am sure the experienced riders will read the above and know I am stating the obvious between my Sortie and this Chilcotin. They are completely different bikes. But what I want to point out is the fact that the Chilcotin even though it is an "All Mountain" style bike can be purchased by someone who had to pedal up, to have their fun going down. This can't be said about many All Mountain /Bike Park rides out there. 

All in all I am still learning the feel but this bike is amazing! I am not disappointed at all! I will continue to post reviews and I ride it more. As of now I completely recommend this bike for anyone looking to have a very high quality All Mountain bike that loves to be pointed downhill. 

Trail Review: China Camp, San Rafael CA.

Location: San Rafael, CA
Length: 10 Miles
Time Needed: 1 to 1.5 hours for average rider
Technical Rating: Beginner
Cost: $3

China Camp is located in San Rafael CA, it is the birthplace of my favorite hobby. China Camp is a perfect singletrack trail for those wanting to experience what mountain biking is really about. Its not technical but still offers a "real" climb and some fun downhill.

The start point for most is at the camping entrance, you can't miss the much hated kiosk (this is where you can purchase your pass). This is also where your climb starts and it ends 2.5 miles later at the 3rd bridge. This can be a pretty miserable climb for a beginner but there are lots of places to take a brake and take in the views. For the intermediate and above riders this climb can easily be done in one push. I personally used to stop about 4 times on the way up when I first started. I can now get the entire 10 mile loop done in less than an hour. Its all about building that endurance and this a great place to work on that.

Some riders think China Camp is to easy. I feel that it can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. If you want a hard ride push yourself and try to get the entire loop done in less than 50 minutes.

This is a great place to see wildlife as well, on most trips you will see deer, turkey, rabbits, squirrels and other various birds and such.

There are also many hikers and it can get very busy on the weekends or late afternoons as this a great place for many riders to hit on the way home to get an hour workout in.

The normal direction is counterclockwise, but for a more challenging climb try it clockwise. Like mentioned before the first two miles is up then the rest is mostly down making it a ten mile loop. If you go clockwise you have more climbing but a fast short 2 mile downhill.

Look for future posts on the "backside" edition of China Camp.

Trail Review: Camp Tamarancho, Fairfax CA

Location: Fairfax, CA
Length: 10-12 miles
Time needed: 2 hours for average rider
Technical Rating: Intermediate
Cost: $5

Camp Tamaracho is a great singletrack loop in Marin County. It is actually on Boy Scout Property and a fee is required. You can get a one day pass online or at bike shops in Fairfax for $5. You can also get an annual pass for $35. Visit:

http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/tamarancho-biking/4023

The most common starting point is downtown Fairfax. You then make a short leg warming climb up Iron Springs Rd. When it turns to dirt you have about 1/2 mile to the Tamaracho sign and the beginning of Serpentine Trail. Take this switchback laden singletrack to the main loop intersection. Once there most traffic goes left making a clockwise loop. This isn't a rule but is preferred especially on weekends.

Tamarancho is a great place for people with a little experience and wanting to up their "technical riding". I have taken beginners here and they were able to ride but didn't have nearly as much fun as they were fighting the roots, rocks and switchbacks a lot. This is a nice ride for those who like to climb a little then go down a little, climb a little, go down a little.

There is also a very cool flow trail (pump track) about 6 miles into the ride. The locals have named it Endor and it is a very fun section for those of you who want to get a nice calf burning ride down a fast smooth track.

Tamarancho is on average a 2 hour ride for most but with a experienced group it can be done in a little over an hour, on the other hand if you take a beginner I have seen 3-4  hour rides take place. Many say this is the last "legal singletrack" in Marin, this is not true but it is some of the best.

I think the highlight for me is the different sections of Tamarancho almost feel like a different ride, one minute your going through rock gardens in the open and the next your in redwoods shredding singletrack.

There are other routes into Tamarancho that can make it a longer ride, if you come in through Whites Hill you can add about 5-10 miles to you ride.

2013 Diamondback Sortie Comp Review

As I mentioned before my first full suspension bike was my 2013 Diamondback Sortie Comp. I ordered it directly from Diamondback. I had read mixed reviews about it online and was up in the air about it for a while. I then decided to bite the bullet and order it, I read the component list (you can find it below) and thought that I couldn't find a better deal, the bang for my buck was much better than purchasing a Santa Cruz or Specialized (not that I would want to now but back then I thought they were the best of the best). 

So onto the reviews and upgrades. I received my bike in December of 2012 and took it to a local bike shop and had it put together and tuned, I was at China Camp the next day! I had ridden a few of my friends bikes and quickly realized that Diamondback had something going here that really worked well. My buddies StumpJumper had a lot more pedal bob and when climbing it was almost a must to lock out the rear shock. On my Sortie the shock was vertical and he knucklebox suspension was a lot lower, I was able to leave my Fox CTD in "trail" and climb with very little pedal bob. 

The downside to the Knucklebox is its weight, it is a big piece of metal, strong as Supermans elbow though. 

So overtime I started upgrading things here and there, my rear free hub failed after a year of riding so I upgraded to some CrankBrother Cobalt 2 wheels. These improved my climbing and overall weight a lot. 

My biggest weight cut came when I went to a 1x10 drive train. I removed the triple chainrings and put a RaceFace Narrow Wide 32t on. My climbing was miserable for awhile but I got used to it. After my wheels and drivetrain upgrade my bike weighed in at 30.6 lbs. Still pretty heavy for a XC/Trail bike.

When I purchased the RaceFace Narrow Wide I also upgraded to an XT Shadow Plus rear mech, a deraillure with a clutch is a must if you want to forgo the chain guide. 

I just sold this bike a few weeks ago and should be getting my new Knolly Chilcotin in a few days. I did like the Sortie but I felt I needed a little more for the riding I am doing now which is a lot of all mountain, with technical climbs and descent's. I was putting a lot of money into maintenance and not because of failure but because I was riding my bike very hard. 

I would recommend the Sortie Comp for anyone who in into Trail riding or looking for that first full suspension bike that doesn't want to break the bank but wants to get quality middle of the road components. The Sortie is a great mix for the person who wants a bike with more travel than a XC platform but isn't ready for that All Mountain beast yet. 

2013 Diamondback Sortie Comp Components

• Frame: Diamondback Sortie 6061-T6 Weapons Grade Aluminum with a hooded hydroformed top tube, formed down tube, 9mmx135mm vertical drop out and Knuckle Box Technology
• Rear Shock: Fox Float CTD, "LV" eyelet 200x57mm Air w/ rebound adj, Climb, Trail, Descend lever
• Fork: Fox 32 FLoat CTD Air, 140mm travel, open cartridge, with ext. rebound knob, 32mm Easton aluminum stanchions, magnesium lowers
• Headset: Zerostack, shallow steel cups, Loose ball bearing 1 1/8"
• Cranks: Shimano FCM552 Dyna-Sys 10spd Crankset w/Shimano outboard bearing BB w/ replaceable rings 24/32/42t
• Bottom Bracket: Shimano outboard bearing BB
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore dual pull, down swing, 34.9
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT SGS Shadow Type 10spd
• Shifter: Shimano Deore 10spd Rapidfire
• Cogset (Casset/Freewheel): Shimano HG62 10spd Cassette (11-36t)
• Chain: Shimano HG54 10spd
• Front Hub: 32h SL-6 Alloy w/ CNC Disc Mount
• Rear Hub: 32h SL-6 Alloy Cassette w/ CNC Disc mount
• Spokes: Black 14g Stainless Steel
• Rims: 32h SL-6 Doublewall Disc
• Tires: KENDA Slant 6 26x2.1
• Brakes: Shimano M455 Hydraulic Disc w/ 6-bolt, 180mm frt / 160mm rear Rotors
• Brake Levers: Shimano Deore M505 hydraulic brake levers w/reach adj and hinge clamp.
• Pedals: DB Toe Clip Compatible alloy
• Handlebar: DB Lazer Series 31.8mm low rise
• Grips: DB4L 135mm Kraton
• Stem: Easton EA50 31.8mm
• Seat: WTB Vigo Comp
• Seat Post: Easton EA50 Double bolt clamp 31.6mm