STRAVA: Love or Hate?

Here in Marin County a lot of people think of STRAVA as the reincarnation of the devil. Not kidding. I even find myself hating on the social app for tracking rides and runs. Most recently I even stopped using if for a few weeks, I was really frustrated with all the extra patrols on perfectly good mountain bike trails and in my mind blamed STRAVA.

A little history about Marin County, most likely you already know but just incase. Here in the birthplace of mountain biking there are very few "legal" mountain bike trails anymore. Most singletrack is closed to bikes, there is some great spots; China Camp, Camp Tamarancho and few others but in large mountain bikes are supposed to only use and enjoy big, wide,  did I mention steep and boring fire roads. 

What this has done is forced many riders to become trail ninja's, dirt pirates, poachers or in the words of the many equestrians CRIMINALS. Since STRAVA hit the scene many people think that mountain bikers have become so focused on Personal Records (PR's), King of the Mountain (KOM's, male) and Queen of the Mountain (QOM's, female) they forgot to stop and enjoy the trails and other people using them. STRAVA segments are reportedly being used in public hearings and trail use meetings to show that mountain bikers are in fact using illegal trails and are going way to fast on the trails that are bike legal. 

But I ask, is this STRAVA's fault? Is it a horrible app that has caused more damage than good? It seems to defiantly be putting bullets in the oppositions gun. Lets look at some of the Pro's vs. Cons. On a personal level STRAVA has motivated my dad, who lives 4 states away to ride and gives us a social media to compare our rides over and keep in touch on a daily basis, not a huge deal with every other social media site, cell phones and emails but still it is an excellent way for distant friends and relatives to keep in touch and motivate each other. Another great aspect of STRAVA is the ability to track you own rides, milage, hours, bike maintenance, trails you name it, all in one convenient spot. So, onto some of the Con's. It makes every ride a race for some people, with that said a majority of the strava "racers" are going to ride like assholes most of the time anyways. But in some ways I am sure strava is like giving steroids to a bodybuilder. Another con is that fact that anyone with a log in and can see where people are riding, if you are "friends" you can see times and location. This is becoming a huge deal in the fight for trail access.

I am sure we could go on and on and debate till the wee hours of the morning about STRAVA but I personally think we need to place the "hate" where it belongs, and that isn't on STRAVA. Be upset with your local county administrators, your elected government officials, the "anti-bike" citizens, don't be upset with a social riding app.

I highly recommend anyone that reads this look into there local trail advocacy groups, donate money, go out to trail maintenance day, help give a good name to cyclists.

Push Elevensix Review: Updated

Okay, I have at least a dozen rides on my Elevensix now. I will do my best to give a quality review here. 

First off, I decided to look at the Elevensix because I was unhappy with the tune-ability of my Fox Float X, don't get me wrong, the Float X is an amazing shock but it's hard to get that super plush and small bump compliance feel when you are a 200+ pound rider. My last bike was a Knolly Chilcotin, I had a CC DB Air and it was better than the Float X for me so I always felt the Float X was a down grade. I looked at getting another DB Air but when all was said and done I was still going to have to run high air pressure adjust HS/LS compression endlessly, so it was a really hard justification, spend $700 for a slight upgrade?? This is where the Elevensix comes into the picture, a big price tag but to me it is a big enough upgrade to make it worth it.  

So a little about my experience buying the shock. I can't say enough for the guys at Push. When I called to order my shock we had a long discussion about every aspect of my riding; where I ride, how I ride, how much I weigh, what my current set up is and the pro's/con's of my set up. 

I guess my stats are important for the review as well. I ride a Medium Pivot Mach 6. With all my gear; helmet, full camelback, spare tube, multi-tool etc.. I tip the scale at 218. I live in Marin County and ride as much singletrack as possible. I also take trips to Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming and Utah yearly. I am not a bike park type of guy so there are no shuttles, I have to climb to get the reward. I am not a fast climber but I can grind it out when needed. Most of my days involve between 2000-3500 of climbing. I like technical downhills/trails. I am not hitting huge gaps or jumps very often, I do hit the occasional drop. I enjoy rock gardens, baby heads, that fast chundery type stuff. 

So after our conversation my shock was shipped with valve 1 set up similar to the "trail" mode on my Float X and valve 2 was set for more downhill, plush feel. I also had the 475lb spring installed.

Once installed on my bike (which was super easy), I went to familiar local trails that I know like the back of my hand. I really tried to ride them hard and pin-it in the fast rough section, the elevensix was amazing, I could immediately feel a difference when it came to that fast small bump compliance, it felt like my bike was stuck to the ground and yet when I would come out of a rough section my teeth weren't chipped from chattering. I then went on one of my favorite rides that involves about 2500 feet of tight technical singletrack climbing. I was extremely surprised by the elevensix. The extra weight wasn't noticed, I really do think my bike handled the technical climbs better. At first I chocked it up to "placebo effect", new shock and all, but after a few more climbs I was able to compare some of my previous times and I was improving. But back to the fun stuff, going down, the elevensix likes it fast and rough...lol, I have never felt more confident on my bike when pinning it through rough terrain. 

Since getting my shock I have actually seen two others while out riding and it's instant brakes and "HEY NICE SHOCK!", it's like owning a jeep, I think we need to come up with a special wave...okay maybe not, but seriously the two guys I ran into were just as stoked as me and had very similar experiences.

I am not a pro, but I am an avid rider and have a lot of experience on different bikes and suspension set ups. I highly recommend the elevensix for those who like to go downhill fast. I think its a perfect shock for that heavier guy that cant get his mass produced shock tuned perfect, at least that was my reasoning, I am sure the smaller guys will love it as well. If you are a cross country rider who enjoys that climb more than anything else the elevensix is obviously not the right shock for you. I think the fact that this is a coil over shock people assume its purely downhill, I just want to share that it really isn't, it is a great trail/all-mountain/enduro shock. 

Everything I have stated is pretty much already known so I guess this "review" just adds onto the others that have said the same thing. All in all it's a huge investment, it will be something that many will have a hard time justifying, it took me 4 months to make up my mind and save and scrape together the money, I defiantly had sticker shock and some buyers remorse when I saw my bank account the day after buying it but that went away after my first ride. If anyone has any question please feel free to PM me.

Xpedo Spry Pedal Review

This is my second set of Xpedo Spry pedals, the first set I let go with my with my Knolly Chilcotin. I am always back and forth on whether or not I want to run clipless or flats. I think they both have there strong and weak points. Anyways as of today I am running flats.

I decided to go with the Xpedo spry pedals for a few reasons. Reason number one, price, they are half if not more than half the price of similar pedals. Reason number two, platform size/profile, these pedals have a large platform and are very compact, my Pivot Mach 6 has a low bottom bracket and I need every millimeter of clearance possible. Third reason is the fact that like the Xpedo Baldwins I own, the Spry's are very easy to rebuild. I don't care how great a pedal is if you ride it hard they will eventually need to be rebuilt. Being able to do this with minimum frustration is important to me.

On to some of the things I don't like about the Spry, number one, the pins are not great for me, I think this is a personal preference but I like pins that have a pointed profile, not spikes but at least something other than round pegs. You can buy other pins from Xpedo directly, they ofter three different profiles, what would be nice is if they sent a second option in the box instead of just extra round pins.

All in all these pedals are great, magnesium light weight low profile pedals for less than $100. I highly recommend them if you are in the market for a quality flat that won't break the bank.

By the Numbers:
Price: 5/5
Durability: 3.5/5
Weight: 5/5
Traction (pins that come with pedals): 2/5  you can purchase other pins from xpedo
Platform Size/Profile: 5/5

WTB Breakout Review

I decided to try the WTB Breakout (27 x 2.3). I have been running Vigilante's on front and back but after talking to a friend ordered the Breakout to try on the rear. Out of the box this tire appears to have a faster rolling profile than the Vigilante, lower center knobs but still plenty of side gnar for those whole like to really lean it over in the corners.

Like most WTB's it was a tight fit onto the wheel. I used some soap and water on the bead and the bead popped right in when I hit 40 psi. I set these up tubeless of course.

My first ride on this tire was a technical out and back called Oat Hill Mine in Calistoga, CA. This is a rocky strenuous climb and decent. I did notice a little slippage on the climb here and there but I think it was due to bad body position on some technical spots. Rolling resistance was much better than the vigilante.

I was a little nervous when I started heading down but quickly gained confidence when this tire performed just as it appeared it would. It held in the corners and more importantly braked very well. I didn't feel like I had to get on my brakes any sooner. All in all the Breakout/Vigilante is a great combo for those dry trails, loam and loose over hardpack. I haven't tried them in "wet" conditions yet but I am assuming they are not a very good tire in mud, but that isn't what they are for so no love lost.

This combo reminds me a lot of my old favorite go to combo, Hans Dampf/Magic Mary.

I know this is a Breakout review but since I used it as a combo (Vigilante Front) here are my final numbers.

Breakout 2.3 by the numbers:
Durability 4/5
Cornering 4/5
Rolling Resistance 4/5
Braking 3/5

Vigilante 2.3 by the numbers:
Durability 3/5
Cornering 5/5
Rolling Resistance 3/5
Braking 4/5

Push Elevensix Shock

I pulled the trigger and ordered an Elevensix shock from Push Industries. Push has been around for years, they are known for their custom suspension tuning. The Elevensix is their first in house shock ever. It is a coil over design but don't let that scare you away.

First thing I recommend is you visit the Push website ( http://www.pushindustries.com ) and see for yourself the time and dedication put into this shock. It was the winner of innerbikes "Innovation of the Year" award for a reason. 

This shock isn't your standard coil over suspension product, it has a dual overhead valve that makes it feel like you have two shocks in one. For me I set one up in a "climbing/trail" mode and the other in a downhill mode. Unlike most suspension products all adjustments; high speed compression, low speed, and rebound are done by hand, no more tools or waiting to make changes after your ride. Sag adjustments are easy as well but do require and allen wrench to loosen a set screw, but sag is a set it and forget it setting most of the time anyways. 

So a little history on why I decided to go with the Elevensix. I like many other riders I have met do not fall within that "normal" mountain biker build, I am 5'10" and my weight is usually between 195 lbs and 210 lbs depending on what time of year I decide to get on the scale. This is something that I have discovered to be a little frustrating when dealing with the popular mountain bike suspension companies. I do believe Fox, Rockshox and other suspension companies make great products but they have to make them for the masses, meaning a perfectly tuned Fox shock is not meant for someone who weighs 200+ pounds, can you get it tuned and working yes but it can be frustrating and a lot of the time a rider of that size ends up just settling for mediocre suspension. 

So along comes the Elevensix, a coil over shock that can be set up for riders of all sizes. Push offers springs in 25 lb increments, my Elevensix came with a  475 lb spring, this was determined by a long conversation with the technician the built my shock. He asked my riding style, my weight with full kit, and of course what kind of bike and suspension system I have.

So far I am very pleased with this shock, I was a little nervous that my bike wouldn't climb as well but I was wrong, I think my bike climbs even better now, my rear tire seems to be glued to the ground, traction is not an issue at all. But obviously this shock shines when pointed down hill, the faster you go the better it feels. This shock isn't going to be for everyone. I recommend it for the all mountain riders, enduro rider or trail rider who wants to have a highly tunable shock. This shock is defiantly made for the guys and gals who like to go fast and ride hard. More updates as I get more rides on this shock soon. 

Dominican/Backside of China Camp Trail Review

I have been riding the China Camp area for over 6 years now. Anyone who has ridden China Camp knows that it is a great beginners trail system and offers some great views as well and very tame singletrack that even your kids can enjoy.

The regular "front" loop is roughly 10 miles with just about 1000 feet of climbing. Friends of China Camp (FOCC) has groomed the trails a lot over the past few years. But what many people don't know is there are a plethora of trails, ranging from leg burning fire roads to technical singletrack on the "backside" or Dominican side. It gets the "Dominican" tag from most of the lower trail heads start near Dominican College in North San Rafeal.

The Dominican trail systems are neither legal or illegal, I would call them "gray". I have never personally been stopped or reprimanded for riding these trails and I haven't heard of anyone else having issue, and these are very heavily travelled.

If you find yourself looking for a more challenging ride and you are in the San Rafeal area you can access these trails from both the front "normal" side of China Camp or the Backside near Dominican. If you find Locus Drive near Dominican College and follow it until it ends you will be at the Gold Hill fire road trail head. From hear you can climb to the top or as the locals call it the "nike site". From the front side you can make your regular climb, once you get to the third bridge take a right and go up "echo trail". You will come to a paved road, make a left and enjoy a leg burning climb to the nike site.

Nike site is the highest point at china camp and is the most central point for all the trail systems. From here the exploring is endless, and I do mean endless, rumor has it there is an April fools ride that takes place in China Camp and Dominican that lasts all day and if you can complete it when all is said and done you will have climbed over 10k and not repeated many trails.

Here are a few of my favorite personal loops;
1.) Reverse China Camp w/ 7-11 Kicker:
When I want to get some extra climbing in and only have an hour or so I will ride the front side loop counter clockwise, climb echo and take a right on the paved road. You will see a small trail jet up a hill on your right, take this, you will pop out next to a bench and right in front of you is one of my favorite singletrack trails in Marin, the infamous 7-eleven trail. take a left and keep your bike pointed down hill, you will pop out next to ...you guessed it, 7-Eleven. Ride the road back to where you parked, you will get around 1100 feet of climbing and 10 miles of riding as well as some fun semi-technical, fast singletrack.
2.) Goldhill/Hitlers Revenge Loop:
When you only have an hour and you want some technical singletrack you can't go wrong with this loop. Starting at the Gold Hill Fire road trail head climb to the top. Once you reach the Nike site keep going about 100 yards, you will see Scettrini Fire rd. head up this for 20 yards and when you get to the top look to the right, you will see a little hill, ride up and this is the start of Hitlers Super D trail. This trail is by no means a trail for a beginner or someone who doesn't enjoy rocky, steep, rutted trails. Most people I talk to would give this a black diamond rating, with that said I am sure there are many people who would laugh at that, I personally think rating trails is tough because it really depends on the riders ability, but anyways, I think everyone would agree this trail isn't "easy", and if you choose to ride it in the summer when its dry and loose it can be down right scary. So once you get down Hitlers Super D, and you will know when you reach the bottom, you might actually get off your bike, kiss the dirt or have a friend pry your fingers from your grips and take a picture of your perma-grins, from here you cross the fire road and you will see a little singletrack, and I do mean little, there is a hairpin turn to the right or you can go straight. When I am short on time I go straight, this is Quercus Trail, it is an up and down narrow singletrack that will take you back to Goldhill Fire Road. If you take the hairpin to the right you will be on "super skinny/Canary", and yes it is SUPER SKINNY in some spots. You will follow this until you hit another trail, go left and you will be headed back to Gold Hill Fire rd.

Anyways, there are so many trails and possible loops it is impossible to go over them here. I highly recommend you do some google earth/Strava/Friend research or ride with someone who knows the area if it is your first time, a wrong turn could end up causing some miserable climbs but all in all the area is pretty compact and you will most likely find your way out.

I think these trails are some of my personal favorite, and this is mostly because of all the different types of rides I can go on in one area, short and easy, long and hard, technical singletrack, leg burning climbing, you name it.

If you have questions don't be afraid to leave me some comments. Who knows I am always down to meet up and ride!

Big Rock/ Skywalker Singletrack Status and Pictures

Big Rock/Skywalker Singletrack is a go to when it is wet. There are not a lack of trails in Marin but there are a lack of trails the are ridable after or during the rain. Big Rock is great after the rain, it drains well and doesn't get sloppy, but, it is a very exposed. During a clear day it can offer some of the most beautiful views in Marin, look to the North and see Novato and Mount Burdell, to the East you may see San Pablo bay and Mount Diablo and to the South you may even see the Cityscape of San Francisco and of course Mount Tam. 

Todays ride offered none of these views, once to the top visibility was about 75-100 feet, it was foggy and cold, so our turn around was quick, but the trail was in prime condition, nice and sticky, very few puddles for as much rain as we have gotten in the past two weeks. 

My friend's Santa Cruz Bronson and my Pivot Mach 6 loved their first 2016 ride! Here is a picture at the start of "big rock".