I love all this stuff - and Grant's and Chris' writings are fun, provocative, and useful. Rough riding & underbiking is where its at. Seems to be a common interest among the Riv Appreciation Society riders down here.
It is indeed fun to ride a road bike with Jack Browns or Pasela 32s or 35s out on the trails. Its a gas. I'm also having a gas on the Rawland with 58mm knobbies, but all-rounder geometry. Think "XO-1 with a 6 degree upslope tt and fat ass tires." I don't get out on singletrack as much as I like, but when I do (Big Laguna loop, Los Penasquitos Preserve, San Clemente Canyon, Nobel Canyon here in SD County), I certainly have a ball on that bike. I like to ride to the trail if possible, and the knobbies sure do cause a racket! I'm an overly cautious rider on dirt, and as Chris mentions, a lot of where I ride can be pretty darn rocky offroad. And if I'm to believe Dustin, some of the rides I'd like to do would cause more sanity with suspension. I think suspension is helpful if you're in a group. The thing is, and here's where I think Grant's spot on (if indeed conservative), if you just go slow, hike-a-bike, enjoy the scenery, you can take any bike nearly anywhere. Looking forward to the Rough Riders Rally to discuss this further with kindred souls! On Mar 30, 9:28 am, CycloFiend <cyclofi...@earthlink.net> wrote: > on 3/30/10 4:20 AM, Frederick, Steve at frede...@mail.lib.msu.edu wrote: > > > I think Grant's preferences for roadish trail bikes stem in part from his > > location--Marin County is opposed, even hostile toward biking on trails, > > going > > all the way back to the birth of modern mountain biking. The less you look > > like a "Mountain biker," the less likely you are to face the wrath of upset > > hikers and ticket writing rangers. > > Actually, Grant and Rivendell's location is in the East Bay - specifically > Contra Costa county. That doesn't change or undercut his message - and in > fact his comments are incredibly salient. > > I, on the other hand, have somehow managed to remain in Marin. > > Lucky me... ;^) > > In the interest of not promoting stereotypes, it should be noted that > attitudes of hostility here in "the birthplace of mountain biking" have > refined and mellowed over the years. Yes, there are high-profile and > hotheaded comments made from the same entrenched individuals on both sides > of access issues, and that tends to get press when it happens. But, the > facts are that bicycles have been common on the trails for more than 20 > years. in general, people are used to them and realize they aren't going > anywhere. > > Most people behave well. Many people could use some constructive criticism. > Some people have no clue. > > http://ramblings.cyclofiend.com/?p=273 > > I do find that when people see me way up some trail on the Hilsen or > Quickbeam, the first response is to smile. But, I'm pretty proactive in > doing the same and finding something to comment about, other than saying > "onyerleft". Wildflowers, birds and weather are always good starting > points. > > - Jim > > -- > Jim Edgar > cyclofi...@earthlink.net > > Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries -http://www.cyclofiend.com > Current Classics - Cross Bikes > Singlespeed - Working Bikes > Workshops of the iBob's -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
