Video

About 10mins riding from front door to trailhead.

Thanks for the feedback. I was actually just walking that trail again the other day and thinking I need to hit it with the bike! I've stopped posting videos as I was out with an injury for quite a while and lost a lot of confidence on the bike. I've switched to a full suspension bike now and it's amazing how much easier the trails are! I've only had a couple of rides on it, but it's going to be what gets me back up there. Thanks again!

Thanks! Mostly trying to keep it simple!

I've currently got Minion DHF (front) and DHR (rear), 2.5 width, stickiest rubber available. They are definitely a good winter tire for these parts, not so much in summer time. I also like to run High Roller 2s - they've been a good year round tyre for me.

@@whatgoesup8972 ok thanks :)

Good luck getting your hands on one! I'm actually waiting for a new frame as well since the M/L Rootdown is a little small for me. I think if you are used to the gravel bikes, a steel hardtail will be right your alley for the North Shore. Good luck!

Thanks Roy. The shoulder is better now but the trails are under a lot of snow! I'll be back on the bike soon and looking to put out more videos of my local trails. Thanks for subscribing!

Hi Del - the travel on my fork is 140-160mm. I think 150mm is the minimum you'd want to go with the geometry the way it is. I'm back on the bike now, riding a little tentatively, but having fun!

Thanks Enrique!

I think Leopard and Crinkum Crankum are pretty fun as well, but Bobsled is a great place to start on Fromme. Have fun!

Bobsled, Another Roadside Attraction and then Expresso would be the way to go. High School League and John Deer on Seymour are great options too. Have fun!

Thanks! Will do!

Thanks Chapman!

This frame is designed as a 29er frame that can take 27.5+ tires. I usually run the 29s and the 27.5+ in the wet winter, but mullet has been fun!

@@whatgoesup8972 great! Ill have something to model my build soon

Thank you! Cheers!

Garet, now that you mention it, I did crack the rear rim on the Stan's not too long after getting it! They replaced it on warranty, so not so bad! Have fun with the bike - it's a blast!

You know it!

First of all, thanks for watching to the end! Yeah, that rock roll is the original line on Pennzoil and if you know how to line it up before you get to it, no problem, it's just that you can't really see the ladder as you come up to it. I guess there's a good reason they built the newer line!

I definitely like it (not so much on this ride in the video), but I feel like on a day when you basically have to wait in line to ride Expresso, no one is on Lower Oilcan...

I usually do too - just that day it was kicking my butt!

Thanks Abraham, I am still on the Chromag. Since I've been off the bike for 2 months now though I've been exploring the idea of a different ride - I might do a video about the process of looking.

@Concrete Head Not quite back yet, this is a video from the archive... but hopefully in a couple of weeks or so. I'm not on Instragrunt, but I'll check it out, same with Joy of Bike... thanks!

The heat has been insane! Fortunately now it has cooled off (25 degrees or so), but it was over 40 C for several days. I was okay with not being able to ride cause of the shoulder. I got out for a first ride yesterday though and I think I can get back to regular riding now. Trails are super dusty though. This climate change is for real! Hope you're getting some good riding in!

@Concrete Head in North Vancouver, not bad. Very dry here, but the smoke has been flowing east. I just got back from the interior of the province and it was thick smoke almost all the way across. Full on fires raging on the mountain sides as we drove by - pretty freaky.

@Concrete Head hey! I haven't been on the bike much lately, but am able to physically now, so I'm looking forward to getting a lot of riding in in the next few months. I'll start putting out the vids too again. Hope all is well with you too!

They did not, but I bought the bike second hand (barely used), so not from them or from a bike shop, so I don't hold that against them. They did give me a deal on a new frame (which brought it down to the price of a Kona or Norco frame!).

@@whatgoesup8972 I'm a bit surprised at how short the Chromag warranty is!

@@mybadvideos I know - kind of makes you wonder what the Chromag premium cost gets you...

Thanks Doug - and yes, the second half of that top trail is not a fun one on the hard tail, but it has it's moments! That hollow pinging sound off rocks definitely seems to be characteristic of the steel Chromags!

Thanks Dave. I'm looking forward to getting out and doing some more. I'm on the sidelines for a while with an injury, but back this summer!

Thanks! I think if I had a full suspension, the Rootdown wouldn't see much action on these trails!

It's got it's appeal, but it can bite ya too! Hope the riding is going well for you.

The Rootdown is great for the North Shore trails. The few flow trails that are here are amazing on the bike, the gnarlier old school rooty rocky trails are fun too, but definitely rougher on the hardtail. If you can maintain speed and hop over a lot of the gnarly bits, that certainly helps smooth out the terrain, but that also takes a lot more effort! My legs are definitely more tired descending on a hardtail, but the Rootdown is built for exactly this stuff.

Thanks 👍

Thanks! I imagine it was getting strangely dry on the trails during that bit of summer. Kind of glad the rain is back for a bit!

Hi Carver, I have 2.3s DHR and DHF right now, but I do also have some 27.5+ that are 2.8. I have one of those on the back at the moment, so the bike is set up mullet-style and I'm really liking it. I generally go for as thick a tire as is reasonable to run! I'm not super concerned with rolling speed, or speed in general, but I love the grip and planted feel from a fatter tire. I'll probably go with 2.4s next time I buy 29" tires. I remember the days when 2.8 or wider was the norm. Pretty sure I had 3" wide tires on a Norco VPS Launch years ago!

Thanks for the good wishes!

Nice! It's a tricky one, but at the same time, taking all of the features on their own, theoretically do-able!

@@whatgoesup8972 How are you making out towards your goal ?

@@mbelfry had a bit of a set back in the spring with a dislocated and broken shoulder - so now that we're into the rainy season and I'm getting back on the bike, I'm a little shy on the double blacks, but hopefully a clean run down Boundary is not out of the realm of possibility yet!

I hope so too! Thanks!

I will be - thanks! Looking forward to getting back on this trail.

Best wishes from the ADK's of NY for a speedy recovery! Great content btw! I ride a steel Kona Big Honzo myself and love being on a hardtail. I prefer it as a 27.5+ single speed but trying it out with 29's and gears for a bit. Likely keep it as a 29 SS for the simplicity. Thanks for bringing us along on your rides!

Thanks for the good wishes and the feedback! Nice bike setup - I just put my name down for a Kona Honzo ESD. My current bike is too small (and obviously doesn't work right since I fell off it!) and the Honzo has long been on my wish list. I don't think I could handle the single speed though!

Thanks for the recommendation. Not rad moves unfortunately - mind wandered for a moment on a trail I've ridden 100 times and down I went. Hopefully no surgery needed. I'm just waiting for results from a CT scan.

Good idea for more content - I'm actually in the market for a new bike, so thoughts on the process could be good and I'd love to hear people's feedback.

@@whatgoesup8972 The ESD looks like it would be a lot of fun. SS is a blast once you get your gearing dialed in for where you're riding. Simple and light. I highly recommend giving it a go.