Coconut Monkey Cornerclub

[Frag Maniac]

What are you currently riding? I rode a 97' Cannodale F1000 hard tail for about 21 years myself when it finally bit the dust. I replaced it with a 2018 Specialized Stumpjumper FS Alloy. It was my first full suspension bike. Nothing special, just an entry level model, but it was such a huge change to go from a hard tail that banged my body up over 20+ years to a full suspension that I never really modded it apart from adding a dropper post, swapped the saddle, and upgraded the pedals (chesters).

I also ended up going to the dark side and picked up a Specialized Tubo Levo a couple of years ago. I still ride both, depending where I'm going. But I've been on the Levo more of late as I need to do some much needed maintenance on the Stumpy that I've been too lazy to do lol.

And glad y'all survived the wind storm! And hope that lat injury heals up soon so you can get back out there riding!

Yeah, the lat is slowly healing, though pretty sore still. For about a week now I've been able to get back to my morning stretching routine, which has a lot of back stretches, some of which I got from an acupuncture book I read.

Both those full sussers you showed are WAY more advanced and modern than what I'm currently on. Mine's called a Hammerhead, a slight modification of a bike called the Titus Racer X. It's an alu frame bike made by Titus Cycles in Arizona, but Titus, whom were acquired by Planet X in UK yrs ago, are no longer in biz.

The guy who owned Hammerhead Bikes in Dallas, is no longer in biz there, but I just saw a Hammerhead Bikes site, which is Michigan based, whom carries Yeti, Revel, and Niner. It could very well be the same guy, because he says he's been riding for 40 yrs. Here's a pic of mine after that last ride when I OTBed and hurt my back. I've not even felt up to cleaning her yet, though I always go over the tires with a grout brush before taking it into our apt building.

It's just a 26er, with steep 71 degree head angle and short wheelbase. The only slight mods HH made to the Racer X were the gusset plates welded on the fronts of the TT and DT to stiffen the front end, a steeper slope to the TT which gives it a bit more standover clearance and rear travel, and a slight raise to the BB.

The combination of the 71 head angle and 120mm stem were common back in the day for XC riding and even light trail riding, but anymore it's considered very outdated and only good for well groomed trails that aren't so technical. It's a 9 speed with triple crank. The only parts I added recently are the 9 speed trigger shifters to upgrade from Grip Shift, a PNW 150mm external routed dropper post, a WTB Rocket Ti wide size saddle, and a Lamicall cell phone mount for the stem (I use Trailforks).

The first bike I posted above, the Ibis Ripmo AF, has just dropped in price to $2775 for the SLX version. The 2nd bike, the YT Industries Jeffsy, is still $3600 for the SRAM GX kit (equivalent to Shimano XT). It has a carbon vs alu frame, but the frame is only 5 lb and I worry about durability.

The bike I have been looking at lately is the Canyon Spectral CF 7, which is a carbon frame Shimano SLX bike that is going for $3300. This bike's frame weight is 5.7 lbs for the Med size, which is about as big as their prior yr's Large due to changing their sizing scheme and adding a size or two.

These are done by a well known mt bike reviewer called Guy Kesteven. It explains FAR more than any mere manufacturer pics can, and he is roughly my weight, age, and rides similar trails. The ones I've been riding lately have steeper, more technical sections than he shows here, and they are not soft, loamy soil as shown here, so more dangerous to crash on.

The Canyon is by far the best value in an all mountain bike I've seen yet, and it has quite a bit of versatility and ingenious features built into it. It has their KIS (Keep It Stable) adjustable steering stabilizer built into the TT, and a well thought out storage compartment in the DT with easy "knee" latch like tool boxes use. There's optional accessories like a bag that fits into it that comes with CO2 cartridge, tire levers, etc, a multi tool mount that attaches to bosses under the TT (as well as a file they offer for DL to 3D print one that fits under the stem).

The bike doesn't come with any of the accessories mentioned above, just a couple of bags (Organza), one dry, one mesh, for shoes, helmet, food maybe. There's also two geo flip chips, one at the Horst link to accommodate a 27.5 rear wheel for a mullet setup, and one where the shock attaches to the SS that steepens angles .5 degree, and raises BB 8mm. Not new, but they also invented the "Quixle", which is an alu rear through axle/quick release combo, that has a little tightening lever that pulls out of the hollow axle and tucks back in.

Some of the more spendy accessories are their custom fit 850ml water bottle, which they worked together with Fidlock to make (a twist mount magnetic bottle holding system). The bottle is not yet available in the states, but I've seen it available on Euro and Asian sites. Canyon have also engineered a 100gm seam taped, stretch fabric rain jacket that has it's own pouch that's part of it, and fits into the DT storage. It's a very high tech nano fabric that is tested to be both breathable and wind and water proof. Not sure I'd trust it to hold up to a hard crash, and it's 180 friggin bucks, so I think I'll hold on to my Speshy.

Canyon are also diligent enough to post the ASTM Classification for their bikes, which describe exactly how rough a trail they can take. This one is rated for lvl 4 Enduro racing, meaning it can take 4' drops. Their Spectral has been redesigned this yr with a bit more sensitivity in the first 1/3 of rear shock travel. This means there's less anti squat in all gears, but there's not significantly more pedal bob because they've also lowered the travel from 160mm front, 150mm rear, to 150mm front and 140mm rear. Even if one DOES notice a bit of pedal bob, there's a lever on the shock you can flip to firm up the LSC, or my preference, use a slightly larger volume reducer in the shock as Guy shows, which is quick and easy, and adds a bit of progression without affecting the small bump compliance.

The rear stays of this yr's model are also slimmed down a bit to give it a more lively feel. Most say it is very good at getting up technical climbs, with very good traction, and very stable on descents, especially once you get the KIS system dialed in. Once the KIS system is set right for you, it can help you carve fast turns better, help resist wash out, and even avoid jackknifing in ruts.

The only thing I worry a bit about is some of the neg feedback I've read from customers whom got their new Canyon bike with anything from paint chips, to stripped threads, to loosely mounted critical parts like BB and HS. I'm not excusing it, but I'm pretty sure most of it was during the pandemic when a lot of manufacturers were having supply chain issues. We have a local shop here though that is authorized to do warranty work on their frames, and they are experienced at repairing carbon tubes, and they do finish work as well. They are also trained to work on even all Canyon's current mtb line. I've also been going back and forth with Canyon via email, and they are assuring me they work with customers on such issues, and plan to have frame parts at least a year beyond the frame's 6 yr warranty.

 

[red_5ive]

Yeah, the lat is slowly healing, though pretty sore still. For about a week now I've been able to get back to my morning stretching routine, which has a lot of back stretches, some of which I got from an acupuncture book I read.

Both those full sussers you showed are WAY more advanced and modern than what I'm currently on. Mine's called a Hammerhead, a slight modification of a bike called the Titus Racer X. It's an alu frame bike made by Titus Cycles in Arizona, but Titus, whom were acquired by Planet X in UK yrs ago, are no longer in biz.

The guy who owned Hammerhead Bikes in Dallas, is no longer in biz there, but I just saw a Hammerhead Bikes site, which is Michigan based, whom carries Yeti, Revel, and Niner. It could very well be the same guy, because he says he's been riding for 40 yrs. Here's a pic of mine after that last ride when I OTBed and hurt my back. I've not even felt up to cleaning her yet, though I always go over the tires with a grout brush before taking it into our apt building.

It's just a 26er, with steep 71 degree head angle and short wheelbase. The only slight mods HH made to the Racer X were the gusset plates welded on the fronts of the TT and DT to stiffen the front end, a steeper slope to the TT which gives it a bit more standover clearance and rear travel, and a slight raise to the BB.

The combination of the 71 head angle and 120mm stem were common back in the day for XC riding and even light trail riding, but anymore it's considered very outdated and only good for well groomed trails that aren't so technical. It's a 9 speed with triple crank. The only parts I added recently are the 9 speed trigger shifters to upgrade from Grip Shift, a PNW 150mm external routed dropper post, a WTB Rocket Ti wide size saddle, and a Lamicall cell phone mount for the stem (I use Trailforks).

The first bike I posted above, the Ibis Ripmo AF, has just dropped in price to $2775 for the SLX version. The 2nd bike, the YT Industries Jeffsy, is still $3600 for the SRAM GX kit (equivalent to Shimano XT). It has a carbon vs alu frame, but the frame is only 5 lb and I worry about durability.

The bike I have been looking at lately is the Canyon Spectral CF 7, which is a carbon frame Shimano SLX bike that is going for $3300. This bike's frame weight is 5.7 lbs for the Med size, which is about as big as their prior yr's Large due to changing their sizing scheme and adding a size or two.

These are done by a well known mt bike reviewer called Guy Kesteven. It explains FAR more than any mere manufacturer pics can, and he is roughly my weight, age, and rides similar trails. The ones I've been riding lately have steeper, more technical sections than he shows here, and they are not soft, loamy soil as shown here, so more dangerous to crash on.

The Canyon is by far the best value in an all mountain bike I've seen yet, and it has quite a bit of versatility and ingenious features built into it. It has their KIS (Keep It Stable) adjustable steering stabilizer built into the TT, and a well thought out storage compartment in the DT with easy "knee" latch like tool boxes use. There's optional accessories like a bag that fits into it that comes with CO2 cartridge, tire levers, etc, a multi tool mount that attaches to bosses under the TT (as well as a file they offer for DL to 3D print one that fits under the stem).

The bike comes with the storage bag, but not the sleeved insert with tools that fits inside it, or the multi tool under the TT. There's also two geo flip chips, one at the Horst link to accommodate a 27.5 rear wheel for a mullet setup, and one where the shock attaches to the SS that steepens angles .5 degree, and raises BB 8mm. Not new, but they also invented the "Quixle", which is an alu rear through axle/quick release combo, that has a little tightening lever that pulls out of the hollow axle and tucks back in.

Some of the more spendy accessories are their custom fit 850ml water bottle, which they worked together with Fidlock to make (a twist mount magnetic bottle holding system). The bottle is not yet available in the states, but I've seen it available on Euro and Asian sites. Canyon have also engineered a 100gm seam taped, stretch fabric rain jacket that has it's own pouch that's part of it, and fits into the DT storage. It's a very high tech nano fabric that is tested to be both breathable and wind and water proof. Not sure I'd trust it to hold up to a hard crash, and it's 180 friggin bucks, so I think I'll hold on to my Speshy.

Canyon are also diligent enough to post the ASTM Classification for their bikes, which describe exactly how rough a trail they can take. This one is rated for lvl 4 Enduro racing, meaning it can take 4' drops. Their Spectral has been redesigned this yr with a bit more sensitivity in the first 1/3 of rear shock travel. This means there's less anti squat in all gears, but there's not significantly more pedal bob because they've also lowered the travel from 160mm front, 150mm rear, to 150mm front and 140mm rear. Even if one DOES notice a bit of pedal bob, there's a lever on the shock you can flip to firm up the LSC, or my preference, use a slightly larger volume reducer in the shock as Guy shows, which is quick and easy, and adds a bit of progression without affecting the small bump compliance.

The rear stays of this yr's model are also slimmed down a bit to give it a more lively feel. Most say it is very good at getting up technical climbs, with very good traction, and very stable on descents, especially once you get the KIS system dialed in. Once the KIS system is set right for you, it can help you carve fast turns better, help resist wash out, and even avoid jackknifing in ruts.

The only thing I worry a bit about is some of the neg feedback I've read from customers whom got their new Canyon bike with anything from paint chips, to stripped threads, to loosely mounted critical parts like BB and HS. I'm not excusing it, but I'm pretty sure most of it was during the pandemic when a lot of manufacturers were having supply chain issues. We have a local shop here though that is authorized to do warranty work on their frames, and they are experienced at repairing carbon tubes, and they do finish work as well. They are also trained to work on even all Canyon's current mtb line. I've also been going back and forth with Canyon via email, and they are assuring me they work with customers on such issues, and plan to have frame parts at least a year beyond the frame's 6 yr warranty.

Good to hear you're healing, albeit slowly. OTB sucks. I've gone over a couple of times, but mostly due to stupidity, like one time I pulled up funky with a mis-timed bunny-hop thinking I'd be cool when I could easily have gone around a big rock. Fortunately just a sore shoulder for a few days. And sure enough that was on one of my other hard tails which had a steeper head tube angle.

Was your Hammerhead originally a hard-tail, and modded to a full suspension? Just curious because the only steep head tube angles I've seen like that were hard-tails. In which case, the Cannondale F1000 hard-tail I mentioned I used to have was 71 degrees as well. But I don't know, I never had a full suspension until 2018, so maybe like you said that's just how they made them back then, hard-tail or not. My F1000 was also a 26er. My Stumpjumper is a 29er, and the Levo is a 29/27.5 mullet. I actually like the mullet setup, you get the best of both worlds, whereas I can't corner as tight on my Stumpy, even with it being roughly 20 lbs lighter. Although the stumpy is also an XL, but I went with a Large on my Levo so that might be a factor as well.

Here's a pic of the F1000. Not my picture, though. I don't have digital pics of it so I found this one on the web, which looks exactly like the one I had, minus that black padding on the top tube. I miss how light it was, barely 18 lbs! But I honestly don't miss the 26" wheels. It also had grip-shifters like yours. I really got used to them and they became a preference, so it was a bit of an adjustment going back to levers on my current bikes.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Spectral and Ripmo. I've never ridden either myself. My buddy has a Ripmo, but he moved to Colorado and I haven't seen him since he got it. He keeps talking about visiting since I live less than a mile from Greer Ranch in California, if you've ever heard of it. It's a pretty popular trail system, about 26 miles worth. We get a lot of guys out of state who come out here just to ride them. The Spectral does spec out nicely given it's price. That looks like an excellent bike for what you get, and a carbon frame and Fox 36 to boot. And it's sweet lookin', too! Looking forward to some pics whatever you end up with.

 

[Frag Maniac]

That Cannondale pic reminded me I had a Cannondale way back in 1992 called the Delta V1000. I had bar ends on mine and I recall doing a hostel ride with Cascade bike club where we took a ferry over to the peninsula. I went off the front of the group at the start of the very scenic Chukanut Drive, and wound up at the hostel before it was open. A nice young gal named Belinda was there on her bike with her little boy, and when she heard I was waiting for my group and the hostel to open, she invited me to her place. She had a kid and spoke of an ex she had a falling out with, and wasn't interested in a relationship, but offered to let me stay the night. We went to a party at her friends, they said they all worked at Costco and went on big event bike rides sometimes.

Later when I got back to the hostel there was a Dutch guy who got there before our group. He and one of the guys in our group from Belgium were arguing back and forth speaking what sounded to be different variants of the same language. They'd be yammering along and suddenly reached an impasse where they couldn't understand each other. We then all jammed into the Dutch guy's small car and went to a tavern. The next day when we left I explained to a couple guys I was off the front with that I wanted to make the next ferry, and that I'd be happy to do the pulling if they could hang with me. One was German, the other Irish. The German guy (Robert) stayed with me, but the Irish guy had to pull off when we were nearing the last stretch.

Robert and I arrived in good time to board the ferry and were on the top deck off the back of it waiting to see if the other guy would make it. He pulled in just a tad too late to board. That Delta V1000 was ugly as crap, but I had bar ends on it and I swear, with that high pivot design, the rear wheel stayed glued to the ground and the transfer of power was immediate, with no perceivable flex. It was like a poor man's time trial bike.

As for my current bike, no, it was designed from the get go to be a full susser, that's just the way they made them back then. MTBs were all about steep and stupid back then, enough to make a monkey face palm and hope we'd evolve some day. Titus Cycles lasted long enough to make some of their Racer X models 29ers, but I'm not sure if they budged much on those crazy steep head angles.

Yeah the new Spectral CF bikes are pretty well designed, and pretty well liked by most. In fact even the guys at Pinkbike love it. They were fortunate enough to get the CF 9 model not available in the states, but they took out the KIS steering stabilizer. They said they couldn't stand the rattling it was doing inside the TT, but I'm sure most whom are serious riders in BC don't need such a device anyway. I've been looking online for some thin walled foam tubing of the right diameter you could maybe put over the steel springs to silence it, but didn't find anything that looked suitable. My first inclination though was just using large diameter heatshrink tubing without shrinking it.

Earlier today I was pondering if I would ever get skilled and vain enough to wish for a bike that can really handle everything, including double black trails. Then I saw another Jeff Kendall-Weed video on YT where he said he'd never take a bike like his Ripmo AF on double black trails, and this guy is good enough to ride BC single black trails on his Chromag hardtail, including nose wheelieing down steep rock slopes. All things in moderation, ya know.

Anywho, here's Braydon Bringhurst killing some gnar stuff in PNW and SW on a CF 9.

And here is Braydon climbing the "Whole Enchilada" trail, one most descend of course.

So I think it's safe to say, anyone who thinks this bike can't climb, maybe just can't keep up with the bike. LOL

 

[Zloth]

I bowled a 256 tonight. High game, my average is now at 180!

256! Extra props for hitting a power of 2! 512 isn't possible, so you should keep that as your high score forever.

Errr, what were you guys saying about being a dork?

 

[ZedClampet]

I bowled a 256 tonight. High game, my average is now at 180!

I bowled this because my 1 opponent is left handed (like me) so i watched where he was standing because it was generally where i stood and noticed he stood a little more forward than i do, like maybe 1 or 2 inches (2.5 cm) so i lined up there and bowled this 256, so im stayin there lol.

I've probably bowled a dozen times in my life. High game was 176.

When I was a kid, we had a couple of pro bowlers from my town, and I watched bowling on TV every Saturday. I was more into golf, too. I think my high score in golf was about 176, too

 

[Frag Maniac]

Bowling is fun, but I never developed a proper release. A friend once tried to show me how it's done, saying it shouldn't be necessary to spin your hand to make the ball curve into the strike pocket. I've always been a straight ball bowler, and he was trying to correct that. He insisted I just needed to follow through better, but also said that curving a ball is a lot easier when its properly weighted for you.

That said, I've had high scores over 250 before, but not consistently. I've only ever used the balls at the alley, and I'm sure that's part of the problem.

@ red_5ive
I'm kind of reverting back to the Ripmo AF lately. More investigation on the Canyon Spectral CF 7 has me thinking there's a bit too much smoke and mirrors behind the cheaper, lighter DTC bikes. For one, it's not actually a 6 yr warranty on the frame, just a 2 yr warranty with a piggy backed 6 yr guarantee. Sounds like legal mumbo jumbo to dodge frame replacements to me. Also, Jeff Kendall-Weed, one of the better PNW based mtb YT reviewers, says the Spectral CF does not handle square edged hits as well as the DW Link design like Ibis uses. He WAS on a RS Super Deluxe equipped bike though, and Guy Kesteven stated all his fellow test riders were on that shock (he was on the Fox X Perf), and that NONE of them liked the damping tune it had. I commented this to Jeff, and am hoping he'll respond, but he also knows a TON about suspension, so he might be able to tell if the RS Shocked being over damped were the square edge hit problem.

Jeff also said his Spectral CF 7 review bike had a creak in the suspension pivots. I know review bikes get used a lot, but they've also been bragging about their new stiffer one piece rocker link, and pivot hardware with washer/seal incorporated into the bolts. They also have top shelf mechs that SHOULD be properly checking, tightening, lubing, etc, anything on a review bike before sending it out, especially to a guy as capable at riding and wrenching as Jeff is.

Jeff also said the Headset loosened up on him, which brings me to another weak point of Canyon's parts spec for the non groupo parts. The Acros headset they use is comprised of bearings that are pressed into the headtube, with mere glass fiber reinforced plastic caps preloading them! It's no wonder they come loose. Jeff also showed that the rear wheel (DT Swiss 1700), had noticeably very loose spokes. I know DT Swiss makes good wheelsets, so this I blame more on Canyon not checking bikes they send out for reviews. Apparently they'd rather rush them out before people spend their money elsewhere, as bikes go on sale this time of year, not even realizing they'll get a worse review in the process.

There's also a bit of confusion that reeks of a rush to market problem with Canyon's Spectral CFs. One of their guys just told me they've yet to receive the DT protectors for them, which he said could take 2-4 MONTHS! He never answered whether they're shipping them with the shorter one shown, whether the ones they'll be getting are taller, or if the ones they've yet to receive use fasteners (the ones in the pics don't seem to as far as I can tell).

 

[red_5ive]

That Cannondale pic reminded me I had a Cannondale way back in 1992 called the Delta V1000. I had bar ends on mine and I recall doing a hostel ride with Cascade bike club where we took a ferry over to the peninsula. I went off the front of the group at the start of the very scenic Chukanut Drive, and wound up at the hostel before it was open. A nice young gal named Belinda was there on her bike with her little boy, and when she heard I was waiting for my group and the hostel to open, she invited me to her place. She had a kid and spoke of an ex she had a falling out with, and wasn't interested in a relationship, but offered to let me stay the night. We went to a party at her friends, they said they all worked at Costco and went on big event bike rides sometimes.

Later when I got back to the hostel there was a Dutch guy who got there before our group. He and one of the guys in our group from Belgium were arguing back and forth speaking what sounded to be different variants of the same language. They'd be yammering along and suddenly reached and impasse where they couldn't understand each other. We then all jammed into the Dutch guy's small car and went to a tavern. The next day when we left I explained to a couple guys I was off the front with that I wanted to make the next ferry, and that I'd be happy to do the pulling if they could hang with me. One was German, the other Irish. The German guy (Robert) stayed with me, but the Irish guy had to pull off when we were nearing the last stretch.

Robert and I arrived in good time to board the ferry and were on the top deck off the back of it waiting to see if the other guy would make it. He pulled in just a tad too late to board. That Delta V1000 was ugly as crap, but I had bar ends on it and I swear, with that high pivot design, the rear wheel stayed glued to the ground and the transfer of power was immediate, with no perceivable flex. It was like a poor man's time trial bike.

As for my current bike, no, it was designed from the get go to be a full susser, that's just the way they made them back then. MTBs were all about steep and stupid back then, enough to make a monkey face palm and hope we'd evolve some day. Titus Cycles lasted long enough to make some of their Racer X models 29ers, but I'm not sure if they budged much on those crazy steep head angles.

Yeah the new Spectral CF bikes are pretty well designed, and pretty well liked by most. In fact even the guys at Pinkbike love it. They were fortunate enough to get the CF 9 model not available in the states, but they took out the KIS steering stabilizer. They said they couldn't stand the rattling it was doing inside the TT, but I'm sure most whom are serious riders in BC don't need such a device anyway. I've been looking online for some thin walled foam tubing of the right diameter you could maybe put over the steel springs to silence it, but didn't find anything that looked suitable. My first inclination though was just using large diameter heatshrink tubing without shrinking it.

Earlier today I was pondering if I would ever get skilled and vain enough to wish for a bike that can really handle everything, including double black trails. Then I saw another Jeff Kendall-Weed video on YT where he said he'd never take a bike like his Ripmo AF on double black trails, and this guy is good enough to ride BC single black trails on his Chromag hardtail, including nose wheelieing down steep rock slopes. All things in moderation, ya know.

Anywho, here's Braydon Bringhurst killing some gnar stuff in PNW and SW on a CF 9.

And here is Braydon climbing the "Whole Enchilada" trail, one most descend of course.

So I think it's safe to say, anyone who thinks this bike can't climb, maybe just can't keep up with the bike. LOL

I never heard of the V1000, but I don't think it's all that bad looking. I also didn't know full suspension existed back then. I got my first MTB that year. A fully rigid Trek 820 Antelope. Well, if you can even call it an MTB lol. I thought this thing was bad ass when I got it!

Edit: Forgot to mention I grabbed that pic off the web as I don't have pics of it.

I hung on to it as a spare over the years in case anyone wanted to go on a ride or give it a try for the first time, which did happen from time to time. I have 4 other better MTBs as well for that purpose (3 Giant hard tails in XL, L, and Small, and a 2018 Marin Hawkhill full sus), so whoever got stuck on the Trek didn't exactly have a great day. I eventually realized that bike was more of a deterrent for anyone interested in riding for the first time lol. I finally trashed it (took it to the recycling facility) some years ago.

Some interesting riding experiences you've had there! I've met plenty of people on our local trails from around the country, and even folks from Germany as well. But never really hung out after. A lot of friendly folk, but nothing beyond hanging around on the trails with. I do have a group of guys that I ride with. At any point it could be 2 of us or 20, or something in between.

Kudos to you if you could get to doing a double-black trail. I no longer do heavy trails. While I'm still in great shape in my 50s as I've trained in the gym since my late teens and I still train moderately heavy today, I've backed off of anything more than an occasional black diamond trail. Even for all my training, having been on a fully rigid bike for my first 5 years of riding and then a hard tail for another 21 years took its toll on my forearms/wrists, and has also affected my right knee, which is and old water skiing injury from my early 20s. At one point I was having problems with pedaling the down stroke if I shifted my weight a certain way and the knee would give out. I almost went down more than a few times because of it. Strangely I can still do squats and leg presses without feeling it, but if I run up the stairs I risk planting into the staircase lol. So I'll take a nice flow trail with jumps any day of the week!

 

[red_5ive]

@ red_5ive
I'm kind of reverting back to the Ripmo AF lately. More investigation on the Canyon Spectral CF 7 has me thinking there's a bit too much smoke and mirrors behind the cheaper, lighter DTC bikes. For one, it's not actually a 6 yr warranty on the frame, just a 2 yr warranty with a piggy backed 6 yr guarantee. Sounds like legal mumbo jumbo to dodge frame replacements to me. Also, Jeff Kendall-Weed, one of the better PNW based mtb YT reviewers, says the Spectral CF does not handle square edged hits as well as the DW link bikes like Ibis uses. He WAS on a RS Super Deluxe equipped bike though, and Guy Kesteven stated all his fellow test riders were on that shock (he was on the Fox X Perf), and that NONE of them liked the damping tune it had. I commented this to Jeff, and am hoping he'll respond, but he also knows a TON about suspension, so he might be able to tell if the RS Shocked being over damped were the square edge hit problem.

Jeff also said his Spectral CF 7 review bike had a creak in the suspension pivots. I know review bikes get used a lot, but they've also been bragging about their new stiffer one piece rocker link, and pivot hardware with washer/seal incorporated into the bolts. They also have top shelf mechs that SHOULD be properly checking, tightening, lubing, etc, anything on a review bike before sending it out, especially to a guy as capable at riding and wrenching as Jeff is.

Jeff also said the Headset loosened up on him, which brings me to another weak point of Canyon's parts spec for the non groupo parts. The Acros Headset they use is comprised of bearings that are pressed into the headtube, with mere glass fiber reinforced plastic caps preloading them! It's no wonder they come loose. Jeff also showed that the rear wheel (DT Swiss 1700), had noticeably very loose spokes. I know DT Swiss makes good wheelsets, so this I blame more on Canyon not checking bikes they send out for reviews. Apparently they'd rather rush them out before people spend their money elsewhere, as bikes go on sale this time of year, not even realizing they'll get a worse review in the process.

There's also a bit of confusion that reeks of a rush to market problem with Canyon's Spectral CFs. One of their guys just told me they've yet to receive the DT protectors for them, which he said could take 2-4 MONTHS! He never answered whether they're shipping them with the shorter one shown, whether the ones they'll be getting are taller, or if the ones they've yet to receive use fasteners (the ones in the pics don't seem to as far as I can tell).

Yikes, that sketchy warranty alone would be enough of a red flag for me to jump ship. I did wonder at first if for all that was offered at that price point was too good to be true, and now it seems like it is. And that's scary if this really is a rush to production. We can easly complain when it happens with video games as there's no phyiscal consequence (unless you're game rager lol), but it's a whole different thing when it's a physical sport. Good that you're doing your homework!

 

[Frag Maniac]

Yikes, that sketchy warranty alone would be enough of a red flag for me to jump ship. I did wonder at first if for all that was offered at that price point was too good to be true, and now it seems like it is. And that's scary if this really is a rush to production. We can easly complain when it happens with video games as there's no phyiscal consequence (unless you're game rager lol), but it's a whole different thing when it's a physical sport. Good that you're doing your homework!

Wow, my very first mt bike was a steel white, fully rigid Trek, and it had rack mount bosses on it top and bottom just like yours. I'm pretty sure it was the bike I had just before the V1000. I waffled a lot in those days on bikes. I only had the V1000 a short while, and bought a Klein hardtail after I tired of the inefficient rear suspension, and the fork got stuck taking in too much water one ride (my fault for not holding over my head when crossing a creek).

The Klein was perhaps an even bigger mistake though. I spent a LONG time sanding and polishing it after asking them not to paint it (discounted price). Unfortunately I could not get them to forego the bead blasting, which left it with a textured surface. Eventually I got it mirror smooth, I'd touch it up now and then with Never Dull cotton wadding aluminum polish. I got the Klein thinking it would be a lighter, more agile bike in the flattish technical singletrack of the time.

This was before suspension seatposts were even a thing mind you, and the Klein pounded my back so hard it was too uncomfortable to ride (stiff, fat tube alu rigid bikes are like that). These kind of things I really need to reflect on, especially since I was getting close to pulling the trigger on a DTC bike that cannot be test ridden. So what I think I'll do is wait and next summer get in some good riding on a Ripmo AF demo, which can be applied toward purchase within a yr.

I'm starting to think the Ripmo AF SLX bike at $2774 is a better deal than the Spectral CF 7 at $3300, even if it is alu and a few lbs heavier. Lifetime warranty on frame and wheels, a more efficient pedaling rear end, and Ibis' rep for great support make it almost a no brainer.

 

[ZedClampet]

My new doctor did something today I don't think any of my doctors have done before. My blood pressure was 140/70, and she said she wanted it a little lower. Instead of just prescribing me a medication, she described two main classes of the drug and told how each worked in the body and what the effects of the different actions would be, and then she asked me which one I wanted.

Not to say that doctors haven't given me options on different things before, but usually it's something like "do you want me to give you something for this?" and then they pick a med and give it to me.

 

[red_5ive]

I'm starting to think the Ripmo AF SLX bike at $2774 is a better deal than the Spectral CF 7 at $3300

I saw that on Jenson USA. If I were in the market, I'd be tempted myself. I love the black color. But I always like to window shop!

I'm debating taking my Levo down to my local bike shop and see what they'll give me for it on a trade. I've been wanting another model. Their Website estimate says I can still get back close to 45% what I paid for it. I know I can get a little more on the used market, but that isn't bad for a shop, and I wouldn't have wait around for a buyer. The bike is also a large, and most guys tend to ride medium. The shop is pretty good at honoring their website, as long as you give them what you say.

 

[Frag Maniac]

I saw that on Jenson USA. If I were in the market, I'd be tempted myself. I love the black color. But I always like to window shop!

I'm debating taking my Levo down to my local bike shop and see what they'll give me for it on a trade. I've been wanting another model. Their Website estimate says I can still get back close to 45% what I paid for it. I know I can get a little more on the used market, but that isn't bad for a shop, and I wouldn't have wait around for a buyer. The bike is also a large, and most guys tend to ride medium. The shop is pretty good at honoring their website, as long as you give them what you say.

It's the bronze one I prefer, which oddly enough they call Cinnabon. Somehow I picture myself as Saul Goodman of Better Call Saul riding it, because after he got help relocating and changing his name, he worked at Cinnabon. The black one looks OK, but black paint typically fades quicker from direct sunlight.

There's another DTC brand I considered, it used to be called Fezzari, but now Ari. They're located in Utah, so at least a domestic product. They have an epoxy infused paint they use, which is said to be very resistant to scratches and chips. I consider their designs to be fairly outdated though, just a Horst link type rear end, which aren't as efficient at climbing. Their prices are also fairly high for alu DTC bikes. They DO make a lot of e-bikes though.

What are you looking for in an e-bike that's different from your Levo? I always assume most that go e-bike for trails want class 1, as more trails are open to them. I think the cutoff point for class 1 is a 750w motor, but the AH rating of the battery is unlimited. If I had one of those beasts, I'd surely want a 750w motor and a fairly large capacity battery, but then they start getting even heavier. You say most are Med, I think most where I live are Large, and Ibis seem to sell mostly Large.

Since I live in an apt, and get tired of laboriously brushing my tires down after every ride, I've been considering a battery powered pressure washer. Muc Off makes a 900+ PSI one that is safe for bikes due to using a low pressure fan nozzle, but it isn't really portable, as it requires an outlet and water spigot. They have a mobile battery powered one too, but it's not available in the states, and quite expensive.

Amazon though has several battery operated 900+ PSI pressure washers that come with two batteries (30 min run time ea), and a brushless motor pistol type handle with several spray nozzles on a rotating tip. They average about $60 to $120. There's a filter on the end of the hose you can put in a creek, river, or lake, or a bucket of water. They also come with a small soap bottle to turn it into a foam canon. I worry it would cause some to complain about suds in a trail head parking lot though, even if the soap is biodegradable.

Do you know of anyone that has a device like this, and if so, what brands might be more reliable? Dewalt and Milwaukee have ones that are far too expensive for how little run time they have. I don't always look for best star ratings on such products. Instead I look at the what they liked page, and try to find ones that have every category checked. The one linked below is an HZG.

This one had all categories checked, and is effectively higher star rated than appears due to 22% of the ratings (the 3/5 star ones) being given for ridiculous reasons. It is also compatible with Makita batteries. I would value that more for the fact that Makita being a well known brand, has some fairly good aftermarket batteries available, due to Makita ones being very expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/HZG-Cordless-Brushless-Adjustable-Rechargeable/dp/B0C2V2998S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[red_5ive]

It's the bronze one I prefer, which oddly enough they call Cinnabon. Somehow I picture myself as Saul Goodman of Better Call Saul riding it, because after he got help relocating and changing his name, he worked at Cinnabon. The black one looks OK, but black paint typically fades quicker from direct sunlight.

There's another DTC brand I considered, it used to be called Fezzari, but now Ari. They're located in Utah, so at least a domestic product. They have an epoxy infused paint they use, which is said to be very resistant to scratches and chips. I consider their designs to be fairly outdated though, just a Horst link type rear end, which aren't as efficient at climbing. Their prices are also fairly high for alu DTC bikes. They DO make a lot of e-bikes though.

What are you looking for in an e-bike that's different from your Levo? I always assume most that go e-bike for trails want class 1, as more trails are open to them. I think the cutoff point for class 1 is a 750w motor, but the AH rating of the battery is unlimited. If I had one of those beasts, I'd surely want a 750w motor and a fairly large capacity battery, but then they start getting even heavier. You say most are Med, I think most where I live are Large, and Ibis seem to sell mostly Large.

Since I live in an apt, and get tired of laboriously brushing my tires down after every ride, I've been considering a battery powered pressure washer. Muc Off makes a 900+ PSI one that is safe for bikes due to using a low pressure fan nozzle, but it isn't really portable, as it requires an outlet and water spigot. They have a mobile battery powered one too, but it's not available in the states, and quite expensive.

Amazon though has several battery operated 900+ PSI pressure washers that come with two batteries (30 min run time ea), and a brushless motor pistol type handle with several spray nozzles on a rotating tip. They average about $60 to $120. There's a filter on the end of the hose you can put in a creek, river, or lake, or a bucket of water. They also come with a small soap bottle to turn it into a foam canon. I worry it would cause some to complain about suds in a trail head parking lot though, even if the soap is biodegradable.

Do you know of anyone that has a device like this, and if so, what brands might be more reliable? Dewalt and Milwaukee have ones that are far too expensive for how little run time they have. I don't always look for best star ratings on such products. Instead I look at the what they liked page, and try to find ones that have every category checked. The one linked below is an HZG.

This one had all categories checked, and is effectively higher star rated than appears due to 22% of the ratings (the 3/5 star ones) being given for ridiculous reasons. It is also compatible with Makita batteries. I would value that more for the fact that Makita being a well known brand, has some fairly good aftermarket batteries available, due to Makita ones being very expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/HZG-Cordless-Brushless-Adjustable-Rechargeable/dp/B0C2V2998S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Fair enough lol. But I don't mean to talk down the "Cinnabon". I do appreciate bronze colors and that color really is nice, it's just of late I've been wanting a black or grey bike, so that color on the Ripmo appeals to me. Which is part of the reason why I want to replace the Levo, and the main reason being I want a lighter frame. I looked into Specialized frames, but the only ones I've been able to find are the S-Works models, and I don't care for the available colors. It's almost the same price just to get a new bike (+ my trade) that I'd rather go that route. I've been looking at the Orbea Rise (varying models) for some time now, with a 540Wh battery. They do have an option for the 750Wh+, but I'd stick with a 540 for reduced weight. These bikes are more built for minimal power assist, and yes I would stay with class 1. They used to come with a Fox 36, but they've dropped a couple thousand in price and now have a Fox 34, but I wouldn't complain about that at all as they are much more affordable, which opens the door for upgradeability since you don't spend as much up front. They still spec out pretty nicely. Jenson has the H models marked down to $3700 and change, but I would consider the M20 (pic below) since I would have a trade. But I still have more research to do on them as I only started looking at the newer models in the past few days.

I've considered a portable pressure washer, but not for the purpose you are seeking. I'm a Milwaukee M18 Fuel guy myself and have a full lineup of their tools, but I didn't even know they had a battery powered pressure washer! On that note, have you looked at Harbor Freight? I know their tools can be hit and miss, but just throwing that out there for what it's worth. I otherwise have a Craftsman electric pressure washer, but it's 1800 psi so I'd be too afraid to use it on my bikes for obvious reasons. But the one you linked to has me interested. And it's brushless, too! I haven't sent my Christmas list yet to my wife, so I might to throw that in there. Thanks for the tip!

 

[ZedClampet]

Haven't had a bike in years. When I lived in New York and Florida, I rode a lot, but I live in a hole in the mountains, and I don't have the energy for that. Everywhere is uphill until the way back..

 

[red_5ive]

What's with this Turkey Day business? Everyone knows it's Football Day!

Spoiler

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[BeardyHat]

Haven't had a bike in years. When I lived in New York and Florida, I rode a lot, but I live in a hole in the mountains, and I don't have the energy for that. Everywhere is uphill until the way back..

I don't ride mine all that much, maybe a handful of times during the summer and fall, but electric bikes are incredible. I have a huge hill in my neighborhood and I can power up that thing no problem with a huge trailer full of kids on the back while my wife is huffing and puffing and falling behind on her regular bike. Mine is just electric assist though, not fully electric.

My sister in law gave it to me. Her ex boyfriend left it at her house after dumping her for another woman while they were on a trip in Hawaii together. Score.

 

[red_5ive]

E-bikes are a game changer, even just pedal assist/class 1. I've considered Class 2 for the throttle for leisurely/street rides, but I have enough fun doing that with just pedal assist that I haven't bothered.

 

[ZedClampet]

My sister in law gave it to me. Her ex boyfriend left it at her house after dumping her for another woman while they were on a trip in Hawaii together. Score.

Yikes.

****

As for bikes, at this stage in my health it would be too dangerous for me to ride a bike, as I get frequent dizzy spells due to having two different types of anemia. I'd just fall over and get run over by a dozen cars. The only place in my city where people ride bikes is really the university campus, anyway. I'd be constantly cursed at for slowing down traffic.

 

[Frag Maniac]

I'm not sure what that Orbea you posted weighs, but 34mm stanchion forks on any e-bike with that much travel seems like it would cause too much flex in the front end when you need it to be stiff for precise handling. It totally depends on the type of trails you ride though I guess.

I know it sounds like I'm waffling, but I'm not totally sure I want to go Ripmo vs Spectral. I watched another Jeff Kendal-Weed video where he and his camera guy were comparing the Spectral CF 7 and an Orbea Occam LT M30. They were riding in Hawaii on some pretty technical trails, including some rocky stuff down a dried creek bed.

They said they both handled it pretty well, with the Spectral being better at getting off jumps and negotiating tight turns, and the Occam a bit more plush and stable on descents. I'd love a bike that is stable on descents, as that is often the weaker of my skills, but I don't want to give up climbing efficiency.

The Orbea bikes seem high quality though, and you can get the Occam LT M30 (carbon frame) for $3500 at Jenson USA right now. I'm guessing the Large weighs at least as much as the Spectral CF 7 (33.6 lbs Med-Large equivalent), but might be lighter than the Ripmo SLX. I'll have to ask Orbea, as their website is having problems with links.

BTW, speaking of Thanksgiving, I slept in until 11:30 AM after being up until 4:30 AM playing STALKER 2. This game is very immersive, and so far I'm finding the comments about it being too hard are dependent on whether you're good at using stealth.

Anyway, I'm on the last 1/3 of cooking my 12.5 lb bird, and it's looking good on the baste and color, so I tented it as suggested by Butterball. I'm having sweet potatoes, asparagus, and cranberry sauce with it.

 

[red_5ive]

Yikes.

****

As for bikes, at this stage in my health it would be too dangerous for me to ride a bike, as I get frequent dizzy spells due to having two different types of anemia. I'd just fall over and get run over by a dozen cars. The only place in my city where people ride bikes is really the university campus, anyway. I'd be constantly cursed at for slowing down traffic.

Sorry to hear that. I had to give up riding for a little bit the last couple years as well due to health issues, and although I'm back on the bike now, I really can't ride heavy trails anymore. Although my strength is back for the most part and even if I feel like I can do it, I don't want to risk it.

I'm not sure what that Orbea you posted weighs, but 34mm stanchion forks on any e-bike with that much travel seems like it would cause too much flex in the front end when you need it to be stiff for precise handling. It totally depends on the type of trails you ride though I guess.

I know it sounds like I'm waffling, but I'm not totally sure I want to go Ripmo vs Spectral. I watched another Jeff Kendal-Weed video where he and his camera guy were comparing the Spectral CF 7 and an Orbea Occam LT M30. They were riding in Hawaii on some pretty technical trails, including some rocky stuff down a dried creek bed.

They said they both handled it pretty well, with the Spectral being better at getting off jumps and negotiating tight turns, and the Occam a bit more plush and stable on descents. I'd love a bike that is stable on descents, as that is often the weaker of my skills, but I don't want to give up climbing efficiency.

The Orbea bikes seem high quality though, and you can get the Occam LT M30 (carbon frame) for $3500 at Jenson USA right now. This is an SLX/XT kit with Deore brakes. According to Pinkbike the Large 2024 weighs 32.2 without pedals. That's pretty impressive weight for such a price on a bike that has the same 150mm rear, 160mm front travel as the Ripmo.

BTW, speaking of Thanksgiving, I slept in until 11:30 AM after being up until 4:30 AM playing STALKER 2. This game is very immersive, and so far I'm finding the comments about it being too hard are dependent on whether you're good at using stealth.

Anyway, I'm on the last 1/3 of cooking my 12.5 lb bird, and it's looking good on the baste and color, so I tented it as suggested by Butterball. I'm having sweet potatoes, asparagus, and cranberry sauce with it.

Yeah like I mentioned I haven't done enough research yet on that model. But I do know due to their minimalist approach to the "e" part of e-bike, their bikes tend to be lighter. One of the Rise models I was looking at from a couple years ago, I believe the H15, cashed in close to the model you mentioned at 35 lbs. for a medium size (that's w/o battery and pedals), and I believe that's an aluminum frame. That's unheard of for a non-carbon e-MTB. Had I known about them before I bought my Levo, I likely would have gone with the H15, and Orbea has been in the back of my mind ever since. The drawback of course is don't expect to go 40+ plus miles on a single charge.

Edit: Apparently that info is incorrect. When I first dug into the H15, it was still a few months from release. The estimated mileage per ride at the time was around 25 miles due to the minimalist design. I wonder now if the information may have changed after real world data as they are now rated in the 40 mile range per charge (with the 500+Wh, battery), and they also now offer a extender that'll take it to 60 miles or so. There was otherwise no range extender when I first started looking into the bike. It's possible that maybe they weren't offering a 500+Wh yet pre-release and I vaguely remember it may have been a 360 Wh, which would account for the 25 mile range that I seem to recall. That was around spring of 2022 so my memory is very vague on it. And of course those numbers are all estimates as there are varying factors that will affect how far you can go on a single charge. /Edit

As for the potential performance limitations you mentioned, I don't really worry about that kind of thing anymore being that I can't ride as hard as I used to due to what I mentioned above. I still do appreciate a bike I can trust for sure, but I'm not going to be taking on anything more than a black diamond these days, and when I do I'm not going to get crazy enough out there that I'd be overly concerned. I've had zero complaints about my Levo, and based on what I've read about Orbea is they're at least be as good, if not better.

I've been staying up too late gaming this week as well. I'm on staycation this week, and last night I was up till 3. Fortunately I didn't have to worry about cooking a turkey since we weren't hosting. I did however do a fun and easy mid-morning ride with the wife. We got 7 miles in on the easy trails. The way I like to kick off any holiday.

 

[red_5ive]

The one thing I don't like about not hosting Thanksgiving is no left-overs. I'm craving that Ross Geller sammich.

View: https://youtu.be/AeKizzQpPpY?t=172

 

[Frag Maniac]

I still do appreciate a bike I can trust for sure, but I'm not going to be taking on anything more than a black diamond these days, and when I do I'm not going to get crazy enough out there that I'd be overly concerned.

So you do ride single diamond black trails then? You do know those are considered lvl 4 Enduro class, with up to 4' drops right? If you're riding those on a cumbersome e-bike that takes more to stop/slow down, respect, especially with a serious ailment. I'm really not sure if trail ratings are interpreted the same across the US though, except maybe in sanctioned racing. You see it all the time mentioned in YT vids, riders will say they feel a trail is either above or below it's rating.

BTW, I noticed you use platform pedals. I've been considering trying them, as I'm starting to think my clipless are a part of why I sometimes crash hard on my side vs being able to exit the bike quickly. When I was younger I'd often click out quickly and leapfrog the bars and land safely either on my feet, or doing a roll. As I've grown older though, I just can't trust myself to react with that much speed and agility. I just bought some fairly spendy cleat type shoes though.

One of the things that shocks me is I noticed Braydon Bringhurst in that Whole Enchilada vid is using Crankbrothers Mallet clipless pedals. I guess it's understandable since he's doing stuff there that requires maximum sprint efficiency to get up and over some of the harder rock features, but I can't help but think that's also why he hurt his ankle bad on the Snotch section, as it clearly impedes your ability to exit quickly and step off safely. I can't believe Braydon cleaned all that climbing with a still sore ankle that was severely swollen when he reinjured it on the practice sessions.

I was mistaken btw when I said above that the Orbea Occam LT M30 was 32.2 lbs (edited it). Pinkbike was reviewing a better spec model by far, with mostly XT, a Team wheel set, and Fox Factory suspension. I couldn't manage to find the weight on the Occam frame or LT M30 bike, and I agree with one reviewer that negotiating their website is painful. He referred to it as feeling like a Power Point session, as it will do weird things like show the grab (move hand), when it's supposed to show the link pointer hand. Meaning you can't get to vital info, making reviews or bike purchase decisions more difficult than need be.

**********************************************************************************************************************************

My Turkey dinner, especially considering my late start, came off pretty well. Two slight problems were, the cook time ended up being well under Butterball's suggested time, which also threw off my cook time for the asparagus. It could be partly due to my having bought a carbon steel non stick roasting pan. It was normally $40 marked down to $10. It is big and hefty, and has nicely elevated ridges on the bottom that are contoured smooth enough in shape to clean easily.

Carbon steel holds heat though, which may have accelerated the cook time. You can usually tell by the color of the skin and how shrunk the meat around the legs is though. So I decided to tent it and then measured the breast temp a bit later, which read a perfect 170 degrees Fahrenheit. As far as I'm concerned, carving is the more difficult skill. I mostly lacked a proper knife (used a boning knife), and I think the main thing is I really should have put the foil back over it while eating.

The roasting pan may become a godsend for making a meal like this take less time though. By the look of the skin browning and shrunken meat on the legs around the 2 hr mark, I would wager dropping temp from 325 to 300 and still being done in 2 hr 15 min, vs 3- 3.5 hr as suggested, would be about right. In fact, I vaguely recall one of the gals on Cook's Country Test Kitchen that these type pans are nice, but you have to be careful on cook time. I'm also considering thawing via soaking the wrapped bird in cold water vs 3 days in the fridge next time, as in my experience, you lose less moisture from the meat that way.

The first breast was very moist while cutting, but the other side had cooled and dried, making it very hard to get precise cuts. I saved the breast meat in a dozen zip sandwich bags (3 oz each) and put them all in a gallon freezer bag. Then managed to fit all the dark meat in one big Debbie Meyer Green Box, after having a leg and the neck for dinner. The breast meat will be used for my lunch sandwiches eventually after being stored in my 5 cu ft Summit freezer, which is so handy to have.

 

[Pifanjr]

My wife and I had made plans with friends of ours to celebrate thanksgiving last weekend, but they ended up having to cancel. Considering my wife and I were both not feeling well that was probably for the better.

On actual Thanksgiving we just ordered pizza, as neither of us had the energy to cook anything.

 

[ZedClampet]

I'm feeling bad, so I'm lying in bed with my laptop on my chest absently making picture after picture with Flux. Occasionally I stop and look through Steam, hunting for that magical game that will solve all my problems for 500 hours.

 

[red_5ive]

So you do ride single diamond black trails then? You do know those are considered lvl 4 Enduro class, with up to 4' drops right? If you're riding those on a cumbersome e-bike that takes more to stop/slow down, respect, especially with a serious ailment. I'm really not sure if trail ratings are interpreted the same across the US though, except maybe in sanctioned racing. You see it all the time mentioned in YT vids, riders will say they feel a trail is either above or below it's rating.

4' drops are nothing unless you're a pro or trying to ride like one barreling down at max velocity. The local trail circuit I mentioned previously (Greer Ranch) otherwise has about a dozen black diamond runs (and a couple that are rated double black), but even intermediate riders taking some of them for the first time are capable enough. They're just not blazing the trails.

Here's an example of a guy taking some of them for the first time. The 3 trails mentioned in the video are some of the easier BD level trails, and you can see he's not ripping through them.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkGTd9rSrto

I don't want to say this is a cake walk, but they aren't terribly difficult. But don't forget, I still also have my Stumpjumper. I've never actually ridden my Levo on any of these trails (save for the easier flowy trails), and to be honest I don't feel comfortable enough for exactly the reasons you said. Which is also the reason why I want to try an Orbea e-MTB as they're roughly 10-12 lbs lighter than my Levo, depending on the model. I'm otherwise more nimble on the Stumpy just because of the sheer weight difference alone (about 17 lbs), even for it being a 29er and XL which feels a little big for me. I'm 6'1, 220lbs, and the XL is rated 5'11 - 6'4 I believe, and I'm on the bottom side of it. Hindsight I wish I would have gotten a Large. And no, I'M NOT OVERWEIGHT lol. Nevertheless, maybe it is like you said, perhaps the ratings vary from area to area and what we consider black diamond out here might differ.

On the other hand, this is what's considered a double-black in the same trail system. Trail is called Overdrive, and is the one that out-of-state riders travel out here for.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqV_VxYAtWc

More info on the Greer Ranch the trail system on Trailforks if you want to check them out.

I also wonder about culture too where you ride, because the locals out here are very encouraging and love to help the newer/slower riders who aren't familiar with the trail circuit. You aren't expected to run the trails like you've been on them a hundred times. Of course that's also as long as you clear the way at the first available turnout when someone comes ripping up behind you.

BTW, I noticed you use platform pedals. I've been considering trying them, as I'm starting to think my clipless are a part of why I sometimes crash hard on my side vs being able to exit the bike quickly. When I was younger I'd often click out quickly and leapfrog the bars and land safely either on my feet, or doing a roll. As I've grown older though, I just can't trust myself to react with that much speed and agility. I just bought some fairly spendy cleat type shoes though.

I'll never ride clipped in. I grew up on BMX and did some freestyling as well, and also rode dirt bikes into my late teens and early 20s. Clips just don't feel natural to me. In which case, I'm not afraid to plant my leg if need be to avoid going down, and I would rather have the freedom to do so. Of coures, there are drawbacks to leg planting, but I've managed fine all these years. You can critique me for that if you like, I don't care , but I'm not a pro and will never claim or try to be one. I'm out there for the fun of it, and will be the first to admit my riding style can be out of the norm. For that I blame my younger years not having proper training on a BMX and/or no YouTube to learn from. So hard to unlearn what you're used to, but it works for me.

And hope you enjoyed that bird!