my new Altitude 730MSL, one year later

Hello again!  Check this out:

Got a new bike near to a year ago, a Rocky Mountain Altitude 730MSL.

Ran a 2011 Norco LT into the ground early last year; the dent in the top tube was the deal-breaker (once combined with the worn out brakes, sloppy shock pivot, sloppy front hub bearings, pretty much bagged drivetrain, seriously worn cranks... it owed me nothing).  So looking at all that re$ource output, and checking out the new technology, I decided on a new bike.  Obvious choice for true all-around capability was an up-to-date all-mountain bike, capable descender & still climbable.  I believe they call this, an enduro-spec'd bike.

Platforms in contention with the Altitude were the Norco Range, and the Devinci Spartan.  Just so you know.  But the lines of the bike and the parts pick (for the price point of course) made it for me.

Here's a spec sheet if you're into that kind of thing:   http://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/altitude/2016#/models/altitude-730-msl

Carbon forward/alu rear triangle (that'll be the MSL designation) with a 'lower-upper end' (?) parts spec... SLX.  One step below XT, which is a pretty decent place to be thus 'lower-upper end', per Shimano's component class structure.  Naturally the rear derailleur is a step up to XT, but everything else is SLX.  But for the hubs.  At least they're Shimano though!  Seriously, as an experienced mechanic, unless something's changed I'll take a Shimano hub any day for durability (maintenance a given).

The Manitou Mattoc Comp... maybe I didn't give it a chance.  Maybe it was a heavier, tough to adjust fork.  At any rate, the day I replaced it with a Fox 34 Factory was the day the bike got seriously lively up front.  (And really, that right there is a good pitch to get the 750MSL...and it comes with a few other features that for the extra cost might just be worth it.)  The fork is quite a bit lighter than the Mattoc Comp, and is surely easier to set up and get satisfaction out of.

One thing I like about the brakes is that it's pads are cross-compatible with XT, just in case there's some higher quality pad choice out there.  The XT rear derailleur tips the hat to the tradition of making the best component on a bike the rear derailleur.  Hubs are a 500-series Shimano set, using their centrelock technology for the machined (not stamped) brake disc.  This needed I add a new tool to the box.

I'll use a series of enduro-style rides the Team Fish Bike Club did last year as my test bed for this report: our 'Prevost:Enduro Laps' ride series.  For the heck of it (and to keep it honest) we ride up and down Mt Prevost (#longlivechainsaw) for at least three laps, preferably until we're done.  It's a pretty stiff climb, and some of the most primal descending I know.  Good stuff, and thus a great testing ground.

I compared it to a Spartan RR (alu frame, Rock Shox Pike, SRAM equivalent spec, http://www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_796_scategory_188 , an equivalent to my bike but for the frame material) on rides and what I found is that the Altitude is the better climber.  Hands down, climbing I'm downright playful on this bike.  The Spartan is in this arena a bit of a truck.  Perhaps the extra weight of the Spartan RR (it weighs a real world 4 pounds more than mine, and I'm still running the 2x10 drivetrain) doesn't help, but it seemed it's steering angles tended to keep it tracking straight.  Very 'get'er dun'.  Which is fine, but the Altitude really helped me not mind the fourth, fifth and once in a while sixth climb back up.

On the descent, the Altitude MSL pretty much rocked Prevost.  It's very nimble, and with a slacked out geometry using the Ride9 adjustable pivot, it's a very capable descender, much much better than my Norco LT, 100%.  I'm almost happier to use my Altitude on Prevost instead of my Trek Session 8 DH rig (Boxxer, alu frame, 26x2.5, full-on DH truck) as it's quite a bit lighter, and very easy to loft when I had to.  I've really improved in that department... so using it on Prevost has actually made me faster on my Trek!   

A niggle is it's internal routing.  Very clean, but it's a bit of a pain trying to feed the cable from one end of a 26" down tube to a small hole at the other end of it.  The constant seatpost issues I've had made me figure out a technique to simplify this chore, but I am glad to see Rocky Mountain has built routing hatches into their 2017 models.  (A thought I've had is to run full cable housing; that would ease the routing chore I reckon.)

Seatpost issues... Rock Shox Reverb: I like it!  I wish that it worked all the time tho.  Bit of a pain; as of this writing (January 2017) I can hardly wait for the weather to improve so as to give the next repair a chance to last, if you catch my drift.  Overhaul on these suckers are a bear to pay for, and I've got the radar out for the best value in similar technology (limitless seat height settings a priority over hydraulic actuator.)

Another upgrade I did was tubeless tire technology.  Again the new technology paid off, with a detectable influence on speed and effort.  Reduced rotating weight (the weight furthest from your axles, so: tires, tubes, rims and spoke nipples) helps with quicker acceleration, which other than in racing helps the average joe in short sharp efforts where quick power is desired, such as riding up 20" vertical rock faces.  As well, the ability to run lower pressures really helped me stick some evil climbs so I'm pretty much a convert.  Still carry a tube tho!  ...which has worked out for me.  Put a big hole in the back tire once, running apparently 'too low' pressure in a rock garden; live and learn me boyos, live and learn.  Use the Stan's conversion kit, it's the best.

Heel rub seems a thing from what I've seen on other MSL's and my own; word on the street Rocky's tweaked their frame design to attenuate that.  Seems a minor thing, 'til I see that bare spot on the stays and the worn stitching on my shoe.

Personally, I replaced the chain once I wore it out with the Dura-Ace edition; they say 'not spec'ed for mountain bikes', but I've had no issues with breakage.  Your personal mileage may vary.

I'm still pretty stoked with my new bike.  It works very well, so well in fact that I'm sure I bought skills with the bike; I can more efficiently focus my power and energy with this unit.

I can only recommend it.  Not heavy, nimble and a capable descender; your best bet for all-around performance and value.

Maybe I should have bought one step up, tho.... dang it!

what's practical, what's truly needed?

Just reviewing some pics, noted this one, inspired this post:

 

  2010 Trek Session8, pretty much stock as hell, but for the RaceFace bar and fresh Nevegals.  1200$ used last year it ran me, and I have zero complaints.

  It not an up-to-date ride, heck no!  lol  26" wheels for god's sake, upper end Elixirs for brakes.  But it is in such good operating condition, which is my point.

  For a humble all-rounder of a mountain biker as myself, with the usual 'bike worth more than the car' lifestyle, this bike rocks!  As I said, it is in perfect operating condition, and suits ALL my needs, which include budgetary, very well.

  I'm blown away at the entry price for an enduro-type bike these days; right snug near to 3000 Canadian dollars.  Rocky Mountain starts at $3000.  Beauty bike but I suppose they've made a statement regards their market...?  Now, Norco has a pretty good selection (if I recall correctly you can get something decent at closer to $2500, check their site www.norco.com, look for their bike finder, very slick feature) but its still a steep chunk of change to let go.

  Maybe even worth it!  Our one rider aka Shoeback has a sweet Norco Range KillerB edition, I am jealous as heck.  Having ridden a Kona Process a while back, those 27.5 wheels sure roll nicely, and with the specified travel and geometry, an enduro bike is a good thing to have.

  Have we mentioned that the only differences between all-mountain bikes are the wheel size and frame angles?  As much as I would very much like to have a newer enduro (currently running a Norco LT, in excellent running condition, natch,) I'm not too stoked to incur debt for a bike.  Ya!    No.

  Conflicted?  Maybe a little bit... ha ha

  Run what you have, and maintain it.  I'm notorious for running vehicles for long periods of time based on sensitivity to how well they're running and getting that fixed asap.  Same with the bikes.  

  There comes a time when it's time to let it go, but I truly don't believe the newest item on the market that season is it.  I believe that replacing a bike once it's too small, needs too much work, or has become too dated in design (no one is seriously running the RockShox Mag21SL Ti, no matter how nice that fork is, for example) makes best fiscal sense, for the most of us.  In my honest opinion.

  

Asked for Advice

  Asked about a new bike by a parent yesterday at the local school league's cyclocross race:

 

....and here's my thinking for them at this moment.  Of course all deals are their own entity, who knows if you ever find the best deal EVAH next week, yeah right.

I'm liking this one;

  27.5 wheels, higher end parts, decent fork and frame, but not dual suspension at $1000 msrp.

Ay, comes the rub.  Upon further browsing Rocky Mountain's site, I fin to step up to a dually with 27.5 wheels starts at $3000msrp.  Wow.

Brodie doesn't even have a bike in this market.

Norco... now I'm stoked.

Dual suspensions using the better wheel choice with a price range more of the riding public can work within!  Tho duallys still start at 2000$, at least they don't start at 2900$.  There would be a compromise within parts spec tho... always with the give and take in this bike-buying game.

It's tough to find the right bike.  The thing about the fellow we're thinking about is a strong and keen who's bike is done (stick a fork in it).  It's way too small and so worn out that a new bike is hugely indicated, and he might yet grow from currently six foot...

So what budget?  As much as you can and shop well, I say.  Seems to me, finding the Norco bike finder, that a dually 27.5 bike is doable without jeopardizing college.

And I feel done with used unless you're willing to put some work in.  It's easy to get in over your head with the used bikes I reckon.

OK, that'll do for now.  Always glad to be a reference person for hardworking parents interested in spending their money well to keep their kids into the offroad biking.

A very solid day. The power of showing up.

Oh this poor guy!  But I bet he's stronger tomorrow morning...

It's so tough to show up and get the ---- hammered out of you; he did very well today, thought he was walking awful early in the day tho'... but he was there, the whole time.  More stops than usual, but thats to be expected.  Good on him to stick it out.  Pretty soon he'll be as fast as the presently fastest...

Lately I've been riding with some old-timers up-island... in another house of my life, I'm the new guy, getting hammered, and getting stronger.  Just sayin'.

My role here for the new fellow is to be quite patient and encouraging.  I successfully rallied the team around the guy, and I think that went well.  

We climbed 792m total today, and took about 3h45m to get to the start of the down part of the day's ride.  A nice challenging descent was had, and I have to hand it to him: he rode the descent well and thoughtfully.  All told we were biking for 4h45m, a very solid day.

Seriously!

  Having my program presented through the Recreation Department of Saanich presents a few challenges.  (Few!, as it seems to me Wheels in Motion is well appreciated, and what Stacey and I need Management is willing to provide...)  One challenge tho is keeping the Programmer above me in-the-loop on the hows and whys of Wheels.

  Checking up on Saanich's RecOnline listing for wheels, it seemed to me that Programmer had only posted one afternoon group, instead of two, and I was six/sevenths of the way to sending off a pissy letter when I discovered that the morning group was listed, only not in Youth, but School Age.

Was I glad to find that out when I did.  People find me rough enough around the edges as it is...

But what follows is the body of that letter, communicating the importance of having similarly skilled groups, together.  Some of by best and tactful typing here...

"Hi Xx!  Thanks for reaching out, there;

  First session went properly; Stacey and I were on site from 12:30 to 4:15 or so.  All paperwork's complete.  I did get a flat tire tho.  Any spares? 

  Thanks for getting those batteries, I have some radios that simply 'work', and all I need is batteries.  I see they're cheap batteries, so I'll be in touch when they're all dead.  I'm keeping an eye out for the old radios I got from Deanna; they don't work properly, and I'd like to get those back to Saanich.

   I see currently there's only one set (afternoons) of Wheels in Motion in the guide (RecOnline Spring 2015) from March 14th to June 27 (644858 and 644860).  Usually (as recently as last Fall) there's two different groups on Saturdays; morning learners, 9 to 11:30am (typically younger, much shorter rides at 2.5 hours) and afternoon riders, 1 to 4pm, who have usually started in the morning group, and are looking to up the pace (so, 3 hr rides, at quite a faster pace, with older riders.  We cover much more ground in the afternoon groups).  Giving the option to make up two different groups with their different needs (faster riders can get bored as they wait for the younger riders (who will notice, and try to hurry, which can be frustrating for them).  Also the ability to supervise two different 'energy' groups; the youngers would like the time to refine their technique under specific supervision, the olders would like to cover more ground, and put their skills to the sustained test.  Each of these groups we can keep a great eye upon; having two distinct groups within one group in a sport like this can lead to complications.

  The lack of two options here puts the program in an interesting position, regards the types of learning each age/skill set needs and what appears available to parents looking to register their child with an appropriate biking group. 

  Could you enter a second, morning from 9 to 11:30am, class code to appear online?  I'd really like to be able to direct the parents who are referred to me to an appropriate class to register their child.

  This class just starting is able to happen in short notice with the relationships I've cultivated with the riders' parents, who are completely keen to keep their child riding on Saturdays.  The participants Stacey and I are familiar with, and are able to ride well with each other due to a fortunate congruence of circumstance related to their ability.   Their parents seem satisfied with Stacey and I.  If anything this consistent group would make ideal seed for broader registration come the spring, with appropriate marketing.

  So Yes Please, run two groups."

we are elite, almost!

  It's difficult to make a decision like this, but Team Fish Operations aren't for everyone.  For example;

- the rider needs a knapsack that is able to carry a day's worth of gear, including jacket.
- also they'll need to show up with lunch water and snacks as preferred.
- correct clothing for the activity. 
- they need to always bring their helmet and gloves, and their bike needs to be in proper repair.  Brakes must be of good quality and condition.
- they'll need to cooperate with each other and myself.  'Play well with others', as they say.
- if a downhill day, other specialized.

  All of these have a cost requirement alone that prices it over soccer.  Not as high as hockey though...

  Doesn't end there either;

- Maintenance isn't cheap; new brake pads (parts and installation) can be $50 a wheel, so take care of those brakes.  A tune-up worth paying for is 60-70$, plus even minor parts so to have a bike in proper operating condition is to dedicate time and resource to it.  Plus the bike which is at a decent quality level (hydraulic disc brakes as a minimum standard, to demonstrate) costs likely no less than 1500$ new (and that's not a dual suspension, if you're taking hints.  More like 1500$ for a used bike a committed rider will be happy with, seriously).

- The Time Commitment.  To plan to ride as near to every Sunday in a year, is to dedicate a big chunk of time in a year out to do this one thing.  But what a year. A truly epic pile of riding.  Fitness.  Stories and characters.  Fun.  So, it has to flexible, but not so that blowing off the program comes easy.

- Communications.  This one isn't actually too bad but it really helps when messages are replied to through whatever means available.

  And then, getting the homework done in time that it's not looming Sunday evening.  You really have to want to come out.

Maps.

Ain't nothin' like a good old paper map.