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176 Posts
Seven years ago I moved to Fairfax and bought a house at the bottom of a hill called Repack. I didn't know much about mountain biking. I didn't know my neighbors were Joe Breeze and Charlie Cunningham--didn't even know who they were or why I should care. What I did know is that every weekend when I was out doing yardwork, streams of mountain bikers would ride past. A few of them were obnoxiously loud, and I'd have to hear the office gossip booming down the canyon from a few hundred yards away, but mostly I didn't notice.
Then one year there was an organized ride. Hundreds and hundreds of bikers rode past my house, laughing and smiling while I was raking leaves. I realized I was missing something, and the realization was suddenly profound. The next day, I went out and bought a Trek 8000. Seemed like a lot of money, but a solid bike.
I rode that Trek for 6 years. I have no idea how many miles, or tires, or chains I've put on that bike, but I hammered it. I never upgraded any components. Never jonesed for an FS. Just rode--and discovered a whole new universe of friends, challenges, insights and inspirations. Oh, and injuries.
Last fall, my trusty bike started to fall apart. When it came time to replace components, it started looking like a better deal to just buy a new bike. And then I met the slippery slope. Long story short, I went from looking at prebuilt bikes, to looking for deals, to cooking up dream bikes, to shopping for parts. I spent about four months going around to shops, riding bikes, reading reviews on each component, posting questions here on the boards, and slowly putting all the pieces together. And now it's done.
Out with the old--an unbelievably reliable workhorse that I plan to rebuild as an SS...
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And in with the new...
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For anyone who cares, it's a little eclectic:
Intense 5.5
Fox Float RLC
5th Element
XTR Drive train
Formula Oro K24 Brakes
Easton XC-One Wheels
Easton Bars, Post and Stem
Time Atac XS Carbon Ti Pedals
Big, big thanks to Mike Moore for finding some incredible deals. Big thanks to Bryan and Fairfax Cyclery for help on the choices and the build. Can't say enough good things about the guys at Fairfax Cyclery. Experienced, honest, good people who really know their stuff.
First big ride on the trail Friday.
Then one year there was an organized ride. Hundreds and hundreds of bikers rode past my house, laughing and smiling while I was raking leaves. I realized I was missing something, and the realization was suddenly profound. The next day, I went out and bought a Trek 8000. Seemed like a lot of money, but a solid bike.
I rode that Trek for 6 years. I have no idea how many miles, or tires, or chains I've put on that bike, but I hammered it. I never upgraded any components. Never jonesed for an FS. Just rode--and discovered a whole new universe of friends, challenges, insights and inspirations. Oh, and injuries.
Last fall, my trusty bike started to fall apart. When it came time to replace components, it started looking like a better deal to just buy a new bike. And then I met the slippery slope. Long story short, I went from looking at prebuilt bikes, to looking for deals, to cooking up dream bikes, to shopping for parts. I spent about four months going around to shops, riding bikes, reading reviews on each component, posting questions here on the boards, and slowly putting all the pieces together. And now it's done.
Out with the old--an unbelievably reliable workhorse that I plan to rebuild as an SS...
And in with the new...
For anyone who cares, it's a little eclectic:
Intense 5.5
Fox Float RLC
5th Element
XTR Drive train
Formula Oro K24 Brakes
Easton XC-One Wheels
Easton Bars, Post and Stem
Time Atac XS Carbon Ti Pedals
Big, big thanks to Mike Moore for finding some incredible deals. Big thanks to Bryan and Fairfax Cyclery for help on the choices and the build. Can't say enough good things about the guys at Fairfax Cyclery. Experienced, honest, good people who really know their stuff.
First big ride on the trail Friday.
), and Fairfax Cyclery gave me a good deal on the frame, fork and brakes. My final tally was $4300. If I bought it all off the shelf, it would have topped 6k. 
