|   Springtime in the Great Basin...and (more) new HH100x pics. | KRob
Apr 13, 2002 9:06 PM | | The snow has melted off considerably over the past week so I thought I'd try some high elevation riding today on the new HH.
One nice thing about Nevada, there aren't a lot of big trees to spoil your view. |
| There was still snow higher up.....and I eventually found it. | KRob
Apr 13, 2002 9:09 PM | | |
| Sweet view from the top of G-loop (almost) with bike (finally) | KRob
Apr 13, 2002 9:16 PM | | If you've read my review of G-loop at Ward Mountain Rec area, this is the spot where you reach the ridge after a sweet single track climb up several swithbacks. Incredibly stinky views in all direction. Hum, not a xc skier in sight either. |
| Another really rank view....nice foreground though. | KRob
Apr 13, 2002 9:27 PM | | See that ribbon waaaay down below in that valley? After a raukus steep winding decent through trees (yes we have some, there just small)off this hill, I ended up down down in that valley, and rather than continue the normal G-loop back over ther shoulder lower down, I decided to follow that jeep road up to connect with another trail which climbs up over a higher shoulder (hike-a-back) then connects to a totally righteous single-track decent (Coyote Loop) clear back down to town. The only problem is it means you have to talk your wife into taking you back up to the trail head at the summit to get your truck. You can't really call this a shuttle though because of the three very significant climbs. It's just that the last decent is about 2000 extra vertical ft of bonus. Sweeeeeet. |
| See anything strange about that trail? | KRob
Apr 13, 2002 9:34 PM | | Right, no tracks. Yes, it's legal, it's just that I'm the first one up since the snow melted. I'll prolly be the only one to make tracks on it all summer, except for my dad and those darn deer. Don't you just hate sharing your trails? |
| A parting shot of the HH100x....Nice balance | KRob
Apr 13, 2002 10:19 PM | | I crossed some snow patches like the one in the background later in this ride...sunk in up to my hip. There I am, wading through this drift on foot, holding my HH over my head like those army guys crossing rivers with their guns in the air, trying not to fall. I don't think I would have been able to get up.
After taking the new HH on spring break with me to Zion and Phoenix and doing some classic trails down there (JEM and Gooseberry near Zion, Haws Road and South Mountain in Phoenix) this was about my third ride back here on my usual trails. The HH100x is a joy to ride. Very efficient on climbs, even smooth dirt roads with no lock out and better than my ht on rocky, more technical climbs. I seems to find it's way around steep switch backs without a thought on my part. It seems so well balanced, I can literally trackstand for a few seconds mid obstacle if I lose forward motion, then continue. It is totally stable and confindence inspiring on the descents. There's a couple of way steep, long descents on this ride yesterday which have always freaked me out on my Ht. If I put the seat way down and creep down them I could make it, but about half the time I'd fall or chicken out. But not on the HH. Zoom, Zoom. No worries. The added suspension, stiffness and stability of the HH allowed me to bomb down these desecents like I do on my WR250. The only problem I encountered on some of the faster, windier descents is that I was able to go so much faster on the HH compared to my HT, that I kept almost overshooting the turns. Thank goodness for the extra stopping power of the Avid discs. My only complaints are with the crappy SPD858 pedals I put on it(they engage fine but are inconsistent with release...sometimes they release fine, other times I can't get my foot out to save my life), and I'm still getting use to the bar (a little narrower than my old one,with less sweep back..not really a complaint, just different). Oh, and the American Classic free hub seems to have about a quarter stroke of free play in it after coasting before it catches and begins to drive. I don't know if this is normal for this hub, but I know it's more than my XT hubs.
Charles at Hammerhead bikes has been great to work with. Everything was adjusted perfectly right out of the box. I just put the fork, stem, wheels, and rear derailer on and off I went.
And put air in the shocks, of course. I've been fiddling around with different sags out back and different combinations of air pressure on the Fox forx. I've settled on about 72 lbs. of air with rebound out 6 clicks out on the fork(I weigh 165) and around 13 mm of sag on the rear shock although I liked more sag when I was in Phoenix with all those rocks.
No complaints with the frame whatsoever. Totally beautiful, well built, eye candy....and it functions even better. I'm glad I got the polished frame as I fell several times on the technical rock step-ups at South mountain because of my stupid 858s. When you have to abort a tricky climb, you have to be able to get a foot down NOW. The 858s did'nt let me do that everytime. The rocks of South Mountain would have trashed a sweet ano or powder coated finish. Definitely, no soft landing zones.
ps. If anyone happens to find themselves cruising through Nevada and wants to ride some of these sweet trails, drop me an e-mail. |
| Outstanding!! | Brakeman
Apr 14, 2002 12:53 AM | | Enjoyed the pics and story KRob, thanks for sharing your adventure. Really some great views, and looks like fun single track too.
Thanks BR |
| super bike and pix thanks | derby
Apr 14, 2002 7:37 AM | | Driving by BB on the way to or from Cedar City I've wondered about riding there. Wonderful country around there. Can you ride to the caves that are noted on the highway signs? Is it cooler riding up high on baking hot summer days down low?
Suggest Time pedals for consistent in and out in all conditions or those Egg-Beater's look as good or maybe better. But those 858's will break in and work well, maybe drip some chain lube on the cleat contact points of the pedals before each ride until they break in.
- ray |
| nice looking bike and trails | retro slouch
Apr 14, 2002 2:49 PM | | I hope those trails aren't near the proposed nuclear waste storage site. |
| Why is the HH 100X any better than a $399... | ...Jamis Dakar from Jenson?
Apr 14, 2002 3:03 PM | | No offense, but the HH 100X looks like a Dakar knockoff with the swinglink pivot on the seat tube instead of the top tube. |
| It's all in the details. | KRob
Apr 14, 2002 10:21 PM | | No, Yucca mountain is down closer to Vegas which we wouldn't really claim as part of Nevada except for all the tax dollars the gaming brings in. Without that clout, Nevada probably would have had the nuclear dump years ago, not to mention state sales tax.
The Dakar comp is a fine bike for the money from everything I've read. I haven't ridden one to compare it but I suspect my HH isn't 10 times better than the Dakar. I suspect the difference is in the details; quality of build, fine tuning of the design, stiffness, etc. The HH btw isn't a knock-off of the Dakar, it's a custom spec'd Titus Racer X which uses a version of the Horst four-bar link first utilized by AMP, but much improved as far as stiffness and durability are concerned. The Tomac 98 also uses this design except, if I'm not mistaken, doesn't utilize a true horst link pivot at the drop-out. Very small differences in how a bike manufacturer implements a particular design can have huge differences in how the bike functions.
The May issue of Mountain Bike has a test of the Dakar Comp. Like I said, it sounds like a great bike for the price, but has its short comings. I think, as with anything, for the most part you get what you pay for. I just wanted something more. |
| Mac-Strut vs 4 Bar | Quattro
Apr 15, 2002 3:58 AM | | As you said the HH is modified version of the original
Mac-strut type suspension first seen on Horst's Mongoose
AMP design.This was not a 4 Bar.The original Racer X is this
type. The newest version is a Modified Mac-Strut with the
linkage doing nothing to influence the suspension or travel
as a true 4 bar linkage does.The small linkage was made to
steady the shock itself as the custom Fox unit was no
longer being made.The Jamis uses the linkage to drive the
shock itself.IMHO,that is what is the difference between the
two.Yeti and the original FSR XC are examples of the modified
Mac-Strut.As you said,the Titus is the best example of this
type of bike.The Hammerhead is one beautiful frame built
by one of the best bike makers.The Jamis is a economic version
of the original Swing linkage bike and is a fine trailbike
at a good price point. I've only read good things about
both bikes. I've ridden the first Jamis FS bikes years ago
and it performed well. The newest frame is heavier also.Every
time I see a new photo of the Hammerhead, I am tempted to give
Charles a call and order one,but I want to test ride a Tracer
first. |
| Very informative. Thanks(nm) | Educated
Apr 15, 2002 7:41 PM | | nm |
| Great Basin...... | Markv
Apr 15, 2002 7:55 AM | | Hi KRob........I live in SW Idaho and the last four winters (and sometimes Fall and Spring) I've driven down 93 through eastern Nevada on my way to Sedona, Boulder City, and Gooseberry Mesa. I've seen the trailhead signs between Ely and Caliente. Is that where you're riding? I'm there when that area is usually covered with snow and I haven't had a chance to check out the trails. I've ridden around Caliente because it's at a lower elevation, but I would like to do more riding in the Great Basin area. |
| Great Basin...... | KRob
Apr 15, 2002 9:41 PM | | Yeah, those are my favorite winter break haunts as well. Maybe we can get together sometime for a winter Gooseberry or Sedona Bike trip. The Ward Mountain Recreation area is at the top of Murry summit just seven miles southeast of Ely on US 6. If you go down through Caliente and Panaca on your way to St. George and Gooseberry, you wouldn't pass it, but if you take the shorter route directly to Vegas via US 6, SR318, then back onto 93 down by Ash Springs you would. I'm not sure about the signs you saw down on US 93 towards Caliente. If you're ever passing through in the spring, summer or fall when the snow's gone, drop me an e-mail, I'll show you the trails. |
| Thanks...... | Markv
Apr 16, 2002 2:25 PM | | KRob, I appreciate the offer and I'll E-mail you when I head your way. Let me know if you're headed to SW Idaho and I'll return the favor. We have some great riding here too. |
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