Yep! And just THE nicest guy you’ll ever meet.I have known Mr. Hoffman over 40 years. And he has passed me like I was standing still numerous times both on skis and mountain bikes! He is a legend of Snowbasin!
Yep! And just THE nicest guy you’ll ever meet.I have known Mr. Hoffman over 40 years. And he has passed me like I was standing still numerous times both on skis and mountain bikes! He is a legend of Snowbasin!
IF the inventory/production ever gets caught up (does anyone know if Shimano is having more production issues than SRAM right now?) I need to decide if I want to go with the Trek Fuel EX or the Top Fuel for next year. @Tom K., thoughts?
Since I really ride cross country, and I really have no desire to jump (I'm too old for that crap) I'm rather intrigued by a bike that is almost 5 pounds lighter. Yes, I ride a lot of rock gardens, but they aren't big huge rocks, just lots of baby heads and loose rolly stuff.
The Fuel EX has 140 mm of travel on the fork and 130 on the shock. The Top Fuel has 120 on both. I'm looking to get the Shimano XT groupset (if they ever come available) but am not sure if I'll end up with the 9.8 or the 9.9. They are spec'd with different shocks/forks. The Fuel EX is overall a ton of fun, but there are times when I feel that it is just a lot of bike for me at my size. I'm pondering going with the Fuel EX and running lighter tires, but getting something lighter and faster for climbing is really enticing to me.
IF the inventory/production ever gets caught up (does anyone know if Shimano is having more production issues than SRAM right now?) I need to decide if I want to go with the Trek Fuel EX or the Top Fuel for next year. @Tom K., thoughts?
And see, as I've also posted before, the Fox 36 has also been hard for me to get dialed in.I’d go 120/120 for XC, those suspensions tend to smooth out baby head terrain a lot better than the big hit bikes.
My Stumpy ST is 130/130 with Fox 34 factory fit and Float Factory trail shock. That setup isn’t super rigid, but it’s so smooth and plush, to the point this forum has plenty of posts from me trying to figure out what is wrong with my Fox 36. Nothing, you just can’t have it all.
Interesting report just came out of one of the EWS races where a lot of racers swapped out their Fox 38 and Zeb forks mid-race (Multi-day) for 36 and Lyrics, including the winner on the men’s side. Bigger and burlier isn’t automatically better.
I would much rather daily ride the Fox 34 than 36, I’m just not riding that type of terrain much and you just hate to beat up a ride like that.
View attachment 110887
And see, as I've also posted before, the Fox 36 has also been hard for me to get dialed in.
That's crazy that some of the racers swapped out their forks mid-race.
I need to compare the geometry on the two bikes again. I will say that the Bike Mag Bible of bikes test ride video made me perk up about the Top Fuel. https://www.bikemag.com/2020-bible-of-bike-tests/bible-review-trek-top-fuel/
Such first world problems!
I ride mostly the same trails as @AmyPJ and I went from the Fuel EX to Norco Optic. The Optic has Fox 34 Factory 120 fork and Factory rear shock with 110 travel. Total weight is barely over 25 lbs and I think it is optimal for what we ride. View attachment 110907
I have an opinion on this! I've been riding a 2020 Top Fuel 8 since September last year and it is a fantastic bike. I've definitely taken it beyond it's designed intent and it's done well enough in those situations. I am replacing it with a 2021 Fuel EX 9.8 XT next year, already on order with my shop and hopefully it shows up sometime between February and April (fingers crossed!). After riding the Top Fuel since last fall, I have decided that I need a bike that is just a bit more bike to handle my 220lbs riding weight.. I definitely feel like the bike was not designed for a rider like me. I had to up the rear rotor to a 180 in order to feel like the rear brake was even doing anything for me. For someone smaller and lighter I think it would be a much better fit. I'm terrible at describing things but the Top Fuel feels like a low 80mm waist ski, capable of everything but trending more to the XC side of things.IF the inventory/production ever gets caught up (does anyone know if Shimano is having more production issues than SRAM right now?) I need to decide if I want to go with the Trek Fuel EX or the Top Fuel for next year. @Tom K., thoughts?
Since I really ride cross country, and I really have no desire to jump (I'm too old for that crap) I'm rather intrigued by a bike that is almost 5 pounds lighter. Yes, I ride a lot of rock gardens, but they aren't big huge rocks, just lots of baby heads and loose rolly stuff.
The Fuel EX has 140 mm of travel on the fork and 130 on the shock. The Top Fuel has 120 on both. I'm looking to get the Shimano XT groupset (if they ever come available) but am not sure if I'll end up with the 9.8 or the 9.9. They are spec'd with different shocks/forks. The Fuel EX is overall a ton of fun, but there are times when I feel that it is just a lot of bike for me at my size. I'm pondering going with the Fuel EX and running lighter tires, but getting something lighter and faster for climbing is really enticing to me.
So, do tell what color did you order, and what components? Lots more options for 2021. I usually climb with the fork open and the shock in the middle because we climb a lot of rocks gardens, but I'd love to try locking out more often and if it were that easy, that'd be nice.I have an opinion on this! I've been riding a 2020 Top Fuel 8 since September last year and it is a fantastic bike. I've definitely taken it beyond it's designed intent and it's done well enough in those situations. I am replacing it with a 2021 Fuel EX 9.8 XT next year, already on order with my shop and hopefully it shows up sometime between February and April (fingers crossed!). After riding the Top Fuel since last fall, I have decided that I need a bike that is just a bit more bike to handle my 220lbs riding weight.. I definitely feel like the bike was not designed for a rider like me. I had to up the rear rotor to a 180 in order to feel like the rear brake was even doing anything for me. For someone smaller and lighter I think it would be a much better fit. I'm terrible at describing things but the Top Fuel feels like a low 80mm waist ski, capable of everything but trending more to the XC side of things.
The twist grip lockout is killer, make the bike into such a climber and clicking the button to unlock it just feels so nice.
I need to decide if I want to go with the Trek Fuel EX or the Top Fuel for next year. @Tom K., thoughts?
Since I really ride cross country, and I really have no desire to jump (I'm too old for that crap) I'm rather intrigued by a bike that is almost 5 pounds lighter. Yes, I ride a lot of rock gardens, but they aren't big huge rocks, just lots of baby heads and loose rolly stuff.
The Fuel EX has 140 mm of travel on the fork and 130 on the shock. The Top Fuel has 120 front and 115 rear. The Fuel EX is overall a ton of fun, but there are times when I feel that it is just a lot of bike for me at my size. I'm pondering going with the Fuel EX and running lighter tires, but getting something lighter and faster for climbing is really enticing to me.
I have an opinion on this! I've been riding a 2020 Top Fuel 8 since September last year and it is a fantastic bike. After riding the Top Fuel since last fall, I have decided that I need a bike that is just a bit more bike to handle my 220lbs riding weight.. I definitely feel like the bike was not designed for a rider like me.
Holy cow, that picture of the trees downlt’s been a solid week of riding since returning to the Ogden Valley, looping most of my favorites.
Monday, Last Chance Loop...
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Includes Last Chance, Green Pond & East Fork.
View attachment 110928
Tuesday, Powder Mountain “A” loop.
Not much color up here yet but lots of trees down from a big wind storm a few weeks ago...
View attachment 110929
Includes Sunrise, Picnic, Trail Yeah, Britain's Ribbon & Woodys World.
View attachment 110930
Wednesday, Sardine loop counterclockwise.
View attachment 110934
Includes Sardine, Art Nord/Maples, Ice Box & upper Wheeler.
View attachment 110935
Thursday, Powder mountain “B” loop.
View attachment 110937
Includes Paper Airplane, Baggage Claim, Brim, Britain’s Ribbon & Woodys.
View attachment 110939
yeah it’s crazy! I spent last Washington’s birthday lapping those trees.Holy cow, that picture of the trees down