mac-ride Review

I have been riding bike for several years now. Riding has become a family hobby of ours. We go at least once a week as a family. Parents, kids, and grandparents. One of the best accessories for family rides is the mac-ride.

The mac-ride is an extra seat that connects to your bike and allows your child to ride on your bike with you. It is for kids aged 2-5 years. We used ours for two full years of riding. This will not be the end all be all bike accessory for all families. I would say it would depend on your skill as a rider and what you want to achieve out of family rides. We've tried the trailer, pull behind, and other bike seats. This was a pleasant solution for mountain biking. I was able to avoid any severe crashes while using it. But we did have a few minor crashes. So I can not say how well this would work in a "bad" crash. But hopefully you are never in a bad one with your child riding along.

Trailers are a great solution for multiple kids and a single parent trying to get around town. Heavy and unwieldy for off road riding. The pull behind works well but the child has to be more independent than our daughter when she started riding with me. It was fairly impressive with a few gummy snacks how far we could ride. No  cross country records but a couple hours out on the bikes together.

Some of the downfalls I ran into was the inability to secure your child. When our daughter got upset and was done riding it was time to be done. I did not like how she could pull her feet out and barely be secured. I would have to hand onto a squirming 2 year old while trying to also navigate. Made for a few difficult rides. I understand the design but it is something to be aware of and learn to handle.

Now my daughter has grown to big for her mac-ride. I do miss sharing the bike with her it did make for some fun conversations and more interesting rides. Lots of other riders enjoyed seeing her out on the bike with me. My daughter started to get to big and I didn't have comfortable space on the bike with her. She also learned to ride her own bike so we got her a bike of her own. An awesome first mountain bike.

For us the 200 dollar price tag was well worth it. It kept us riding as a family and hopefully instilled a love of riding in my daughter. The negatives were minor and just things we had to learn.

Bentonville Bike Trip

Maybe you have heard of this place for mountain biking called Bentonville, Arkansa. They have been growing their bike scene at an extreme pace. Which is awesome for anyone who likes to bike and their families. A buddy and I got the itch to ride some dirt as the Minnesota winter season sucked for biking. On a whim we decided to drive down to Arkansas from Minnesota. The road trip only took 11 hours. Which we though was easily drivable for a long 5 day weekend. 

Looking up a lot of the bike trails online you hear about the slaughter pen trail system. Upon our first day there we rode the slaughter pen trails. The trails are well maintained and great single track. For us though they are fairly similar to other trails we have ridden the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It was fun to be on dirt and riding but nothing mind blowing. Next up in the same day was Coler Hill. Which was something different. It was less than a mile climb up. At the top the trail deviates and you get to ride several different down hill trails. They are unique in the fact they are extra wide and jump trails. There is some huge drops that we were not brave enough to do. Watched some others do it. Pretty impressive to watch people push their bikes beyond something I would even try. 

View from the Fire Tower near Eureka Springs

We visited Mojo Cycling. Great staff and they helped guide us to some more bike trails for riding. The next day we traveled to Lake Leatherwood, it is near Eureka Springs. Here is where we really found some unique and awesome bike trails. The trail goes around a county park. The trail is shared with hikers. Not sure if the pictures do it justice. There is some fun sections of trail where you are riding down stream beds and rock steps. it would seem to be better to hike down but the challenge of being able to ride down this terrain was just too much. It really pushed us to ride something that we wouldn't normally ride here in MN. Also there was several stream crossings, which were just fun to go through. The cooling splash was nice. Socks were already socked with sweat so didn't notice our feet getting any wetter. Near this great cross county loop is a downhill challenge course. This is another unique course which is awesome. They obviously have put lots of work into making this place a destination for any off road bikers. After a few crashes I finally gave up on the down hill course. I don't think any sponsors are going to be coming my way trying to get me to ride for them. But the fun factor is off the charts. 

Another trail you hear a lot about is called the Back 40. Another great county park where they have really made some great trails. This was the day where our lack of fitness really caught up to us. One section of the trail called the ledges is unique. You are literally on a little rock ledge on the side of hill. Perfect name for a unique and fun trail. After the ledges the trail winds through the valleys of several neighborhoods. Mountain biking is interesting that you can be so close to peoples homes suffering so bad up hills and right next to kids playing. It is just kind of a fun weird situation that only happens while mountain biking. If you are going to go on a bike trip I can recommend doing some sort of biking before biking. This day became a bit of a death march. The days of riding hard and not riding back home caught up to us. I would rather be riding or hiking than working. We ended up cutting our ride short and taking roads back to our car instead of finishing the loop. 

On our last day we again went to Coler Hill. In the picture you will see me seconds before eating dirt. Wow did this crash hurt. With the hard pack trails you know when you crash. I banged my ribs up and I was done riding after the crash. For the trip I hard bought and ridden with some new protective gear. A full face helmet and some knee pads. Wow after all the crashes I was glad to have them. The knee pads saved me from lots of cuts and scratches. After riding we were exhausted. I don't think we could have ridden any more. You know it was a successful trip if you can barely pedal your bike. I did this trip with a buddy but it would definitely be doable with a family. There is a such a variety of trails. They will push riders of all skill levels to improve and ride harder. In the community you can find access to any amenities you would want. It is a great place to visit. I think this was a great trip and am  planning on going back. 

GT Sensor Review

So for the last two years I have been a dedicated fat bike rider. I had even bought a second set of wheels for my fat bike to run it as a 29+ hardtail in the summer. I was trying to turn my fat bike into a trail shredding monster. With the 29+ wheels it was a very capable and great bike. I did notice faults of mine though. After a hard day of riding with the guys I would be beat up. My back would hurt and I would be sore. I started to look at a Full Suspension trail bike. I rode a friends bike and could immediately see where having the extra cushioning would help.

I was planning a multi day bike trip. Wanting to make the most of the trip and not wanting my body to hold me back I ordered a GT sensor  from my local bike shop. Dave at Touright was able to find last years model for a great price. I wanted something totally different then what I already rode. The sensor has 27.5 wheels and 130mm rear suspension 140mm front. The bike is built as a trail bike. I was unsure of the bike due to the unique suspension design. I ordered my bike with a dropper post figuring it would be useful on the adventure.

I can say I'm extremely happy and pleased with the sensor. I can't talk about things like head angle and  bottom bracket height. I have no idea how they relate to a bike and how much I will enjoy it. What I can say is it performed beyond my expectations. We beat on our bikes during our trip. Maybe not as much as others and maybe more than some. Everything kept right on working great. The suspension was a great relief. My body held up well. I can definitely say having all the extra squish makes multi day adventures much more doable. My back was never the problem with this bike. I had the usual soreness from the bike saddle after not riding for a while but that is to be expected. Not the bikes fault.

I put Race Face Chester pedals, a KS dropper post, Renthal Fat Bar, and ergon grips on the bike. Besides just a few touch point upgrades and a dropper this bike comes as is. It took me a few different tries to dial in the suspension to where it is just right. This bike pedals extremely well. I turned the lockout on and it felt just like a rigid bike. But after riding with all the squish I found I enjoyed having it and really lost very minimal energy while pedaling.

This is my first full suspension bike and I can say I'm very happy with it. I'm comparing it to my fat bike. I know that is an apple to oranges comparison. They are purpose built bikes for two very different things. What they do have is common is their owner. When I get on my fat bike it is a monster truck. It will run over any and everything. On this GT sensor the world looks different. Trails becoming different. Obstacles have a different approach. I can say I didn't notice less rollover or a lack of traction coming from the fat bike like I thought I would. I thought I would have a ton of pedal strikes and get frustrated with that like on other full suspension bikes I've ridden. Not sure if it was rider skill or bike but rarely did I get pedal strikes. I was able to climb most every terrain and ride over rocks and roots. I can say the bike performed better than I thought and held up well to my abuse. Nothing broke just a few things came loose and need to be tightened just like every bike on the first ride.

I would not hesitate to recommend this bike for anyone. I bought last years model for a great deal. I know it doesn't have all the high end components and it is still a 2x10 drivetrain but i'm wiling to sacrifice on some of those things to save money and afford to take a bike trip. I would definitely say to add a dropper onto whichever bike you buy. Wow those things are worth their money. Head on down to the Little Falls Bike Shop Touright, Dave the owner will hook you up with a great bike.

Riding with Kids

Riding with kids can be both amazingly rewarding and extremely frustrating, sometimes in the same ride. The bike industry does not promote the family biking experience.  I've seen some family photos in just a few pamphlets. Usually the image of mountain bikers is of a group of male friends on some amazing mountain ripping down hill.

Therefore information on riding with your kids and how to improve the experience is hard to come by. We have spent many days on the trail and have learned a few lessons that have helped us to improve the experience. I first started mountain biking on my own. I thought the experience was amazing and wanted to share it with my wife. My enthusiasm did not translate to a fun first ride. She hated it and refused to go again. I was too pushy and wanting to ride and it made her experience not fun.


So I started biking on my own with friends. My parents had also ridden on the mountain bike trails. I did a few rides with them. I then took the plunge and brought my oldest daughter along. She was eight years old at the time and we rented a bike for her. I took my daughter along as well as my mom. It was a good experience for everyone and my daughter enjoyed it enough to want to continue riding.


Our riding progressed throughout the summer. As my riding skills improved I continued to want to push faster and ride harder. This is where the challenge comes in. When I ride by myself or with my buddies our riding is much more aggressive. When it comes time to ride with my family I've learned to slow down and just enjoy the time. A big thing I've learned is to not ride behind anyone and yell advice. Everyone seems to hate this. They feel as though you are riding them and yelling. This just frustrates everyone more. I've learned to ride in front and show my kids how to ride. The kids will see how you ride and follow your lead. This seems to be less intimidating and more encouraging.

I started to take my 5 year old daughter on rides as well. She still rode a bike with training wheels by herself. I purchased a trail a bike and pulled her behind me. This was a great set up allowing her to still be a part of the experience. It does take more work but the rewards are worth it. She has progressed to her own bike and we bought her a fat bike this winter. We haven't ridden it in the summer but looking forward to riding this summer.



This brings about the next point equipment. Setting your kids and spouse up for success is huge. The first mountain bike we bought for my oldest daughter was ok. By the time we got rid of it she had bent the rims quite a few times and was out riding the bike. Definitely a great starter bike for the first few rides but quickly failed to stand up to the abuse. We bought her a fat bike and her confidence has increased. With increased confidence comes more aggressive riding at faster speeds. Which makes our riding together more fun. I am a big fan of Fat Bikes for riding our local trails here in MN. Everyone's local trails are different. The confidence given to new riders is immense. My daughters, wife, parents, and I all ride fat bikes.

With my children enjoying the activity of mountain biking I was able to get my wife to try as well. We rented her a fat bike and went out on the trails as a family. This ride was very different then our first ride together. Definitely a different feel. My wife enjoyed it enough that we bought her a bike and she has even started setting up rides with her friends. Watching her progress has been awesome. After riding with my daughters my expectations of biking have changed. I've learned to just enjoy the ride and time with family.

This fall I started riding with our baby. I have a front carrier that all my kids have used. It is great as my daughter rides in front in close proximity. I can see what she is doing, and she can see my hands and communicate with me. It is a system that works well for us.

Mountain biking is a great activity for all ages. Everyone in my family enjoys it. My 1 year old daughter to my 55 year old parents is riding together. It is an activity that all enjoy. It is great to be outside together.

I'll just list some tips that have improved my family riding.
Work on yourself. Get yourself to a place where you can be a good leader.
Change expectations. Riding with family isn't about speed or getting far. Just enjoy the slower pace to  
find new parts of the trail.
Good Equipment. You can cheap out on kids bikes but the experience for them isn't as good.                                        Investing in a good bike can help their confidence.
Snacks. Take breaks frequently and make the entire experience enjoyable.

Framed Wolftrax Review

I started my off road riding on a fat bike. It was a Framed MN 2.0. A fully rigid bike with a 2x9 drivetrain, and mechanical brakes. This was my first "real" mountain bike. Wow having a real bike from what I grew up riding was quite the leap in technology. But after riding for the year I soon realized the downfalls of this bike and started looking for an upgrade. My main priority was getting a bike that you could put a suspension fork on, and future upgradeability.

My first Fatty

My search led me to the Framed Wolftrax. My local bike shop stocks Framed bikes. The Wolftrax was the new model with wider  front and rear hubs. An upgraded 2x10 driver train, ability to run 5" tires, bluto compatibility, more trail oriented geometry and an awesome red color.

Wolftrax

 Initially to save on cost I bought the Framed Wolftrax with a rigid fork. The bike was purchased in the winter. I was able to ride the bike all winter without missing front suspension. I attempted to set my Wolftrax up tubeless with the stock wheels and tires using fattystripper. It was an unsuccessful attempt and I became frustrated with tubeless very quickly. One of the major downfalls of framed bike lines is their wheels and tires. The inability to set up tubeless seems to be a mark against any new bike. Definitely something to take into account. 

I upgraded the cockpit immediately after purchase. I put on a shorter stem and wider riser bars. This was the same set up I enjoyed on my first bike. I enjoy the quicker steering and more aggressive feel of the short stem and wide bars. I get more room to move around on the bike, and am in a more comfortable riding position for going downhill. 

Once spring rolled around it was time to get a bluto fork. One of the main reasons I upgraded to this bike. I was able to find a used Bluto for $350 on fat bike trader, Facebook group. Putting the Bluto on changes this bike. It makes it feel even more aggressive and having the suspension up front really helps for those long trail days. I understand why some people are against this fork. Having the noodle feeling in a fork isn't the greatest. Immediately after riding rigid the noodle of the fork was felt. After riding for a while the noodle effect goes away and I started to enjoy how the front fork just absorbs the hard hits. 

  

As I continued to ride I wanted to try hydraulic brakes. I have read mixed reviews of hydraulic brakes versus mechanical for extreme cold temperatures. I read several reviews before selecting the Shimano SLX. Definitely a worthy upgrade I feel. Really allowing you to use one finger braking. I ran my bike all through the winter. The bluto fork and hydraulic brakes held up fine in temperatures down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Air on Detroit Mountain

I also purchased a 29+ wheel set to run in the summer. With the bluto, upgraded cockpit, and 29+ wheel set this bike becomes and awesome hardtail. I have yet to meet a trail in MN that this combo does not thrive on. This bike is built for MN style trails. Lots of climbing with some great downhill sections. I took this bike to Detroit Mountain, for lift serviced down hill runs. I rented a Trek Remedy for the first half of the day then rode this after. I can say I enjoyed riding my hardtail 29+ bike over the Trek. It might have just been a comfort and set up issue. You always like something more when it is yours. But riding the bikes one after the other I was just not blown away by the full suspension trail bike like I thought I would be. 

So now to the downfalls of the Framed Wolftrax. As I stated before cockpit. For me the cockpit does not work well. I like a short stem and wide bars. This of course is personal preference and something everyone has to decide for themselves. That being said, my wife and mom both ride Wolftrax. My wife was having wrist problems switching the cockpit made it more comfortable for her. My mom had shoulder problems. Upgraded her cockpit and the problems went away. This may be due to us using these as mountain bikes or just all of our body proportions. But it has been an upgrade that we all did. The wheel set also isn't the greatest. When you ratchet the rear hub while climbing through rock gardens you can feel the engagement isn't as quick. This is compared to my 29+ with the pub hubs. Definitely a better, quicker engaging hub when ratcheting. Tubeless is huge in the current bike market. With more bikers using fat bikes all year round everyone wants to shave weight to ride faster. With the factory set of rims and tires tubeless just did not work for me. Maybe others know more but it prevented me form riding and anything that does that just isn't worth it. These are really the only complaints I have about the bike. Otherwise for the money it is a bike that has taken abuse and allowed me to ride anywhere I want. I would definitely continue to recommend this bike for purchase with people knowing probably have to upgrade cockpit and tubeless may not work. 

Theodore Wirth Bike Trails

Diamondback El Oso Nino

Our middle daughter is 7 years old. For her birthday this year she wanted a fat bike. So began my search for a 20" childs fat bike. It seems like this is a small niche with very few options. A lot of bike companies make a 24" fat bike which can be for a child or shorter adult. My search lead to a lot of dead ends. There was a few companies who used to make kids fat bikes but stopped. My search was narrowed down to two bikes. A Diamondback El Oso Nino for $400 or a specialized Fatboy for $770.  I also looked at Mongoose bikes from Walmart. I just could not trust my daughter's safety to these bikes. Looking them over the build just does not seem on the same level as the Diamondback. I also have a younger daughter looking to the future I wanted the bike to last as long as possible to pass down.

Unfortunately neither bike was stocked anywhere that we would be able to test ride them. We would be buying and ordering off the internet. My first online bike purchase. My local bike shop offered to help assemble the bike. Although the specialized looks like it has higher end parts I just could not justify the added $300. Therefore the option we chose was the Diamondback. There is a weight penalty and a lower part spec. I know with young kids a bike being any heavier is bad. An extra pound to a child means a lot more than to an adult.

Looking at photos online we were able to plan for the bike. My daughter has twist grip shift on her current bike. She does not like this set up. She finds it hard and uncomfortable to shift. With the help of my local bike shop we ordered a thumb shifter that worked with the bike. My daughter picked out grips and pedals. The final custom touches for any bike. When assembling the bike we did have to maneuver the brakes around the thumb shifter. I had an old set of brakes off my bike we ended up using. Just a word of warning if you want to put on thumb shifter try to find one that is compatible with the Tektro brakes that come stock.

Finally it came time to ride the bike. The low standover is great. The 7 speed gear ratio has been great so far. We haven't ridden off road yet just around our neighborhood. My daughter is figuring out how to shift her bike. The thumb shift is a great improvement over the grip shift. She can easily shift through all of the gears. We just need to work on when and why to shift now. The gearing seems to be a good spread.

My daughter states her favorite part is the big tires, and being able to ride with her family. Not the most thorough and in depth review but she likes it. That is the best review for me. The first initial rides on the bike were rough. It was cold winter my daughter was wearing heavy pack boots and snow pants. She found this combination difficult to get the bike started. Now that it is a bit warmed and she is in tennis shoes. Getting the bike started is much easier.

We have not ridden off road but so far the fat bike is doing great. My daughter enjoys it and is building confidence on it every time we ride.

I will continue to update, as we move into the summer and start off road riding.
   

MN Weather

As we all know the weather in MN for this winter has been terrible. We got some snow it disappeared quickly. Then we got some freezing temps that made it too cold to safely ride for extended periods. Now that it is finally warm enough all the snow is melting. It is such a yo-yo and real makes it hard to  get out and just enjoy biking.

I have attempted to just make the best of it. When those temps get way cold, I make it a challenge to get outside and ride. I find enjoyment in being out in the cold. Being one of the few people out risking the temperatures rekindles my sense of adventure. I still try to be safe. I lay out a plan tell my wife how long I'll be gone and when to call me. If she can't get a hold of me  then call for help. The worst part is it is too cold for my kids and I to ride together.

Now it has warmed up and there is ice in my usual spots. It has forced me to find new trails and areas to ride. I find the adventure in finding these new trails and exploring them. For me my rides have been lasting about an hour. You can make almost anywhere a fun ride for an hour. It doesn't take much. I have found some new logging roads on state land and crossed some swamps I wouldn't be able to in the summer.

I know weather sucks but you just have to get out and enjoy the bike. It is one of the reasons I was drawn to fat bikes. The exploratory nature. They just open up new trails anywhere you want. I don't think you have to plan a multi day excursion on some crazy mountain path. Just explore a back road near where you live.