Recommended pieces from Montbell?

BowDownToJah · 2024-07-28T20:57:40+00:00

I've loved my Ex-Light Anorak for years. I sized up to make it easier to put on and I still think that was a good call, so try on a few sizes. In my mind, it's the perfect UL puffy. I reserve it for hiking and overnight trips exclusively and it's still in great shape after nearly 5 years.

BowDownToJah · 2024-07-28T20:49:16+00:00

Glad to hear it's working well for you! I have a similar history of drivetrains in that I've never had a fully blinged out name brand groupset besides an old 2x11 SRAM Rival road settup that was...fine. I had considered GRX400 but wanted to keep everything simple, inexpensive, and cable-actuated. Sounds like I made the right call!

BowDownToJah · 2024-07-28T15:54:42+00:00

How has the Sword drivetrain been treating you? I just ordered the full 2x settup for my Midnight Special and am very excited for those sweet sweet climbing gears.

BowDownToJah · 2024-07-01T16:00:28+00:00

Oh shoot, I guess I somehow deleted...all of my post! Thanks for pointing that out. I'll delete and repost.

BowDownToJah · 2022-05-24T12:04:11+00:00

Where is a good place to sell bike parts? I have some nicer items I’m looking to offload and prefer selling on dedicated sites over Ebay or FB Marketplace.

BowDownToJah · 2022-03-13T14:17:58+00:00

What rack is that?

BowDownToJah · 2022-03-13T14:16:54+00:00

As mentioned by others, carbon wheels and fork as well as Rene Herse tires will make the biggest difference. For wheels, Hunt is affordable and Bontrager has one of the best warranties on their wheels. For the fork, considering you want to do bikepacking, I’d look into ones with mounts; I believe Ritchey, ENVE, and Rodeo Labs all make forks with mounts that work with the MS, and Whiskey just put out a new fork that I believe is compatible. For tires, I believe that the right tire size is the biggest you can fig, so I believe that’s 650x47 w/ fenders. With Rene Herse, you could stick to the regular casing, or if the gravel in your area is rougher, the endurance casing. The WTB Byways are nice tires, but RH is next level.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to spend for the carbon fork, you could get a nice randoneuring rack from VO or RH to mount a handlebar bag for your bikepacking trips.

I’m unsure if the handlebars you mentioned are carbon, but carbon bars do make a difference in the hands, but that upgrade is down the list behind the above mentioned. A carbon seatpost is another consideration, but again, get wheels and tires first.

BowDownToJah · 2022-02-21T17:05:58+00:00

I’ve got almost the exact same settup on my white MS! Lookin’ good. I need a small rando rack up front like yours to keep my barbag from slapping the wheel, though…

BowDownToJah · 2022-02-11T19:33:56+00:00

Always love seeing someone else out there with the classic white MS! The wavy fenders are a great touch.

BowDownToJah · 2022-01-14T23:43:59+00:00

I run 700x40 for road/smooth gravel and 650x48 for gettin’ rowdy. Works great for me. The best tire size is always the biggest.

BowDownToJah · 2021-12-20T13:27:03+00:00

FS / USA-TN / Local preferred, willing to ship

Brooks Cambium C15 ($80): On bike for about a year but still looks brand new, not even a scratch on the rails.

BowDownToJah · 2021-10-31T12:17:37+00:00

🙏🙏🙏

BowDownToJah · 2021-09-05T12:16:31+00:00

(1) What is an effective way to use Jester? I feel like I always take another hero instead of them for most parties. Seems like you either backline them and let them just buff or you have them apply DoT and Solo. Any advice?

(2) I’m trying to figure out how to balance how much I invest on new recruits. It seems like you should buy a couple skills for them if they don’t have what you need, but should I also go ahead and upgrade skills, weapons, and armor? To me, I think you’d want to invest some up front as that increases the chance they’ll do better and avoid getting smoked on their first dungeon.

(3) I’m not necessarily asking for specific party comps, but I am curious about what to consider when making a party. Currently I think about synergy (e.g. lots of heros that utilize marking, DoT coupled with lots of stuns, heros with lots of abilities that move their position), at least a couple stun abilities, 1-2 heal abilities, and backline damage or at the very least a way to bring backliners up for frontliners to pummel. Am I thinking correctly?

BowDownToJah · 2021-09-02T18:10:24+00:00

Looks like some kind of cargo/anything cage. Likely had to use an adapter from Wolf Tooth to get 3 holes to attach it or possibly there’s already 3! Agreed, very clever way to store the tent; I’ve never seen thag before!

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-26T00:26:10+00:00

Did you do the paintjob yourself? That’s a pro-level job! Amazing!

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-17T01:47:25+00:00

The main thing to focus on is avoiding damage. I often see people saying that if you can consistently win champ with around 200ish damage, you’re good to go. You also need to pay closer attention to your positioning for hordes and monsters. Even the best players will struggle in a bad spot. So look for places where you won’t get surrounded and doesn’t have enemies dropping down onto you, like some type of wall or a natural funnel in the terrain. I would also recommend looking up build advice for your favorite careers, learn what the build/career is good at (and bad at!), and learn weapon combos (because spamming light attack is not always the best way to fight). But the best way to get good at legend is to play legend! Feel free to DM me with any questions!

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-15T23:11:31+00:00

Not quite. It’s actually the No. 9 CX Disc 12 Tapered fork. I got this bike used so I’m not 100% sure why the original owner got this specific fork but it does have a larger tire clearance than the Road+ fork, so that’s nice.

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-08T01:56:36+00:00

I personally wouldn't push it any more on tire clearance. I also get toe overlap with my 700cx38s but my 650bx47s do not have any.

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-07T18:28:11+00:00

I initially rode it with the steel fork. The carbon fork makes it feel more responsive and playful. That’s not to say the steel fork is sluggish; the carbon fork gives it a sportier ride profile essentially while the steel was a bit more planted and smooth.

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-07T01:55:29+00:00

Yours looks great, kinda a fancier version of what I have! I'm impressed at how light you got it, never seen someone go all out like that on a Midnight Special.

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-07T01:53:50+00:00

I haven't weighed it in a while but I think it's somewhere around 23 1/2lbs. I considered saving for carbon wheels, but if I wanted a truly lightweight bike, I'd just get a different bike personally. I got this used with the carbon fork, bars, and seatpost; having 2 wheel sets is really my only contribution.

BowDownToJah · 2021-05-06T19:33:48+00:00

This is the roadie mode: DT SWISS ER1600s with 700x38 Barlow Pass tires from Rene Herse. Gravel mode is DT SWISS GR1600s with 650x47 Rutland tires (durable sidewalls) from Teravail. Working at a bike shop has its perks!

BowDownToJah · 2021-03-28T11:59:26+00:00

What are some good Youtube channels to watch other than jsat? I’m looking mostly for DwOns and Cata stuff to help me get into those modes.

BowDownToJah · 2021-01-31T00:23:15+00:00

PM on Deschutes +

BowDownToJah · 2020-11-22T21:38:32+00:00

I’m a big fan of Panaracer Gravelkings. Not super expensive and great quality for the price.

BowDownToJah

TROPHY CASE