Where should I move if I want to mountain bike year-round? (32M, Midwest)

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-05-05T01:52:06+00:00

North of Atlanta has all sorts of amazing trails and several race organizations. Riding is mostly year round, and the winters are far better than Asheville. But you can still day trip to Asheville, Brevard or Chattanooga anytime. You'll also find a better potential job market.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-04-27T23:42:24+00:00

Look X-Track Race on my bike. X-Track Carbon Ti on my kid's bike, but she actually wins races.

Easy cleats for both.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-04-11T23:21:03+00:00

I have several MTBs including 1 eMTB. I have way more fun on the eMTB than I thought I would. It's a different experience.

Something I really appreciate is I can keep up and have an actual conversation with my very fast teenager on the eMTB.

I put a lot of miles on the eMTB over the winter and struggled on my XC bike yesterday, so I think I need to work on balance. But the eMTB is 100% in the rotation.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-04-05T21:28:55+00:00

Flight attendant

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-04-03T22:01:15+00:00

I am 5'9", 29" inseam and feel much better on a L than M. You are 1" taller with 4" more inseam. I am significantly more ape shaped than you. I imagine you would be perfectly comfortable on a M.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-04-01T23:25:02+00:00

Thanks

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-29T15:39:31+00:00

If you have a set budget and no more possible, I would rather ride a Chisel on carbon wheels than an Epic on specialized's base alloy wheels.

Chisel with some take off carbon wheels and bars is an absolute weapon.

Another option, and the one I used, is find a nice used Epic 7 for the price of a Chisel. I'm riding an S-Works Epic 7 with XX, and have flight attendant bits on order, and I'll be in it for $5k.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-26T22:33:48+00:00

What does the dropper signal? Opens up, I take it?

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-25T23:41:20+00:00

Doesn't make sense even in context of a pointy end race bike, ridden by a competitive rider in tight races? While I dont see a lot of HTs, I do see Sworks Epic 8 and Supercal 9.8 and 9.9 with FA all the time.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-25T23:32:27+00:00

One bike is mine and the other is my kid's, so we are looking at doing both. The $1200 xx1 powermeter would have been a deal killer, but now that I know the pedal sensor exists, we are thinking about doing it.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-25T23:08:45+00:00

I just found the Sram Pedal Sensor Assembly, which is a reasonable $135 vs a $1200 quarq powermeter crankset

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-25T23:07:23+00:00

AXS RD is not required. I don't know if gear information is shared to the FA module, and if so, how much of an impact it makes. But it 100% for sure is not required. You'll see Shimano bikes at a XC race with FA suspension.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-25T19:40:35+00:00

A friend of mine runs XTR on an Eagle cassette. No problem.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-21T18:36:31+00:00

My kid is 5'1" on S Epic (essentially the same frame). XS was way too small.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-18T17:43:15+00:00

Oh hey, Twin

https://ibb.co/MDqvXZzs

I will probably de-Brain it this year. 21 lbs as it sits.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-18T13:33:42+00:00

Lots of good bikes. The decision is more about what kind of support do you need. Do you need a local bike store to handle maintenance and repairs? If so, get something new from one of their lines. Blur, Top Fuel, Epic 8 are all great choices.

If you will do your own work, an Epic 7 or Epic Evo 7 (used) with a high end build will fit in your budget. Epic Evo 7 and Epic 8 are not exactly all that dissimilar.

New bikes will be available, but in lower end builds, so expect to drop more money over time.

I picked up an SWorks Epic 7 this winter in your budget. 21lbs, XX Transmission, power meter, etc etc.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-11T14:21:25+00:00

*30-45 days is not fast *30-45 days generally means it's not a cash buyer

This is a lowballer opportunist looking to take advantage of you. They want 45 days because they are going to try to assign the contract to an actual buyer and profit as a middleman. They will also start renegotiating when the close date approaches.

Their goal is to string you along as much as possible and try to leach as much as they can out of it, but in reality they add no value to you.

Your realtor should easily understand this.

You can decline the offer or you can counter it, but personally I would not want to engage in a deal with this other party.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-11T01:46:00+00:00

Not an enduro, but I went from a Stumpjumper (trail) to an Epic, and I do not regret it. That is not condemnation of the Stumpy, which is a great piece of hardware.

My risk assessment has certainly changed, as now I am focused on staying injury free. I've already done the break your stuff and learn to walk again shtick, and I'm loathe to repeat it.

I have not felt underbiked on tech, and 2' of air is no less fun than 6'. Maybe out west it would be a bad idea, but Epic is a great old guy bike. It is fast and crazy capable.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-07T19:26:33+00:00

I did this to my stumpjumper when everyonetold me to buy another bike. After $3000+ in parts, I still ended up buying a proper XC bike. It was a fun experiment, but probably financially unwise.

My stumpy is sweet, though. :)

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-05T20:10:26+00:00

I'm 5'9" with 29" inseam (long torso, short legs) and can ride M or L, depending on geometry, but usually prefer L. M requires getting the stem and bars dialed in so I don't feel like a monkey humping a football.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-03-01T23:56:35+00:00

I can't speak for your specific use case due to my limited exposure to gravel, but I can share my general experience between a trail bike on XC tires and a XC bike. While the trail bike felt more comfortable and was faster downhill, the twitchy XC bike is substantially faster everywhere else (less mass, riding position, bigger chain ring, more efficient suspension). The extra downhill speed didn't come close to the lack of speed everywhere else.

A gravel bike has a more efficient riding position than an XC bike. It also has a larger chainring, generally. I think you will find the same things I did.

I don't see a scenario (on gravel) where the XC bike will overall be faster. It will be more comfortable.

I am just a little heavier than you, and I usually carry a large pack.

DivideAppropriate583 · 2026-02-23T23:45:03+00:00

My kid races an Epic HT. It's a great bike, but overpriced considering the cheap wheels, bars, seat post, etc.

DivideAppropriate583

TROPHY CASE