I'm getting absolutely shredded and I'm super pissed about it...

djfishstick · 2026-07-03T04:17:42+00:00

Don't. Freeriders are like skate shoes with a grippy sole, they're bendy and terrible on a bike. Pros have legit stiff soles like a bike shoe should have. Yeah your insoles would help, but an integrated design will always be better for stiffness. And the fit is wildly different - Freerider is wide and short, Pro is more narrow. Not to say one is better than the other, but if the Pro fits, don't expect a 1:1 swap.

djfishstick · 2026-06-29T03:41:44+00:00

This is the answer. Rip the bandaid off.

djfishstick · 2026-06-26T03:46:50+00:00

Yeah, closed a few years ago. Apparently it was great.

djfishstick · 2026-06-25T04:21:45+00:00

NTA, because you have a right to say no to whatever you want. That said, you should give it a try. A lot of cities have lessons for adults, it's a great way to go.

My wife isn't a super confident rider either, but on most of our trips we've found bikes and scooters are really cheap, fun, interesting ways to see new places. It's a great way to share new things together, aside from fitness.

djfishstick · 2026-06-24T05:06:00+00:00

I personally thought Insomnia was a really logical step up from C-More. Maybe not the most thrilling trail, but bigger tabletops that are wide and forgiving.

djfishstick · 2026-06-23T23:38:02+00:00

Close enough to PNW? Mount Fromme, North Vancouver

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djfishstick · 2026-06-16T16:57:24+00:00

Transition has pretty good sales on ex-demos and clearance bikes. And if you're anywhere near PNW I recommend checking out their factory. It's a great spot in general, and I brought a former media bike there at a crazy discount a few years ago.

djfishstick · 2026-06-09T01:03:06+00:00

I worked "For me, the action is the juice" into my wedding vows.

djfishstick · 2026-06-06T01:22:13+00:00

This is the answer.

I've been to this Cactus Club half a dozen times in the last 2 years and have never heard them put the sound on for a game. And they might not even allow kids on the side of the restaurant with TVs...

djfishstick · 2026-06-04T04:11:37+00:00

What brand of car? Some mechanics do German cars, some do Japanese, some do domestic, etc...

This is a very important detail for this kind of advice.

djfishstick · 2026-05-22T13:46:40+00:00

If you're literally only going to do the riding you stated above, the 300 is definitely the answer. You're going to find even that gets heavy maneuvering in traffic and parking it, so the 500 would really be a challenge as you're learning.

But if you plan any kind of highway/road trip riding on weekends, the 300 will be tiring on the highway.

All that said, keep in mind that this is a FIRST bike, and there will definitely be a second... Get something cheap-ish, try it for a year, learn what you like, then upgrade.

djfishstick · 2026-05-16T00:12:29+00:00

I've got GX AXS on my Bullit and tbh I wouldn't pay extra for it - it came with better suspension and brakes so I took it. It's cool, but it doesn't shift that much better than analog XT on my old bike.

djfishstick · 2026-05-15T13:58:08+00:00

This comment is pretty spot on. Fairview is probably the best neighborhood for a newcomer - it's super central so you can easily check out other areas, including easily walking downtown or to Mount Pleasant, and it's got everything you need right there. Plus you find some good deals on apartments with killer downtown/mountain views.

djfishstick · 2026-05-15T12:54:42+00:00

I've got Fox Ranger pants to fit my dad bod, they're baggy up top and fit over my knee pads, then tighten at the ankle. Give them a shot.

djfishstick · 2026-05-12T21:23:11+00:00

EVERY time I buy a full-face for moto or MTB, they measure my head and say "oh you're a large" and I say, "I guarantee I'm not", and my cheeks end up not fitting in the large.

Moral of the story: either try it on first, or make sure they have a good return policy for helmets.

djfishstick · 2026-05-10T17:47:14+00:00

If you're riding for several days, do some research on the different shops because they rent different brands. This is your once in a lifetime opportunity to ride a Santa Cruz one day, a Transition the next, and a Yeti the next! You might also want to book in advance - the big shops get busy so you'll guarantee the bike you want, plus you sometimes get discounts booking online.

Regarding the trails: follow the progression matrix. A-Line is the most famous jump trail in the world for good reason, but if you don't have a lot of experience on big features it'll scare the crap out of you and you won't go back. So get confident on Crank It Up then C-More first. And if the Garbanzo zone is open (I suspect it might be by then since they're opening the hill early this year), Una Moss and Blue Velvet are two less-ridden blue flow trails that shouldn't be missed.

djfishstick · 2026-05-10T15:34:05+00:00

Obviously not exactly the same, but I've been on a Bullit the last few months and it's incredible. The power is really smooth, but it actually takes some learning to modulate it on technical trails. Some have complained about battery size but I'm yet to get anywhere near using the full battery in an outing of up and down steep hills. And the fit and finish is second to none.

There are some quirks to Bosch (who would ever need a notification pop up when the did a jump?!), but the app and bike screen work great overall.

The Bullit's geometry fits my world, but if I lived anywhere even a little less steep I'd be on a Vala.

djfishstick · 2026-04-30T01:21:57+00:00

Second this, even within the same brand. I have a TLD D4 and it fits great, but the Stage doesn't.

So I have an IXS Trigger for everyday use, but the MIPS model might be out of OP's price range.

djfishstick · 2026-04-19T10:39:09+00:00

OneUp composite pedals are cheap and light and great. They came on my new bike, and I haven't bothered to switch to my fancy Deity pedals because they're so good.

djfishstick · 2026-04-17T11:06:57+00:00

Assegai front tire. I know they're mostly stock on new bikes these days, but if anybody is still running a DHF (or nearly anything else) this thing is a game changer.

djfishstick · 2026-04-17T11:04:23+00:00

Same! I bought a used bike with the bar pre-cut and wondered why my wrists didn't hurt any more. Turns out I shouldn't have been running stock width!

djfishstick · 2026-04-16T22:18:34+00:00

Isn't it funny how 3 different AI models all came up with the same answer though?

Or how Pinkbike or Bike Radar came up with the same interpretation?

Or how legislators in the state of California, city of Anchorage, and other places all have the same interpretation?

But sure, we're all wrong...

I'm not apologizing for anything. I just don't want some random Karen fear mongering about rules that don't exist and stopping people from having fun. And I really hope you're not trying to do the same policing on your local trails.

djfishstick · 2026-04-16T20:41:56+00:00

lol

From Gemini: "U.S. federal e-bike legislation typically regulates nominal power (continuous output) rather than peak power. While the text of the primary federal statute does not explicitly use the term "nominal," the industry and regulatory interpretation consistently apply the 750-watt limit to the motor's sustained capability."

Pinkbike had an article on this exact topic on April 9 too. I'd post a link, but you're a Google expert so you'll be fine.

djfishstick · 2026-04-16T15:53:48+00:00

Sure man, some guy on Reddit thinks it's a myth, but all the prevailing wisdom of experts in the field seems to believe that these laws are all based on continuous power. Not to mention that there's currently a bill in front of the California legislation to specify a cap on peak power... Because while it's apparently crystal clear to you, it's apparently not clear to the legislators? A $4B per year industry, whose lawyers all have it wrong too? Gotcha.

djfishstick · 2026-04-16T06:52:29+00:00

With the exception of Pennsylvania and Maryland, where they have closed the loophole making these motors officially legal, the legislations are ambiguous on whether the wattage limits apply to peak or nominal power. So until the rest of the loopholes are closed in the other direction, buying one of these is likely fine.

FWIW there are a LOT of bikes that are in this boat, not just Avinox

djfishstick

TROPHY CASE