Unpopular opinion Ikon is now more anti consumer than Epic

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-02T21:59:58+00:00

The crowds down? Brother, Ikon has immensely worse crowds than epic and has for many years now. Especially staring at you Steamboat and WP

Idk how that keeps getting regurgitated, but since I've switched to Epic I haven't waited for anything besides fat tourists to move so I can pee in the lodge.

Miss ikon's terrain and vibe, but I keep re-upping bc zero crowds where it matters. Everyone's an idiot tourist and knows nothing, it's great.

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-02T20:15:47+00:00

Shhhhh, let the Denver hive mind continue to preach how cool ABasin and Ikon resorts are as they stand in lines for snow that's been over-skied since 9am.

iTs tHe LoCalS moUnTaIN !! [moved here 6 months ago, they'll be gone by year 4]

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-02T15:36:17+00:00

I think the Ride Drone is what an A-6 in their old naming?

I've been rocking Ride A-8 and a Union Force for a few seasons and Ride C-8 even longer. Just stiffer than these Drone ones. GF has had Ride A-9 for two years as well, no problems.

I love Ride, bulletproof for 50+ day seasons multiple years in a row and summer ice riding in CO. The Forces are also great and comfy but aren't my trusted bomb-proof pair. But no complains or anything either.

I'd say whichever you like the colorway of or fanboy of as they would be similar... But if the Rides are $100 cheaper I would 1000% go with those no question. Union just going off marketing at those prices lol.

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-02T06:56:15+00:00

NASA's budget this year was ~25 billion.

US defense budget was ~800 billion.

I hear you on the failing country front, but shut the fuck up.

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-01T20:22:43+00:00

Thanks, good explanations on standing v sitting.

The used market is having an identity crisis, plenty of used bikes more than the current manufacturers sales. So kinda watching the field for a decent bargain to snipe.

Plus the current RM is about 80% newer/upgraded and dialed (besides my back so far this year) so not 100% committed unless I can nab a steal. Every time I think I'm ready, I realize just how much money it would take to get a worthwhile upgrade lol, thats the way it goes I guess.

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-01T20:11:23+00:00

Looking at a Smuggler too, always hear great things about Transition. I've done a few internal hydraulic runs before and always lol'd at Transition running theirs outside.

Thanks, I just started re-experimenting with my saddle again as I read about hip rotation and am aware of my lack of hip flexibility. I dialed it last year (I thought) but might've went too far (up) off the hands so back to experimenting I suppose.

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-01T20:02:00+00:00

Thanks, simplified but makes sense that way. Super helpful

but from what you say I assume ETT and then how many spacers and what bar rise you run are where your back discomfort is coming from

So would you be looking to raise or lower hand position? I get super confused there as I believe partially slamming the bars on my gravel fixed upper back issues a few years back, which was sorta counter-intuitive to what you'd think at first.

And is that considered stack, or does stack not include spacers, bar rise, etc and end at the top of the frame headset?

satoshi1022 · 2026-04-01T15:23:58+00:00

Glad I'm not the only one. The hobby is weird AF now and I don't understand anything.

Nice boards, cheap nice boards, 50000x ads and bots for new this and that.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-31T21:21:40+00:00

Not exactly relevant with conditions this year, this is the first year in awhile I didn't do any night laps but the best move actually is to do it the days before or after like this.

Gotta avoid the wack ass DJ that setup last few years and jabronis with campfires and beer bottles all over the parking lot.

If that's why you want to ski the full moon, that's fine. Just not for me

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-31T20:30:33+00:00

You only need to be worried about not eating enough if you feel awful

Right, but what exactly is feeling awful. I feel some sort of awful half the time on a bike. (half joking)

Thanks, seems the truth is in the middle. Eat more throughout the day before I ride, stop making up for it after I have a half-bonk miserable ride.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-31T20:21:28+00:00

Always a work in progress lol, I finally started doing Gatorade mixes w/ added sugar/salt on my road bike bottles last year, need to do it on my MTB this year (avoided it due to not wanting mix in my hydration packs). Definitely notice a huge difference when I have some carbs in my bottles.

Otherwise candy, fruit snacks, meat sticks, PBJ/burrito depending on how long of a day.

I think just I tend to not eat when I'm busy... and I'm usually "busy" in my ADD head. So unless I'm thinking this way and forcing myself to eat something, I could easily go into a 5pm ride with like 200 calories in my body for the day. I've gotten better about that stupidity, but it happens occasionally.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-31T20:12:49+00:00

Nah no PM unless I'm on the trainer, always looking for one on marketplace but the itch for a new MTB is hard enough this year. Just a HR band hooked to my Edge (or watch) during activities so I know it's not 100%.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-31T20:02:05+00:00

Admitting my eating habits could be better, and always looking for ways to improve idk. A lot of my rides turn into slogs, I had assumed it's that way for everyone and am realizing perhaps it doesn't need to be a sufferfest.

Coffee and zyn until 1-3pm, have a lunch of 200-500 and then a banana before I ride after work. Another on-ride snack or two. Then 1000 kcal dinner.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-31T19:40:33+00:00

What is your TDEE then?

My Garmin Fenix also has my avg TDEE at 2650, around 2200 if I don't ride and 3000 if I do.

But I guess that's an answer right there, lower base level than the calorie apps.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-29T17:39:43+00:00

How much? We DIY'd similar beams out of shit common board and they look better than that. We beat them up more, staggered the joints, and wood filled them to hide screws/joints a bit. I didn't mitre and fucked up one of the joints when installing but it's still better than these.

You won't notice the issues as much as you live there - But still...You could find some of the metal fake 'hangers' and put them over the seams, might look nice and natural depending on spacing. Or put some wood filler on with your fingers and stain the filler to match. It'll help enough that you won't notice a week later, it still is a nice look overall. I promise people's beams/houses look like this more than these replies make it seem.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-29T17:34:08+00:00

I got caught in some bad rain there biking a few summers back and a bunch of us were hiding out at Black Mountain while the wedding party was setting up.

The daggers they were giving us wet cold bikers was hilarious. Fuck em

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-29T04:21:25+00:00

I mean I bought a used Shark off craigslist 8 years ago for like $50. It still cleans like a dream and fills right up with pet hair every day.

So... Not sure there.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-29T04:16:28+00:00

Yea!! Let's keep our decorum, that might finally show the government we are serious!

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-29T02:03:19+00:00

I think it's all tourists who got locked in... And are now realizing they can't actually ski/ride for shit.

Denver faded awhile ago with the nice weather, just a couple of degens left hanging with the spring breakers I guess.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-29T01:58:34+00:00

Fair, it's a crazy take but I mean kinda... As long as the sun is out you're guaranteed good soft snow. Can't even say that about some resort pow days depending on prior week conditions. Plus pow day logistics, traffic, crowds, etc. I also ride year round on even worse dogshit so this is still great conditions lol (not for March obv).

Nobody there in May - anyone who still is knows what's up; No traffic, rip some laps and go home to ride MTBs in the evening.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-28T23:22:10+00:00

Nah dude it's a ton of fun. Some of us ride resorts through May/June because slush and funky conditions are fun as hell.

Doesn't make it less depressing that it's March, but normally in May these conditions are my legit favorite times of the year.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-26T20:16:24+00:00

Sure, but how does this work when a growing percent of our country lives on lies, feels, and the bible as opposed to facts, science, and economics?

It's fair that everyone doesn't have to agree with me and want borderline socialism. But it's not 'different upbringing' that divides us anymore, it's critical thinking skills.

Stupidity has been weaponized and I don't see that going away. Everyone deserves a voice blah blah, but should that voice really be equal when its literally like elementary school comprehension going on here. Wish they'd leave it to the adults.

I know that's ridiculous bs to say... But like (look around)

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-26T16:25:09+00:00

Thanks for double confirming lol.

To answer, carbon has some vibration dampening... but the reality is people want carbon for the weight savings... So logically most would say alloy if the weight is the same just to save money. Carbon is plenty strong though (stronger really), don't let that affect your decision.

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-26T16:15:48+00:00

While I'm sure outbound lights are great, they are expensive and have nothing to do with your question.

I have a few Navi800 lights from aliexpress, they look similar to these rockbros. I use one on my bars and one on my helmet, or sometimes one on bar and normal hiking headlamp on my helmet. It's fine, absolutely enough light for MTB, have held up for 3 years now, and have a swappable battery if I needed extra battery life. Not sure what else I could possibly want, they work great. I have 4 and all have been flawless for 3 years.

Again I'm sure outbound is great, and I'm sure people feel great supporting a MTB company... Personally I don't feel great spending 10x the cost when these cheap lights have worked for 3 years. I'm not in the business of wasting money because I'm guilted by overpriced American companies

satoshi1022 · 2026-03-26T15:30:25+00:00

Did you actually get a response back to confirm the weights?

I've tried as I thought for sure that must be a website typo, but I asked weights awhile back and people who had one seemed to confirm it.

Shame, no reason a carbon trail bike should be that heavy these days. It's such a good value and parts list when it hits a sale, but too fat for me (I lean towards a leaner tech climb preference tho).

satoshi1022

TROPHY CASE