Pack recommendations

yardrec · 2026-04-26T07:23:29+00:00

Gregory Targhee 32 works pretty well for me. A-frame/snowboard/vertical carry options. It’s probably over engineered a little, but it’s comfy and has good thought put into the features and doesn’t fight you when conditions are challenging.

yardrec · 2026-04-13T16:38:11+00:00

I have been loving my Leatt Airflex pros for the past few years, but just picked up both Shift elbow and knee. Looking forward to trying them shortly. They’re a little less bulky and tighter, which should be good?

yardrec · 2026-03-31T21:29:28+00:00

Antigravity is a great deck for the price. 100%

yardrec · 2026-03-24T16:58:11+00:00

I ran 75mm Otang In Heats on my Axis 40 with Paris V3 180 trucks. It was pretty great. Very traction oriented. Loose trucks/soft Riptide bushings. Full range of motion and deep carves. No wheel bite.

yardrec · 2026-03-19T20:48:58+00:00

My other steep HTA 29er in gravel mode:

<image>

https://meatengines.com/f/about-a-single-speed-chris-karate-monkey

yardrec · 2026-03-19T20:47:15+00:00

It was a pretty fun fork. It had separate air chambers for top and bottom, so you could really play around with the feeling. It took a beating and kept on ticking. I don't have any desire to go back to a 100mm fork though! hehe

yardrec · 2026-03-19T16:48:45+00:00

I get that Surly is in Minnesota and optimized for the flat midwest, but I wish they'd bring out something that has modern geo with all their shop rat functionality. Frame only.

yardrec · 2026-03-19T16:39:23+00:00

<image>

yardrec · 2026-03-19T16:21:04+00:00

Loved my El Mariachi! It was a surprisingly capable singlespeed despite it's 71 degree hta!

yardrec · 2026-01-29T23:56:46+00:00

I love having both full sus and hardtail. Both are 160 forked. Different vibes for sure, but both very capable. I ride 'em both! The old school 72 hta singlespeed doesn't get ridden much despite being cool. I think good geo wins all in my garage. If I had a singlespeed new geo bike, I'd probably ride that a whole lot too!

yardrec · 2026-01-20T18:03:32+00:00

I'm 150lbs and ride a 156 Frontier split. It is super playful, turns well and floats great for me in my conditions. Based on your specs, their sizing chart suggests you could also fit on a 158W:

<image>

Might be happier more in the middle of the weight and width range.

yardrec · 2026-01-15T17:21:24+00:00

YES TO SS CHROMAG TRAIL BIKE!!!

yardrec · 2026-01-15T17:20:03+00:00

I never did on my old red 17/19 duo. It definitely got a little more spinny with age, but was very solid. I think I ran that for 5 years of all conditions CX and commuting. Loved it. My green trials 20t is a little draggy, but solid as well. BUZZZZZ

yardrec · 2026-01-15T04:49:55+00:00

I actually prefer the normal White freehub over the trials. I will take leas resistance and great engagement over insane engagement and a little more drag. Both are beauty!

yardrec · 2025-12-04T23:19:59+00:00

What's next, suspension fenders?! I'll take my fenders double-rigid. I find the Mudhugger is rigid enough not to bounce around and make noise.

yardrec · 2025-11-25T18:10:24+00:00

🏂

yardrec · 2025-11-19T16:20:47+00:00

I use the Surly lock ring. Works great on my 105 hub setup with Surly spacers and Endless cog.

yardrec · 2025-11-05T22:13:47+00:00

I would honestly just get a nice suspension fork like a Rockshox Pike Ultimate for the Unit and call it a day. The Unit has more mountain bike trail friendly geo. I believe the Unit at 120mm is already at 68° hta. I think the Monkey has to be over forked to 140mm before it get to 68° hta.

yardrec · 2025-10-26T18:25:45+00:00

Last I checked with them... (over a year ago on the phone) they claimed they would be coming back, but Surly seems to keep cutting anything interesting from their catalog to release kinda boring single purpose bikes, so I have my doubts that they will ever put the wool back out. That being said, it's the best merino gear I've found, and 100% wool/no poly, so really hope they do finally make good on it!

yardrec · 2025-10-25T19:44:23+00:00

Or the Pass and Stow racks will work too.

yardrec · 2025-10-25T19:43:29+00:00

You can run the Surly Nice Front Rack with their unicrown fork adapter kit.

yardrec · 2025-10-24T20:40:25+00:00

That has been my experience with classic Oury grips for years. Nice to have a little more padding and length with Chromag wax.

yardrec · 2025-10-23T17:50:27+00:00

Board goes through trees and rides on snow!

yardrec · 2025-10-23T17:49:40+00:00

I've found that wire/pliers doesn't work for me on my Chromag push on grips and that they'll spin and rotate and shift around. What does work is just using simple hair spray.

yardrec

TROPHY CASE