Finally back in this thread. Did the front of Stromlo today,
@SummitFever I've only been riding the north trails lately, haven't gone over the top for ages.
The struggle was real with low bike fitness and 34/42, spent a lot of time in "granny"
But I rode the whole fkn thing to the top. Lack of stamina got me on the down on Skyline but I got a decent run on Luge and felt good. Followed skater Dave who has been going pretty quick but he didn't have the berm lines and inside lines on Luge so I was pretty relaxed keeping up. Having beers later he asked me about it, he was not going high enough in the berms mostly.
The Bronson continues to be silent. The lack of servicing, following old mate at Santa Cruz who said don't wash em too much, and XT, it just goes and does what it does. Hose, wipe, lube chain with blue Rock n Roll, tyres ok, ride. Oh I had to pump the shock up after the ride too, couple of pedal strikes that shouldn't have happened.
To me it's the ultimate trail/xc machine. I have more beer gut than the difference in weight between this and a proper xc, and it's insane light compared to other 160/150 bikes.
I'm going out again tomorrow for my 51st b'day as tradition dictates. Might ride the north, keep it fairly flat and hit Deep Creek.
Thanks Rotorburn for existing. Good people having good conversations, sometimes about bikes.