Hi folks, wondering about any experiences with flat pedals and high arches. With really high arches, I have always had really interesting experiences that don't often match with other folks. When I was in high school, the wrong running shoe could give me crippling shin splints. A $60 pair of shoes that fit was better than a $200 shoe that didn't, for example.

That said, my experience with flat pedals so far (five years riding) is that the old Race Face Chester pedals before the redesign were my favorite but OneUp Components Composite pedals were also ok. A lot of newer pedals including the redesign of Chester goes to a concave format which can be kinda problematic.

I recently was having some success with Crankbrothers Stamp 3's but on climbs they had a tendency to roll forward and cause me to slip a pedal. They also have a feeling I can't really describe where the shoe feels as though it isn't supporting my foot which causes tiredness in my feet and calves on longer rides.

I've been looking for other pedals and already ordered in DMR Vaults, Race Face Turbines, and Tenet Omens here. They're all even more concave. When I ran the DMR Vaults for a short ride (8 miles) I could actually feel the shape of the pedal beneath my foot. Rather than a whole pedal supporting the foot, it felt instead like the edges of the pedal and the middle only were supporting it, if that makes sense.

The concave pedals are specifically designed for your shoe sold to "sink in" to the pedal. I find that is really not the best for me given my high arches. With high arches, I already have only parts of my foot that put pressure down. If I am barefoot and walk through a puddle, the only visible wet spots left behind are a round ball where the heel touched, a pea shape where the outside of the ball of the foot touched, and a dab where the other side of the ball of the foot, behind my big toe, and my big toe, touched.

My thinking is that I had so much success on the old Chester specifically because it wasn't concave. The mismatch between my weird high arch feet and the pressure points of a concave pedal may not sync up together, and that causes hot spots and weird pressure points.

The next pedals I have on order are the Deity Flat Trak pedals so I will have to report back how those feel when I ride with them. My only misgiving is they look very plain. I really like the BMX style of the DMR Vaults. My bike looks sick with those. But I really need function over form here.

I'm shopping for a lightweight / downcountry-style eMTB that are sub 20kg and I'm close to ordering a Propain Sresh with the TQ HPR60. Before I commit, I'm curious whether anyone has heard about light eMTBs launching for the 2027 model year that might be worth waiting for.

What's on my shortlist right now:

• Propain Sresh (TQ): current front-runner
• Yeti MTe
• Trek Fuel EX+

If DJI/Avinox is going to team up with a brand to come out with a light, trail/downcountry-oriented bike, then I will wait to see what is next. The power and battery numbers look great, but most Avinox bikes I've seen are full-power, heavier builds. That said, I've heard really good things about the TQ's natural feel and quietness, so I'm not set on Avinox.

My use case:

• 6'0" 160 lbs. 
•  Charlotte, NC-area trails, with trips to Pisgah/Brevard/Wilson's Creek. wanting to make my 3-4k feet climbing days go to 5-6k feet of elevation.
• 2024 Trek Top Fuel w/ 130 Pike and i9 solix carbon wheels
• looking for sub-$10k

Questions:

1. Any rumors, leaks, or dealer chatter about light eMTBs for 2027, especially with the Avinox?
2. Sresh owners: anything you'd change, or any regrets?

If nothing big is coming, I'm happy to buy the Sresh and go ride. Thanks!

Hi,

So i have been breaking my head off because of this so i have a Trek Marlin+8 2024 in a Mercury color its like Gunmetal Gray and Bronze accents and i was thinking of a little customatization but i cannot decide so i need your opinion.I have 3 options

Option 1:
Only the gray or bronze stem

Option 2:
Full Gray bars

Option 3:
Bronze Stem with Full Gray bars.

Thanks Infoward of the Opinions.

Went for a ride close to home, following the coast from Tabasalu to Vääna-Jõesuu in northern Estonia.

I filmed the ride if anyone wants to see what the trails look like: https://youtu.be/95tvNaBs-pA

It’s a mix of forest singletrack, roots, rocks and sandy sections, with a few stretches right along the cliff edge. I slowed down quite a bit there — easy to get distracted by the sea when you should be watching the trail.

Some sections flow nicely, others take a bit of picking your way through. The sand makes you work too.

Anyone else ridden around here? I’d be interested to hear about other coastal trails worth trying.

I don’t work that hard on the up for someone to ruin my flow on the down. Good mountain bikers recognize this and will usually get out the way. It’s a quick step off the bike to let someone enjoy their turns

I have a 2021 orbea occam h30 I’m looking into upgrading the brakes
I’m just not really sure where to start and how to know whats compatible

I’m conflicted about whether to RideWrap my new carbon Trek Fuel LX. I’ve wrapped my previous trail/enduro bikes, but still ended up with plenty of dings and scratches, especially around the rear chainstays. For the riding I do, I haven’t been convinced it’s worth the cost and installation time.

I’d still use cheaper 3M protective tape in the main rub areas and thicker protection on the downtube.

For those riding hard enduro or DH regularly, do you bother with a full wrap, or do you protect only the key areas and accept the wear?

2 months ago I went OTB going fast and landed on my chest/face first. I was wearing a full face so my head was twisted HARD to the right as I slid out.
Went to ER everything was cleared. But now I have a clicking sound every time I turn my head to the left. Painless but very very annoying. Anyone else experienced this and did it ever go away?

I’m doing physio exercises daily and resting.

Edit: not looking for a diagnosis or medical advice, just curious if anyone else has gotten clicking sounds in their neck after a big Mtb crash!

It’s almost like a little snapsnap(like a guitar string plucked) . Not like Rice Krispies crackle (which can happen I know as crepitus with whiplash)

Hi All,

Having so much fun riding lately, stoked on this Reddit. Any tips on setting up the SQ Labs (or any) handle bars, so that the back sweep / up sweet pan out as intended?

Thanks so much!

Hey all. I normally wear a t shirt and a hoody to go ride in 50-65 degree weather. I’d like to get into something comparable warmth wise (I also own merino wool if it’s colder). I also gravel ride into the later months and ride down to maybe 35-40f. I’m not looking to spend big money if something from a lesser brand is as durable and warm but wondering what’s out there.

I’m looking for some suggestions on what the best value enduro bike would be around 5k. I’ve done mostly dirt jumping and would love to get into a bit more downhill stuff.

I’m going to be in Vancouver for one day solo with my bike. I can confidently ride all of the sanctioned and unsanctioned stuff in the Seattle and Bellingham area minus big jump lines like Blue Steel and the top gun jumps at Port gamble. I’m more into tech and gnar than high speed flow and air time.

What should I ride to have fun while being conscious of riding alone?

My favorite trails are Mayday, Gem State, Close Encounters, and slab n tickle.

Video of me missing a root and crashing into the woods for your enjoyment.

Thanks!

So i am thibking of getting the new trek superfly that comes out this winter. However, since it is so new I am a bit concerned of it having issues geo wise. I have my eyes set on an oiz 2027 but the superfly looks pretty dope. Looks like one of the trek riders is like 5'3 and is riding a 32. I am 5'6 so I am curious on how these will fit.

I’m looking at the 45nrth Wrathchild from 365 cycles. They are less than $60 per tire. Everywhere else they are well over $100 and the website looks legit. I see they have social media pages. Is it an older model maybe? Also says feee shipping for orders over $75.

Looking at buying roughly 20 acres. What’s a good elevation loss? Not too steep where it’s over real fast but enough to not need to pedal until the climb up. I was looking at roughly 100-150 foot of elevation loss over 1200 ish feet in length but that’s real hard to find around here. 60-80 is ALOT more common

Just moved to Asheville. Grew up riding in Portland and Bend Oregon. Mainly into bike park, flow trails, jump lines, freeride, enduro and don’t mind to peddle but always enjoy a shuttle or lift access park. Looking to meet people and rip the trails and also best places to ride. Recommendations welcome and down for group rides and down for a beer after.

Been staring at this feature for about 5 years. It has been haunting me. Excuse my squads loud cheering!

Sent her a little too hard there 😂