- 01.04.2012
X 2
Fox Shox’s Justin Frey & I Agree
Photo Courtesy of VitalMTB.com
There are a ton of bullshit MTB talkers these days.
These blowhards are busy filling our ears with nonsense about a bike’s ability to “roll over stuff.” They’re also talking shit about how much a bike needs to weight, what few gears it needs, and what the ideal tire size is. I wonder if these talkers realize that there are guys like Mark Weir who can pedal a 30+ pound enduro bike right up their asses – both uphill and down. And Mark ain’t alone. There are plenty of non-pros that maintain the same ability and mindset.
Meet Justin Frey – an in-house guy over at Fox Racing. Justin inspired me to write this post. Why? Cause we think alike. And it isn’t often I read an article where someone is answering questions the very same way I would.
VitalMTB: Break down your personal trail bike and downhill bike setups.
Justin Frey: My DH bike is a balanced, smooth operator, dialed (I can’t stand if something isn’t working the way it should), and QUIET. Anybody that knows me knows how particular I am about this, it’s a straight up fact that a quiet bike is faster and WAY more fun to ride! My trail bike is balanced, quiet and set up to rally the downhills even if it means suffering a bit more on the climbs. One ring up front, full chain guide (thanks Gamut), dropper post, 50 or 55mm stem and at least 711mm wide bars.
Music to my ears. Especially those last two sentences. My bikes and my maintenance approach follow this set up to a tee.
VitalMTB: How many bikes do you actually have set up at home and around the office for testing?
Justin Frey: ….. a 160mm trail-slaying machine. If I could only have one bike it would definitely be this one…..Ride it all day and smash down hills with a grip of confidence…..[no] 29er fully rigid single speeds.
Ditto.
VitalMTB: Can you believe that full-rigid carbon mountain bikes exist in 2012?
Justin Frey: I wish I didn’t because it’s kind of like a bad nightmare that won’t go away. At that point, isn’t that just a road bike with knobby tires and straight bars? I really think that XC race venues need to make their tracks more technical and challenging so that racers actually feel that riding a bike with 100mm or 120mm of travel is an advantage. After all it is MOUNTAIN BIKING not fire road biking.
Nuff said. Thanks VitalMTB for the interview.
Rocco
11.02.2012
Hey Mike…been a while. I hope all is well with you and the family. I was just reading this interview with Justin and take issue with his last bit of comments on fully rigid carbon 29er single speeds. I ride the aforementioned (Ellsworth Enlightenment) and I would not argue but say, I can “feel” every bit of the trail and bike. I love riding gnarly, techy stuff and do so very often. There’s a ton of thinking and athleticism on such a bike. I think Justin is including all fully rigid carbon 29er riders with what he calls, “fire road” riding. I don’t care about being fast and I don’t care how much my bike weighs to the gram. I ride carbon because I love to climb and it suits me well while doing so. It’s not about the bike you ride, it’s about what the bike does for you. If a squishy bike blows your hair back, awesome…ride it. If you like the rigid stuff, awesome…ride it. I just think it’s a bit narrow to say that one can’t believe there are still rigid carbon SS,s around in 2012 and those who rock them ride fire roads. Later
Fakis
11.02.2012
Rocco! Great to hear from you. Things are great. Hope the same for you and yours. Awesome comments and well articulated. Hard to not agree. So many guys on XC rides that rip trail on bikes just like yours. At the same time, I don’t consider you guys blowhards. I think we’re more talking about the guys who have lesser skills that THINK the bike makes the differance. It’s all about the rider and the rider’s ability. I like what Justin was saying because he was so damn committed. But you have to keep in mind who the source is: he works for a suspension company and he tunes World Cup and pro freerider suspension all day long. Biased? Probably. But to his point, I find it funny that a good bit of the 29″ guys preach “roll-ability” then dismount over challenging obstacles. I was back of the pack for my last XC ride with some fast guys. Really fast guys. And 50% of em were off their bikes for bigger logs. It’s just funny cause to guys like me and Justin, those bigger logs and tougher challenges embody the term MOUNTAIN BIKING. : )