KS Dropper Posts

If you follow my posts you know that I have decided that I really like dropper posts. After trying the Rockshox post, I ordered two KS (Kind Shock) dropper posts to give them a try. One zero offset and one with a lot of offset and they are both good-looking designs. They seem very well made with quality materials and no noticeable weaknesses. I like them both the same but they were for different bikes so they are slightly different. The Dropzone has only 75mm of travel and has a 15mm offset head (the post in the photos), the Super Natural has a zero offset head and 100mm of drop. I believe that for trail riding, I only need about 60mm or so of drop because I still like to be able to grip the saddle between my legs, but no one is making this dropper post yet.

The KS posts leave no left-to-right slop from the saddle, which is nice, but I have to admit that, when I'm riding, I don't notice the play on dropper posts that do wiggle.

The install was easy as I didn't have to trim the line, but it would have been easy even if I did. The cable has a simple lock-ring with an small Allen bolt to hold it in place. Trimming is as easy as: adjust the cable length as necessary, bolt the lock-ring back on, and just pop it back in the tab that holds it in place and it's ready.


Its action both up and down was smooth and controlled. I have nothing to complain about here.

The best thing about the KS is how slim the thumb lever is. With handlebars getting more cluttered these days, it's nice when things don't take up any more space than they have to. I have small hands (my feet are pretty big- in case you were wondering) too, so it is important that I can reach the controls for everything on my bars, and the small width of the thumb lever helps with that.

I'm still not very proficient with the use of any of my dropper posts. My muscle memory isn't quite there yet, and my thumb fails to find the lever on the first try quite often, but I assume this will get better. Especially on the ones I ride the most often. For those of you with only one bike, or plan to only have one dropper on one of your bikes, this should be a moot point.

I still think dropper posts have a long way to go before they are really just a standard item we have on our bikes, but they are only going to get better.

I bought a Crank Bros. Kronolog dropper post just before I broke my leg. It will be awhile before I can tell you about it. KS has quite a few models and sizes of dropper posts so be sure to research them before you order.

Charlie S.

Broken Leg

I broke my leg! the lower part of my Fibula has a spiral fracture down near the ankle. I took a corner on the bike path too quickly and washed out on the very edge of Comanche road. It took a lot of determination to get my bike out of the road while in that much pain (my body was mostly out of the road already somehow). My ankle was the thing that broke my fall. It happened so quick I didn't have time to get a hand off the bars. I was going too fast (due to some liquid courage) and those cross tires don't rail the asphalt like I thought they would. So I will be posting more soon but my leg still hurts enough that I don't move around much now.

That is a beautiful Canckle!

Charlie S.

Enduro Race - The Whole Enchilada

I had heard about this race and then David tipped me off about the website. This group is doing a Enduro style race of the Whole Enchilada ride in Moab. It is a really cool format too because it is going to be in Time Trial style with racers going every 30 seconds or so. They are mostly downhill so I won't be adding it to my endurance race lists, but they are undoubtedly more fun and less suffering than those anyway.

The Whole Enchilada ride is about 27 miles of almost-all-downhill mountain bike sweetness that starts at about 10,300 ft, climbs to 11,200 ft and then pretty much plunges all the way down to the Colorado River- about 7000 ft of descending.

Also cool is the other two Enduro style events that they are promoting. I've done the trail they are using on the Kennebec Pass and that is one of the finest single routes in Colorado. I haven't done the Steamboat bit, but I'm sure its awesome too. 

From the Promoter:

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World class enduro racing in the mountain biking mecca of Moab

SEPTEMBER 29-30, 2012 • MOAB, UTAH BURRO PASS • HAZARD COUNTY • UPS • LPS • PORCUPINE RIM REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 16, 2012 We will have two waves for registration for The Whole Enchilada one at 7 a.m. and one at 8 p.m. so the early birds and the not so early birds have equal opportunity to register. Once the morning session fills up, registration will say it's full and it will reopen again at 8 p.m. Register here for The Whole Enchilada at 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday, April 16! Check out our other two Big Mountain Enduro events, BME #1, Buff Pass Enduro July 20-22 and BME #2, Kennebec Pass Enduro August 31 - September 2. Registration for these events will also open Monday, April 16 at 7 a.m. BME #1, Buff Pass Enduro Registration BME #2, Kennebec Pass Enduro Registration No other enduro race has attempted to race down the most acclaimed trail in Moab, a top five in the U.S. and perhaps one of the most distinguishable trails in the world. At 30 miles and 7,000 feet of descending, The Whole Enchilada Enduro turns an epic all-day ride into a test of fitness and technical skills as riders race from the top of the La Sal Mountains down through four different climate zones to Porcupine Rim, where they finish just above the Colorado River. On top of the unique race course, The Whole Enchilada Enduro smothers the race experience with a shuttle to the top, exclusive event schwag, post race meal, and awards where tales of the race will unfold among good food, great friends, and the soothing sounds of the Colorado river at the Grandstand camp ground. Racers will start in their respective start waves at Geyser pass. The first section of the race from Geyser pass (road) to Burro Pass will not be timed, However the order that you arrive at Burro pass will be the order in which you will start in a time trial format from Burro Pass. We will most likely be running a 30 second intervals, but their is the possibility that we may make it a 1 minute interval. As soon as the first rider arrives at burro pass we will immediately start sending riders off. Making the whole enchilada a time trial start format. This start format will allow riders who are there to win it to charge hard to Burro pass and get in line so fewer riders are in front of them and also not have a time associated with the climb. While allowing the recreational racer an experience of great fun and lesser competition. What sets this race apart from any other are the terrain variations from Burro Pass, Hazard County, UPS, LPS and Porcupine Rim that will challenge the most talented riders with steep climbing sections and miles and miles of descending through wooded forests, aspen groves and open meadows, jump lines through gambel oak, smooth and flowy singletrack, and into high desert technical riding and ledgy drops. The Whole Enchilada Enduro is a test of a different kind of fitness. It will test stamina and strength of long travel descending. The local guide books say to allow 4 to 6 hours to complete this ride, at a recreational pace. Based on some local information we are thinking the winning pro time will be about an hour and thirty minutes. This race will test your bike handling skills as well as your overall fitness – it is about the best all-around trail rider that can tackle any type of terrain, the fastest! As the horizons of racing continue to broaden, this enduro style of racing speaks to all riders- spandex, baggies and full-faced. It captures the attention of the media with images of destination riding, spectacular scenery and the excitement and glory that goes hand-in-hand with racing. One of the first of its kind in the U.S., The Whole Enchilada Enduro will be the first of an unprecedented epic enduro racing category brought to you by Bigfoot Productions.

 Charlie S.

Sedona Mountain Biking Fun

We had so much fun in Sedona that I was too tired to post until just now. We did about five different rides and had time for more but about half of us (myself included) were too pooped to pedal anymore, so we returned to the condo, and the liquor, and the pool, and the hot tub... Talk about a sausage fest.

Here are some picks (of the riding, not the sausage fest)-

                                                        Kip gets rad the first afternoon

                                  Dan and Rich finally realize which way the rest of us went

                                                    One of us on the way out of Hangover

                                                Route finding on High on the Hog

Sedona is really good riding!  I think it's probably a better overall destination than Moab- especially if you consider that Flagstaff is only 45 minutes away and has numerous trails as well. Some of the good trails are on maps nowadays, but not all of them, so definitely stop into some shops or hook up with someone who knows the scoop. It is pricey in Sedona though, but deals can be had if you pick the right weekend or have enough advance notice.
Charlie S.

Going to Sedona for a few days. I Should have a few reviews ready to go next week after all our riding. I will take more pictures this time.
 
Totally unrelated to Sedona, are the photos below of the Peaks Trail in Breckenridge. It is a nice out and back, or there are a number ways to incorporate it into a loop.

Charlie S.