Finally someone who understands Ellsworth. I'm a total fanboy, if I had the coin I'd pick up a 29er carbon Evolve frame and build a 24 lb cross country destroyer.

I still can't get into all mountain bikes. The frame geometry is so strange to me, always feel like I'm on top of the bike rather than "in" the bike(if you catch my drift). There are times I wish I had a tiny bit more than 4" of travel, but if you go fast enough you don't need travel, you just sorta skim across the hard pack to your inevitable doom and resulting AC separation.

I'll let you know on the frame, it is indeed a large and it has had no problem with stress fractures around the seat post cross member like earlier years. I have ridden the **** out of it and it has never failed me once.

 

Sweet man. I rode my buddies giant reign a few times, which is what I'd classify as "all mountain" 6" travel and super raked front end, it's GREAT for bombing hills. Not so much for the climb up, way too squishy when you pedal, even with the pro pedal on. It makes some of my favorite flowy single track feel "boring", because it's SUCH a capable bike.

My 5" Titan is the perfect balance, imho. Love the head angle, around 69* with my fork setup, so probably a touch more lax than your ellsworth, which without looking up i'd guess is around 70-71*. Could be wrong. Anyways, not too laid back, plenty of travel with the rp3 on it, not much pedal bob either. It does it all. I'd ride everything on a 4" bike too though, i aint skurred.

Pretty sure my next rig will be a hardtail.

 

I guess if I rode them more I would't be bothered as much but the aggressive head angle on the Ellsworth makes everything seem sloppy and slow.

My dad has a Giant Anthem with XX1 and if he actually ever got better wheels he'd be around 23 lbs as well. The thing is ridiculous. I can do the same trail 30+ seconds faster than my quickest time on my Truth. 29er's dominate in Southern Utah since you don't fall into the hole/crack/indent, instead you just roll right over everything. Also you carry so much more momentum when it transitions into a climb. I can kill my dad in the downhill/flatland stuff but he always rolls right onto my rear tire when we start a climb since the damn wheels just carry energy so much better.

Sadly I haven't ridden in 9 months. Partially torn Meniscus and cartiledge issues on my patella means I'm taking a long time off to let it heal. Like my car, I CAN'T ride at 7/10's, I just ride like it is a timed event...Strava doesn't help either haha.

 

I was fighting the urge to go all mtb dude bro on you guys until this post. LoL you can only fight so long. Really sorry to hear about your injury. I injured myself 3 years ago and basically had to take an extended break from biking. I ended up liquidating a lot of my stuff since I knew the technology changes so fast why hang onto it.

I used to do quite a bit of riding on this bike.


Very steep AM bike with the 160mm fork on it. Then of course I did this while riding it.



Then sold all my bikes (AM bike pictured, dirt jumper, down hill bike etc) and bought my miata.

I just recently built up a Kona Taro frame and modified the hell out of it (only stock thing left on it is the bars/stem). The switch from the 6" travel FS AM bike to a 120mm travel AM 29r Hard tail has been interesting. It has certainly made trails that were mundane and boring on the FS bike nice and fun. I will say that going from a 2x9 to a 1x9 on a 29r makes a serious man out of you. Man... there is no option to drop to granny and grind. You just man up and push through.... sucks at times.



This build is epic and the MTB talk just made it all that much sweeter. Keep working the PT and the daily healing/recovery routine with it. 3 years later and I'm still effed up... price to pay with age I suppose but each day is better and better. You just get better and managing it.

 

This is funny.

Fire's build thread is now about Subarus.

Jeff's build thread is now about mountain bikes.

I guess turbo Miatas are so 2013!

 

I hate seeing people get injured like that, but we ALL know it's the name of the game ( be it skiing, mtb, whatever else you may be into ). What exactly am I looking at in that x-ray? Is that your back? Care to explain?

Glad to see you back on a bike, I know the reason i avoid the DH resort mtb stuff is because I see it as too risky for me. At least when I go ride AM stuff I earn my turns. So, I typically spend all day climbing and get one good smooth(hopefully) run down. Had lots of buddies break stuff last year though, always a scare. Don't think i'll stop riding anytime soon though

You have a build thread on here for your miata, EErock? looks like a neat car and i'd love to see more.

Haha, i'm sure Jeff's thread will be right back to miata **** within 24 hours. My thread is going to be subaru infested for at least the next month though. I'll keep the updates sparse

 

I thought there was already a thread for bicycles and orthopedic injuries. I'm here for the incredibly productive combination of single male + insomnia + OCD + work ethic + Miata rebuild.

 

^this.

But I want to see more on EErock's car. It looks like that unbelivably-perfect-except-no-turbo 10AE that was on here not long ago.

Eerock, if you bought that car... you suck. And you're lucky. And nice job. cuz I WANTED that car. Would buy now if I could.

 

Glad there are a lot of fellow mountain bikers on her. Your bike/Miata are really nice EErock!

No updates for now. I'm took yesterday and most likely today off to keep from burning out. I did get 3 big packages in the mail do when I get home from work I'll take some pictures.

 

I shouldn't have opened this thread.

 

Nothing like someone obsessed to make you feel inadequate, eh?

 

Second Skin Luxury Liner/overkill with aluminum tape and a roller to make life easier



The correct power steering superpro steering rack bushings.



Flyin Miata Stainless Steel Frame Rails



New undertray since mine crumbled in my hands

 

Yummy, goodies.

 

You inspire me to spend more money... Lol

 

I'm so so sorry!

I gotta show less of a profit this tax season some how!

 

What you really should have bought is TSE 11.75" brake kit and not all this junk

 

That might be next! And nothing I buy is "junk" it all has a purpose!

I'd rather do all this stuff only once and not have to tear the car apart again.

The brakes are easy to do later.

 

Looking forward to the Dynamat install.

 

Me too!

Just did a little bit of work last night.

Sway Bar repainted



Steering rack installed





Ball joints for said steering rack



Intake manifold removed to paint. Should I take the flyin' Miata butterfly valve off when I send it to get powdercoated? If so, do I need a new gasket?







What is the best way to clean an alternator?



Clutch slave cylinder installed



Steering rack segment repainted



Sway Bar endlinks installed



Also hooked up all the turbo coolant/oil feed/drain lines.

 

Spray it with aluminum wheel cleaner. Try to keep it out of the guts. Brush it to work it into the crevasses. Hose off. Be sure to let it dry completely.

Be careful of the plastic connectors, some wheel cleaners will attack certain plastics.