Oregon Super D: Hood River Pictures

The top is my favorite.

Oregon Super D: Hood River

This weekend was the Hood River Super D, Friday I had a playoff lacrosse game where I bruised my quad, but after spending 65 bucks to race I wasn't about to just throw it away. In practice on Saturday I fell in the mud and happened to pull the same quad. Now with a downed quad I was unable to climb the hills. I resorted to getting off and walking the rest of the day. Sunday morning I wasn't feeling it race day. I was tired and my leg was killing me. I decided to race and ended in 8th out of 9. Not my best finish by far but respectable non the less. For the Icing on the cake I had to go to urgent care Monday because of my sore throat I have had for a week or so hadn't gotten better. Turns out I am positive for Mono, no excuse but a justification for me feeling out of shape. Pictures will be following.

Same bike, different result!

So this weekend I had the opportunity to race the Fluidride Enduro at Dog River. It was a 2 day race on the same course. It consisted of a 5 mile trail with 50 vertical feet of climbing and a few really tight switchbacks. My weapon of choice was my personal favorite, the One Ghost Industries Longbow. Originally I have ridden this same platform to a 3^rd place podium finish at the Stimulus Trail in Sandy , where I posted a Mini Review. But now I am posting a full comprehensive review.

Suspension:

Handled by an Elka Stage 5 rear shock, the rear suspension performed flawlessly. Its Moto GP Linkage is a full floater which takes more pressure off the shock and allows the dampening to work better, and it is obvious it does its job. When I picked up the bike I never adjusted the shock because it has always been set up perfectly since day one, and it was still working well this weekend. The shock has no pedal platform like pro pedal so it makes the linkage control all pedal bob resistance. Pedal bob is not noticeable when riding up hill, and there is not suspension feedback when I got stuck on a quick incline in top gear and had to muscle my way over. Going down the hill I used my back brake a lot, Before the switchbacks I had to slow down and sometimes drift the corners, every time I locked up my rear tire the suspension still worked, it was amazing with zero brake jack.

Geometry:

Besides my two DH tests I have also ridden around Forest Park doing climbing and have also adjusted the front to different angles with the use of the travel adjust fork. The angles are perfect for everyday trail riding and even light DH racing. If I could only have one mountain bike I would pick the Longbow. The top tube is the perfect length for me with a 70mm stem, and its head tube and seat tube angles are very nice in providing an optimal riding position while in the saddle and when it gets fast or steep the head tube angle makes it not too twitchy in the steering and keeps it very stable at high speeds.

Overall:

I give this bike 5 out of 5 stars for all it has helped me achieve. It has never ever not done what I tried to do, and meets my semi weight weenie standards. With a 2 ring front and a standard cassette this bike can do anything, I would love to test it with the new 10 speed because I think it would make it an even more capable bike because of the added ratio. This bike fills the need of someone who needs one bike to do it all, it covers every major type of riding from XC to light FR. The only types it doesn’t cover are heavy FR, DH race, and XC race. Only because 5.75 inches is too little for DH race and heave FR, and too big for XC race.

Fluidride Enduro #1

So this weekend went really well. The Bow helped me to my 1st place finish at the Fluidride Enduro #1! I should have a review up soon but before I forget I will post a Podium Pic!