I tried to upgrade my xc bike. hated dropping in leaning forward. slightly shortening stem, small riser bars and bigger tires should help, but will be sluggish. Moving as far back as possible when dropping in or jumping would probably help the most. also practice manual wheely, bunny hopping. you can jump or hop you way over obstacles.
being on a fixed income, I would stay with what I have. 2012 575 Yeti XT. If I had the cash I would go with E shifting. but would probably wait to see how they are working out. Yeah I still have 26 and they work great; )
For practice, the ebike will save legs for the race and still have long travel for downhill. downside would be extra weight, 10 to 15 lbs.
Remember Gary Fisher, one of the OG founders of mt. bikes. Gary Fisher Bikes was absorbed by TREK, his name was also absorbed. Just Sayin'
My 2012 Yeti 575 w/XT went for 4200, I got it for 3200, It is alloy weighs in at 27's still works great, had the Fox Float suspension rebuilt this year for 200. Probably won't be the Market for another bike for a while; )
Thanks for the write up, I was wondering why you were missing at Rotorua. Don't rush it heal up 100% first. I had a similar get off, I had crossed this root probably a 100 times, but this time the wheel slipped and I went over the bars into to my right side. I fractured two right ribs, I did get back on and rode to the car. I don't know how i lifted that beast into the car, probably with my left hand. At the time I had a dated bike that weighed 34lbs. lol I can laugh about it now...
To the best of my recollection, I do not recall a wet winter in SoCal. Maybe over 10 yrs ago.I learned the hard way not to just throw the bike in the garage soaking wet after splashing 3 feet plus creeks and deep muddy ruts. After I let it set for over a month probably 3, the bike needed a total dis-assembly overhaul. even with new cables, and chain it never felt the same. My riding buddy did the same ate his bottom bracket from water damage; )
Design for 99% is Speci speak for we don't have a clue! Here's one get That Trek Session, no don't copy it, just paint the Speci logo over it; ) Too late; p
Posted in RSS Feed, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Decorations and Weddings by Pink Frosting Weddings Team
If you've decided to hold your wedding ceremony outside, you have so many gorgeous opportunities to create a spectacular backdrop for your wedding vows. Whether your venue is the beach, a garden, the Australian bush or a vineyard, an outdoor ceremony makes a beautiful location to decorate for your big day. Don't be overwhelmed by all of the options available. Here are the main items to consider when creating the perfect outdoor wedding decorations.
Look at the backdrop - Think about where you will be located and what the view is like. If you have a dramatic view in the background, you may not need many decorations to create a pretty ceremony site. If you have a simple garden location, you may wish to decorate in a more elaborate way.
Think about foreground and background - You may want to decorate in the distance (bali flags on a beach in the distance or lanterns hanging from all of the trees in the garden) as well as creating the perfect intimate location for the ceremony to take place. The focus needs to be on the foreground, but it needs to blend in seamlessly with the background.
Consider the weather - If you are planning an outdoor ceremony in the middle of summer on the beach or in a garden, be kind to your guests and make sure there are parasols, shaded areas and hand fans for them to use to keep them cool in the heat.
Plan for Plan A, but think about Plan B - No matter how well you plan your wedding day, the weather can play havoc with your strategy. Have a well thought out Plan B ready if the weather is inclement or some other such problem arises with your main ceremony site. And, plan how you will use your wedding decorations in the Plan B area as well as your original site.
Consider a marquee - Pretty marquees are now available in almost every shape and size. Consider including a marquee in your ceremony site to offer shelter from the weather for your guests as well as a beautiful decorative element for your wedding day.
Aisle Decorations - Create your own aisle using chairs and an aisle runner to deliniate the space that the attendants and bride will walk down for the ceremony. You can choose from a range of personalised and unique wedding aisle runners to buy at Pink Frosting, which can even be printed in your wedding colours and with your names. Place chairs on either side of the aisle in rows for the comfort of guests and also to let your guests know exactly where the ceremony will take place. You may wish to scatter pretty flower petals down the aisle or place flowers, petals and bows along the aisle to provide extra decorative style.
Altar Decorations - You may need to create your own altar for the ceremony unless you're using an purpose built outdoor wedding venue. You can hire a small marquee as your altar, or create the space using the outdoor elements already available to you. Consider an archway in a vineyard as a beautiful natural altar, or the base of your favourite tree in the garden. You could also borrow or make an archway which can be decorated with ribbons and flowers matching your theme and style. For a beach wedding, bali flags make a great altar as do large palm fronds inserted into the sand.
Pew Decorations - Strings of flowers, paper tissue balls, and garlands of roses make pretty pew decorations when strung across the front of the pew facing the officiant and on the end of each chair next to the aisle. You could use paper cones filled with blossoms, small hanging vases, a single stem of the flower you are carrying in your bouquet wrapped with a satin ribbon or miniature clusters of flowers matching your bridesmaid gowns. These don't have to last long, so if your decorator can set them up just before the ceremony, you won't need to worry about them wilting before the guests leave.
Hanging Decorations - Wreaths are a traditional wedding decoration and make a beautiful entranceway decoration on gates and treees and hung from branches. Ask your florist to create a floral wreath for you in the same flowers you are having in your bouquet. Some of our favourite wreaths are made of lush but cheap blooms like daisies, carnations and sweet peas. Think also about shaped wreaths - a heart shaped wreath makes a romantic motif for weddings.