finally,joined the ranks!

after many moons lustin after 29ers,and planning to buy one someday,i finally took the plunge!

it's a redline d440.has a lotta house brand parts (which have proven pretty sturdy over the last few years on the ol monocog 26er),came as a rigid 1x8,and disc ready.the shop guys said they've sold several monocog 29ers,but this wuz their 1st gearie redline 29er...and they liked it so much one of the guys said he may buy one,and they didn't want me to pick it up!of course,we ain't talkin a blinged out high $ ride,but it is by far the best 2 wheeled $510 i ever spent!i will be adding my almost new avid mech discs and a 3x8 soon (don't worry,not bein sacreligeous,a SS 29er hopefully will follow this year)

well,i have about 75 miles on it (40-something on roads),and after the adjustment period...or @ least the first bit of it-i still tend to overshoot some obsticals when hammering-i really am in love w/ 29" wheels!

the rigid fork is easier on my spine than i thought it would be (had some serious injuries back in 2001),unless i'm already worn out...then my line picking suffers a bit.

i think after a couple group rides,since i (in their words-the guys in our group rides) "killed em like a machine on the climbs",i'm gunna keep the 1x8 on there,but maybe drop the 34t front down to a 32t for when i'm riding tired (monday for example,i took it for it's maiden voyage,on trails 45 minutes from home,after getting off a 16 hour workshift-lol),and i may try a carbon bar and/fork.

uhhhh....thanx on the "that'll look great...",but what surly?

Guitar Ted said:

Those Redlines are really nice bikes for the money. I have test ridden a few and I like the way they handle, Quite nice actually.

Enjoy the rig and those are some nice trails you have there to do it on by the looks of it.

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sorry GT,i forgot all about this threadoster_oops:...
thanx for the flowers,man!yeah,still diggin the bike (though the rigidness beat the crap outta my spinal injury today...hard to pick smoove lines when all lines are covered in wet leaves)

yeah,i love my home trails,but i also enjoy ridin on some old stomping grounds (trails i no longer live close to...like blacksburg,va).

a much better pic than i wuz equipped to post before (new pc/diffrent digicam).from today's ride.i went from a 34t to a 32t chainring,and added avid bb5's,otherwise,it's still stock (fer now).

MMcG said:

That's a great lookin bike - especially for the price point it sits at!! NIce pic too! That goes nicely with the fall colored leaves!

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thanx,guys!

that's the 1st pic i've been able to take that almost does the color justice...it really pops and the sun (the metallic bits i mean).

i'm definately still diggin it...but my urge to tinker is doing this "",and the frame is what it is......a gearie frame.i'm still planning on the purchase of a monocog 29er outta the ol tax check,tho

i was thinkin last night how much more versatile the karate monkey frame is in terms of setup/options...but there are a few options i haven't explored w/ this one yet.SS'n it would mean a tensioner,magic ratio,or an eno hub (no,most likely too hard a gear,and if i was gunna spend that much...).but w/ 700C wheels,one could make it more road friendly w/ roadie or cross tires,it's susser corrected,and has rack n fender mounts front and rear...LOL,i guess i gots tinker-fever (where you just get the itch),and cabin fever's already setting in (broke my toe at work yesturday,and damaged the toe-foot joint),cause saturday is usually my "get up w/ dead head dave for a group-of-2 ride" day.

how'd i break it?,thas how,i would tell ya but i'd feel dumb