pretty sure they're even busier than business as usual, other than maybe the odd shops in Okotoks or Linden you'll find nothing other than the typical blowouts for previous year models.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Though I think the new line of trail downcountry bikes - Fuel Ex, Tallboy & Optics are going to be the In thing for a while - Money talks and I went a non-conventional way on a reasonably current bike for an incredible price.
Ended up with a almost new 2016 Divinci Hendrix 27.5+ @ 3.0 tires - 120/110. The cockpit and geo are still very current with 67HTA, 75STA and a reach of 464, a 45mm stem and a 780mm handlebar. The kit was surprisingly good on the bike with a GX/raceface drivetrain and it literally was like new.
Picked it up from an older fella for $1800 and there is less than 10 hours on it and based on ZERO scratches, the shape of chainring/cassette, crank arms and the knobs still on the tires etc.. absolutely, this thing was practically showroom new.
2 things that needed an upgrade - Dropper post, which I've already got a 125 reverb installed, and the Reba RL. That said, though the stanchions are small, it isn't as half as bad of a 32mm fork as I thought.. and so far I can't say that its impacting my riding.
Plus riding:
Setup the suspension and Plus sized tires pressure down to 14/17 and wow! It did not feel nearly as precise as my 29er XC hardtail, but it made short work of the technical Banked wet roots at fish creek on the Evergreen side. I could rip through and climb with the most upmost traction,whereas even in a non-wet condition I'd have be very precise with balance body position and smooth pedaling just to get through.
Surprisingly the tire size is slightly larger in diameter than my 29x2.3 tires.. and though they feel vague, it really does monster truck through everything... like they roll very well, and yet you don't need to pick a line.
Riding her though hardpack snow was very good.. felt almost fatbike on groomed trails.
Its kinda too bad that this tire is really only being used for hardcore hardtail applications, but at least the rim size is reasonable @ 36mm, so I can run 27.5 x 2.6ers in the future, as well as just pick up some boost 29 wheels. That said, I don't think + sizes are bad ideas. The new 29x2.6 tires do such a good job, though they are becoming real monster truck sized.
anyways thank you all for your help and happy riding this year.