Reviews

Chrome Industries Kursk TR as MTB Shoes

Bell 4 Forty MIPS Helmet

My breakdown on the Bell 4Forty along with my concerns with full coverage helmets in MTB and MX

Hill People Gear Runner's Kit Bag

The Ambidextral Gunfighter's review of the Hill People Gear Runner's Kit Bag. Pew Pew Q carry and Black Diamond mountain bike trail test. https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/C...

Five Ten Canvas Freeriders vs Old Freeriders

Old Five Ten Freeriders vs New Five Ten Canvas Freeriders

Bontrager Evoke vs WTB Volt Race

Not so much a review but some speculation as to why I have broken two Bontrager saddles. My new experiment with the WTB Volt Race with cro-moly rails.

Chrome Industries Kursk Sneaker for MTB?

Bontrager Flatline Mountain Bike Shoes

Good, but I still prefer Five Ten Freeriders

Pros: Durable sole, Stiff sole provides good protection, Good looking, Lightweight

Cons: Skittery contact with flats, Not as plush as Freeriders, Modest rockface adhesion

Bontrager Flatlines

Chrome Industries Folsom 2.0 Mid-Shorts

Zoic MTB Shorts vs PrAna Zion

Zoic Ether Mountain Bike Shorts with Liner

Nice shorts there, it would be a shame if you couldn't keep them up.
Zoic Ether Mountain Bike Shorts

Wellgo MG5 Pedals

Locktite those pins
Scarred but not damaged

Since I ordered a new pair of Five Ten Freeriders, I decided to replace my pedals, too. My old battered Wellgo MG5's have a mix of pins...the original "gentle" pins coupled with some sharper ones. The Freeriders feature the super grippy Stealth sole, so I do not think the super aggressive, sharp pins are necessary.

The pedals are only $30, so rather than seek replacement pins, I just got me some shiny, red, new MG5's. I would have liked to get some of the Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals, but they are beyond my retiree's MTB budget....and I think I am able to get about 95% of the benefits of the Catalyst hypothesis on the MG5's.

I have three years on my old MG5's and they have been true MTB workhorses. They are pretty light (though probably not that critical in their role). But they are amazingly durable. Many harsh rock strikes have scarred, but not damaged my old MG5's. The bearings have held up well and are still perfectly serviceable after three years of riding...maybe 300 rides covering Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. I strongly favor the rocky and rock garden trails so these pedals have seen serious abuse. The magnesium bodies are astonishingly tough. From my motocross days of repairing a few cracked magnesium cases, I had not expected such durability.

Riders who are running shoes with less sticky soles (e.g., The Bontrager Flatline) will probably desire sharper pins on their pedals...you could sharpen the stock pins on the MG5's or replace them. The front and rear pins could use backside inserted pins. The one's on the side cannot.

Though I have never suffered pedal bite on my shins or calves, it is a bit comforting to know that my pins are not the standard razors featured on most pedals...and that my Freeriders can make up for the lack of pin aggressiveness with their grippy soles. The sharper pins do tear through Freeriders faster than the dull MG5 pins...which is why I was able to get almost three years of use out of my Five Tens.

I really like how sticky my Freeriders are when it comes to off bike rock climbing. I am not into bouldering, but these shoes really do give gecko confidence on steep slickrock surfaces. This is why I am not fond of going with a slicker Bontrager Flatline shoe...which I think would function fine with aggressive pins, but still lacks that slick rock stickiness.

If you put MG5's on your bike, be sure to remove all of the pins and Locktite them into place.

Shoe patch
New Freeriders are on order, but the uppers on my old pair are still looking great so here is my little experiment in patching the hole in my Freerider's sole.
After a good cleaning, I then roughed up the area with a inner tube patch kit scratcher. Then cleaned the area with alcohol. I placed a strip of duct tape inside the shoe, to keep the glue from getting inside the shoe. I applied a Shoe Goo to the area and then placed a large tube patch over it. I used an ice cube to press and smooth the repair. Ice does not stick to Shoe Goo, so it does a good job smoothing and molding the glue.
Maybe I will keep these shoes on hand for bad weather days or just keep them as my Sunday-go-to-meetin' shoes. They are super comfortable. I hope Adidas has not fucked up the Freeriders and my new ones are just as awesome.

MTB Apps

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