Msp73 is a relatively new category so I imagine most of the senior locals jumped on the airbus track and never got off?

You'll laugh but I'm riding a 2002 Trek 4500 Alpha hardtail but has been updated to disc brakes, a modern adjustable air fork, Speed6 sealed bearing Hubs etc. The shortage is real. I can't get a frame in my size anywhere unless I buy some insanity tier priced bike.

My wife has a Surly Karate Monkey Midfat (27.5 x 3" tire) which is the same parent company as Salsa. Well built, decent components, and the price is in the "quality, but not paying for bleeding edge" point. I had a hard time last year finding a new bike in a frame size that fits me (XL frame) so I just modenized my ancient trek. I'm also a luddite that likes the 3x8 drivetrain vs the 1x11 or 1x12 every MTB has these days since I do ride a fair amount of paved connector roads and bike paths, so it's nice to have close to road bike gearing for the boring (paved) parts of my ride.

What sort of terrain do you ride on. It's fairly flat here no real hills to speak of (Va Beach) so I have stayed with hardtails. When full suspension MTBs start costing more than a new motocross bike or damn close, I've found it hard to justify it, and I can replace a lot of trashed rear wheels for what they cost the few times a year I hit somwhere where rear suspension would be really nice.

Any previous experience with riding MTBs? As a heads up, the 29s turn harder, but aside from really tight trails are better than 26 and 27.5 at most anything. My 66 year old neighbor bought a Trek Marlin 7 and he shreds on it, but had a couple close encounters of the tree kind until he adapted to the bigger tire = more gyro stabilty, but harder to turn.

The Timberjack is on my short list if one in my frame size comes in.

Anything save giant jumps that are "clear this or get messed up" tier can be ridden on a hardtail as well, but when it gets really rough and fast downhill, you will be a bit slower than the full suspension crowd. You can go almost anywhere they can, but not at the same speed downhill.

I show up to races on my ancient POS.. And people look at the relic I brought. And my 42 year old (43 next week) bionic body (I have about 7 pounds of Titanium holding me together and kind of look like Frankenstein if you see me in shorts and a T-shirt) keeps up with them on it.

Full suspension trail if you can find one. I'm still riding my '16 Excalibur 8 with lots of upgrades. My son's Orbea race bike is over a year now on back order. Hopefully by the spring he'll have it but not holding my breathe.

for hard tail, Niner Air 9. https://www.bikebling.com/Niner-AIR-...-2-star-sx.htm

define brutal

im not on the 320 but I’d define it as “we have less work and QOL rules than the regional I last flew at”

Did next weeks class get their assignments yet?


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Nothing yet...

I've heard that they send it out the Friday before class or just the day before. I'm hoping to find out tomorrow. Don't think I can make it through the weekend without knowing.