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If pinky is running ghetto tubeless, maybe trying to prevent burping and doesn't want an insert?

As someone who lives within a short bike ride of Camp Alpine, I can assure you those trails aren't what you're looking for. If I had to drive there, I’d skip them altogether. They can be fun local loops, but they’re unsanctioned legacy social trails with nothing special in terms of terrain or mileage. @longroadtonowhere I'm not sure what your exact "downcountry" setup is, but almost all the suggestions here, aside from Mount Beacon, Mountain Creek, and Glen Park, are doable and fun on a 120mm bike. Those three really warrant at least 140mm of travel to enjoy. Also, be...

Camp Alpine on the Jersey side of the Palisades has the goods you are looking for. Would also second Ringwood/Ramapo; there is some brutally techy stuff in there. Jungle habitat is a bit smaller, but an interesting setting, and again, brutal tech. Chimney Rock in boundbrook can be linked together for some really nice ups and downs over big miles, especially the new Vossler side. The mountain creek XC trails are above and beyond, but I don't recommend going without a local first, as they can be very confusing, and there are some large features back there. Out of all...

Port Jervis can be exactly "downcountry"..... There are about 5 pedaly "enduro-esque" trails and if you do them all in a day you're looking at about 3500ft of climbing without linking normal connections between them. (cosmic charlie, 5 bridges, flintlock, painted aprons, and Tomahawk). Sterling is a good option with lots of ungelating terrain, gets super hot and humid, and most of it is a loop so not much getting lost. Ringwood is a bit more just trail riding but good and rocky and techy, Glen Park in East Stroudsburg, Pa has held a ton of enduros and is alot...

Depends how much you want to travel. Ascutney, Waterbury, kingdom trails, and Stowe Vermont. Are all worth traveling to. As is Conway NH. Western Massachusetts has Thunder mtn bike park in charlemont. Batchelor street and earls trails in Amherst/granby. Pittsfield state forest and Lenox. Ludlow.

I'll second Port Jervis NY, lots of mileage and variation.

Sterling Foest State Park and Ringwood State Park are both about an hour from the George Washington Bridge and offer the most contiguous singletrack in the immediate area. https://www.palisadesmtb.org/ is the local advocacy group for Sterling and just opened a fantastic new trail this month. Our hills top out at about 1200' but there is still plenty climbing and descending. If your willing to drive 3 hours for more elevation there is some great but somewhat limited riding in the Catskills. Roundtop and Elm Ridge are fun and there is some even better stuff in the western Catskills that isn't...

Port jervis is a good time. Not down country at all. But mt creek is an absolute blast and a must stop if you are in nyc imo.

Make a weekend trip to Vermont. Kingdom Trails might just be what you are looking for.

This is exactly how I feel about Mavens. Hayes felt like they had too much throw in the lever for me. Even after a fresh bleed. And not quite the same power as mavens. But to be fair they are excellent brakes and if I had to run them I’d be completely happy. Just don’t think they quite match maven power, feel or build quality.

First ride report on Tacky Chan Trail Pro radials, super soft up front, soft in back, 22psi front, 25psi rear, 29" front and rear on a Yeti SB160 on DT Swiss EXC 1501 wheels. 1143 grams each. They roll fast for a meaty tire. Better than the Magic Mary. Maybe better than the Albert. On par with a DHF exo+ maxxterra 3c I'd say. Faster than an Assegai for sure. Not as fast as a Forecaster. Same excellent radial dampening. Big cornering traction with a locked in feel that is confidence inspiring- more so than the Magic Mary. No vague...

I feel like I can hear the derailleur just by looking at it 🙊