im pretty stoked to be an incoming freshman at the university of minnesota, duluth and am so excited to be a mini local for a couple years. went on a little solo ride at piedmont when I was there for orientation a few weeks ago and really only had time to ride DM 3 times (pre ride, re ride, free ride) before having to head out but having all of that great riding just 10 minutes from campus is rad
As a UMD graduate, congratulations! I started mountain biking my junior year there exploring the trails in Hartley Park near campus before discovering Mission Creek and Piedmont. Your riding is going to get so good living in Duluth if you are already sending one of the most difficult trails, DM! I always joke that it's probably a good thing I discovered MTB towards the end of college or I'd be skipping class all the time to go ride. (don't do that please haha) Have fun in Duluth, college is a lot of fun, a lot of work, and it goes fast!
Nice bike dude! I’m running the XT build with a coil in the purp. Of course the Spire smashes the gnar but I can’t believe how good it pedals and how well it handles on mellow trail or tight tech. So sick!
That is such a sick bike, I can imagine how hard the Spire would charge with a coil shock out back glued to the ground! XT build in Huckleberry is definitely what I would have gotten if I didn’t buy this used custom build that wasn’t being utilized on gnarlier trails. Can’t believe how good it pedals either, pretty crazy to ride the bike park all day and then ride some mellower XC trails the next on the same bike!
I love the bike! You can tell the bike gives you more confidence on the gnarly Duluth trails. Great job of riding DM and BOB. You guided your buddy down those trails just perfectly. Nice control with just the right amount of speed. I see too many guys go way too fast on those trails and end up out of control and crash and burn. The recent rain has really helped the trails. They were so loose and dusty before.
Thanks, I’m very impressed with the Spire and it has completely changed how I approach descending more difficult trails, much more confidence inspiring and composed on the rough sections! I’m certainly nowhere near getting King of the Mountain times down anything in Duluth so I like to ride at a fast enough pace but in total control, felt it was a good speed for showing first time Piedmont riders the gnarlier trails too! Rain really helped the Duluth trails, not too many loose rocks on B.O.B now
You are absolutely crushing it down DM and BOB! Looking good on the bike! Glad you finally got that line on the climb up to the top. Really looking forward to shredding some lines with you very soon, talking like a week or so from now. We’re back!
Finally checked off that Dialed in locals line! Probably could have done it on the Fuel EX like you said, but was feeling in-spire-d on the new bike. I’m so stoked on the Spire, it rides so damn good everywhere! Charges the downhills like no bike I’ve ever ridden before and is pedal friendly enough for my local after work rides at Redhead. Glad you’re healing up and nearly back at it, we’ll be riding some trails very soon man!
As Transition says "It's time to GiddyUp!" My old Fuel EX was the perfect bike for southern MN when I only got up north a few weekends a year, but now that I live here it was definitely time for a longer travel bike. Spire would definitely be overkill for most riders, such as the original owner, but I have the terrain to justify it and it pedals shockingly well for this kind of bike. Really stoked on it and looking forward to riding with you again, either up North or your local stomping grounds at Monarch!
Thanks Kris! I’m really excited about it, it rides better than I had expected both up and down the trail. The original owner who built it is happy to see it go to a good home with some gnarlier trails nearby too!
Thanks man, Spire is the perfect bike for me, I'm really stoked on it! Ultra capable and confidence inspiring on the gnarly bike park trails and at Piedmont, and enough of a pedaler to be enjoyable for my everyday weekday rides. Let's get some laps in on our new shred sleds soon!
Thanks, I'm really stoked on everything about the Spire. Had been looking at longer travel bikes since I moved up North and when I saw this listing I just knew it was my next bike. Really solid component choices by the original owner, just didn't have the terrain nearby to justify owning this burly beast! Sounds cliche but it pedals far better than I thought it would and I don't mind the bit of extra work to pedal it to the top of the hill when it charges down like a downhill bike!
First. Congratulations. Like a new papa. 😅. Your story about sending the guy pictures of the bike on the trails was cool. I bought a Grumman canoe last summer from a guy who dreamed for two decades to get to the boundary waters. I've had it there twice now. I sent him pictures. Made him happy/sad. Bike looks great
Haha thanks Harry! That's cool to hear you have a similar story with the canoe, I'm sure he was glad the canoe went to a good home to be paddled on the destinations he dreamed of! I'm really impressed with the bike, and the original owner is glad it's actually being ridden on the trails he built it up for!
Thanks man, I had been looking at longer travel bikes for awhile now and had decided on the Spire. When I saw this custom build I just knew it was the right one, XL frame in Huckleberry with solid component choices. The original owner is very stoked it's actually being ridden at a bike park and on more difficult trails he built it up for and I'm stoked on how well it rides both uphill and downhill!
Hey man, I have a new amazing Duluth trail for you TH-camrs to ride. It’s called Parts Vermilion. It’s a black/double black diamond! It’s in the area between Hartley and the western side of Morningside trail. The shortcut to get there would be to park on Vermilion road, take Downer trail to the intersection with Parts Vermilion and Downer. Ride the trail clockwise. It’s a loop that runs through beautiful a forest area can be ridden either way. It’s .6 miles around, but it seems like five miles! You can session it multiple times. You’ll probably have the trail to yourself. I rode Hawk Ridge, Morningside, Downer and Parts Vermilion and then back, but it was a ten mile, tough ride. I have never taken this trail before, but it’s worth the effort to get there. It’s a combination of some of the best features on DM, BOB, Stone Age, and Split Rock Wilds. There is a slightly elevated double black skinny through the ferns over a gully, a double black very steep, mossy, no run in rock roll down with a huck at the end that goes into a tight right hand berm, two double black ladder bridge gap jumps, and many numerous rocky technical climbs and descents scattered throughout. It’s one hell of a workout!! Trailforks doesn’t really do it justice, but it was a blast!
I’ve seen that trail on trailforks and know very little about it, I’m curious about riding it sometime, sounds technical and fun. Kirk Knoll was mentioning that he rode it last year, I’ll have to ride it sometime!
@@AndrewGehn I did a search and found Kirk’s video. He rode it in the late fall, so the trail was leaf covered and hard to see certain features and the rocky terrain. The trail looks amazing now, in the summer, with all the green foliage. Of course, no video will do any trail any justice. It’s certainly not as difficult as the trails I mentioned above, but it’s a challenge to say the least and has certain aspects of all of those trails. When you ride it, you feel that you’ve done this trail before, even though you’ve never ridden it.
Thanks, the original owner built it up really well spec’d. I thought the 210 dropper was going to be too much but it’s the perfect size for this massive bike.
Spire is the best feeling bike I have ever ridden where descending is the primary goal but you have to earn your laps pedaling back up, still can't believe how much it calms down the descents and happily pedals right back up for another lap! Would be fun to ride in Duluth sometime, I'm at Spirit Mountain a few weekends a month and try to get out to Piedmont and Brewer as well!
How short is the riding season up there? You even get 3 full months before weather makes trouble? Never been up that far north for any sustained period of time
Duluth is about 6 months because it gets a lot more Lake effect snow, typically May to November. The rest of Minnesota is a good 7 months or so as you move further south.
@@AndrewGehn ah cool. Surprised weather conditions permit that lengthy of a riding season. I think that far north especially on the lake and my mind instantly goes to shit weather hitting as early as sept and may blizzards hah I'm recent transplant to mn, but southern(as in damn near on border with Iowa). I've heard Mankato has some minimal trail offerings but haven't checked it out yet, outside that Im like 3 hrs from anything.
@@jackburton2680 Mount Kato and Kiwanis are the two trail systems in Mankato I’ve heard the most about. Decorah, Iowa also looks to be good but I’ve never made the drive that far south before.
im pretty stoked to be an incoming freshman at the university of minnesota, duluth and am so excited to be a mini local for a couple years. went on a little solo ride at piedmont when I was there for orientation a few weeks ago and really only had time to ride DM 3 times (pre ride, re ride, free ride) before having to head out but having all of that great riding just 10 minutes from campus is rad
As a UMD graduate, congratulations! I started mountain biking my junior year there exploring the trails in Hartley Park near campus before discovering Mission Creek and Piedmont. Your riding is going to get so good living in Duluth if you are already sending one of the most difficult trails, DM! I always joke that it's probably a good thing I discovered MTB towards the end of college or I'd be skipping class all the time to go ride. (don't do that please haha) Have fun in Duluth, college is a lot of fun, a lot of work, and it goes fast!
Nice bike dude! I’m running the XT build with a coil in the purp. Of course the Spire smashes the gnar but I can’t believe how good it pedals and how well it handles on mellow trail or tight tech. So sick!
That is such a sick bike, I can imagine how hard the Spire would charge with a coil shock out back glued to the ground! XT build in Huckleberry is definitely what I would have gotten if I didn’t buy this used custom build that wasn’t being utilized on gnarlier trails. Can’t believe how good it pedals either, pretty crazy to ride the bike park all day and then ride some mellower XC trails the next on the same bike!
I love the bike! You can tell the bike gives you more confidence on the gnarly Duluth trails. Great job of riding DM and BOB. You guided your buddy down those trails just perfectly. Nice control with just the right amount of speed. I see too many guys go way too fast on those trails and end up out of control and crash and burn. The recent rain has really helped the trails. They were so loose and dusty before.
Thanks, I’m very impressed with the Spire and it has completely changed how I approach descending more difficult trails, much more confidence inspiring and composed on the rough sections! I’m certainly nowhere near getting King of the Mountain times down anything in Duluth so I like to ride at a fast enough pace but in total control, felt it was a good speed for showing first time Piedmont riders the gnarlier trails too! Rain really helped the Duluth trails, not too many loose rocks on B.O.B now
You are absolutely crushing it down DM and BOB! Looking good on the bike! Glad you finally got that line on the climb up to the top. Really looking forward to shredding some lines with you very soon, talking like a week or so from now. We’re back!
Finally checked off that Dialed in locals line! Probably could have done it on the Fuel EX like you said, but was feeling in-spire-d on the new bike. I’m so stoked on the Spire, it rides so damn good everywhere! Charges the downhills like no bike I’ve ever ridden before and is pedal friendly enough for my local after work rides at Redhead. Glad you’re healing up and nearly back at it, we’ll be riding some trails very soon man!
A worthy upgrade for the gnarlier terrain you now call home. Looks like it will be a noble steed for many years to come 🐴
As Transition says "It's time to GiddyUp!" My old Fuel EX was the perfect bike for southern MN when I only got up north a few weekends a year, but now that I live here it was definitely time for a longer travel bike. Spire would definitely be overkill for most riders, such as the original owner, but I have the terrain to justify it and it pedals shockingly well for this kind of bike. Really stoked on it and looking forward to riding with you again, either up North or your local stomping grounds at Monarch!
Congrats on the new whip!
Thanks Kris! I’m really excited about it, it rides better than I had expected both up and down the trail. The original owner who built it is happy to see it go to a good home with some gnarlier trails nearby too!
Dope! Bike looks good on you! Shredding hard man. Great bike for spirit and piedmont! Can't wait to run laps with you and check out the new steed!
Thanks man, Spire is the perfect bike for me, I'm really stoked on it! Ultra capable and confidence inspiring on the gnarly bike park trails and at Piedmont, and enough of a pedaler to be enjoyable for my everyday weekday rides. Let's get some laps in on our new shred sleds soon!
What a BEAST! Really great bike and components that are ready to crush. Glad to hear that it's all that you were hoping for!
Thanks, I'm really stoked on everything about the Spire. Had been looking at longer travel bikes since I moved up North and when I saw this listing I just knew it was my next bike. Really solid component choices by the original owner, just didn't have the terrain nearby to justify owning this burly beast! Sounds cliche but it pedals far better than I thought it would and I don't mind the bit of extra work to pedal it to the top of the hill when it charges down like a downhill bike!
Yeahhhh Dorian
Dorian was riding amazing, these are some of the most difficult trails in Minnesota and he rode them entirely without knowing what was on them!
First. Congratulations. Like a new papa. 😅. Your story about sending the guy pictures of the bike on the trails was cool. I bought a Grumman canoe last summer from a guy who dreamed for two decades to get to the boundary waters. I've had it there twice now. I sent him pictures. Made him happy/sad. Bike looks great
Haha thanks Harry! That's cool to hear you have a similar story with the canoe, I'm sure he was glad the canoe went to a good home to be paddled on the destinations he dreamed of! I'm really impressed with the bike, and the original owner is glad it's actually being ridden on the trails he built it up for!
@@AndrewGehn your going to have so much fun. 😊
Damn dude, congrats! That’s so sick!! 🤙🏻
Thanks man, I had been looking at longer travel bikes for awhile now and had decided on the Spire. When I saw this custom build I just knew it was the right one, XL frame in Huckleberry with solid component choices. The original owner is very stoked it's actually being ridden at a bike park and on more difficult trails he built it up for and I'm stoked on how well it rides both uphill and downhill!
Hey man, I have a new amazing Duluth trail for you TH-camrs to ride. It’s called Parts Vermilion. It’s a black/double black diamond! It’s in the area between Hartley and the western side of Morningside trail. The shortcut to get there would be to park on Vermilion road, take Downer trail to the intersection with Parts Vermilion and Downer. Ride the trail clockwise. It’s a loop that runs through beautiful a forest area can be ridden either way. It’s .6 miles around, but it seems like five miles! You can session it multiple times. You’ll probably have the trail to yourself. I rode Hawk Ridge, Morningside, Downer and Parts Vermilion and then back, but it was a ten mile, tough ride. I have never taken this trail before, but it’s worth the effort to get there. It’s a combination of some of the best features on DM, BOB, Stone Age, and Split Rock Wilds. There is a slightly elevated double black skinny through the ferns over a gully, a double black very steep, mossy, no run in rock roll down with a huck at the end that goes into a tight right hand berm, two double black ladder bridge gap jumps, and many numerous rocky technical climbs and descents scattered throughout. It’s one hell of a workout!! Trailforks doesn’t really do it justice, but it was a blast!
I’ve seen that trail on trailforks and know very little about it, I’m curious about riding it sometime, sounds technical and fun. Kirk Knoll was mentioning that he rode it last year, I’ll have to ride it sometime!
@@AndrewGehn I haven’t seen any videos on the trail, either. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my GoPro with me when I rode it.
@@AndrewGehn I did a search and found Kirk’s video. He rode it in the late fall, so the trail was leaf covered and hard to see certain features and the rocky terrain. The trail looks amazing now, in the summer, with all the green foliage. Of course, no video will do any trail any justice. It’s certainly not as difficult as the trails I mentioned above, but it’s a challenge to say the least and has certain aspects of all of those trails. When you ride it, you feel that you’ve done this trail before, even though you’ve never ridden it.
Nice bike. 210 dropper. Wow!
Thanks, the original owner built it up really well spec’d. I thought the 210 dropper was going to be too much but it’s the perfect size for this massive bike.
As a fellow Spire owner, I HIGHLY support your choice. It's the best monster truck I've ever ridden. Would love to ride up there with you some time.
Spire is the best feeling bike I have ever ridden where descending is the primary goal but you have to earn your laps pedaling back up, still can't believe how much it calms down the descents and happily pedals right back up for another lap! Would be fun to ride in Duluth sometime, I'm at Spirit Mountain a few weekends a month and try to get out to Piedmont and Brewer as well!
How short is the riding season up there? You even get 3 full months before weather makes trouble? Never been up that far north for any sustained period of time
Duluth is about 6 months because it gets a lot more Lake effect snow, typically May to November. The rest of Minnesota is a good 7 months or so as you move further south.
@@AndrewGehn ah cool. Surprised weather conditions permit that lengthy of a riding season. I think that far north especially on the lake and my mind instantly goes to shit weather hitting as early as sept and may blizzards hah
I'm recent transplant to mn, but southern(as in damn near on border with Iowa). I've heard Mankato has some minimal trail offerings but haven't checked it out yet, outside that Im like 3 hrs from anything.
@@jackburton2680 Mount Kato and Kiwanis are the two trail systems in Mankato I’ve heard the most about. Decorah, Iowa also looks to be good but I’ve never made the drive that far south before.
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