In 2004 I bought my first bicycle, a Trek 4600. A few months later I upgraded the cockpit, saddle, brakes, and eventually put a Fox Talas RLC on. My world would be changed forever. This was before phones were smart, Instagram was even a thought, and social media meant calling friends to grip and rip; so unfortunately those memories weren’t captured to be remembered for years to come… until this happened. All the memories from my ridding infancy came rushing back in.
As you may have read in posts below, I had an issue with the ridged fork that came equipped with the SS Pulsar and ended up getting upgraded to the RockShox 30 Gold TK State Bicycle Co. offers with their Deluxe SS Pulsar. State’s customer service is on point!!
Adding a 100mm of travel makes a HUGE difference! especially when your background for the last several years has been CX and Road. It reminded me of that first ride I took on the Trek 4600 all those years ago, smashing through rock sections and climbing like a goat. Speaking of climbing… I’ve ridden plenty of mountain bikes in the last 12 years but only rode hardtail on the very first mountain bike I owned. This has been the dumbest decision I’ve made on two wheels. I enjoy full suspension fine, but the control I have on a hardtail doesn’t even compare. Sure it’s a little more jarring, but that’s when the years of cyclocross knowledge kicks in.
- But Matt, the Pulsar is Single Speed (SS) right?
- Yes, this set up is, but you can order it geared if you’d like. If you want to add gearing later down the trail, the SS option comes with a derailleur hanger and is easily upgradable.
- So how’s the SS gear ratio on the mountain?
- Freaking great! I recently discussed how it was way too easy on flat single-track when I rode with Team Loblolly out of Panama City, FL. Once I took it on the rocky trails of Monte Sano Mountain, North Alabama; the 32 x 18 killed it!!!
- What would you recommend for a first time mountain bike purchaser?
- It really depends on your riding history and/or style of riding desired.
- CX: I LOVED the ridged set up to handle something a bit more aggressive than your normal gravel road. The full ridged offered enough cushion with the larger tires and steel frame construction to soak up larger tree roots/rocks.
- TRAIL: The first rock section I bombed down sealed the deal for me. IN. LOVE! with smashing up and down the mountain, not even thinking of large obstacle in the trail. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the SS gearing and 100mm of travel the Deluxe SS Pulsar offers.
- It really depends on your riding history and/or style of riding desired.
I hope you enjoyed my take on the State Bicycle Co. SS Deluxe Pulsar. This set up has made me fall in love with the mountain again and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Follow along on our Instagram for ride recaps and day-to-day use of the Pulsar. Cheers!
RIDE x CREATE
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