I've got to get a new rear wheel if it turns out I'm able to mountain bike again, and mount up an old one with a 21mm IW rim in the meantime to try out. Not risking my back flaring up with backpacking trips right around the corner, but I'm hopeful about getting back into it. Most fun thing ever, IMO.Bought a lot of the speciality tools for working on bikes and have been learning about maintaining my own.
May regret selling off a new drivetrain for the mtb, and a bunch of tools, particularly the Park Tool rear derailleur hanger alignment gauge. Don't know what I was thinking selling that one, 'cause it's nice to have for any geared bike with a RD.
I prefer singlespeed for mountain biking the Appalachian foothills around here, though.
Makes every ride a HIIT workout. Doesn't keep your feet tough for hiking(as I discovered the hard way!), but fitness certainly ceases to be an issue when you're hitting the trails 3-5x per week.