Mountain Biking - Specialized HARDRock Sport...what can it do?

So I just got my new tires Raiyn. ;)

Now I'm wondering....what is the endurance limit for the entry level hardrock sport? How hard can I push it?
I know that its not good for downhill racing obviously but does that mean all it can do is light trails? Please explain.

Also, there is alot of talk about the hardware of mtbiking here. How about teaching me how to ride the thing? LOL :D
How is mountain biking riding technique different from road biking besides the physical ground your pedaling on? What sort of skills would I have to learn if any besides simply riding. I would like to know.
TEACH MEEE ARGHHHH!!! :|

I think the best thing you could do is ride as much and as often as possible. Get a feel for the bike and the trail. Be one with yourself. Go in peace young padawan.

biggest thing compared to roadbikes is keeping your balance in all situations,and you gotta look a little more where you are riding.
how hard can you push the HR sport ,i don't know ,but it pretty much depends on your weight .if you are only 120 pounds you can probably go pritty big on it .

yeah go ride

biggest thing compared to roadbikes is keeping your balance in all situations,and you gotta look a little more where you are riding.
how hard can you push the HR sport ,i don't know ,but it pretty much depends on your weight .if you are only 120 pounds you can probably go pritty big on it .

umm......I'm not light. :D

Bout 220...but I am currently losing weight and I want to CONTINUE. Hopefully after the summer if I'm lucky will be under 200.

than it won't go very hard !!!!you will have like 3 inches negative travel just from sitting on it :D

than it won't go very hard !!!!you will have like 3 inches negative travel just from sitting on it :D
Two words: Spring Upgrade :rolleyes:

Yeah! I just bought a Hardrock Sport this past Monday, had flat handlebars put on, and Armadillo Nimbus tires for the street.

I'm having so much fun riding it... I can ride a lot harder than I can on my LeMond or Bianchi. It's great fun... hopping up curbs and over bumps and stuff.

And the price was just right!!!

Two words: Spring Upgrade :rolleyes:

I wanted the better fork man but I couldn't afford it. If I knew sooner that I would of decided to get it I woulda saved at least a hundred more for the one with disc brakes and better fork.

Oh raiyn by the way.......your tire suggestion vs the specialized 03 team control. LOL just curious. :D

Two words: Spring Upgrade :rolleyes:

spring update for an RST fork .i don't know about that one :rolleyes:

The comp comes with a Marchozzi and the sport comes with an RST. (forgeot names of models). So is the Marchozzi a lot differnt from the RST? I was wondering what the comp had that the RST didn't? I'm guessing just more quality parts, but then I thought it might have been the fork.

on the marzocchi you could go for the spring update.that will work for most people if you don't plan on crazy jumps and drops.don't get me wrong though ,its not a great fork!!

Oh raiyn by the way.......your tire suggestion vs the specialized 03 team control. LOL just curious. :D
Mine frst. You know why

Hold on. So your saying I can upgrade the springs inside of the fork???
How much is that gonna cost and what kind of performance boost would I get ? :eek:

Oh and raiyn? the thing we was discussing? Is the answer the PRICE?

Hold on. So your saying I can upgrade the springs inside of the fork???
How much is that gonna cost and what kind of performance boost would I get ? :eek:

Oh and raiyn? the thing we was discussing? Is the answer the PRICE?
I've seen them for the other brands I can't remember if there is one for the RST if there IS it will be cheaper than a new fork and will buy you some time before you really would want to upgrade due to performance desires. As for the question that would be the correct answer.

the upgrade from marzocchi is about 40 $.

I'm gonna ask my LBS today about the fork if it can be updated. Would be interesting info for the forum I think. I'll let u know later.

well the mz comp can be upgraded and i would not even bouther upgrading the rst .but that is my opinion.
i really think you should get the comp ,the sport just doesnt seem to the right bike for you .i bet you will be happier if you wait and save another month and bike that is rather suitable for your weight.

O.k., enough about the bike. It'll work just fine to get you going! Seriously, the dude's not going to drop off a loading dock his first week out.

You guys lose focus on what's important. RIDING!

You are so concerned about how good this fork is, these brakes...etc. Guess what? It don't matter. As long as it works, it'll get you riding on the trails and it'll put a smile on your face.

Now, skills you'll need. Balance! A roadie plops his butt on the saddle and pedals. Leans a bit in the turns and that's about it.

For mountain biking, you need to learn body english. You need to learn to move around the bike shifting your weight to make the bike do what you want it to do. When climbing, stay seated, bend forward at your hips, slide to the tip of your saddle, tuck your eblows. IOW, shift your body weight forward.

When descending, keep your body weight back, keep your arms and knees flexed, you use more front brake for controlled braking.

When going through turns, keep your outside pedal in the 6 o'clock position and push down on it. It'll drive your knobbies into the dirt for better traction. Depending on the terrain, will dictate whether your body is neutral or forward. Or shifting from front to back. Front as you enter the turn for traction, then shifting towards the back as you exit.

Regardless of where, keep you eyes focused on the trail at least 10' in front of you, not 2' in front of your tire.

Use your arms and legs as suspension.

Don't hold the bars with a death grip. Keep your hands loose.

Prepare to fall, Hope you don't. (Wear protection, helmet, gloves...etc.)

Know you will fall!

i am just promoting getting a bike bike that actually fits .i don't believe it is always the best idea to save on the wrong end ,and i think many people would be better off,will have more fun riding and be on the safer side if they ether just drop a little more or save for a month or too.avising someone over 200 pouds in buying a a bike with that rst fork is just simply bad advise no matter how you put it.

O.k., enough about the bike. It'll work just fine to get you going! Seriously, the dude's not going to drop off a loading dock his first week out.

You guys lose focus on what's important. RIDING!

You are so concerned about how good this fork is, these brakes...etc. Guess what? It don't matter. As long as it works, it'll get you riding on the trails and it'll put a smile on your face.

Now, skills you'll need. Balance! A roadie plops his butt on the saddle and pedals. Leans a bit in the turns and that's about it.

For mountain biking, you need to learn body english. You need to learn to move around the bike shifting your weight to make the bike do what you want it to do. When climbing, stay seated, bend forward at your hips, slide to the tip of your saddle, tuck your eblows. IOW, shift your body weight forward.

When descending, keep your body weight back, keep your arms and knees flexed, you use more front brake for controlled braking.

When going through turns, keep your outside pedal in the 6 o'clock position and push down on it. It'll drive your knobbies into the dirt for better traction. Depending on the terrain, will dictate whether your body is neutral or forward. Or shifting from front to back. Front as you enter the turn for traction, then shifting towards the back as you exit.

Regardless of where, keep you eyes focused on the trail at least 10' in front of you, not 2' in front of your tire.

Use your arms and legs as suspension.

Don't hold the bars with a death grip. Keep your hands loose.

Prepare to fall, Hope you don't. (Wear protection, helmet, gloves...etc.)

Know you will fall!

Sometimes when city riding when going over bumps or whatever I seem to be getting off the seat. But that would put impact weight on the pedals. How can I avoid this? And what am I doing wrong?

Sometimes when city riding when going over bumps or whatever I seem to be getting off the seat. But that would put impact weight on the pedals. How can I avoid this? And what am I doing wrong?

You can ride over whatever you want sitting down....@ some point you may need to pull your boys outta your buttcrack though. Off the saddles fine, recommended even.

I've seen them for the other brands I can't remember if there is one for the RST if there IS it will be cheaper than a new fork and will buy you some time before you really would want to upgrade due to performance desires. As for the question that would be the correct answer.

I talked to the guy at the LBS and he looked up in some book that says my fork can't have its springs upgraded. :(
Can you confirm this raiyn? Its the RST gila t5. :|
This sucks.

I talked to the guy at the LBS and he looked up in some book that says my fork can't have its springs upgraded. :(
Can you confirm this raiyn? Its the RST gila t5. :|
This sucks.
At the moment I can't.

I run the same fork and weigh about 230 :o It doesnt bottom out a lot at all. Given some of the trails I ride I'd say there must be different springs around if yours is bottoming out a lot. In fact I thought my T5 was really stiff when I got it and was beginning to wonder if it would ever free up.

stalker...I have this same bike (2003) and it is bullet proof. I am 6-2,215, and have ridden it on a few down hills with nephew (damm, never again..my 54yo bones did not like), some tough trails, light trails, did a 50mile charity (with slicks on). This is the bike that got my back riding agian!! My road bike sat in my garage for years and one ride on this..well, I'm just happy to find my mental health cure on wheels.
I have only "bottomed out" the forks a few times, but you can adjust the resistance higher too. Hey, everyone knocks standard low end components....but, the Acera derailer works fine and never misses a shift, brakes work well, seat comfortable. Buy the bike, and ride the hell out of it. We only get so many days in our life to ride...don't waste them! Love Specialized bikes!

im 13 and am 90 pounds, and i love that bike. Ive done a lot of stuff, and i havn't bottomed out my fork in 2 months that i have had it.(obviously because of my weight).

im 13 and am 90 pounds, and i love that bike. Ive done a lot of stuff, and i havn't bottomed out my fork in 2 months that i have had it.(obviously because of my weight).

What kind of "stuff" though. :|

p.s. bout to start a seperate thread bout hardware again.........this time bout grips. :)

There's nothing wrong with putting weight on the pedals, any real mountain biking you'll need to be off the seat. Do yourself a favor and don't land on the seat from a jump. lol


I've bottomed my fork out a couple times, or at least gotten close.

There's nothing wrong with putting weight on the pedals, any real mountain biking you'll need to be off the seat. Do yourself a favor and don't land on the seat from a jump. lol


I've bottomed my fork out a couple times, or at least gotten close.

That happend to me yesterday! ow ow ow ow ow owwwwwww! Going of a jump me and my friend made, crappy plastic pedals and a shoe that has no grip on the bottom. Speeding up for the jump, knees bent, all ready for it and as I was tranfering my body weight to lift off, and my feet slipped off the pedals. From then on all I remember was pain. When the bike thumped down on the ground, I landed with great force and no support on my seat. I also have a tendancy to slip forward off my seat (cause of those dam pedals), and onto the bar while riding.

So yeh...for Mountain Biking, make sure you have good pedals, and good grip.

That happend to me yesterday! ow ow ow ow ow owwwwwww! Going of a jump me and my friend made, crappy plastic pedals and a shoe that has no grip on the bottom. Speeding up for the jump, knees bent, all ready for it and as I was tranfering my body weight to lift off, and my feet slipped off the pedals. From then on all I remember was pain. When the bike thumped down on the ground, I landed with great force and no support on my seat. I also have a tendancy to slip forward off my seat (cause of those dam pedals), and onto the bar while riding.

So yeh...for Mountain Biking, make sure you have good pedals, and good grip.

I think the default hardrock sport comes with metal pedals....at least I think they are. And I'm using sneakers............am I in danger? :|

Problaby not, just that the combination of a wet plastic pedal, and a wet flat soled shoe isn't too good.

Holy crap neon. This little kid who lives nearby hit a jump and did a no footer, and landed on his balls. I was like, "holy !@#$, he's still alive?"


Stalker, the stock pedals are alright for a while, but they're junk. Get a set of Poverty Peddlers in 9/16: http://www.danscomp.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&item=465151

Grip WAY better. Your foot just doesnt slide around if you don't want it to. Careful though, the pins are pretty long and sharp, and they hurt.

I put clipless pedals on my bike... was doing bunny hops over potholes and manhole covers today... this bike is so freaking fun!

I also put the chrome saddle from my Pista on this bike, I didn't like the wide-ass BG saddle it came with.

Grip WAY better. Your foot just doesnt slide around if you don't want it to. Careful though, the pins are pretty long and sharp, and they hurt.

I have metal pedals on my rig and boy do they dig into your leg if you slip. I have many scars that will forever stay on my shin. :mad: And yeah lots of blood sometimes. :(

I have metal pedals on my rig and boy do they dig into your leg if you slip. I have many scars that will forever stay on my shin. :mad: And yeah lots of blood sometimes. :(

Same here. People keep asking me "what happened to your leg?" and i respond with "bike pedal" and they go off thinking im crazy....

I have metal pedals on my rig and boy do they dig into your leg if you slip. I have many scars that will forever stay on my shin. :mad: And yeah lots of blood sometimes. :(

That's why I allways wear shinguards...

Never really pushed mine very hard.... have it for sale now tho >>>