Mountain Biking - Jonesin' for more travel

It's happening and I can't help it.

I've always been happy with my 3.6" rear travel cross country bike, and believed that was all I needed. This last weekend, however, I was able to trade bikes with my friend for the day, and ended up questioning my cross-country purist ideals.

The bike I was riding was a Specialized Enduro Pro. I was very surprised that with the extra weight it actually wasn't really much harder to climb with, until we got to the super steep uphill. The downhill, though, just floated like fighter pods through the ewok forest. One thing I did miss was that I wasn't able to fly off of little bumps like I usually do on my cross country rig. Instead, any little or medium size bump just sort of dissapeared as I floated over them. But this allowed for a much faster speed going downhill, which is a good thing. Also a good thing is that the bike just flew off of larger bumps and landed softly and in control every time.

I have no way of pulling off a new bike purchase, as my girlfriend would flip her lid. Maybe someday my frame will break and I'll just have to get another frame... Until then I'll just live my big-hit life vicariously through the stories and posts of DBD, A2, Mael, BHM, and all you others that get to go bigger than me...
:beer:

:D...it is fun. I don't really go that big but have goals in mind. You should try and test ride some of the other big rigs too. Some are tonnes of fun. I am spending this summer building up my skills and renting big hit bikes Trying to find the bike best suited to what I like. I still ride a ht so I feel everything. It is funny to go riding with people who can sit through stuff I have to stand through. Definately differences in riding :)

I have warned my gf a year in advance that I am buying something new for 2004 ;):D

You'll have to live vicariously through other people than me. Going BIG for me is a 3' drop. When you're as BIG as I am, going BIG is dangerous to health and equipment.

L8R

Ya, I've been casually checking out bigger bikes for a while now, it just isn't that fun when you know you can't have them:D

I have been really impressed with Kona's line, among others... Maybe I should take your strategy and start warning her that by this time next year I'll be free-riding on my new machine:)

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
You'll have to live vicariously through other people than me. Going BIG for me is a 3' drop. When you're as BIG as I am, going BIG is dangerous to health and equipment.

L8R

lol~

What I was really getting at is the bigger, stronger bikes with more shock can eat up the downhill so much more so than my light cross country machine. I'm only 155 lbs and I'm constantly afraid of cracking my frame riding aggressively. Going big to some people might mean dropping 15 ft. cliffs, but to me it's bombing down whatever terrain you're on with a ***** eatin grin the whole time:D


Originally posted by a2psyklnut
I have however, launched over a small alligator! Yikes


This to me is another good way of "going big". :)

but to me it's bombing down whatever terrain you're on with a ***** eatin grin the whole time

I like to do that often!!!!

However, at 155lbs, I don't see you having a problem destroying ANYTHING, unless you crash into something!

Heck, if you do break something, it's just the excuse you need to upgrade!

L8R

Gonesh,

I wouldn't worry about breaking anything. At that weight most bikes are burly for you. The average bike is made for a 170pound man. This is a good thing. You have some awesome options and can get a reasonable priced bike.

I am with A2...crash your bike and claim replacemtn with the women :)

Originally posted by a2psyklnut

However, at 155lbs, I don't see you having a problem destroying ANYTHING, unless you crash into something!

L8R

I weigh @154lbs and I have broken a Caloi HT, GT LTS (2Xs), and a 2000 Big Hit (2xs) plus a ton of parts. Weight may matter for some, but not for all. I now ride a 2003 Bigh Hit Pro (8.1" of travel - who hoo!!!) with a 2003 Jr. T - i wouldn't think i could ever break it - but who knows.

Originally posted by Maelstrom
The average bike is made for a 170pound man. This is a good thing.


This is a good thing? Since when is the average man 170 lbs?!

I'm 5'11" -ish and even if I trim right down to extremely low body fat, I don't think I could get much below 180 lbs.

Well if you think about it, most riders are young, somewhat in-shape males and weigh in the area of 160-180 lbs. Sometimes more sometimes less, but generally speaking most weigh around 170. I think its time to start a poll.

Originally posted by McGuillicuddy
This is a good thing? Since when is the average man 170 lbs?!

I'm 5'11" -ish and even if I trim right down to extremely low body fat, I don't think I could get much below 180 lbs.

You took that too literally...its a good thing for him...And to be honest I am not sure where they got this mythical 5'11 170 pound male size but that is what everything is designed around.

dude I am 6'5 and 250 pounds at my smallest, I always need to get oversized bikes :)

i should really check out a full-suspension bike one of these days. all my bikes are fully rigid.

Originally posted by Pharcyde
Well if you think about it, most riders are young, somewhat in-shape males and weigh in the area of 160-180 lbs. Sometimes more sometimes less, but generally speaking most weigh around 170. I think its time to start a poll.

The polls been done before on here...but there are a lot of new userrs :)

Thats one advantage to being a pigmy, I can get away with using medium/light products without having to worry too much about destroying them in one fell swoop. Now if I could just convince the girls that short guys are 'in' :irritated

Hey G9, you should check out the Kona Demo Days. You can ride just about every bike they make. It just depends on what they have room to bring. Below are the upcoming dates they will be in your area and the shops that are hosting the events.

June 18
Santiam Bicycle Way of Life / Salem, OR
503-363-6602

June 21
Bike n Hike / Portland, OR
503-736-1074


June 22
Fat Tire Farm / Portland, OR
503-222-3276

I bought a Kona Bear so I could put a little bit of everything in. I found my love in freeride. now I've built (and taken) stream jumps, done steep dropins, and cleard stairsets to 5' drops, stairgaps are the next challenge!!!!

wish me luck!
(and im getting a cove G-spot, I think...)

Yea, I definitely need that 6"!

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
Hey G9, you should check out the Kona Demo Days. You can ride just about every bike they make. It just depends on what they have room to bring. Below are the upcoming dates they will be in your area and the shops that are hosting the events.

June 18
Santiam Bicycle Way of Life / Salem, OR
503-363-6602

June 21
Bike n Hike / Portland, OR
503-736-1074


June 22
Fat Tire Farm / Portland, OR
503-222-3276

Thanks DBD- I'll have to check them out when they come back to Portland. I actually caught them at a Demo Day earlier this Spring, but wasn't able to ride any. I just gawked and drooled. That's what got me on the Kona kick in the first place. Definately nice bikes.

It's great weighing 140 pounds.... bent wheels, broken frames... unheard of!

http://www.dirtpassion.com/fawk.gif

Originally posted by Jim311
It's great weighing 140 pounds.... bent wheels, broken frames, women... unheard of!


:D

Ha! The wimmenz love 2% body fat!