Mountain Biking - New Bike day!

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So after a lot of research and a lot of talking myself out of it, and then into it; I came home with this as well as some accessories. It's been a long time since I last biked and I've never had a full suspension bike. It makes all the difference for me!

anyway I went to my local shop again, this time it wasn't raining and I got a chance to spend some time on about 5 different bikes. I went there with the intention of getting a mid priced hardtail. I tried a Specialized rockhopper, a Giant something or other, a couple other hardtails, a Cannondale Prophet, and the Specialized Enduro. The hard tails were decent but I had a hard time climbing on them and it was quite frankly giving my butt a difficult time. Then I tried the Prophet and although it was nice, it felt a little too cramped. It climbed well and shifted nice but it didn't feel right. Then I tried the Enduro and wasn't all that impressed. I came back in and told the owner about what I thought. I kept hitting the pedals on the Enduro on the climb up. He took a look and said "Well that's why". The pressure was way low on the rear shock and I was bottoming out (I'm fairly heavy at 220). He adjusted it while I tried out a couple other hard tails then I tried the Enduro again and fell in love with it.

It's more bike than I deserve, probably more bike than I'll ever need but it feels so nice on the trail and it makes my climbing much easier. I got it for 1500.00 and bought some other accessories like helmet, gloves, mud flap, tool and patch kit, and walked out just over 1600.00. I think I did all right and I hope I can learn to use this bike to it's potential.


Dan

nice bike.
ditch the reflectors.

Very nice, congrats on the purchase.

Yeah they will be coming off. I just got home with it about 5 minutes ago:D

Nice ride, congrats.

Careful with the pump there, I could see it shattering on a rock.

Very nice purchase, congrats!

Nice ride, congrats.

Careful with the pump there, I could see it shattering on a rock.

and is that a bottle holder below that? if so, take that off as well. horrible spot.

Yeah I had him adjust it this afternoon and he put both of those on in their current positions. I will definitely be finding a different spot for both. Thanks for the advice on that.



Dan

Nice bike.

Yeah I had him adjust it this afternoon and he put both of those on in their current positions. I will definitely be finding a different spot for both. Thanks for the advice on that.



Dan

ya, not only will you hit it on something and do some damage, the bottle will constantly be dirty. just get a hydration pack.

ya, not only will you hit it on something and do some damage, the bottle will constantly be dirty. just get a hydration pack.

Yeah I will be getting a camelback..the pump is an issue though. Where it was mounted was the factory position for them...what a horrible design. With the frame the way it is there isn't much room anywhere else though. I think I need to get a couple pieces of velcro and attach it to the saddle post?



Dan

The bottle cage mounts are in about the same spot as my fisher's, I never undid the bolts for the bottle cage and not about to.

Yeah I will be getting a camelback..the pump is an issue though. Where it was mounted was the factory position for them...what a horrible design. With the frame the way it is there isn't much room anywhere else though. I think I need to get a couple pieces of velcro and attach it to the saddle post?

Dan

Either there or underneath the top tube.

Yeah I will be getting a camelback..the pump is an issue though. Where it was mounted was the factory position for them...what a horrible design. With the frame the way it is there isn't much room anywhere else though. I think I need to get a couple pieces of velcro and attach it to the saddle post?



Dan

Carry it in the Camelbak. Many have a specific pocket for a pump.

Carry it in the Camelbak. Many have a specific pocket for a pump.

Agreed. Mine does.

looks heavy .... how much poundage? climbing better? hmmm

Enduros are the best.

I have an 03 enduro (all 07 or later high end components) and it still is one of the most awesome bikes on the trail. Enduros are the best bikes ever! I'd kill for an '08 Carbon, but thats not likely anytime soon.

I have an 03 enduro (all 07 or later high end components) and it still is one of the most awesomestest bikes on the trail.

Fixed.

It's not about the bike.

sry i wil spel lik gehto trasg 2

I haven't weight it personally but from what I've read it's about 31 pounds. When I say it climbs well, I'm comparing it to the Hard tails I've ridden in the past, so take that for what it's worth. It works great for me though and I can't wait to get out and ride a bit more to get a real feel for what it can do, and what I can do on it.


Thanks for the info on the camelback with the pump!


Dan

It's more bike than I deserve, probably more bike than I'll ever need but it feels so nice on the trail and it makes my climbing much easier. . . .Solid choice - - I hope it brings lots of enjoyment. Oh, and don't ever let yourself think you don't 'deserve' a quality mount - - a good bike has a way of raising the bar on you and getting the best out of you and your rides ;).

sweet bike! take the reflectors off, they arent necessary

I took the reflectors off, the bottle and pump mount and the mud flaps. It looks a lot better bare than it does mucked up with all that stuff. Does anyone ever use the mud flaps? It rains a lot here and I will definitely be riding through mud and general wetness and was curious if they are even necessary?


Dan

Solid choice - - I hope it brings lots of enjoyment. Oh, and don't ever let yourself think you don't 'deserve' a quality mount - - a good bike has a way of raising the bar on you and getting the best out of you and your rides ;).

Thanks for that. I know it will make my riding more pleasurable. I rode it for a little bit today around the local lakes which are mostly paved but with dirt ins and outs running all through it. It was fun and handled really well. I can't wait to get out and ride tomorrow as well.


Dan

They can be nice on really nasty days, but don't really keep you from getting nasty. Helps keep some mud off your face though.

For the pump, I'd say leave it where it is. If you are hitting that part of your bike (the bottom of your downtube, which is very very thin aluminum you have MUCH bigger problems that a wrecked pump. That section of your frame is conveniently hidden by your front wheel and crankset, so you would literally have to drop it straight down onto something very tall and pointy to do any damage.

They can be nice on really nasty days, but don't really keep you from getting nasty. Helps keep some mud off your face though.

For the pump, I'd say leave it where it is. If you are hitting that part of your bike (the bottom of your downtube, which is very very thin aluminum you have MUCH bigger problems that a wrecked pump. That section of your frame is conveniently hidden by your front wheel and crankset, so you would literally have to drop it straight down onto something very tall and pointy to do any damage.

Thanks for the reply! I will be getting the camelback shortly and if I can find one with some storage I will just keep it there, but I can see your point. I'm personally not riding anything drastic so chances of anything happening to it are slim.

I took the reflectors off, the bottle and pump mount and the mud flaps. It looks a lot better bare than it does mucked up with all that stuff. Does anyone ever use the mud flaps? It rains a lot here and I will definitely be riding through mud and general wetness and was curious if they are even necessary?


Dan

If by "mud flaps" you mean fender it's not really necessary. If you're doing any sort of serious riding, you'll get muddy either way. I do have a fender that I use occasionally on nasty dh days. It's the marzocchi version that's designed specifially for the fork, however, which means it's it's more durable and less clunky looking than the others.

Special ed also makes what they call a mudflap which is actually a rear shock protector that zipties to the seatstay yoke. I use one on both my enduros. It kinda sorta works I guess. I wouldn't pay retail for one.

And as long as you're trying to de-muck the bike, ditch the seatbag too, or I guess you could just stuff it in the Camelbak.

It's the marzocchi version that's designed specifially for the fork, however, which means it's it's more durable and less clunky looking than the others.Doesn't that also mean that it's so abbreviated that the only thing it keeps the mud off is the bottom of the crown? :D

Doesn't that also mean that it's so abbreviated that the only thing it keeps the mud off is the bottom of the crown? :D

There are two versions. The older one doesn't work nearly as well as the newer, which actually keeps mud out of the eyes pretty well. Now I guess the hot ticket is the chunk of old tube ziptied to the back of the crown and the lowers.

Now I guess the hot ticket is the chunk of old tube ziptied to the back of the crown and the lowers.Yeah, I've seen that some: effective, but ends up looking like a Brit MXer from 1965.

For the camel back, check out these:
http://www.pricepoint.com/thumb/2-Accessories-171-Hydration-True.htm

I recommend the Hydra Pack AS Cargo.
I just got one and love riding with it. Plenty of storage space, and holds 70 ounces of water.

For the camel back, check out these:
http://www.pricepoint.com/thumb/2-Accessories-171-Hydration-True.htm

I recommend the Hydra Pack AS Cargo.
I just got one and love riding with it. Plenty of storage space, and holds 70 ounces of water.

Didn't it leak all over you?

Speaking of Camel Backs, I was drinking out of mine when the nozzle came off.

Cold water shot everywhere.

I swerved.

And made somebody crash.

And broke their arm.

:(

/story