Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.BluesDawg
04-03-08, 08:15 PM
I had a good ride today.:) The weather looked dreary, but it felt pretty nice riding in a long sleeve jersey and tights. 50 degrees, just cool enough, but not cold. I got bored riding at Bartram alone for a mile on the same old singletrack loop and then the same old 4 mile loop, so I headed over to Selma Irwin to try something different and try riding it on the new Stumpjumper FSR for the first time.
First I rode the reverse direction (clockwise) to the switchback hill. I walked up it and rode back down. Almost cleaned it but had to do a little dab because I missed the line on the sharp dropping turn by the big tree, but other than that I was surprised how much easier it was to negotiate the switchbacks on the new bike. The rock garden and the rise with the big pine root seemed a lot less worrisome too.
I wish I had taken my camera. Selma was beautiful today. Dogwoods and wild azaleas were blooming everywhere and the creek was flowing. I saw a few deer and rabbits running around. The overcast sky and slight mist gave the woods a spooky look.
I felt good, so I decided to do a full lap in the normal, counterclockwise direction. All the roots and rocks went by with so much less drama than I remember from previous rides at Selma. The rocky, rooty climbs were easier to negotiate too. I think I've drunk the kool-aid on the full suspension thing. It's not just about softening the jolts, although it certainly does that. The rear wheel is able to maintain traction so much better on technical climbs. It just wants to stay in contact rather than slamming into things and bouncing off of them.I can really feel why reviewers have remarked on how the new geometry on the 08 Stumpy FSR helps it climb well. I still had trouble on a few of the sections that I have never been able to get through cleanly, but I got through a few places I never made it through before.
Then in the middle of one of those ridiculously hard climbs about halfway though the loop, my chain broke. It just pulled a pin right out of the bushing. Luckily I have a chain tool in my mini-tool and was able to repair the chain and keep going. It would have been a long walk from there. But it did take a while and it seemed to sap my energy level. I was pretty tired the rest of the way and it was getting close to dark. Right on cue, a misty rain began to fall. I was still handling the trail pretty well except for not having enough motor to climb all the hills. The second time on the switchbacks was much better as I came down cleanly without much concern.
I got back to the car just before it got too dark to see clearly. I was pretty tired, but it was a good kind of tired. And I didn't feel nearly as beaten up as I usually have felt after riding Selma. It was just what I needed to shake off all the stresses from the job and from working on getting the April Fools Ride ready to roll. I think I may sleep well tonight.
First I rode the reverse direction (clockwise) to the switchback hill. I walked up it and rode back down. Almost cleaned it but had to do a little dab because I missed the line on the sharp dropping turn by the big tree, but other than that I was surprised how much easier it was to negotiate the switchbacks on the new bike. The rock garden and the rise with the big pine root seemed a lot less worrisome too.
I wish I had taken my camera. Selma was beautiful today. Dogwoods and wild azaleas were blooming everywhere and the creek was flowing. I saw a few deer and rabbits running around. The overcast sky and slight mist gave the woods a spooky look.
I felt good, so I decided to do a full lap in the normal, counterclockwise direction. All the roots and rocks went by with so much less drama than I remember from previous rides at Selma. The rocky, rooty climbs were easier to negotiate too. I think I've drunk the kool-aid on the full suspension thing. It's not just about softening the jolts, although it certainly does that. The rear wheel is able to maintain traction so much better on technical climbs. It just wants to stay in contact rather than slamming into things and bouncing off of them.I can really feel why reviewers have remarked on how the new geometry on the 08 Stumpy FSR helps it climb well. I still had trouble on a few of the sections that I have never been able to get through cleanly, but I got through a few places I never made it through before.
Then in the middle of one of those ridiculously hard climbs about halfway though the loop, my chain broke. It just pulled a pin right out of the bushing. Luckily I have a chain tool in my mini-tool and was able to repair the chain and keep going. It would have been a long walk from there. But it did take a while and it seemed to sap my energy level. I was pretty tired the rest of the way and it was getting close to dark. Right on cue, a misty rain began to fall. I was still handling the trail pretty well except for not having enough motor to climb all the hills. The second time on the switchbacks was much better as I came down cleanly without much concern.
I got back to the car just before it got too dark to see clearly. I was pretty tired, but it was a good kind of tired. And I didn't feel nearly as beaten up as I usually have felt after riding Selma. It was just what I needed to shake off all the stresses from the job and from working on getting the April Fools Ride ready to roll. I think I may sleep well tonight.