Mountain Biking - Trail riding rocks!

My 11yr old son and I went to a local single track trail riding spot. He on his Trek 820 and me on my Crosstrail. There were a few logs we had a to go over, some dips, a few tight switch backs and a ton of narrow areas to negotiate. Man did we have a blast! I am now addicted to single track riding and we have started to look for more areas to try.

The Crosstrail held up well. It was surprisingly nimble. We had ridden about 4.5 miles and returned to to the truck to get some refreshments and look the bikes over. We then ventured onto another trail in the park and about a 1/4 mile in I got a rear flat. End of the day. The 700x45 Borough XC's did better then I thought and I was nervous about bending a rim but all was well. I noticed that the bottom of the crank would make contact with the logs at times. I'm wondering of that is because of the bike geometry? I am also wondering if there are any upgrades I should start considering. I think a new bike is out of the question at this time since I had just bought this one (the wife would kill me). I do wish I could've tried trail riding before buying the Crosstrail as that would have maybe pushed me towards a more appropriate bike but live and learn I guess.

Bottom line is we both had an absolutely great time (even though we both got attacked by chiggers) and can't wait to do it again. Trail riding rocks!

Trail riding rocks!

Well DUHH!!!!

;)

I am also wondering if there are any upgrades I should start considering.

Start considering an actual "Mountain Bike". You will eventually beat the crap out of the crosstrail.

You could get a cheap used mountain bike that can handle some trail for a couple of bills. Check eBay for something like a Kona Blast or Gary Fisher Wahoo or Trek 3700 or Jamis Trail or Jamis Durango.


Save for a bit and then you'll have your little "path bike" as well as a mountain bike. If you ride the Crosstrail off road very much...you'll end up putting a couple bills into it anyways.

I think your right. When I bought the crosstrail buy main riding interests were bike paths and roadways and maybe the odd dirt road. The Crosstrail was more comfortable than a true road bike (or at least the Sequoia I test rode). I never ever gave a thought to single track to which I now have the bug.

I think your right. When I bought the crosstrail buy main riding interests were bike paths and roadways and maybe the odd dirt road. The Crosstrail was more comfortable than a true road bike (or at least the Sequoia I test rode). I never ever gave a thought to single track to which I now have the bug.

It's pretty infectious.

Check out the Specialized Hardrock series. Cheap and tough.

It's pretty infectious.

Check out the Specialized Hardrock series. Cheap and tough.

and heavier than lead

and heavier than lead

Lead makes you stronger:thumb:

Come on dude...a noob on a 30lb hardtail is just fine.

those are like 35 aren't they?

Well, my C'dale is about 30ish, and I remember picking up a Hardrock and going "Holy crap, that's heavy", at which point the owner glared at me.

and heavier than lead

False.....

those are like 35 aren't they?

I don't think so...I picked my Jamis up and then picked up my friends...oh crap...he has a Rockhopper...nevermind.

Game On!
http://www.chucksconnection.com/waynesworld/wayne05.jpg

OP-

I started riding MTB (in '93) with my son, too. We've had a total blast over the years and it has been some of the best dad/kid time ever. We would just go down the trail with our tongues hangin' out! Doesn't get much better than that.

I recently took my eldest daughter on some short, easy single track and we had a great time. After this ride I got her mountain bike fixed as the Giant Gloss she normally rides is not really geared for trails (slick tires, single speed, very low BB).

Kudos to you, OP, for doing something fun with your son. Quality time with your kids is absolutely worth more than gold, IMO.

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/images/IMG_6529.jpg

Santiago-that photo is priceless! I will definately bring the camera on our next ride. To me this is what it's all about.

I will be searching for bike strictly for trail use. Problem is I'm a clyde (6'7" 350) so I might be searching the used market for awhile before I find something suitable. Another thought I had was to buy a frame and then slowly build the bike over the winter.

Thanks all!

You will eventually beat the crap out of the crosstrail.

That's not necessarily true. The Crosstrail frame, at least on the 2007 model that I have, is very much trail-capable. I believe the frames may have changed somewhat in 2008. But if the original poster has the 2007 model, he's got a solid frame that, imho, is every bit as capable as, say, a Rockhopper.

You can make the Crosstrail more trail-worthy by: 1) Changing the stock 48/36/26 chainrings to 44/32/22. 2) Swapping in a pair of 29er mountain-bike tires. I sometimes run a pair Specialized Fasttrak 29x2.00 on mine. 3) Possibly swapping in a cassette with a 34-tooth cog.

The Crosstrail is a fun bike when you set it up 29er-like.

I think the frame is probably fine for trail rding. The 2007 crosstrail was kind of Specialized's foray into making a 29er frame. The fork would be te weak point I suppose, but no worse than most other entry level bikes. And a 29er DOES make sense for someone who is 6' 7".

That's not necessarily true. The Crosstrail frame, at least on the 2007 model that I have, is very much trail-capable. I believe the frames may have changed somewhat in 2008. But if the original poster has the 2007 model, he's got a solid frame that, imho, is every bit as capable as, say, a Rockhopper.

You can make the Crosstrail more trail-worthy by: 1) Changing the stock 48/36/26 chainrings to 44/32/22. 2) Swapping in a pair of 29er mountain-bike tires. I sometimes run a pair Specialized Fasttrak 29x2.00 on mine. 3) Possibly swapping in a cassette with a 34-tooth cog.

The Crosstrail is a fun bike when you set it up 29er-like.

There's more to a bike than a frame. I wasn't even referring to the frame. I was considering the noob trail techniques bashing "bike path" rims, banging derailleurs on rocks and the like.

Sure, the frame may hold up. He'll still put a couple hundred in the rest of it if he beats it up.

I recently took my eldest daughter on some short, easy single track and we had a great time. After this ride I got her mountain bike fixed as the Giant Gloss she normally rides is not really geared for trails (slick tires, single speed, very low BB).

Kudos to you, OP, for doing something fun with your son. Quality time with your kids is absolutely worth more than gold, IMO.

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/images/IMG_6529.jpg

Very cute, santiago. I'm just hoping that her mountain bike doesn't have the reflectors on it. I mean, she already has to deal with being spotted with her Frappucino drinking old man... the poseur tag is too hard to drop later on in life. Don't bring her down with you, man.

Pictures like this almost make me want to put my sinful, womanizing ways behind me and settle down. Almost.

There's more to a bike than a frame. I wasn't even referring to the frame. I was considering the noob trail techniques bashing "bike path" rims, banging derailleurs on rocks and the like.

Yeah, but one can bash derailleurs on any bike, even on a mountain bike.

I don't know which model the OP has, but my 2007 Crosstrail Pro came with a Tora 318 air-fork, XT shifters, XT rear derailler, LX front derailler, Juicy 3 brakes, and I think the cranks are LX. Those are all mountain-worthy components. I don't know enough about rims to say much there, but mine seem tough enough.

You're not confusing the bike with the "Crossroads", are you? Specialized makes a "Crossroads" and a "Crosstrail", and they are two very different bikes, but with confusingly-similar names. (And then there is the "Tricross". Some days I can't keep them straight myself).

It's a '08 Crosstrail. Here are some pics:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/nscalenut/IMG_4817.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/nscalenut/IMG_4819.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/nscalenut/IMG_4820.jpg

I see your problem. It's the reflectors.

Cool bike. I wish I could see it in person. The frame looks different to me from my 2007 model, but it's tough to be sure from a photo. You don't seem to have the same tire clearance that I do. But it's really difficult to tell.

I'll try and remember to take a photo or two of mine after work.

No argument there :lol: I keep meaning to take them off............


I see your problem. It's the reflectors.

Here are some photos of my 2007 Crosstrail. These show the clearance with the 29x2.00 tires installed:

79465

79466

79464

Not sure why these show up so small in the message. You can click them to see larger images.

Sweet ride you got Jonathan. Those 29's look awesome. Looking on the Specialized website, the 08 models like very similar to yours. I'm wondering if my bike is different because of the massive size; 61. What size frame is your bike?

I'm wondering if my bike is different because of the massive size; 61. What size frame is your bike?

I'm wondering the same thing, actually. When I bought the bike, it came with a sticker on the seat tube saying the frame was 18 inches. The seat tube in millimeters measures out to 460mm, which corresponds to the 49cm frame size listed on Specialized's website. (They were obviously confused last year as to whether to size in inches or centimeters).

Your frame is a 61cm, right? Mine is four steps smaller then. That probably accounts for the different look on your bike at the headtube, and also where the seat stays come together.