Mountain Biking - Weight of rider

Ok, I'm a very light guy and I want to buy a bike that I can mess around on doing a few drops etc (probablys nothing greater than 5ft to flat or 15ft to slope... yes, I'm a wuss), but also something that if I feel inclined I can enter some races, probably XC or endurance, and at least be midly competative. Yes, I know it's about the motor, but no matter who's on it, a downhill bike ain't gona be getting podiums in an XC race.

Anyways, enough rambling. What I'm really wondering is if because I'm such a light guy I can get away with a lighter weight frame/shorter travel suspension when it comes to drops or even rock gardens etc than a heavier rider would.

Either way what suspension travel would you recommend, and would you say a hardtail or full suss would be better? I've heard the thing that if you need to ask if you need rear suspension, then you don't need it. If it helps at all I could probably get some pics of the stuff I normally ride/like riding, but it won't be for a while.

Thanks in advance for any help.

What I'm really wondering is if because I'm such a light guy I can get away with a lighter weight frame/shorter travel suspension when it comes to drops or even rock gardens etc than a heavier rider would.

Your weight is definately a factor, So is how smooth you land. And how skilled your riding is. That said, A bike that consitantly does 5 foot to flat or 15 foot to tranny without breaking, is probably not going to podium at an XC race.

Sounds like you need two bikes.

15 foot to anything will make you exempt from the wuss category :thumb:

I may be able to restrict myself to 4ft to flat at 12ft to slope but anyways, enduro races will probably be what I'm more likely to enter in. Tbh alot of the XC races look a bit cissy to me, but I figured no harm in giving them a try. I just don't like the thought of entering knowing I'm going to loose.

I'm about 55kg and there are some pretty nasty rock gardens around, most of the larger drops do land you on a very steep slope. Any recommendations on a bike or amount of travel?

In someways I'd rather restrict the harshness of what I try drop/jump wise and be faster uphil and on smother stuff than the other way round, so leaning to the XC side possibly more than the jump side. Not sure though so what would you say would be good middle ground.

Glad to know I'm not too much of a wuss then.

I'd love 2 bikes but unfourtunally I can't afford 2 bikes (well, not 2 mountain bikes anyways).

It's not the weight of the frame that makes the difference in what it can do, it's the geometry.

And a 12 foot drop to the top of a tranny is on the big side of things. I don't think you'll find many (or any) people doing that was an XC bike nowadays.

So essentially, if you want to race and be competitive, and hit big drops (and enjoy hitting the drops), you need two bikes.

. Tbh alot of the XC races look a bit cissy to me,
Ha Ha I spit my coffee out when I read that. You never been in any kinda race huh? It's gut wrenching hard work that makes you want throw up at the end. Sissy? I don't know anybody that would think that!


OK, For my style of riding, I would build a Yeti 575, or Santa Cruz Heckler, at around 26 pounds. This would be light enough to be competitive at XC races and yet able to take some abuse.

When I say sissy I mean terrain wise. Races in different areas probably vary, but half the ones I've seen (which I do have to say, isn't many) people have hoped off and run whenever it's got to a difficult part and the rest is grass or dirt track.

Anyways, ignore all comments about XC.

Do you think I need to use a FS bike then? The yeti would be out of my reach unfourtunally. Would I be able to get away with less than 6" of travel or not?

The drops around my area are basically of a cliff, and the buildup of dirt at the bottom provides quite gradual landings.

If I do go for 2 bikes then it will need to be 2 cheap bikes.

When I say sissy I mean terrain wise. Races in different areas probably vary, but half the ones I've seen (which I do have to say, isn't many) people have hoped off and run whenever it's got to a difficult part and the rest is grass or dirt track.

Anyways, ignore all comments about XC.

Do you think I need to use a FS bike then? The yeti would be out of my reach unfourtunally. Would I be able to get away with less than 6" of travel or not?


Agreed, that the XC race courses aren't always technically challenging. Do you need full suspension? NO! many burly hardtails to choose from. I would go full susser, but I'm not trying to suggest that's the only route for you. Since this type of agressive riding is not something I do, let me get out, and let the agressive riders jump in to help you. Wish you the best!

A good slack, short travel bike is what I ride as my trail bike. It's a SC Blur 4x and I've used it for XC races, trail riding, and shuttle days. I could use it as some of the resorts around here but it would be out of it's league at some of the steeper/rockier places (well, you could ride it there, just wouldn't be as fun as when I'm on the DH bike).

Basically this bike is fun for everything in the middle. It's okay for XC race situations, and it's okay for steeper DH.

If I do go for 2 bikes then it will need to be 2 cheap bikes.

Buy an XC bike, win a bunch of those "sissy" XC races, take the proceeds from the wins and buy a bike that can take a big hit. Simple solution.

What geometry would you recommend. Sorry but when it comes to the technical stuff about bikes I know virtually zilch.

I've never actually looked but what are the prizes generally like from local XC races? I'm in england but I can't imagine they differ a huge amount from the USA.

I make a comfortable living racing on weekends and Tuesday nights.

try the santa cruz chameleon, if it's within your price range.

edit:

for the difference between a "strong" bike and a "fast" bike, you may be able to get away with one frame, but perhaps two wheelsets.

Would it work having something like a santa cruz chameleon and having 2 forks for it, or would 1 adjustable fork be just as good. This probably seems like a silly question but how do adjustable forks work? Does it lower the point at which the fork is not compressed or highten the point at which the fork bottoms out?

Have you ever actually done a 12 foot drop?

No, highest I've done is probs bout 8ft. If I do anything bigger I'd worry about my bike falling apart (really is that bad) but there are bigger ones around which I'd love to try.

This probably seems like a silly question but how do adjustable forks work? Does it lower the point at which the fork is not compressed or highten the point at which the fork bottoms out?

The fork compresses down for most travel adjustment as far as I know.

Ive never raced or tried to jump off anything on a bicycle but ive logged many miles on the boneyest gravel you could believe,[on many different bikes]and I HAVE KNOW IDEA WHY my 28" Trek tires and wheels are so tough [In my hayday age 40 to 60 I drank smoked and carried 30lb. more than my present 250./ {I went armed as well]when asked I said I wanted to be top of the food chain,In that time I replaced tires but had only one flat and one broken spoke./Kenkayak

Ive never raced or tried to jump off anything on a bicycle but ive logged many miles on the boneyest gravel you could believe,[on many different bikes]and I HAVE KNOW IDEA WHY my 28" Trek tires and wheels are so tough [In my hayday age 40 to 60 I drank smoked and carried 30lb. more than my present 250./ {I went armed as well]when asked I said I wanted to be top of the food chain,In that time I replaced tires but had only one flat and one broken spoke./Kenkayak

Fabulous tale!

forks are usually use-specific. a XC fork would be ruined on the drops. a drop fork would be too heavy for xc racing. i suppose you could go with two forks... and two wheelsets... but that can be very expensive, esp. since the SC C frame is expensive as is.

To the OP: I'd like to see those pictures

To the OP: I'd like to see those pictures

Tall tales, indeed.

No, highest I've done is probs bout 8ft. If I do anything bigger I'd worry about my bike falling apart (really is that bad) but there are bigger ones around which I'd love to try.

What bike are you doing 8ft. drops on?

When I say sissy I mean terrain wise. Races in different areas probably vary, but half the ones I've seen (which I do have to say, isn't many) people have hoped off and run whenever it's got to a difficult part and the rest is grass or dirt track.

XC races aren't really about the "technical" aspect. XC in general isn't. XC racing is about going fast for long periods of time. You're not going to be successful at XC racing with an AM rig, and you're not going to be successful doing big drops with an XC rig. Get two bikes, or choose which style you like more and buy a bike for that.

+1 on the right tool for the right job. since i live in kansas, most of the stuff we have is flattish xc stuff, so my main bike is a 4"/3.5" FS rig that i've got fairly light. my other bike is a much burlier hardtail with a travel adjust fork so that i can run it xc if i want to, or it can handle bigger stuff. though i do switch the wheelset out when i take it out for xc stuff.

Just get what your going to have the most fun doing first. Then, with time as you save up more money, buy the other bike.

The 8ft drop was done on my supermarket mountain bike. It wasn't done very gracefully, but I'd like to be able to do it more.

I'll try and get some pics between x-mas and the new year. I should probably note, they will be off stuff that I like riding but also stuff that I'd like to be able to ride. Technically I probably can't ride them atm but I'd like a bike that I'd be able to progress onto them with.

Most of the stuff in my area is very bumpy (well, apart from the really wide boring tracks) so I think a hardtail, or at least an XC hardtail is out of the question if I ever want to ride it locally.

I think full suspension will probably be the way to go, especially seeing as I'd like to try out an endurance race or two. Ok, so scrap the idea of racing XC pretty much (may still do one or two for poops and giggles). From what I've said so far, and I know it's been a bit of a ramble, do you think someone along the lines of a stumpjumper/feul EX/Epiphany with 5" of travel would be right or should I be looking at more along the lines of a Pitch/remedy/moment with 6"?

In all fairness it will probably be more along the lines of fast riding with my wheels staying pretty close to the ground than it will be large drops. Most of the drops in my area, although some are reasonably biggish most have smoths landings (kinda like the big ski jumps)

XC bikes are not necessarily that weak... and you ARE a light rider. just because it is labeled "XC" doesn't mean you have to dress up in the spandex and ride on smooth hard-packed dirt. a lighter rider would do less damage to a bike than a heavier one on "bumpy" terrain.

how bumpy is bumpy? are talked huge rock gardens you blast through at 30km/h? or are we talking roots + logs you may have to work your way over? i think an XC bike would be able to handle it.

of course, only you are the best judge of what you need. if you doubt a XC bike being adequate, that's fair.

The problem is I've never ridden a proper XC bike before, so I'm going to doubt it being adequate purely because what I normally see people do on them, even if they are capable of more.

I'll try and get back with some pictures soon so you guys have something better to base your comments on rather than me saying "well it's kinda... with some... and a bit of... but quite...".

"Dheorl"...I think I make that noise when I throw up at the end of a "cissy" XC race..."DHEORL".;)

Spend some $$$ on a Specialized Epic, Santacruz Superlight...or some other light/fast "cissy" bike.

Then drop a small wad of cash on a Jamis Komodo at jensonusa.com for your drops. I know it's a hardtail, but it's a pretty burly frame. You being at such a "cissy" weight...shouldn't do too much damage to it.

Other than that...build a Heckler with a PIKE or 36 TALAS and keep your drops to a minimum.

I said the terrain was cissy... you can't honestly argue with that.

The name Dheorl was kinda designed so that everyone screws up when trying to say it. Makes for a good laugh when people are trying to call targets on PC games and no-one has a clue who everyone else is referring too. Generally I just end up hearing "would someone people just shoot the annoying ****er who's jumping around the place". Anyways.

I was just wondering. Would you generally expect a hardtail with the same amount of travel as a full suspension, be able to take the same amount of abuse? Does the full suspension just make it faster/more comfortable or does it also effect what the bike can take?

Full suspension is faster on rough terrain. Will be initially higher priced. Will save your rear wheel from destruction. Is much more fun to ride. Is more expensive. Will have slightly more maintenance. Will be more expensive. Is less efficient. Will cost more.

It's not quite an "inches" issue as it is frame construction.

A Stumpjumper FSR with 5'ish inches of travel is designed for aggressive rocky trails.
A Transition Preston with 5'ish inches of travel is designed to do drops and jumps on freeride trails.

You aren't going to be successful at freeriding or XC with just "one bike".

You could buy a Nomad or Heckler and have a bike that is comfortable to ride all day long on almost any terrain, but I wouldn't do 15 foot drops on either one. Nor would I expect to place well on an XC race with either one.

If you wanna climb like a goat and be fast on XC, buy an XC bike...just don't huck it or it will fail.

If you want to do 8-12' drops, buy a freeride bike, but don't XC it or you'll have a coronary.

I know I won't be able to be great at both on 1 bike, but I'd at least like to be able to do an XC race without getting left in the dust.

What about something like a genesis core? (http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/core) Does sound like it will at least be okayish in XC races. My LBS said that it's quite capable of being chucked around the place a bit.

If 1 bike is just completely insanely out of the question, then any idea of 2 cheaper bikes?

Sure, a Genesis Core could be fine. Don't take if off big drops though. You'll eventually break the fork or frame or both. Wheels aren't made to be hucked either.

Face it man...you're not gonna be able to own an XC bike that will keep you ahead of the dust and still be able to do 8-12' drops.

Get over it. ;)


I'm beginning to think you have a pink fuzzy head & a pencil up your butt. (http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7365/wtptzm7.jpg)

Man I'd love to be able tp spike my hair up like that...

Ok then, what would you recommend as a good cheap(ish) XC bike, if I can't take it off drops I at least want to be able to go over rough stuff at speed, and preferably be able to do this all day.

I just thought, if I get a fast XC bike that I could commute on, then I could either have a bigger budget (theft isn't too much of a worry because it will either be lock up in a bust train station or in a fenced private carpark with CCTV) or I could have 2 bikes.

Oops, soz, that was meant to go on as an edit, not another post.

Okay dude...slow down.

Now you're wanting to commute? Oh crap, the dynamics just increased.

Now you need 3 bikes ;)

Okay dude...slow down.

Now you're wanting to commute? Oh crap, the dynamics just increased.

Now you need 3 bikes ;)

:lol: Seriously my head just exploded

This would probably be better than that core.
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/alpitude

you don't want to turn a nice bike into a commuter. it'll get stolen.

you don't want to turn a nice bike into a commuter. it'll get stolen.

What???????????????

Why do you assume that a nice bike will get stolen if it's used to commute on?

What???????????????

Why do you assume that a nice bike will get stolen if it's used to commute on?

This guy is planning to leave his bike outside. Even if there are cameras and things, bikes do get stolen because there are scumbags that steal bikes. If I was a bike thief, I wouldnt go for a crappy bike, I would go for one that looks nice. Why would you steal a bad bike if there are better choices.

I know I idealy need 3 bikes if I want to commute. My original plan was 1 for commuting and 1 MTB (obviously wasn't asking about the commuting one here initially, even thought I know I needed it because this is a forum about MTBs) but if I can get an MTB which will make a nice speedy commuter then I can obviously spend more money or get 2 MTBs.

Don't worry about it getting stolen. The city is full of bikes (some actually quite nice looking ones) and I think someones more likely to go for one chained up on the side of the street than climb over a 8ft stone wall/fence in the hope there may be a nice bike inside.

Ok, assuming I forget the big drops for the purpose of buying this bike. What can an XC bike handle and what would you recommend for about £1.4k if I use it to commute or about £800 if I don't?

I quite like the look of the cube AMS pro (http://www.cube-bikes.de/xist4c/web/AMS-PRO_id_31060_.htm) if I'm going to be using a full suspension. The bike radar review says that it doesn't take airtime at all well though, which worries me slightly. Yes, I know I said forget about the big drops for the moment, but it has to be able to at least take a small jump down a hill, otherwise I won't even be able to ride it round my local loop.

This is great. The guy went from wanting to do 15 foot drops to commuting.

By the way, when did XC become nothing more than riding on hardpacked dirt? I ride XC and find that my wheels travel over more than just a little dirt.

By the way, when did XC become nothing more than riding on hardpacked dirt?

I'm too lazy to go back and look...who said that?

This is great. The guy went from wanting to do 15 foot drops to commuting.

Try and read the thread before making silly comments. I still want to do the big drops, it's just that if I'm going to buy 2 MTBs then one of them will also have to be used for commuting, and that one is more important to me atm, hence that is the one which I am currently asking about.

If anyone has ideas about a cheap bike for big drops that I can buy once I've saved up a bit more money, then by all means let me hear your suggestions. I did look at the jamis but I don't have any dealers locally.

a cheap bike for big drops

Oxymoron much?

Oxymoron much?

Well big drops by my standards. Anyways, some of the jump bikes are pretty cheap and should be able to handle it.