Mountain Biking - Back to a DH bike

About 2 months ago I was ripping down a local DH trail behind my 14 year old son. I was on my HT with a 5 inch fork and he was on a 09 Big Hit 1. I stayed right with him until we hit the bottom part of the run - stuff got a bit bumpy and he walked away. I knew this day would come - but I figured I would prolong it as long as possible. So I hit my LBS up and picked up a 09 BigHit 3. Colors are a bit loud - but it will do. First ride tomorrow. I'm going to try with platforms - but it's been a while, clipless may go on soon after.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_haCltcUpKTI/SxiWktWHjdI/AAAAAAAAAUA/7mYY8Zhjv7M/s640/IMG_1785.JPG

Yes - the reflectors and pricetag are coming off before the ride.

Im in love plus I love a white bike so excuse the drool on my keyboard

Very good :thumb:! Beacon claims another convert.

Been converted and back - this is the third time.

Have a favorite of the lines up there or a favorite section?

ghost DH bike

I'm oldschool - brain damage and zipper are my favorites. I really like the "new" old Dh run which at one time, many years ago was named the 'KICK ASS". My favorite section has to be right after the midway step up - small drop to step up, and pretty much the rest of the way down.

D - you riding this weekend? I will be up there a few days - Fri and Sun

Nice ride - has an Evel Knievel look to it. my road bike is all white, it gets alot of looks.

Sick!!!!!!!!!!

I'm oldschool - brain damage and zipper are my favorites. I really like the "new" old Dh run which at one time, many years ago was named the 'KICK ASS". My favorite section has to be right after the midway step up - small drop to step up, and pretty much the rest of the way down.

D - you riding this weekend? I will be up there a few days - Fri and SunProbably not, unfortunately. I have a pile of logs on the ground outside the woodshed that have not yet bucked themselves up and run themselves through the splitter. Then again, if I finish Sat. I may owe myself a 'reward' for my hard work ;). Besides, the Blindside deserves a proper farewell ride.

Twisted Sister still has to be one of my favorites . . . even though I only hit it 'right' half the time it seems. Step-up after the camel-humps/step-down is my other. Haven't been over to the Zipper in ages. I was still pretty new then and stuff like that 10' drop freaked me out. I'd like to ride that now with someone who knows it well. Oh, and which one is Brain Damage?

That sucker looks like big fun. Good job on not growing old!

So - first ride today. I was really a bit nervous that I got a too small bike. I typically ride large 18-19 inch frames. When I sat on it at the shop it felt small. I log a ton of miles a year - road and mountain and I know what I like. But off the suggestions of others I got the med. - about a 16-17. I was able to ride it to the top of the local DH run (Beacon), so for a big squishy bike it pedals very well - it has a DHX 4.0, so the propedal actually does something. Halfway down the first run I realized no mistake was made. It was stiff, and smooth, and flickable. I hit everything right away - I thought with a 30mm stem it would be a bit twitchy in the air but it felt fine. The only problem I had was a couple of 2 wheel drifts that made me pucker a bit - but I found out later that my son, being the good boy that he is, put just over 40 psi in the tires. "Because that's what I ride" was his reasoning? Well - what do you expect from a kid that spends most of his time on his BMX bike.

Got three runs in - I'll do the post first ride tune tomorrow, make a couple suspension adjustments - then on Sunday pad up heavy, and really give it a go

If anyone is interested -

I took the bike out again today. Awesome - I hit a huge step up with no disappointments, twice. Ran 3 more DH runs, can't complain - couple more adjustments and a day that is not below 20 (f) and I will rail it again.