Mountain Biking - What You REALLY Want is 8 Inches of Travel and a Place to Ride It.

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dminor
01-06-10, 04:53 PM
. . . even if you're not willing to admit it. Discuss.


mzeffex
01-06-10, 05:35 PM
I do.

M_S
01-06-10, 05:40 PM
No. But I also sold off my my alpine skis for some XC stuff. I think I'm done with paying for "outdoor" experiences at lift serviced areas. Flame on.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/HumanTorch.gif


santiago
01-06-10, 05:55 PM
I prefer XC skiing too but do enjoy downhill. I'm a very leisure downhill skier, though. My daughters just started skiing and I really enjoy going down the hills with them.

dminor
01-06-10, 05:59 PM
I think I'm done with paying for "outdoor" experiences at lift serviced areas.Lifts? Who said anything about lifts?

http://bonesovermetal.com/wp-content/gallery/beacon-by-carl-warren/BeaconCarlPhoto_32.jpg

M_S
01-06-10, 06:19 PM
Lifts? Who said anything about lifts?


Hm, maybe the only thing less appealing than resorts is the thought of having to push my bike every time I want to go up a hill.

What I really want is a trials bike.

yak
01-06-10, 06:32 PM
I prefer XC skiing too but do enjoy downhill. I'm a very leisure downhill skier, though. My daughters just started skiing and I really enjoy going down the hills with them.



I love it all. But you don't have to ride the lifts for an alpine skiing experience. Just get some alpine touring bindings and some climbing skins. Then you can ski where YOU want, and every day is a powder day!

calleymn
01-06-10, 06:48 PM
i love going super fast down a hill, but climbing the other side of the hill to get you up to that is a much better expedience on a bike

Mr IGH
01-06-10, 06:52 PM
. . . even if you're not willing to admit it. Discuss.
I agree, besides the fact that you are the smartest person on this forum and anyone that doesn't share your interests needs to get a life. I can't imagine why folks don't post here with the likes you dominating the forum with excellent threads like this one :thumb:

cryptid01
01-06-10, 07:03 PM
I agree, besides the fact that you are the smartest person on this forum and anyone that doesn't share your interests needs to get a life. I can't imagine why folks don't post here with the likes you dominating the forum with excellent threads like this one :thumb:


Priceless

thefatkid
01-06-10, 07:06 PM
I wish i could have 8" :(

really why stop at 8" though?

craigcraigcraig
01-06-10, 07:17 PM
maybe i can petition Obama to build some mountains in texas so i can use an 8 inch travel bike instead of all the money for health care.

mcoine
01-06-10, 07:24 PM
but climbing the other side of the hill to get you up to that is a much better expedience on a bike

I've earned, the hard way, many descents over the years, and I don't have 8" or even 6" of travel.. but the most fun I've had on a bike is on long distance (over 10 miles), mostly down hill trails, shuttled with an extra car.

ghettocruiser
01-06-10, 09:06 PM
What You REALLY Want is 8 Inches of Travel and a Place to Ride It that doesn't keep bulldozing the jump lines for insurance reasons.

Fixed.

h0axwa7k
01-06-10, 09:15 PM
What you really want is a motocross bike.

I never understood the DH thing.

What I really want is a <20lb carbon hardtail.

dminor
01-06-10, 09:47 PM
really why stop at 8" though?That's the spirit :thumb:.


What you really want is a motocross bike.I've had that. And a flat track bike too. However, I get most of the adrenaline rush, get to ride more places and keep my wife happier not racing the engined hardware anymore.

never
01-06-10, 11:26 PM
I have 10 inches and love it! And the bike is worth about the same as a MX bike too.

And not all DH has to be at a resort (though resort riding is a ton of fun and I'm very spoiled with lots of great places in my vicinity)...look for shuttle opportunities and hike-a-bikes build a lot of character.

junkyard
01-07-10, 06:54 AM
I typically measure my rides in miles (those are longer than kilometers, for those of you north of the border). It seems to me that 8 inches isn't very far to travel. Will I be excited about traveling 8 inches when I get as old as dminor??

mtnbiker66
01-07-10, 07:18 AM
I never understood the DH thing.


Then you should try it. Just about all of my riding is "earn your downhill" type stuff but spending all day riding downhill stuff is awesone as well. I'm really bummed that our local lift assisted spot closed down.
So yeah,what I really want is a long travel bike to go along with the hardtail and the trail bike. If I lived next door to never I would have one for sure!
D makes the best threads on bikeforums!

Zephyr11
01-07-10, 08:29 AM
Hm, well, I'm a downhill virgin, but being that other types of mountain biking get me hot and bothered, and snowboarding never leaves me frigid...mmm...I'll take a Shocker (http://www.covebike.com/bikes/shocker.html).

IRONHEAD1
01-07-10, 09:01 AM
living in northeast florida there really isnt any place to use more than about 5" of travel unless you go to santos where they have some 20' drops which i am no way going to try....

craigcraigcraig
01-07-10, 10:14 AM
all the cross country guys need the 8 inch travel bike to train in the off season pedaling a 30+ pound bike so when you get on the carbon racer you are speeeeeeeeeeeedyyyy

DX-MAN
01-08-10, 07:49 PM
I was looking HARD a few years ago at a VP-Free, but I'd rather have a Nomad.

Aside from the better suss design, it won't be all that different from my present Dakar XLT, though. "Baby" has 5.7" f/r right now! Built as I would have it, the Nomad would have 7f/6.5r. Probably weigh close to the same, too.

Place to ride? Hell, earth is enough... for now.