Mountain Biking - What's the highest object you should ride over?

So today I was just playing around with the suspension on my bike. I kept riding up curbs and riding down from them just to play with the suspension. I noticed that one or two times when riding off from a curb and coming down, my toe would just barely touch the ground.

Anyway there was one curb that was about 7" or 17.75cm high (wow that actually sounds higher then I thought) and I tried to ride over it. My front wheel went up over it but my toe connected with the ground and threw me off balance. I could see my peddles also had a little bit of metal scraped off.

So I'm thinking maybe bikes aren't meant to be rode like that, even though it's hella fun to have your suspension absorb it :( What is the maximum height of an object that you would dare to roll over with your bike?

Are your pedals @ 3 and 9 when you're toeing the ground? Are your feet flat? Are you running 26" wheels on a 29er?

This is weird.

Are your pedals @ 3 and 9 when you're toeing the ground? Are your feet flat? Are you running 26" wheels on a 29er?

This is weird.

Might actually have been 6 and 12. I'm not too sure now, gotta ride the bike again and see. Also I'm using 700C wheels on a Hybrid bike. I'm not too sure about the size, but it's stated on the website that it's size 43, so I'm assuming it's a size 17"?

Hmmm. Hybrid? So you're talking about a cheepo suspension fork and a suspension seatpost?

Yeah, you probably don't want to ride like you're riding if you value straight rims much at all.

Yea cheepo suspension fork but with a normal seatpost. Would love to upgrade the suspension if it were possible though, which would kind of make it a 29" MTB with 700x38C tires.

I came for the Danny Mac videos, left disappointed.

Are you getting into mountain biking? No amount of upgrades will turn a hybrid into a mountain bike.

buy a fatbike and just run that crap right over

The guys in the Tour de France ride over some pretty high objects. Namely, the Alps and the Pyrenees.

The guys in the Tour de France ride over some pretty high objects. Namely, the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Yeah, but they're on 29'ers.

No, I think those are closer to hybrids.

Sounds like your pedals aren't level.

Also, I definitely wouldn't recommend just ramming your way over obstacles. No matter how big your tires, you will always be able to clear larger / more abrupt obstacles, and with greater momentum, if you are able to at least hop your weight off the bike as it rolls over the object.

Also, indeed, make sure your pedals are level.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/545271-Taken-for-granted...techniques-for-new-riders.

The guys in the Tour de France ride over some pretty high objects. Namely, the Alps and the Pyrenees.I've toyed with riding over Mt. Hood (OR) but decided against; too much of a hike-a-bike for my tastes. Hope to ride down one side this summer, though.

jaslyn, you have achieved the max you should drop with that bike.

Personally, with the Kona Coiler I have coming, I couldn't drop what the bike could handle; that beast could take a 5-footer, but I can only do about 2! (Too old, takes too long to heal!)

Uh-oh . . . how old is too old to take a 5-ft drop?

^ dammit D, might be time to retire! I'll have to ride ahead and measure all of the drops for you.

Went down once from 14,115'.
I refuse to go 'over' it.

It sounds to me like your suspension needs adjusting, if it has adjustments. Look through the owners manual for SAG adjusting. You might need to buy a special pump for this. If you are just jumping off a curb and hitting a toe, something is wrong. If your fork is a spring loaded fork you might need stiffer springs inside. A good bike shop needs to help out here.

BEWARE of using words that contain HIGH on this forum. Its like having a pack of Zigzags fall from you pocket during a traffic stop. It attracts attention.

jaslyn, you have achieved the max you should drop with that bike.

Personally, with the Kona Coiler I have coming, I couldn't drop what the bike could handle; that beast could take a 5-footer, but I can only do about 2! (Too old, takes too long to heal!)

Wisdom here, ACT your AGE and Gravity, a law to be honored.

And yeah big d! I remember what you were saying over a beer in Spokane, yeah big d, uh huh, yeah!

BEWARE of using words that contain HIGH on this forum. The old dudes start snickering and going all Cheech & Chong on you.Fixed.


^ dammit D, might be time to retire! I'll have to ride ahead and measure all of the drops for you.Will they even let me gio down Clown Shoes now?

I don't know if you'll be able to "gio down" Clown Shoes but you definitely won't be able to go down Clown Shoes!

Requisite reply:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

I don't know if you'll be able to "gio down" Clown Shoes . . . .Your nitpicking skillz have reached black belt level, grasshopper.

I'm fine with never going down clown shoes again, but I wouldn't.

If you are just jumping off a curb and hitting a toe, something is wrong. If your fork is a spring loaded fork you might need stiffer springs inside. A good bike shop needs to help out here.
I was under the impression that he rode up the curb, and his foot hit the corner of the curb on the way up?

Uh-oh . . . how old is too old to take a 5-ft drop?

For ME, 50; for YOU, I'm guessing 103. But you make the call.

I'm fine with never going down clown shoes again, but I wouldn't.

Thanks!