new2mtbiking

i just got a mountain bike and this is the first bike i've had since like elementary school and im in college now, so i havent riddin a bike in a loong time. well anyway, i rode for a couple hours today just around campus and on trails.

anyways, i was riding around and i saw a stairway and i rode down it. at first it was fine but by the end of the stairway i almost was flying off my bike and had to save myself with my feet because it was boucing so high..... my crotch took a beating...so bad i had to sit down after that. how do you ride down stairs without hurting yourself and staying in control? can it hurt your bike (my chain bounces up and down alot and clanks against the bike it seems when i ride of little drops like sidewalks...is this normal)?

also, my crotch kind of hurting he whole time....i'd have to like stand up and pedal to relieve myself if it got too bad. is this normal?

oh yeah and this might be the wrong forum cause im not really a "mountain biker" i just have a mountain bike,,,

never

Going down stairs...I'm assuming you have a hardtail so get your weight back (i.e., behind the saddle) and use your legs (and arms) as suspension.

Chain noise can be quieted with a chainstay protector.

Your ass will hurt for a while until you get back in the groove again. It could also be that the saddle doesn't 'fit' you very well. I would give it some time first to see if the pain goes away.

new2mtbiking

so since you said to use your legs as suspension im assuming i'm in a standing position right? not actually touching the seat?

also for the chain....is the chain protector just to get rid of the sound or is it actually to protect the chain from breaking since it is boucing all over?

wheelhot

Yes

It get rids of the noise, protects your frame paint. Not sure about the chain breaking.

And welcome to the forums and congrats on your new bike. Dont worry about your butt shore, you could get a chamoisis shorts/lycra. Oh and our body seems to adapt to the pain if it always happen. Like me, when I first started riding, my butt developed a pain that doenst allow me to seat on non-cushioned seat. It took me a few months to heal (sitting on cushioned chair) and now I dont suffer that problem anymore. Keep on riding dude, dont be like my fren who quitted riding because his ars hurts........

new2mtbiking

the pain won't make me quit ...its too much fun. i rode today pretty much to exhaustion then at like 11 at night i almost went out again...lol....seeing some mtn bike videos makes me want to actually find an actual mtn bike trail

mlh122

sounds like you gained too much speed too. if you're using body suspension, and drop your seat a bit (or a lot) and move back above or behind the seat, and try to modulate your speed, you should be able to ride stairs for a long time. on long stair rides if im getting bounced around i just slow down and its ok again.

a very entertaining thing to watch is an amateur stand up tall and lean forward when going down stairs (so that their shocks absorb the stair impacts) then get going too fast and hit the front brake...

apclassic9

new2 - I'm gonna tell your mother on you!

apclassic9

I just have to ask - exactly what bike did you buy?

junkyard

I'm not much of an urban rider, but I'm going to suggest that you are off of the seat and a bit behind it to get that weight back. If you're up off the seat and forward, you may pitch over the handlebars. If you do pitch over the handlebars, please take video and post for the rest of us to see.

wheelhot

It seems I have the same dilemma as you. Penang offroad is usually one way only....down

never

This body position allows you to carry a lot of speed down stairs.


And I would try to avoid braking very much while going down stairs...it's like braking over rough stuff when DHing/descending. Control your speed before the stairs and on any flat spots in between (if necessary).

Bike Lover

Sweet pic never. That really tells the story.

Oh, and new2- welcome.

new2mtbiking

you're going to mock me because i heard a bunch of people say novara's suck but i got a novara aspen. it costs like 350 bucks. i was also looking at a zed 2.0 but the worker said the aspen was a better bike for the money...maybe its just becuase he works at REI and REI makes novara anyways, i really liked the bike when i took it for a ride yesterday....but what do i know

Punx

Thats cool. My friend has a K2 Zed 2.0 its a piece of crap. The novara is a bit better i'm guessing. Congratulations.

never

Don't worry...it's a fine entry level bike. Ride it and have fun!

apclassic9

I'm just thinking your rims might not be up to repeated rides down the stairs!

Bike Lover

The Novara should be good for what you're doing with it. I should still last you quite a while and if the bug ever gets to you then you can get something "better". Of course, that may be if you don't ride down the stairs all the time...

new2mtbiking

oh wow i didn't realize riding down stairs might hurt the bike...i figured a mountain bike was supposed to be able to withstand that kind of stuff. according to the web site i got "Smooth-rollin' WTB SX24 rims reduce weight where it counts; teamed-up with MutanoRaptor tires, they're ready to tame the toughest singletrack " ....how are they?

never

Your rims should be fine just riding down stairs...if you start doing stair gaps, you'll run a greater risk of damaging your rims.

frankiee

Its a mountain bike and that make you a mountain biker like the rest of us. Ride on.

Scottluebke2004

Stay out of the seat while riding down stairs. Use your rear brake to control your speed, but use it lightly. Before you go down stairs you need to decide to go through with it. You can't bail while going down. So get your weight back and low. And start slow. Go down a few stairs and try longer and longer staircases. You'll get it. But definitely do not sit on the seat while riding down stairs.

wheelhot

cool pic never, what camera was used? its look like a fast shutter speed camera with anti blur

apclassic9

Even the toughest singletrack, the rockiest rock garden, the bumpiest whatever, is not comparable to riding down a stairway.... you would just not be going as fast. Rims are metal & they get dented - if they dent enough, the wheel can fail, or you can get flats. Many folks spend more on their rims than you've spent on your whole bike. Just please keep that in mind, and be safe!

never

It's just a still shot taken from video.

FlatFender

New2, I do a lot od stair riding my my campus (its the only way to get around...if only I could ride up them....)
The tips being given are right on. Rock out that bike man, and wear a helmet.