R3cycl3r

Being a newbie to this sport and only doing it because I like the rush, new sights, and its fun, I wish that I could find someone close by that could help me out strategy wise on some climbs, bunny hops and basics that make riding easier.

Our desert floor is tricky, 2 climbs I have looked at from a UTV stand point and from my bike both are challenging even with a motorized vehicle like a Ranger, even my 350 hp truck has technical troubles getting up that climb.

1st climb) starts out at 30 degrees and half way up it becomes 40-45 degree incline.
The base is filled with loose gravel and silt-powder under that gravel, every single time I hit that a different way my fork bottoms out and I stop dead in my tracks.

The other day I decided going around it would be easier, but an unforeseen obstacle got in my way, another bump that I didn't see and the fork bottomed out again. I made an adjustment on pre-load but I hadn't realized that I had locked it out when I hit pavement, only-then-half way through the other trail did I realize that the lockout was still on, I started wondered why the ride was so rough....doh

I don't know if I should have gotten a FS bike instead or if I am just trying to do too much at once. My first ride in the desert a week ago was no better, I decided to back track (it was another 45 minute ride with 100% uphill battle) because I couldn't get over some of the obstacles that the county water retention ditches have in them.

ETA: I returned the KHS after numerous fitment issues (I got a M frame but needed an XL store refused to order one, so I returned it) and in ability to get better parts because so few choice were available. Buying a Trek 29er on a 21" frame, not sure if whether to go with the Gary Fisher Marlin or not-may just stay at entry level.

RIC0

Practice practice practice, it can take months or years to get good legs under you and hone in technical skills for some it never happens.