Hill-Pumper

Downhill is just one form of mountain biking, and not all downhill have a shuttle option. Believe me when I say climbing is a big part of mountain bike riding where I live. Also, believe when I say I earn my descents just like road riding. Below is a link to my last ride on Friday, notice the 2 cat 4 climb segments, not easy. Also notice I was not pushing myself to hard to be the best in the segment either.

https://app.strava.com/rides/19635779

jsigone

Socal doesn't really have MTB parks, people too worried about lawsuits and stuff I guess. This is my "park", normal loops are about 8-10miles, or 80-90 mins and 1500-1800ft of climbing. Downhills are pretty flowy and fun. I'm out there 2-3 days a week, its a nice break up from the road and looking at painted lines.

https://contour.com/stories/cala-cano...ed-by-hotsauce

CliftonGK1

What you're talking about is called Enduro racing. You're only scored on the time for your downhill segments. In between, you have to ride to the next downhill stage. While you aren't "racing" between stages, there are cutoff limits so you can't just lollygag. Plus, like with randonneuring, you are your own support crew during the race: Carry your own pack with repair gear, etc. because if you break down between stages and can't make the cutoff, then you're done for the day.
Typically, ND rigs aren't 8" travel dual-crown bikes with 67-degree front ends like full downhill bikes. A good ND ride will be 6-ish inches of travel front and rear on a single crown set slightly more laid back than a straight up trail bike.

As for whether or not DH is any effort...
The handling skills for DH are insane. Constantly pushing the edge of control, hammering your equipment and body for a 4-5 minute white-knuckle rocket ride where misjudging the grip in a corner means flying off into the trees, a bad launch or landing can put you 40mph headfirst into a field of arm-sized roots or head-sized rocks. You're spending the entire time either hammering the cranks to go faster, or fighting the terrain for control of your bike.
Spend an afternoon doing some DH runs. I think you'll revise your "no effort" viewpoint.

apollored

Just out of interest, talking about buying bikes, why when bikes are shown for sale etc, dont they have their pedals attached?

vesteroid

not sure we are talking apples and apples here.

This was no race, and for the hour I watched, there was no hammering....and I know I am a clyde too, but many of the folks I saw on these bikes were far from a skinny mtb racer.

This is a leisurely ride down a ski mountain. I bet in all the time I never saw a bike more than 24" above ground, and the place is littered with jumps.

So basically I am agreeing with you, at a race level, I bet you are more than correct, but what I saw was recreational at best, and you may as well have been on a roller coaster.

vesteroid

Because I think there are about as many types of pedals as there are bikes, and no one wants the same pair...so they leave them off, so you get to pick what you want.

apollored

Sounds sensible

When buying a bike nowadays, is it possible to buy one off the shop floor straight away or do they need to be ordered?

CliftonGK1

So sad.
Yeah, even outside of a race setting I don't find a whole lot of fun in what you're describing. If I want a leisure ride down a hill I'll... wait a minute; I don't ever find myself wanting that.

CliftonGK1

Some shops will have lots of floor stock. If you're like many of us in here, you might need a larger frame and shops may have to order for you.
When I bought my Stumpie Comp EVO it took only a week to get one to the shop. Would have been 3 days, but the west coast warehouse didn't have any XL frames so it had to cross the country.

magohn

Thanks for all the comments people.

As for the pedals discussion, the bike came with some low-end 'Gravity' brand pedals that I was planning to switch out. However, Im having second thoughts and think I will just use them till they break. Reason being, the first thing that struck me on the trail yesterday was that I was so happy I was NOT clipped in. I clip-in for 100% on my road bike but on a MTB I dont see how you could. I was constantly dropping a foot down to steady or save myself from disaster.

Do you guys 'clip-in'?

jsigone

yes I'm clipped in all the time, don't do big drops or jumps though. I have more control of the bike on the decents and through the rock gardens clipped in and is really needed for the amount of climbing I do.

Hill-Pumper

Yep, even as a beginner I decided to be clipped in. The flip side of not being able to put your foot down, is having them bounce off at the wrong time while going over an obstacle. I use SPD's with the SM-SH56 cleat and never have had a problem with getting out of them in time.

CliftonGK1

I have Specialized Lo-Pro Mag 2 flat pedals on mine and I don't think I'll swap for SPDs until I'm doing some XC/24hr racing wtih my team next year. A good pair of pinned flat pedals and the right shoes, and you'll feel as well locked in during your pedal stroke as if you have clip-ins. I wear Vans Half-Cab Pro shoes with mine. I might switch up to some 5-Ten Imapcts or Freeriders when I destroy these.
Can't say that I've had my feet bounce off the pedals at an inopportune time, even in the rockiest, rootiest trails. I still have precision control over the back end of my bike, it just took me a little while to learn good form again. What I mean is that over years of riding clipped in I picked up bad habits, like using my pedals to hike up the arse-end of the bike when hopping obstacles instead of proper weight shifting. Watch the stuff that guys like MacAskill and Akrigg do with trials bikes; they're not clipped in.

magohn

This is very helpful - thank you. I appreciate the brand names as MTBs really are new pastures for me. I think I will aim to go this route.

CliftonGK1

No problem, dude. I was happy to get similar advice when looking at my purchase over the summer.

magohn

I just know myself and being clipped in wont work for me. Too many unexpected twists where I wanted to drop a foot (especially in the early days). How long do your Vans usually hold up? They look canvas. The 5-Tens seem more rugged but more $ of course.

Thanks again.

CliftonGK1

Get the Half-Cab pros; they're leather, and they have a heavy layer of extra rubber shielding around the front edge of the sole. The Vans store in Bellevue Mall has them. Gimmie a shout if you're heading that way, I live only a couple blocks away.
Although, even my "classics" (20 years ago they weren't 'classic', they were the only ones) that I wore skateboarding every day never wore out, even along the ollie patch (which was reinforced with a suede top over the canvas.)

magohn

Thanks!