Is this pushing a Hybrid past there limits, and I do not have a back up bike, the worst I'm
thinking is braking the plastic pedals, which I am surprised have lasted this long, Over
2000 miles. Planned on upgrading them when they broke anyway. Thoughts? Thanks Richard

I don't think you should push a Walmart bike that far. I think I would hurt myself on any bike trying that. It's way beyond what I've done. Never rode BMX or motorbikes, I know you have experience and skills I lack. I almost feel like I could ride off that and land it, but I don't think I'd try. Weighing risk vs. reward, for me it wouldn't make sense.

Consider how far you are from help should it go horribly wrong.

Use your best judgement. If this stunt is easily within your capabilities, go for it. If in doubt maybe you can find something similar closer to the road. At the MTB terrain park you mentioned in a previous post, perhaps?

Woah, that looks highly suspect. It could go either way. Mud is softer than pavement is a pretty significant plus but the whole logistics of being stuck in the boonies and having to schlep a bike back to the road sounds like a dealbreaker. It also is probably less than a second of fun between when you go off the top and hit the bottom?

I am not a big fan of stunts. I chopped the top part of one ear off in a spill where I was going fast around a corner, hit gravel and lost it and then bounced across the roadway and my head hit a decorative chain on the median, which chopped the ear right in half. I also wiped out on wet pavement, learning about the different slipperiness of new concrete vs. the old concreted I'd been carving up the roadway all day. And learning that getting teeth replaced isn't that big of a deal?

I will look forward to the video though, as long as you don't get horribly injured!

The drop is not really that hard to be honest, I'm worried for those 700c 24 spoke double walled rims. If I was still riding
my Motobecane, would never thought twice about it. But I come from a Motocross, and mountain biking back ground, thats
why you never see me post on performance bikes. Just recently became a Hybrid rider, and have very little knowledge on
performance riding. Richard

I would not attempt this on those wheels unless you feel like replacing those wheels with new ones.

I build wheels for stuff like this, have done stuff like this, and your questions about doing this make me wonder how you define mountain biking as there is riding a mountain bike... and then there is RIDING a mountain bike.

Of course it can be done, but why do it on an unsuitable machine? Aside from the likelihood of busting the wheels, if the bike - wheels, pedals, whatever - breaks then your chances of injury rise dramatically, however skilled you are.

What chasm54 said.
One should allways use the right tools for the job at hand in order not to brake the tools or injure oneself.

What I don't understand, Richard, is why you use a department store bike when you like riding offroad so much.
Don't you think it's time to look for a nice mountainbike?

You're one of those it's all fun and games 'til somebody gets hurt, then it's hilarious guys aren't you? Post it up after you do it.

If you look at my sons Mountain Bike wheels, those are bullet proof. I do not like taking my
my bike to a lame park where I'm just riding trails. I choose a Hybrid because there are
so many better spots close to my house, I am starting to like road riding though.. , Have
to ride like 5 miles to get to most places, then trail ride, ( and then push my Hybrid to much ).
I have been commuting to town, and then just plain road rides. I'm getting older, but can
not help the thrill of a 2 second drop, that gives you. And am loving doing 30 miles on the road. I would not even try it if I did not think it would be safe, the 6 foot would be a little
reckless, and thats why I settled for 4 and half. ( Safety ) We all know our skills. I knew I
could do it, just didn't want to bend the rims... Richard

Right !

Budget.. enough said...I had one, had to sell it ! : ( Richard ( almost 2000.00 dollars )

I think of safety first, then can the bike handle it, ( why would I think it would be a joke if I got hurt ).... engage brain before
you start typing, ( PLEASE )..Richard

The original post was, ( could a Hybrid handle it ?), not if I could..( any Hybrid ), do not worry about my department store
choice...Would you try this on an FX ? Richard

Hmm, that's a more interesting question?

I was sort of aware of the provenance of your hybrid, which made me think of spokes sticking into your femoral artery? I'm still not sure, even w/ the pricier ride. Yes, it is an intriguing stunt but you are 5 miles away from the road, how far from medical care? I am a claims adjuster by trade and have seen *all* manner of grisly injuries. W/ something like that, it's fun while it lasts but if it doesn't and you bleed out on a trail, will the video still have entertainment value? The market would likely shrink. Or maybe not. Do they still make "Faces of Death"?

I wouldn't try it on anything. *cluck cluck*. I like riding as fast as a can on roads and nice, suburban limestone trails. I've ridden through the woods a couple of times and it's sort of boring and buggy to me, I'm more lugging the bike through the woods to get to the next road?

I also think that either way, w/ your current ride or the FX, you are probably exceeding the manufacturer's engineering specifications for the bike? It looks solid when you inspect it but rain or humidity or even dryness change the texture of the land and *snap* goes your wheel and your [insert bone] breaks, along with potential for connecting ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. A lot of times, that's a two-parter, they can't confirm the soft, connective tissues are damaged until the fracture heals so you could be looking at months of recovery? Or you could get a cool video but you have posted bunches of cool videos anyway? I've seent MTB/ BMX videos that are amazing too, and this pales by comparison with those sort of stunts. I guess either way it's up to you but I like your posts and videos and would hate to lose them somehow?

Aw sorry.
My condolences for the old bike then.
If you like mountainbiking that much I hope you will be able to get one soon.

Thanks for the great answer, never thought of the spokes, where they might end up.
Thanks again, Richard

Thanks, sorry if my answer seemed snappy at you, love your post and did not mean for my response to come off
that way. I have learned a lot since having to sell it. Like enjoying road riding, commuting, found endless new trails that I never
even would have thought of, and they do make a ( FEW ) decent Dept. store bikes. But you have to know what your looking for,
and for the most part be able to service them yourself. My house burnt down 1 1/2 years ago, ( which I owned ), and had let the
insurance lapse, then was laid off 4 months later from a wonderful job due to the economy. Thats when the Mountain Bike, ( collection ) went, and the boat...ETC...But finally set aside 300.00 dollars, could not stand not riding, searched Craigslist forever,
and local LBS, could not find anything, then came across the Schwinn Tailways, was not sure about the Hybrid part, but found it
to be my favorite feature, next major purchase has to be 2 computers for my kids, both go out just after the warranty. LOL
Would not change a thing on the Trailways, except lock out forks, love the fit, feel, and components operation. And to be honest, as long as the trails are not to rough, the Hybrid is faster, in the current location I live, (the country), would not trade back for the Mountain Bike. And the Topeak Rack and Pannier system verses back pack, night and day. I'm glad I discovered the
world of Hybrids. : ) Richard

Come on, Richard. That was a funny post.

The only guy I know who rides FX has cracked two of them in less than a year. He doesn't go off road.

Sounds like more life lessons than you really needed. I believe your positive attitude will prove to be a great asset going forward. Awesome that you rediscovered your love of riding on an inexpensive Schwinn. It sounds like you're having more fun on it than you were on your $2000 MTB! That can be a valuable lesson for anyone reading this thread.

Your smarter than the average bear ! The guy that posted where the spoke might land.
Has made me think all day about that...and your right ! I never thought I would enjoy road
riding, ( And I love that darn Schwinn ), Good Night, Richard

LOL, there are other places not too far removed from your femoral artery that might also not be good places for spokes?

Budget and your situation being what they are, I can understand why you ride what you have. However, I do not think that I would advise this stunt on that bike. It would apear to me that you would enjoy a 29'er. The wheels are 700c with fat knobby tires, like a mtb mascarading as a hybrid.

You could always see if you can fit 29'er tires in your frame to get more shock absorbtion. Mentioning shock absorbtion, I'm not sure that shock fork could take such a drop anymore than the wheels.

I would have been only landing on the back wheel. it is sloping down hill. My concern was
running 80 PSI pressure in the 700c rims, ( the drop on a Mountain Bike is like child's play.)
Really.. I still think it would have been to easy ! but busting a spoke, and stabbing you
in a area startled me...never broke one before....I have a 4 day weekend to think about it.
Richard