What makes you think you're bomb proof?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: IN THE GORGE
Posts: 330
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What makes you think you're bomb proof?
What makes you think you can jump, drop or gap anything: your bike, your skills or your body armor (if you use it)?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Parrish, FL
Posts: 7,963
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No one is bomb proof. Some are more resilient than others.
The bike can only provide a limited amount of confidence. A good bike will enable the rider to make some mistakes and the suspension will "SAVE" the rider.
However, the most critical aspect is ability! The only way to get better is to ride more. The key is not only riding more, but riding slightly beyond your ability each time. Improvement, pushing yourself, risk taking, what ever you call it. Each time you go out, you clear that drop, or make that climb, or rail that berm faster.
Ability is critical, equipment is secondary!
L8R
The bike can only provide a limited amount of confidence. A good bike will enable the rider to make some mistakes and the suspension will "SAVE" the rider.
However, the most critical aspect is ability! The only way to get better is to ride more. The key is not only riding more, but riding slightly beyond your ability each time. Improvement, pushing yourself, risk taking, what ever you call it. Each time you go out, you clear that drop, or make that climb, or rail that berm faster.
Ability is critical, equipment is secondary!
L8R
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: finally transplanted!
Posts: 454
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
WHat are you talking about a2psyklnut my bike makes me the fastest person on earth! No on can touch me....and if i put on my body armor...watch out cause I'll loose everyone even faster!
Just kidding guys... Ya a2psyklnut I couldn't have put it better myself.
Just kidding guys... Ya a2psyklnut I couldn't have put it better myself.
#4
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I don't think that...You have to have some degree of knowing how much you can take and if it worth the risk. Even the best make mistakes no matter how good they are. It is taking that risk and running with it...
#5
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Morgan Hill, California "Henry Coe Country"
Posts: 43
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was starting to think I was bomb proof. I hadn't gone over the bars since I upgraded to a longer travel fork. I ride about 40-50 times a year on technical singletrack with fast, rocky, off-camber, you-name-it downhills. This last Sunday I was flying down a singletrack very familiar to me. I was jumping all the rock formations that are all over the trail, feeling good. Went off a rock just a little wrong, landed a little off, was forced to immediately jump a bigger rock off balance and pretty much ate it worse than ever! I ended up flying forward over the bars with my feet still in I think. I'm pretty sure the first thing to hit was my head. I broke my Giro on both sides (not sure exactly how you do that), above the ears. Next to hit was the back of my left shoulder- pushing it forward around towards the other shoulder. I think I have some bruising where all the bones meet each other...It's been a few days and I still can barely put a shirt on in the morning. I can breathe fine so I know it's not a rib, but my chest under my coller bones is hurtin(can bang on the bones, they're ok). There's the usual "pedal bite" in the ankle and a skinned knee, but not a lot of blood on this one. Also wasted my seat.
I guess I'm slowly gaining perspective as I re-enforce my login name...
I guess I'm slowly gaining perspective as I re-enforce my login name...
#6
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
If I don't crash once every ride I am not pushing hard enough....
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Parrish, FL
Posts: 7,963
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No doubt that the best get hurt too, but everyone is always pushing the limit. Riding on the edge of out of control is what I like to say. If I don't crash at least twice on a ride, I know I didn't push myself. I need that adrenaline rush from doing something I shouldn't have. Sometimes I make it, other times I don't. (No wonder I carry a first aid kit in the car!)
I also know my limits, both of my ability and my bikes (usually mine!). I'm not going to be hucking a 10', I know I WILL hurt myself. But a 3' drop that scared the bejeesus out of me a year ago, is now a cakewalk.
If you're not crashing your going too easy!
L8R
I also know my limits, both of my ability and my bikes (usually mine!). I'm not going to be hucking a 10', I know I WILL hurt myself. But a 3' drop that scared the bejeesus out of me a year ago, is now a cakewalk.
If you're not crashing your going too easy!
L8R
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
#8
New to bikeforùms.net
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,202
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If your flying down some hill thats has big rocks all over it on some little cross country bike, something is bound to happen. If your going to start doing big stuff, then the first step is trying something big......and after you do it and stick it then you'll have the balls to do more and more.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: IN THE GORGE
Posts: 330
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thats the thing, I'm flying down a hill on a little xc bike and I'm kinda freaked to go big becuase I might break my bike and possibly myself but I'm mostly worried about my bike (I have insurance my bike doesn't). So I kinda feel like my bike is limiting my skills, thats why I'm wondering if I need to get armor or a new bike ( I'm getting a new one anyway so its not that big of a deal) or if I'm just a wuss and I need to go and huck myself off some 20 footer
#10
Gravity Is Yer Friend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: "Over the Hill" and going down fast in the 805.
Posts: 2,961
Bikes: Scott Gambler, Scott Ransom, Kona Bear, Bianchi 928 Carbon/Chorus, C'Dale Rize4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What makes you think you can jump, drop or gap anything
#11
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have saved that picture for future reference...and I spilled my drink ...thankyou
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: finally transplanted!
Posts: 454
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally posted by mountaindew
Thats the thing, I'm flying down a hill on a little xc bike and I'm kinda freaked to go big becuase I might break my bike and possibly myself but I'm mostly worried about my bike (I have insurance my bike doesn't). So I kinda feel like my bike is limiting my skills, thats why I'm wondering if I need to get armor or a new bike ( I'm getting a new one anyway so its not that big of a deal) or if I'm just a wuss and I need to go and huck myself off some 20 footer
Thats the thing, I'm flying down a hill on a little xc bike and I'm kinda freaked to go big becuase I might break my bike and possibly myself but I'm mostly worried about my bike (I have insurance my bike doesn't). So I kinda feel like my bike is limiting my skills, thats why I'm wondering if I need to get armor or a new bike ( I'm getting a new one anyway so its not that big of a deal) or if I'm just a wuss and I need to go and huck myself off some 20 footer
especially with those longer travel plates!
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: finally transplanted!
Posts: 454
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ok... I'm the one on CRACK... I just saw some of your other posts and noticed you had a Norco.... that would explain it. Good luck finding a new bike! There's tons of good ones out there!
#15
#GoatRidesBikes.com
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW MO
Posts: 472
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have an AC Air Lite...it's an awesome freeride, light DH rig that ain't to big a drag when XC'ing too...
__________________
GoatRidesBikes.com
GoatRidesBikes.com
#16
the lone outdoorsman
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Napa, CA
Posts: 149
Bikes: '03 Santa Cruz Superlight
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I go to the downieville downhill, I know that if I had a bike better suited for it, that I could go a lot faster and be a lot better, but ive taken the klein down it 2 years running now and the only damages I have encured is having to true the rim after each trip. My family generally goes up there during the summer.