I see only five real classes, so you should be OK. Watch out, though - - three of them are freshman-flunk-out classes (bio & chem). Really pay attention in those and go to all the pre-test tutorials. Good luck.

I sat on a dh bike for the first time yesterday. A brand spankin' new Specialized Bighit. It went down about 3 inches when I sat on it.

Just imagine how good all that plushness feels on the trail

Ya, but it will feel like dragging a couch on the uphill!

how heavy is the average dh bike?

Sub-40 DH bike is getting light. Race bikes can be under 35lbs.

Average? Maybe 45 to 50 but it would depend on the parts...lower end stuff is obviously heavier.

But you'd have to be an idiot to buy a DH bike and expect to ride it uphill. The weight, geometry and lack of a granny ring doesn't lend itself well to going uphill.

We can't have our cake and eat it too??

I know I'm going to get **** for this but I'll ask it anyway. What, other than more suspension travel, makes a DH bike so different than a FS XC bike? Is it so much heavier because it's that much stronger or does it have something to do with the physics of actually going downhill at fast speeds?

Well you can come close with some bikes but they all have their limitations one way or the other.

Geometry and the amount of travel are the biggest differences. Geometry maybe even more than travel.

The bikes are heavier because they take a beating and lightweight XC parts wouldn't hold up as well (though some DH parts are getting pretty light).

This is the key... a lot of XC Trail bikes have like 5-6" now... the suspension systems have gotten advanced enough to make that palatable. The problem remains with geometry. Head tube angle, seat tube angle, handlebar height(stack) and the top-tube/stem length(reach) are what make it hard to slowly work a DH bike uphill but they're also the things which make it better at downhill. If you sit on a DH bike it becomes obvious it's designed to only go downhill...

I've considered buying numerous downhill bikes on craigslist just for the full suspension but was always deterred by the weight (I do 90% XC), so it's good to know there are other things to consider when weighing the pros & cons of a DH bike.

Having a place to ride a DH bike is the most important consideration when buying one.

Yeah I have nowhere, which is why the weight deterred me so much. I've got 99% XC/trail & one freeride (that I'm aware of) about an hour & a half away. So the lighter, the better.

Not too long ago I finished up rebuilding the fork on my dmr. Will never make the mistake of letting another person give the bike a try again. BTW, long story. Let's just say went in and landed very nose heavy and messed up the internals..

Going to give the fork a thorough shakedown ride tomorrow to see if all is sound.

^^^^
I feel your pain

I went mtbing the other day. So much fun; wish I could get to the trails moar.

And the fork is still f'd up. Wasn't originally, but after a pass at the pump track I notice that there is a fair amount of creaking, and the legs were drenched in oil.

I'm not real happy the High Sierra Sport Company, and here's why: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...3#post11074983. Hopefully, none of us will buy from them until their customer support gets their act together.

If everyone wouldn't mind checking this out, my friend got his bike stolen. Just thought I'd spread it around - who knows.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/n...839947343.html

Would you guys recommend starting out downhill with a full sus (all mtn.) bike or a hardtail, or to buy a proper DH bike to do it on?

If you're going to be doing a lot of resort riding and shuttling, get a DH bike.

Looks like Im out for a good month or so woohoo! Went out for a 10 mile loop that I ride quite normally but havent had a chance to due to rain. Well the rain made some of the drop offs a bit more fun and came off one wrong, ditched the bike and planted a foot on the ground ready for a tuck and roll. Long story short, a loud pop in the knee and some nice pain. Nothing seems to be torn so far but have to go in for some more tests, right now its looking like an ACL stretch/sprain? I have no lateral movement in my leg or it collapses but it can hold my weight which is promising. First real MTB injury and all I want to do is go ride again.

Drops and rain are bad news, anything i can't roll i stay away from. Wheelie drops from slick surfaces get a lot of people! Good thing i don't live on the west-coast. Go luck with your re-hab, you sound like you're gonna be pushing it to get back to 100% normal activities, don't... just don't. Plenty of riding years left ahead no need to make it worse.