26er full suspension = shame??
#26
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,213
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2763 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
The design kinda sucks but not for the reason you state.
But seeing the bike out there is still freaking awesome.
#27
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,213
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2763 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
#29
Senior Member
Neighbors got new 29ers full suspension $3k bikes and I was jealous. - so you bought a 22 year old 26er and now you aren't jealous? Then you are set.
Likes For roskobosko:
#30
Newbie
I’m riding a 26 inch hard tail with a nashbar aluminum frame and free pedals the bike store gave me because a prior customer just didn’t want them anymore. No shame in what you are riding as long as you are having fun and it is safe to ride for the type of riding you do.
Likes For Bend0matic:
#31
Senior Member
I just got back into the mtb world this week sold my old gary fisher a year ago after near death ride. Neighbors got new 29ers full suspension $3k bikes and I was jealous.
got good deal on 26er 1998 schwinn s-10.
thing is great lighter than old HT gary fisher. rides well but 26er....will I be a laughing stock. rode 1st time yesterday
loved it.
no falls...
sweet old bike...
got good deal on 26er 1998 schwinn s-10.
thing is great lighter than old HT gary fisher. rides well but 26er....will I be a laughing stock. rode 1st time yesterday
loved it.
no falls...
sweet old bike...
Likes For Amt0571:
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 701
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
I think the IBIS bowtie commands a nice price today as well.
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
That is the sweet spot suspension design by John Castellano. The two major companies to use this were IBIS and Klein -although there were others as well. The idea was that it was plush when seated but completely rigid when standing (cranks were uncoupled). In theory (this is the 90's we are talking about!) it sounded good but think about how you ride downhill on a hard tail - with your butt slightly off the saddle and knees bent (again this is the 90s!). That would lock out the suspension and make it useless. You needed to keep you weight on the saddle and just go with it. With the Klein - you had something like 5 inches of rear travel (which was crazy high in those days) and the key was to use tons of sag to give a nice plush ride when seated but firmed up when you wanted to climb - which you had to do out of the saddle! I spent lots of time on a Klein Mantra and never got on with it but knew others that just loved it. He rode everything and was a climbing fool on that bike.
I think the IBIS bowtie commands a nice price today as well.
I think the IBIS bowtie commands a nice price today as well.
I have decent fitness from the road so I do ok. I just lack the mtb skills.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 701
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
That is very odd to say the least.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 701
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
Sorry, that was a vague response on my part.
That suspension design basically uncouples the two parts of the frame - the front triangle and the rear triangle with the shock connecting the two halves. The shock actually bears your weight when you are in the saddle. But when you are off the saddle, all your rear weight is off the saddle and on the peddles - which should bypass and unweight the shock. At that point, it should become really stiff - almost locked out. Bobbing all over the place may indicate a blown shock. When you are sitting, your body weight is actually acting as a damper to the coil spring.
That suspension design basically uncouples the two parts of the frame - the front triangle and the rear triangle with the shock connecting the two halves. The shock actually bears your weight when you are in the saddle. But when you are off the saddle, all your rear weight is off the saddle and on the peddles - which should bypass and unweight the shock. At that point, it should become really stiff - almost locked out. Bobbing all over the place may indicate a blown shock. When you are sitting, your body weight is actually acting as a damper to the coil spring.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
313 Posts
If you ride trails within your capability you will have zero teasing remarks about your bike. I ride a 97 Trek 7000 (aluminum frame) 26er, full rigid. The only things I can’t do with this bike is stuff I really don’t want to do anyways...like big drops and sends, downhill rock gardens. Get out on the singletracks and shred that thang!
#38
Senior Member
New bikes are more forgiving if you pick the wrong line. And when you do pick the right one, you can go in really fast. It just means it's easier to gain confidence when building skill.
Just make sure it's in good repair, and have a blast.
Just make sure it's in good repair, and have a blast.
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,333
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8309 Post(s)
Liked 9,102 Times
in
4,499 Posts
Yes, just have fun and stay within yourself. People are riding gravel bikes off road, if they can do it, so can you.