|   Just back from the best ride I have had in a long time. | Jdub
Oct 18, 2003 11:18 AM | | I have been riding mountain bikes on and off for about 12 years. I was always an avid hardtail rider, I have had GT's a few different Kleins and most recently a SC Chameleon.
A friend at work recently recived an 03 Heckler frame from Santa Cruz as a warranty replacement. He can go up the hills on that thing and have tons of fun going back down. After seeing that bike I had to have one.
Well, since I wanted to keep my chameleon I would have had to spend a ton of money on all new parts for the Heckler. I did some research and found it takes some time to get a heckler frame, and I kept on seeing Bullits. Hmmm... more travel may equal more fun. I found a great deal on an 01 bullit frame, coupled it with an 04 z1 drop off II fork and some other equipment I am not used to riding like lock on grips full riser bar, platform pedals.
As I was dialing it in on the street this week I noticed it felt completely different than my HT, the sitting position the way the pedals felt, I was a bit nervous, but I knew I would have time for a good ride on Saturday.
Well, I woke up this morning, put on my foul weather gear and headed out. I am lucky I live right by some of the best riding in my town. I was ready to work my ass off on the uphills so I could enjoy the down. As I was riding I noticed I was riding it like a hardtail. I took care to try to remain seated and use a smoother stroke, the platforms felt a bit odd still, but I did not have to stop and rest like I figured I would, and the ride was far more comfortable.
At last, my first down hill section. right away I found I was going over things I used to steer around. My brakes started to break in after the first couple hills and things got even more fun. Drops that used to rattle me were like butter and the confidence the bike gives me is a bit dangerous. I have not smiled on a ride like that for a long time. And I mean full on, I must have looked like some kind of idiot with my shinny new bike and ear to ear grin as I was passing by other bikers on the trail.
Anyway to the few who were like me and were reluctant to make the full suspension switch, I highly encourage trying it out. It is not just some marketing scheme like I thought, it is indeed a whole new way to ride.
Next I am looking forrward to single speeding the chameleon. |
| Amazing the fun we can have | AK Ken
Oct 18, 2003 11:23 AM | | when we let ourselves, eh? Way to keep an open mind! Next thing you know you'll be trying one of those 29er bikes. =)
Have fun.
Ken |
| This happened to me also | CruzBomber
Oct 19, 2003 12:31 PM | | I have a 1996 Litespeed Obed that I absolutely loved. It was sized and spec'd perfect for me. Then sometime in the 2000/2001 time frame I began investigating what double suspension bike would be best for me. I narrowed it down to a few but kept returning to the SuperLight. To make a long story short, I visited my local bike shop for some tube patches and this is where I saw a SuperLight frame hanging from the ceiling. I was finally able to to build it up myself with the parts selected just for me. My first ride was in a down pouring rain. My riding buddy had asked after an hour of riding in the rain if I was done, my reply "hell no, I'm having too much fun." That was June of this year. As you can see, I waited patiently. |
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