|   Have Mountain bikes gotten too complicated? | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 5:55 AM | | Any non-mechanical types like me who think that mountain bikes have gotten too complicated? Not the riding but the machine.
Do you spend more time maintaining your bike then riding it?
I have not avoided advances in technology and ride three different bikes that utilize everything from hydraulic brakes to discs to air forks and shocks to full suspension.
I'm not a Ludite and do not advocate a return to the "good old days" because I think that, for the most part, the old days weren't any better. (As a whole, they were worse) I'm just not one who cares about all the extra maintenance required.
Your thoughts? |
| I was thinking this same thing yesterday.. | Doc
Aug 9, 2002 6:04 AM | | Think about it, when you first start riding you want the best of everything, full suspension, XTR 9 spd, high end titanium or carbon fiber.... it goes on and on until you are broke.
But you know what most people end up riding after years and years of experience and practice?
Custom steel hardtails, sometimes fully rigid- sometimes even a singlespeed.
Yes, they can be complex- but I think as you get deeper and deeper in love with the RIDE you find that simplicity is so much sweeter.
I've ridden many kinds of full suspension designs- and you know what? I love my hardtail homegrown more and more every time I ride it. |
| I had similiar thoughts on a ride on Tuesday | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 6:08 AM | | I was on my "custom steel hardtail" and was bouncing off rocks more then rolling over them as I would on my fs and I was thinking about how much more fun it was to be getting banged around. I felt "more alive?" I don't know what but I was definitely more connected to the trail and my body did not suffer that much more for the experience and my mind certainly came out ahead. |
| Kinda like a wooden roler coaster VS steel? | tlg
Aug 9, 2002 6:19 AM | | Steel is fast and smooth, but the wooden coasters are still so much more fun. |
| Not that I'm anti-progressive or anything.... | Doc
Aug 9, 2002 7:03 AM | | But I'd have to agree. |
| than nm | sp
Aug 9, 2002 10:51 AM | | |
| SP - You can spell but can you write? | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 11:04 AM | | There is more to life then/than being anal............ |
| What is this "maintenance" of which you speak? | Jive Tolkien
Aug 9, 2002 6:08 AM | | Being of the "not-too-mechanically-inclined" ilk, I like hardtails, Time ATACs, V-brakes and air forks.
Once Brown Santa brings its much-needed brakes, I'd like to start spending some quality time on the singlespeed... |
| A general comment to spark discussion.... | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 6:11 AM | | However, I do tend to include tearing down a fork or bleeding brake lines as more maintenance then I want to get involved with. I'm quite happy to just lube the chain now and then and make sure the tires have some air. |
| Same here. | Mojo Man
Aug 9, 2002 6:27 AM | | It would be even better if the chain didn't need lubing and the tires always kept their pressure. I know many people enjoy the "labo(u)r of love", but I would rather skip it.
SS is out of the question. Bad knees, yeah that's it. |
| than I nm | sp
Aug 9, 2002 10:56 AM | | |
| re: Have Mountain bikes gotten too complicated? | Single Speed Outlaw
Aug 9, 2002 6:08 AM | | "Do you spend more time maintaining your bike then riding it?"
Nope. And that's just the way I like it. |
| the light goes on... | SSOB
Aug 9, 2002 6:17 AM | | No more wondering why SS is gaining in popularity. Pretty soon, mainstream manufacturers will be making SS bikes. Oh wait, they already are. |
| yea, but unfortunately... | JAK
Aug 9, 2002 7:15 AM | | they don't understand SS geometry...
Kinda like them early Italian MTBs. Or the 1st Voodoo CX. |
| One of the beauties of cycling is cost. | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 7:22 AM | | While mainstream manufacturers may not understand SS geometry, the cost of the "best" frame is less then a used car.
Where else can you get something custom made for you and only you? Surfboards, yes, skis, no, ski boots, maybe if you can find a dealer (I forget the brand but they are Swiss I believe), cars, no, suits, yes....
Anyway, you get the point. Cycling is one area where the common man/woman can buy the two wheeled version of a Bently, etc. for only a few thousand dollars.
Pretty good deal. |
| You got that RIGHT Rev!! (nm) | JAK
Aug 9, 2002 8:02 AM | | ! |
| less than nm | sp
Aug 9, 2002 10:57 AM | | |
| lol... | late to the thread (nm)
Aug 9, 2002 1:21 PM | | 8D |
| you must be like so bored.... | Hollis
Aug 9, 2002 2:02 PM | | Dewd! Maybe, not so much caffeine is good, eh?
This AINT no Engrish essay...this is Conversational Writing.
Chill and stuff. |
| I got the bug too... | Mitch2
Aug 9, 2002 6:19 AM | | I started out fully rigid 8 years ago then slapped on a Judy and I got on the bandwagon(chichi parts and all that except going to a full suspension) Then it hit me back in 1999. Man, this is getting to be boring. So I switch back to fully rigid( Rock Lobster Cyclocross) and the riding spirit came back. Now I am having so much fun. I guess what goes around comes around.
Mitch
Venice, Ca |
| Yep! | Bikebreath
Aug 9, 2002 6:23 AM | | I started whining when the 7 speed Hyperglide began. My pals who upgraded called it "HyperSlide". You know longer had the option to make a single speed out of it when you snapped a rear deraileur.
I resisted getting any suspension until 1999. I gotta admit I do enjoy the comfort on these old bones, but I don't see any more air shocks to fuss with in my future and there's no way I'm getting any hydraulic brakes.
Bb, [ Have considered a rigid geared bike within the last month. ] |
| A-ha! | Jive Tolkien
Aug 9, 2002 6:27 AM | | Crap band, crap video.
Anyway, once you get bored with a mere rigid geared bike, can we expect to see you converting it to that singlespeed fad? ;) |
| OH MY GAWD!!! What if that happen? | Bikebreath
Aug 9, 2002 6:52 AM | | I'd get more bumps, bruises and cuts on this page than riding in the woods.
Bb, [ would have to bring a first-aid kit to log on. ] |
| You could always pray for rain............ | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 6:57 AM | | That would keep you safe from a single speed adventure. |
| Must Strangle REV...Must Strangle REV... | Bikebreath
Aug 9, 2002 7:03 AM | | You can put that to rest now. I biked and camped in the rain at the Davis Gathering.
Bb, [ ... and was really grumpy about it too. ] |
| I was going to ask you about that...... | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 7:08 AM | | Never got around to it. Hope you had a good time in spite of the weather.
Put it to rest? Gee, if you insist, okay. |
| I'm in the process of building a rigid geared bike right now.... | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 6:43 AM | | My old Zaskar frame and leftover parts will make an interesting ride in another week or so. While primarily intended for road/city use, a quick change of tires will get me on the trail too.
I'm actually looking forward to seeing what it will feel like on dirt. |
| I think the IF would be way more suited to that task. | Bikebreath
Aug 9, 2002 6:56 AM | | So much more complaint than whatever the Zaskar is made out of.
Bb, [ hmmmm, a Gunnar Rock Hound might be my choice. ] |
| Yes, but the goal is to use existing parts. | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 6:59 AM | | The IF with the 80 mm SID is really the comfort level I seem to enjoy most. Its where my riding is at. A personal thing, you understand. |
| By that I mean...I understand. [nm] | Bikebreath
Aug 9, 2002 7:05 AM | | |
| Roots will be your nemesis at first... | jpg
Aug 9, 2002 7:10 AM | | My older fully rigid mountain bike (Awesome Columbus Max frame from 1988, full XT 7 speed drivetrain from 1992) had been mostly neglected for the last number of years as I was riding a newer hardtail with a front shock until I decided last year to upgrade to a riser bar. The change in my riding position was so dramatic that I began an all-new love affair with the bike (it has a very fast, unique ride and is so well balanced). Anyway, when I took the bike off-road for the first time in eons, I pretty much dabbed on every root. However, by the 2nd and 3rd rides I had re-learned how to account for roots and the such with a rigid fork and found that there really didn't seem to be many limitations about what I could ride vs. having a front shock. Also, I was amazed by how much a change in your riding position can make up for a lack of suspension -- I almost wonder if the greatest benefit most suspension forks offer is that they raise the front end of your bike forcing you to ride more upright...
Now I have 2 bikes that ride very differently but that love equally. It just makes it a little difficult to decide which bike to take on each ride -- but that's the great thing about bikes (well, good bikes that is) -- they're all fun to ride in their own way. |
| Try a Motoraptor 2.4 on the front | Single Speed Outlaw
Aug 9, 2002 7:30 AM | | You'll really dig how the bike handles with that. |
| I'll have the right wheel for it. A Mavic 519. | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 7:33 AM | | While I don't have a 2.4 Motoraptor, I do have a 2.3 Conti Survival ProTection that will work just as well. |
| Few days ago I would have disagreed with you. | Keiko
Aug 9, 2002 6:29 AM | | But now my biking world has taken a leap into something I dont understand so well. I bought a new bike and this time I choose a bike with Discbrakes, air shocks, clippless and full suspension. Quite a change from my Hardtail, coilsuspended bike with V brakes and toeclips, not to mention my fixed gear rigid bike I use for training. |
| There is a lot of Zen involved in working on them... | Shencycle
Aug 9, 2002 6:35 AM | | It is a nice change from the other aspects of life, at least mine. So, I really enjoy working on the bike. Learning new things and feeling a sense of accomplishment when done....certainly there are times of frustration....that is the learning process.... |
| Its more a sense of wonder when I fix something | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 6:49 AM | | Not causing more damage then I tried to repair is a wonderful thing. I understand fully where you are coming from though. With me, I perfer to spend my limited free time riding not wrenching but I certainly can understand the enjoyment in doing both or either.
I enjoy tuning my own skis by hand and feeling the edge get sharper with each pass of the stone and the bottoms get smoother as I buff the wax. |
| than I nm | sp
Aug 9, 2002 11:00 AM | | |
| Zen and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance? | Steve-O
Aug 9, 2002 6:52 AM | | I tend to agree... Working on bikes can be a good thing... But just like the Persig book, a lot of it depends on the person. Some people like to "see how it ticks" and are not afraid tear it down and rebuild. Other people simply see it as a hassle that takes time away from the cycling experience. Persig called it "Classic" and "Romantic" thinkers.
I myself try to look for bike products that enhance the ride yet don't require constant fussing... A good example are clipless pedals. They require practically no maintenance (I'm on ATACS) and give me more power in each stroke so I can ride further to see more stuff on my mountain bike.
Another personal example is single pivot full suspension. FS enhances the ride by letting me go further faster. Because maintenance might be an issue I chose a design that was simple yet time proven (Superlight)... This seemed like the bike with the biggest ride enhancement with the least amount of maintenance...
Steve-O (Might not be making much sense unless you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) |
| either they have or we have gotten stupid.... | namaSSte
Aug 9, 2002 6:46 AM | | either way, I agree that time spent riding is more fun than time spent maintaining. On the flipside, if I wsn't a decent wrench, I can't imagine how much non riding time there would be since the LBS would ahve the bike more than I would.
Peace Rev. |
| re: Have Mountain bikes gotten too complicated? | ACpartspimp
Aug 9, 2002 6:46 AM | | WOW, I thought I was the only one who used the word 'Ludite'.
I kind of agree, but I also disagree. On one hand it is a freaking bicyle after all, how complex could it be. Then I ride, read up on some of the technology and think it's really cool. I like to work on car engines too, so working on my bike is fun for me. I'm fairly new but once I get some exp (and some caysh) I want to build my own bike. |
| (luddite)just learned something new | ronnysmoke
Aug 9, 2002 9:26 AM | | Lud·dite Pronunciation Key (ldt)
n.
1.Any of a group of British workers who between 1811 and 1816 rioted and destroyed laborsaving textile machinery in the
belief that such machinery would diminish employment.
2.One who opposes technical or technological change. |
| Instead of Air or Oil or Coil...how about Electric? | Hollis
Aug 9, 2002 6:51 AM | | I think I'd look forward to the day shocks have Computer Controlled Dampening. Download a certain "Tuning" for a DH trail...then reset it to XC & use another setting for Urban or Greenways. I know on most of my local trails my bike doesnt need all 4" of suspension, it would be nice to have a group of pre programmed or even custom settings to use.
I've noticed a bike trend where there are more than one travel settings, instead of stopping to drop or crank up the travel, why not have a little switch? Now most Forks & Shocks have Lock Out levers...why not a lock out switch? I know Cannondale does it on the Lefty, but I dont think that example will strengthen my arguement :o)
Mavic has the Electronic derailleur for Roadies? When is the Dirt version gonna come out? I'd love the clean look of having No Shifter Triggers.
It would be nice to get rid of the chain. Imagine if they could figure out a way to save the energy you use by cranking and store it on the bike & then send it by some sort of electro mechanical drive to the rear wheel or maybe even the front? Still human powered but the actual drive being electric. Dial in your own resistance level to fine tune your output.
So I'm babbling...I'm In A Windowless Cube!
Sign me up for the Electronic Controlled Carbon Fiber FS rig with 4"-8" of adjustable/lockable travel.
Introducing the 2005 Ellsworth Buck (as in Buck Rogers...get it, LOL)
Follow your bliss & all that other happy new age crap :o) |
| K2 tried the electronic fork a few years ago.... | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 7:01 AM | | Guess it didn't do so well since its no longer around. I'm not even sure what the advantages were supposed to be but it may have been something that didn't really have any advantages outside of marketing. |
| They called it the "smart fork", it had computer controlled.... | SunDog
Aug 9, 2002 7:24 AM | | dampening. I saw one in France, it belonged to a K-2 sponsered rider. It wasn't on his bike, he rode a Zoke. The smart fork looked pretty dumb laying unused on a shelf in the workshop. |
| I think that was an electonically dampened shock... | Hollis
Aug 9, 2002 7:27 AM | | I'm thinking more along the lines of active suspension...all electric internals, no fluids to blow out...just chips to fry & overclock & upgrade.
Trail conversations like, "Hey! I got the new P7 chip for my fork! The thing handles way better than the AMD chip it came with origianlly."
I'm talking Future Shock...toys from Todays Nintendo Kids.
10 years ago, did most people think we'd have Hydro Discs and 2.7 tires and 6" of travel on a mostly XC bike?
I'm talking besides the Mountain Cycles guy (he had it pegged). |
| That would be a closed looped electro-mechanical servo system. | SunDog
Aug 9, 2002 8:00 AM | | The computer would control electric servos in respone to acceleration sensors. Now that is complex and expensive and would require a signifcant AC power supply and environmental control to keep the amplifiers from over heating. |
| Meanwhile, I'll stick | with these babies
Aug 9, 2002 1:00 PM | | May have ruined the resale value by removing the decals though. |
| Thats a terrible fork... | Hollis
Aug 9, 2002 2:04 PM | | M-U-M, put the stickers back, Fast!
:op |
| K2 tried the electronic fork a few years ago.... | Yeti_Rider
Aug 9, 2002 8:09 AM | | The smart-shock was supposed to sample the action of the fork and automatically adjust the dampening valve to compensate for sections of the trail where you wanted more or less dampening.
IT sampled 100 times/second so in theory it worked flawlessly. However, everything I read said that the riders couldn't actually tell if it improved the ride.
I'm sure it did exactly what it was supposed to do but in actual use the rider just couldn't determine if it actually helped out on the ride. A case of a little too much technology I suppose.
Michael |
| Yup, made for K2 by Noleen | KL
Aug 9, 2002 9:05 AM | | I have a buddy who has one on his Zed. He can't tell the diference in the ride from one setting to the next. The little red light looks cool at night though.
Kevin L. |
| Wow. | Mojo Man
Aug 9, 2002 7:06 AM | | i "Still human powered but the actual drive being electric. Dial in your own resistance level to fine tune your output."
That's a really cool concept. There are too many reasons why it would be impractical (ie: added weight of the equipment), but it is still something to kick around. |
| Wow2 | Jive Tolkien
Aug 9, 2002 7:16 AM | | I thought Hollis and Mojo Man were one and the same. |
| Hollis is my Godfather. | Mojo Man
Aug 9, 2002 7:23 AM | | He changed my handle. Scooter gets naming credit. |
| argument nm | sp
Aug 9, 2002 10:46 AM | | |
| I suppose you're right... | bones
Aug 9, 2002 7:14 AM | | Personally I love wrenching my bike. I'll take it apart just to kill some time in the evening. Yes, definitely complexity has increased, have you ever looked at the inside of a Rohlhoff hub?
or seen a Brooklyn FS bike?
I wouldn't know where to start with that thing.
Interesting to look at but with all the new fancy suspension designs, I still love the feel of my steel singlespeed. The question is: Is it the bike or the rider that is simple? |
| Rev, I agree that some have -- I-Drive comes to mind... | gonzostrike
Aug 9, 2002 7:27 AM | | as well as others with complicated linkages, like the Brooklyn TMX and the Nicolai FS bikes.
one of my riding buddies has a new Santa Cruz V10 for about one month, and has been bending linkage parts. He bent one last night on a 16-foot drop. Everyone was talking about how that wouldn't have happened on a Super 8.
I think that the simpler the bike, the more likely it will hold up to the extreme tests of super-burly freeriding, drops, jumps, etc. |
| why is your friend doing 16' drops on a V10? | narlus
Aug 10, 2002 6:35 PM | | and the I-drive is pretty freakin' simple when you look at it. a single pivot bike.
btw, a tmx or nucleon wouldn't fold parts on a 16' drop. tell your friend to get the right tool for the job. |
| Nope. Not... | fred³
Aug 9, 2002 7:29 AM | | too complicated and don't spend more time maintaining. If you ask the right questions, get the right answers, use the right tools and maintain on a regular basis it's as easy as wiping your @ss. :-) |
| If that were true, | Mojo Man
Aug 9, 2002 7:33 AM | | then I would have sh!t in my socks. Some of us are "Farfromhandy". If you're mechanically inclined, you can't understand. |
| Ditto | Jive Tolkien
Aug 9, 2002 7:40 AM | | PS Fred, do you smell poop? |
| Gotta' go with you guys on this one.... | Rev Bubba
Aug 9, 2002 7:44 AM | | Putting a little lube on the wipers of my SID is complicated enough. |
| What kind of hillbilly lives there? | knobbydad®
Aug 9, 2002 9:07 AM | | What a dump! Oh yeah...that USED to be my yard. We like the new place much better. |
| Nice | Jive Tolkien
Aug 9, 2002 9:12 AM | | What kind of moonshine mileage does that thing get? |
| Hey, there's a tip in there somewhere. | Pete.
Aug 9, 2002 9:27 AM | | Recycling in progress. |
| re: Have Mountain bikes gotten too complicated? | redneckhippie
Aug 9, 2002 8:09 AM | | This question is a matter of opinion. Overall, my opinion in YES. But I have to qualify it. I like to work on my bike. For instance, I bought a Santa Cruz SL frame, and put all my own parts on it and built it up. I do routine maintenence- Lubes cleaning, new tires, inspection, etc. The thing is, I have not really had any mechanical failures to speak of. Broken chain,-no big deal, plenty of flats, but other than that the bike has been virtually maintenance free since February, and i ride it 4 days a week. And, Frankly, I like it better than my hard tail, so even if i had to do a few more repairs, IMHO it would be well worth it.
Dont get me wrong Simplicity is sweet, and my next bike will be a single speeder for the challenge of it. but for all day saturday rides, I will pay the price for the dual suspension trail bike... |
| Too complicated? Not really. | Evil 1/2
Aug 9, 2002 8:14 AM | | With the exception of full-suspension and hydraulic brakes, most of today's bikes are still pretty simple to work on. A lot of the technology has been around for years and there is an extensive amount of information on wheelbuilding, rim brakes, etc.
Hell, even "newfangled" things like air damping have been around for at least eight years and so there's quite a bit of documentation on them.
Moreover, while more and more people are riding full-suspension, I'd say at least 8 out of 10 bikes found in my shop are hardtails, and my personal stable at the moment is all-hardtail (three ferrous, one aloo-minnium, and one unobtainium). The hardtail ain't dead yet. |
| No - spent more time maintaining my bike... | Biking Viking
Aug 9, 2002 8:31 AM | | ...in the good, old rigid days. I think the reliability of the components is much better now than ten years ago.
As for "too complicated", it's entirely up to the rider to choose how complicated a bike to ride.
BV |
| For most folks, yes. | SunDog
Aug 9, 2002 8:43 AM | | As the performance of bikes increase so does the complexity. The choice is simple; you either learn to maintain it, can afford to pay to maitain it, or watch it degrade due lack of maintenance. This important decision should be balanced with your actual performance requirements when purchasing your new rig.
In our "me first keeping up with the Jone's society" of $100 performance walking shoes, urban assault SUV's, I need a quart of power-ade 'cause I just walked to the mailbox, I need a palm pilot to keep my phone numbers, too many people seek the perception of performance and end off with things that they will never near the performance envelope, do not know how to or cannot afford to maintain. With the perception of performance in demand complexity to imply improved performance enhancing technology finds its way into the market place. Worse yet is the faux high performance look. |
| Remember re-packing an old BB??? | Dave K
Aug 9, 2002 9:48 AM | | using a drift and hammer to loosen off the locking. Busting knuckles trying to remove the fixed cup?? How about trying to adjust the bearings on your headset?? Or setting the toe-in on XT cantilever brakes.
Nope, mountain bikes have gotten easier to maintain. Aheadset, cartridge BB's, V-brakes and discs are all easier to maintain than what we used to use. I also think it's easier to install a set of disc brakes than it is to set-up a bike with old cantilever brakes.
The only thing that has gotten worse is suspension vs fully rigid. The current crop of forks, however, are light years ahead of the first ones. I remember having to overhaul my Manitou II's (and Judys) after every second ride. Of course this meant twice a week! Let me tell you that changing the oil in a Bomber is easier than re-greasing the innards of a Judy. Shifting is more reliable and faster. Brakes require fewer pad changes and set-up is easier.
So no, I spend much less time maintaining bikes than I did before. And that is a good thing because now I have 6 bikes to work on compared to the 1 I had when I was back in school.
Dave |
| Agree with Dave | radair
Aug 9, 2002 4:37 PM | | Even replacing bushings on the linkage of my FS bike is a short, easy job. The hardtail is pretty much maintenance free.
Sealed bearing headsets & hubs, etc. require virtually no maintenance. Life is good! |
| I'm with ya, Rev... | pedalinbob
Aug 9, 2002 9:52 AM | | i will admit that i love full suspension--heck, im still exploring it (waiting for the new i-drive team frame)!!
however, i still have my hardtail--and i will keep one forever. when i trash the paragon, i will get a curtlo or gunnar to replace it: genesis geo combined with durability and ride of steel. when my air forks fail, i will replace them with simpler coil forks (i have an SXR and Six Deluxe waiting).
i was thinking about this very subject a couple of weeks ago when i was prepping the nrs: aired up the tires, lubed the chain, checked the brakes, checked shifting, checked the air pressure in the +/- chamber of the fork (duke--which i have to lube the upper seals before every ride or it is notchy feeling) and +/- chamber of the shock, checked some bolts, etc.
though i love the adjustability of the air shock/fork, i think they are a pain to find a good set-up, and keep properly tuned.
add to that the fact that there are 6 air chambers and a bunch of pivots on that bike...and i see an awful lot that can go wrong.
beginning to think simpler is better too...to a point!
take care,
Bob |
| than nm | sp
Aug 9, 2002 10:40 AM | | |
| did you make an error, Spelling Police? | pedalinbob
Aug 9, 2002 1:54 PM | | i did not utilize the term "than" or "then"...
who were you correcting? |
| no, wasn't you........ | sp
Aug 9, 2002 2:30 PM | | "........maintaining your bike then riding it? " |
| See, that's why I ride Superlight.... | K-Zero
Aug 9, 2002 11:18 AM | | Ultra-simple suspension design that works flawlessly ride after ride...which means a whole lot of riding and almost zero maintenance.
The owner of LBS will soon switch back to Superlight after riding NRS/Fuel for few years...his reason: "they (SL) just work."
K-Zero |
| See, that's why I ride Superlight.... | Aesop Rock
Aug 9, 2002 11:45 AM | | I love hardtails myself. I have had three so far, in my short 20 years. When I bought my Gunnar I had several cheap fully designs to choose from...Giant, Trek, Klein blah blah. The end choice was to go with the gunnar just because it feels great. I really feel like I'm on the trail, not floating on some lazyboy recliner downhill. Maybe because I'm young still, but I like to suffer. I like to hurt like hell after a 24 hour race, that's the point. I've ridden several fullys and they just don't do it for me. Next up is the custom singlespeed and making the old roadie into a fixie. Pain is love.
 |
| That's why I sold this superlight | 2melow
Aug 9, 2002 2:47 PM | | Broken swingarms and one main pivot bolt that mysteriously worked it's way loose no matter how creative I got with different thread locking compounds.
If one bolt and swigarm can cause so much wasted time, i'd hate to see what some of these other disigns are like...
Steel hardtail = simple and reliable fun |
| Sorry to hear all your bad luck with lightweight parts... | K-Zero
Aug 9, 2002 6:54 PM | | first the SID and now Superlight...what did you do in your past life to deserve this? =p
K-Zero |
| Single and Rigid! the only way to ride | mondo
Aug 9, 2002 3:34 PM | | single speed! the only way to go |
| Single and Rigid! the only way to ride | rigid and no shocks
Aug 9, 2002 5:21 PM | | Why do you have disk brakes and front shocks. What a cop out. |
| Thats funny! | mondo
Aug 10, 2002 4:42 AM | | no disc up front, and as of now, it's a fixy in the rear! |
| "the only way to go" | Biking Viking
Aug 10, 2002 9:09 AM | | Looking around me on the trail, I'd say that's a bold statement.
BV |
| V- brakes are like starting fires with... | ...two sticks
Aug 10, 2002 6:27 AM | | I can start a fire with sticks but I prefer a lighter.
Once you try discs you'll see V brakes require much more fiddling and maintenance. Plus, they don't work as well. I'll never go back to V-brakes, even on a hardtail. |
| They are pretty freakin's close to it nm. | arch
Aug 12, 2002 6:16 AM | | |
| |
