0 points (view top contributors)
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Congrads on the new bike. Sounds like a good choice.
Santa Cruz Heckler with DHX air 5.0 shock and a good fork (Minute 3 on mine). Simple suspension design, little maintenance. There’s very little that this bike can’t handle (may serious DH or Serious big hits). It IS the One-bike-does it all, and it’s more affordable than many others claiming the same.
Got Lights?
http://www.sorba.org/modules.php?name=F … ic&t=10219
Great way to get to know Bull Mtn, and break in the night riding season.
Here is another post which actually has a few maps with options for Bull & Jake Mtn.
Haven’t ridden it yet, new to the area, but plan to soon. There is a group from SORBA who ride it frequently and are starting some night rides up there. Here’s a link to their recent forum, maybe you can post a messag there and get some answers.
Dude, convert to tubeless, Stan’s is the way to go. will cost a little bit up front but save in the long haul. Stan’s them bad boys, cary a spare tube in the camel back just incase you run into somebody on the trail who needs it (and the freak chance you actually need one), keep a couple of co2’s in the camel back, run 34 lbs pressure, grip like hell and forget about those flats, just ride!
Well Slyp_Dawg, I’m glad that you are getting exposed to, and are interested in mtbking at age 13. Cat poo asside, I stand by my advice; save your money, if the bike you have is working, continue to ride it, cut some grass, shovel some snow, get a paper route, bake some cookies, sell some lemon aid, sell your Game Boy, whatever it takes, then when you have enough, go to your local bike shop and buy that sweet ride (hell, even bikedirect.com would be better than walmart, just take that boxed up bike when UPS drops it off over to the shop and let them teach you how to work on bikes). What ever you do, just keep riding. Here’s a thought, If you only have $200 or $300 and you are just itching for a new bike, get a bmx bike (from a bike shop). You could probably score a pretty good bmx bike for $300, then take it to your local skate/bmx park and have fun. Good luck on your quest, and stay out of the bike section at wal mart.
I know that if you are just starting out, it’s hard to justify spending a little more cash for what seems to be the same “type, style, named, or looking bike”, but believe me, there is a big difference. On a side note, the reality is that Bike Shops (especially the small, independant ones in little towns) depend on walmart, k-mart, costco, sams… to sell these bikes because these stores do not have qualified (or even competent) employees to assemble the bikes, therefore, within the first few miles of riding most of these bikes need major adjustments, repairs, and reassemblies. Repair, adjustment and assembly is all cash for Bike Shops because it’s money in exchange for time/labor (not cheap). In the long run, many Walmart bike owners end up paying more for tune-ups, trueing, upgrades… than they originally paid for their bikes. On the flip side, some people buy a walmart bike just to try biking with the idea that if they enjoy it (especially offroad cycling), then they would upgrade or buy a better bike…if they enjoy it or stay with it. The problem with this is: because of the low quality, heavy bike that was poorly assembled, with the “one size fits all” mentality; this person, who is new to the sport, takes it out on the trail, struggles, bad shifting, bouncy suspension, sore back (from bad geometry/fit). And concludes that mountain biking is no fun. Then their walmart bike is left rusting in the back yard, and they have a negative view of a beautiful sport which I (and many, many others) love. So what I’m trying to say is: forget the disc brakes and full suspension, Schwinn, Mongoose, Next, or whatever stamp that they put on it from Taiwann or China. Spend your $300, $400, $500 or however much on a bike (even a used one) that fits you (length, height, style), and one that is put together properly, and backed by bike shop who wants you to enjoy the sport as well as they want loyal customers. Do not spend it on the one-size fits all bike from just another giant Whore who just wants a few pennies from you and that could care less if you die riding the bike they sold you because the front wheel comes half off while you’re cruising down some sweet singletrack. I hope I’m not offending you or anyone, but I do not apologize (nor for my bad spelling). I am obviously passionate about this matter, and no, I do not own or have any interest in owning a bike shop. (Actually I’m an RN, and we are busy enough in the E.R. with other misfortunate souls, we don’t need new ones who made bad choices on what to spend their money on). So, for what it’s worth, I care! Scott
p.s.: check out this site: http://www.bikesrnottoys.com
I started surfing when I was 14 (on a surfboard). Some people then and now ride “boogie” boards which is a form of sufing in the sense that you are catching a wave. The thing about boogie boarders is that when they try to “surf” with surfers (ones who ride surfboards), many times they become obstacles or speedbumps. Most of the time they end up this way unintentionally, however there always seemes to be a rift between the two. The nickname that I always heard reffering to boogie boarders was “sponge”. Like “Hey man that was a nice left you took until that sponge dropped in on you. Too bad for him, eh?”…anyways… I’m not sure if Spongers ride sponges becuase they can’t surf or they don’t like to stand while riding a wave (which isn’t the case because half of them end up trying to stand on their sponges when they get good at it anyways). But the same goes for recumbents: Is it that they can’t ride upright bikes, or do they just preffer the Lazy-boy approach? I don’t know, and being a 2 wheeled enthousiest (and poor speller), I can’t rule out ever riding or even owning one. But one thing that seems to be the case is…recumbents are the “sponges” of cycling.
P.s.: within the same theory, Rollerbladers are the “sponges” of skateboarding and bmxing.
