Getting Back Into Mountain Biking

[hpiguy]

I've been quit smoking for over 18 months now, so I figure it's time to get back to rule #1; CARDIO! :mrgreen: I've missed mountain biking actually, so this is where most of my tax refund went. I can't wait for the local trails to dry after today's frog strangler.

2014 Trek X Caliber 6

 

[Trubble]

Sharp! Hope ya get a ton of miles on it.







I told the wife if I was to get another bike, I wanted a Diamondback Scapegoat. Admittedly, in large part because I couldn't believe a manufacturer would name their product such, and in small part, because I'm a sucker for those disk brakes.
But since my Sorrento ('05!) hasn't left the ceiling in at least three years, I don't figure it's going to ever wear out. Plus, all my riding's on small town surface streets, not like wear and tear's a big deal. Dream on, I guess.

 

[rockhugger]

nice ride "thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup" congrats ...
ease into it and just enjoy being out there.

 

[tdlosinc]

Very nice. I don't know if you've ever ridden a 29er before but it is a game changer. I will never ride 26" wheels ever again, unless I get another downhill/freeride rig. Good luck with the new ride "thumbsup"

 

[Mega Fattie]

Get some good tires.

 

[diggerj]

Cool, hope you like the new bike and enjoy it. My son and I just picked up a Trek for each of us. Me to get bike in shape and him less gaming time,lol.

 

[hpiguy]

Thanks guys! And this is my first 29'er, so it will be a different experience for sure. Now if the weather will just warm back up and dry things out, we had about 4" of rain yesterday.

 

[rockhugger]

Very nice. I don't know if you've ever ridden a 29er before but it is a game changer. I will never ride 26" wheels ever again, unless I get another downhill/freeride rig. Good luck with the new ride "thumbsup"

pert near sure that 's a 29'er. "thumbsup"

 

[tdlosinc]

pert near sure that 's a 29'er. "thumbsup"

I know those xcalibers are 29er's. That's why I was saying 29" wheels are a game changer. So much better than 26" wheels. I didn't know if this was his first 29er and if he knew how great they are.

 

[rockhugger]

I know those xcalibers are 29er's. That's why I was saying 29" wheels are a game changer. So much better than 26" wheels. I didn't know if this was his first 29er and if he knew how great they are.

gotcha "thumbsup"

I picked up a 29'er single speed a few yrs ago, and that is just fun beyond belief. My big BMX bike finally came true. "thumbsup""thumbsup"

 

[tdlosinc]

gotcha "thumbsup"

I picked up a 29'er single speed a few yrs ago, and that is just fun beyond belief. My big BMX bike finally came true. "thumbsup""thumbsup"

The guy I ride with runs a full rigid single speed 29er with beach cruzer type handle bars. Thing looks like a blast.

I ride a raleigh talus 29 from 2010 with a 2.5" or 3" fork. $975 bike for $175 after trading in my Jamis Komodo 2.0 freeride bike and a Gary Fisher King Fisher frame. I've been super happy with it. It has hydraulic disc brakes which I know I would have missed from my freeride bike if I got a 29er with mechanicals. First time having a Shimano drivetrain too. I've always been a fan of the SRAM components.

I just got back into BMX too...thats a whole other ball game.

 

[rockhugger]

oh yeah, I left that part out, Mines a full rigid ss with mechanical discs... I like it's simplicity. I'll admit, I don't miss the suspension with the big wheels.
I've always ridden hard tail, but this is my first rigid front MTB.

 

[tdlosinc]

oh yeah, I left that part out, Mines a full rigid ss with mechanical discs... I like it's simplicity. I'll admit, I don't miss the suspension with the big wheels.

Funny you say that, I've left my fork locked out pretty much since day one. I only let it travel when I start playing around on ladder bridges and doing drops like I'm riding a freeride rig again :shock:

 

[hpiguy]

I had a Hardrock with Avid mechanical's years ago, and they were pretty decent. I test rode the X cal 5 that has Tektro Novella mechanicals and they were dogshit, both in feel and stopping power. Mine has the Shimano M395 hydros, lever feel and stopping power are fantastic.

 

[tdlosinc]

I had a Hardrock with Avid mechanical's years ago, and they were pretty decent. I test rode the X cal 5 that has Tektro Novella mechanicals and they were dogshit, both in feel and stopping power. Mine has the Shimano M395 hydros, lever feel and stopping power are fantastic.

Nothing will ever come close to the feel and modulation ability of hydros. They're the best by far.

 

[rottenbelly]

Congrats! Im in the same boat. Been off the bikes since 1999. Finally after surgery to make my hand right and moving from Mississippi to Utah I picked up a bike and have been riding again. Forgot how much I missed it.

 

[RiceBurner]

Nice! Saddled up on a '14 specialized camber 29 this year. Perfect mix of cross country and trail fun, for me.

 

[hpiguy]

I got in a very short ride today, and I'm really hoping that this thing grows on me. So far, I don't care for the feel of the 29er at all. I like my bikes to feel nimble and playful, and this thing feels about as playful as the old lady in the shoe's uterus. Lofting the front wheel takes an act of congress, and I'm no slouch at that on other bikes I've owned. I'm taking a much longer ride tomorrow after work, hopefully I just need time to acclimate to the (IMO) oddball geometry and that's all it is.

 

[rockhugger]

I had a Hardrock with Avid mechanical's years ago, and they were pretty decent. I test rode the X cal 5 that has Tektro Novella mechanicals and they were dogshit, both in feel and stopping power. Mine has the Shimano M395 hydros, lever feel and stopping power are fantastic.

Yeah the avids have the mechanical sector cornered, the best by far, I have BB7's on my ss, like I mentioned before, for simplicity.
Shimano make a great hydro IMO one of the best (not the lightest, but excellent modulation & feel)

Nothing will ever come close to the feel and modulation ability of hydros. They're the best by far.

Can do nothing but agree "thumbsup", it's like going from carburetor to turbo EFI

Congrats! Im in the same boat. Been off the bikes since 1999. Finally after surgery to make my hand right and moving from Mississippi to Utah I picked up a bike and have been riding again. Forgot how much I missed it.

Bikes & Crawlers/Jeeps. It's like Boats & Ho's... Boats & Ho's

I got in a very short ride today, and I'm really hoping that this thing grows on me. So far, I don't care for the feel of the 29er at all. I like my bikes to feel nimble and playful, and this thing feels about as playful as the old lady in the shoe's uterus. Lofting the front wheel takes an act of congress, and I'm no slouch at that on other bikes I've owned. I'm taking a much longer ride tomorrow after work, hopefully I just need time to acclimate to the (IMO) oddball geometry and that's all it is.

I can say from personal experience (30 yrs of cycling) it is very different, but beleive me it is a welcome change that I think you'll quickly adapt to. Im a very mechanical rider, I'll pop 2 ft air off a bottle cap, and wheely one handed down the street on my 26'ers, but that all changed on the bigwheel. This bike will really shine on the trail trust me, planted stable and smooth. It's just like throwing 37's on a rig that had 31's before, they don't do burn outs anymore :mrgreen: it takes a bit more body language to turn in on the trail when at speed, but don't be afraid to lean a bit more then on the small wheel as the bike will hold its line much better. It's a bigger gyroscope affect.

I went back to my 26 once (for a geared ride) and I wasn't as happy.

I wish we lived closer I'd say lets go ride, I've only got one crawler buddy that rides locally.

 

[hpiguy]

See that's where I think I'm getting it from. I come from a motorcycle background, woods / MX , and my last 2 bikes were 26ers. So where the 29er just wants you to sit and bulldoze over it, I want to wheelie, manual, or bunny hop that obstacle / log / root / rock garden. :mrgreen: I think this will be fine for dedicated XC stuff, and next year I plan on a full squish 650b play / trail bike if all goes well. Wish you lived closer too, none of friends ride bicycles.