Looking for new bike - UPDATE Purchased!

[Dirigible]

What's a dropper seat for?

As brainhulk said, it drops the seat so you can get your butt back and down more easily. Good for hairy downhills.

Then once you're done with the descent and start climbing again, you hit the remote and the seat pops back up into optimal climbing position.

Lemme see if I can find a pic...

 

[Kadarin]

Nice! :thumbsup:

And you'll like a remotely adjustable seat post. I've been using a gravity dropper since 2005. Refuse to mtn bike without it. Even bring it along and install it on rentals.

I had one on my old Trek Fuel EX/8 and loved it.

 

[BassBomb]

I had one on my old Trek Fuel EX/8 and loved it.

Ahhh got it. I don't think I'd need one of those, not really doing downhill too muhc

 

[brainhulk]

I saw a guy attack a downhill once without getting his ass over the back wheel, he hit a bump and the seat hit him in the crotch which sent him flying over the bars.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

I need one to get to a from work with some grass and rough patches in between what do you suggest?

 

[Dirigible]

I need one to get to a from work with some grass and rough patches in between what do you suggest?

How far you riding? What does rough patches mean? Any steep hills on the way? You going to ride in weather or just when it's nice? Do you need to carry stuff with you? Budget?

 

[BassBomb]

I tried my clip pedals... wiped out in the basement

 

[Blackjack200]

What a coincidence, I tried out my new drag radials and wiped out in the garage!

 

[BassBomb]

What a coincidence, I tried out my new drag radials and wiped out in the garage!

On a bike or car?

 

[Dirigible]

I tried my clip pedals... wiped out in the basement

LOL. First ride with my clipless pedals was painful. Practice a lot, where it won't hurt to fall over. Once you get the knack of them they're great, but it can take a little bit for the clipping out part to become automatic.

 

[GasX]

Are your clipless pedals SPDs? They are quite adjustable and you can set them to much looser than the standard setting. By loosening the release and practicing unclipping a LOT, it will soon become second nature.

 

[BassBomb]

Are your clipless pedals SPDs? They are quite adjustable and you can set them to much looser than the standard setting. By loosening the release and practicing unclipping a LOT, it will soon become second nature.

SPD

I did loosen them up. Was the first time clipping in and I tried to move forward without any momentum... so it just paused I rolled left. No damage to me, a little scratches on the bike.

 

[BassBomb]

Went for a ride last night, first time with the clips. Worked out well, no major issues. A little tricky to hop curbs while being clipped (fearing loss of momentum --> fall).

I always unclipped early before any crossings and just pedalled one foot connected, one foot disconnected (but on the pedal).

As far as the bike, I can't judge its performance yet since I had been out to a wedding reception Sunday night and my legs were tired from that.

As a quick judgement though: Rear is noticeably stiffer, in some aspects the bike felt super smooth. Some areas when tired the gear ratios were difficult to master. I was stuck in this limbo between 2 x high number and 3 x medium number
Front end feels much softer, probably due to the fact its new. The pop over a curb felt easier to hop. Tire pressure was not set bang on.

 

[BassBomb]

The bike really wants to climb! I have to learn how to position my body for steeper climbs now. Certainly moves up a hill a lot better and faster than my previous bike. Places where I'd have to work very hard, now are pretty easy.

Turns are difficult to master, I fear leaning too much and falling.

Bike picks up speed fast and keeps it. More minor gearing means I have to shift often.

When you slow down a lot after going very fast, it feels impossible to start up again from the wheel's momentum

So far so good. Not sold on the pedals yet

 

[Rhezuss]

I have a Giant XTC2 (hardtail) since 2010 and love the bike! Added some new tires, the WTB Prowler MX 2.1 which are awesome!

Great bike you got there!

 

[CraigRT]

The bike really wants to climb! I have to learn how to position my body for steeper climbs now. Certainly moves up a hill a lot better and faster than my previous bike. Places where I'd have to work very hard, now are pretty easy.

Turns are difficult to master, I fear leaning too much and falling.

Bike picks up speed fast and keeps it. More minor gearing means I have to shift often.

When you slow down a lot after going very fast, it feels impossible to start up again from the wheel's momentum

So far so good. Not sold on the pedals yet

All of these things you mention come with time.
Cornering has a lot to do with mental processing. Just trust your tires, don't practice cornering hard on sketchy surfaces and before you know it, you'll be cornering like a pro.

Clipless pedals are the only way to go for XC. Once you get fully used to them, there is no looking back. Comes second nature when you need to bail or unclip you just do it. I prefer Shimano SPD style, they've always worked great for me, and they're ultra durable!

I have ridden them for so long, when I got my SX Trail and started riding downhill bike parks, (flat spiked pedals) I was scared at the thought of not being clipped in. It is hard to master too, in all truthfulness.

Keep it up man 😀 Cycling is the best thing ever.

 

[BassBomb]

You are right, it has got better. There is still a fair bit of fear at a low speed corner. When warmed up and feeling well, there are no issues.

Hopping curbs and watching out for cars when crossing streets where the trail goes across have been scary and dangerous. I need to play it safe at those spots.

 

[brainhulk]

The bike really wants to climb! I have to learn how to position my body for steeper climbs now. Certainly moves up a hill a lot better and faster than my previous bike. Places where I'd have to work very hard, now are pretty easy.

when I climb the hard stuff. If it's a short climb i try to power up it unseated. If you are losing traction in the rear you have to put some pressure on the seat with your butt (feels really uncomfortable, but it works...lol) while leaning forward at the same time

on switchbacks, I lean forward into the handlebars in the beginning of the turn to help the bike rotate. Seems counterintuitive, but it works for me

 

[JM Aggie08]

I just picked up a 2013 Trek 8.2 DS this last weekend. We plan to do a lot of street riding, mixed with some light trails in some of the local parks. Luckily we're living in one of the most bike-friendly areas of the city. Bars, restaurants, breweries, are all within a 5 mile distance 🙂.

 

[BassBomb]

when I climb the hard stuff. If it's a short climb i try to power up it unseated. If you are losing traction in the rear you have to put some pressure on the seat with your butt (feels really uncomfortable, but it works...lol) while leaning forward at the same time

on switchbacks, I lean forward into the handlebars in the beginning of the turn to help the bike rotate. Seems counterintuitive, but it works for me

What exactly is a switchback? I keep hearing the term 😱

There are these areas, which are not meant for riding (gated) but I have seen people climb them. The grade is probably ~30 degrees or higher, but it goes for over 100m on gravel. This is the trickiest area to climb and I can't really do it. I don't usually attempt it. Traction seems OK but its that balance between rear traction and front wanting to come up (and now the fear of stalling and falling LOL)

I just picked up a 2013 Trek 8.2 DS this last weekend. We plan to do a lot of street riding, mixed with some light trails in some of the local parks. Luckily we're living in one of the most bike-friendly areas of the city. Bars, restaurants, breweries, are all within a 5 mile distance 🙂.

Looks like a nice bike ^_^ enjoy the riding!

Ramadan is over so I hope to ride even more 😛

This was a downed tree a few weeks back after thunderstorms in the GTA area. This area usually is a fast downhill then uphill area

 

[JulesMaximus]

That's a nice bike. Do you wish you had gone full suspension though? I'm kind of looking at mountain bikes right now and I've ridden a Trek 29er and a Giant 27.5. Both full suspension, both around the $2,000 price point (which is a lot of money IMO).

I haven't decided yet. Probably go ride some hard tails like yours in the coming weeks. Also keeping an eye on craigslist.

 

[brainhulk]

What exactly is a switchback? I keep hearing the term 😱

It's just a sharp turn like this:

 

[BassBomb]

That's a nice bike. Do you wish you had gone full suspension though? I'm kind of looking at mountain bikes right now and I've ridden a Trek 29er and a Giant 27.5. Both full suspension, both around the $2,000 price point (which is a lot of money IMO).

I haven't decided yet. Probably go ride some hard tails like yours in the coming weeks. Also keeping an eye on craigslist.

Yes I kinda wish I had XC Full Suspension or a "Trail" bike but to be honest I didn't want to spend $2k or more than $1k. Sometimes the bumps can be jarring since I was coming from a dual suspension bike and I need to be careful and not accidentally ride over a large bump (that could knock you off your seat).

The trails I ride are not really technical too. But I do wish to expand my horizons. These trails are just behind rows of houses on the edge of an escarpment (16 Mile Creek, just north of Glen Abbey golf course). Mostly light gravel, some blind turns, some loose gravel/rocks which can be annoying and a good mix of up and down.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204373893697875192200.0004e16c3e76ed7054b0e&dg=feature
(see the top right of this map, that side is my typical route)

 

[PricklyPete]

That's a nice bike. Do you wish you had gone full suspension though? I'm kind of looking at mountain bikes right now and I've ridden a Trek 29er and a Giant 27.5. Both full suspension, both around the $2,000 price point (which is a lot of money IMO).

I haven't decided yet. Probably go ride some hard tails like yours in the coming weeks. Also keeping an eye on craigslist.

Really depends on the riding you plan on doing. I couldn't imagine hitting the steep, technical stuff here on the front range without a FS bike... But plenty of people do (though likely with painful results from time to time). On less technical/super "flowey" trails, you might like the lower weight, extra speed, and less maintenance of a hard tail bike.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Really depends on the riding you plan on doing. I couldn't imagine hitting the steep, technical stuff here on the front range without a FS bike... But plenty of people do (though likely with painful results from time to time). On less technical/super "flowey" trails, you might like the lower weight, extra speed, and less maintenance of a hard tail bike.

Trails here are usually pretty rough. Lots of hills and rocks so I think full suspension would be the way to go.