|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Switch from Solid to Full Suspension Bike
Hi there all,
I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Any opinions appreciated, Ross |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Ross" wrote in message om... I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? I still have my 13 year old fully rigid mtb, it feels fast on the road 1 and lively off-road, however an hour off-road is as long as I'd want to spend on it nowadays. It was replaced with a full suss bike some years ago as my primary mtb. The full susser is pointless on the road except for the neccessity to link off-road trails but I can, and do, ride it for hours on end off-road (5.5 hours today in fact) on very technical terrain without undue discomfort. Horses for courses. Unfortunately, sale bikes aside, you need to spend 1000 pounds upward to get an efficient and reasonably light full suss bike. 1 Currently set up as a winter road bike, a role it fills admirably). Pete |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Ross wrote:
Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Any opinions appreciated, Ross Depends what you got for a full suspension bike. The Rockhopper is a very good bike for its price. On suspension bikes you need to spend a quite a bit to get something reasonable. With low price suspension bikes it can sap a lot of energy not least because putting the money into the suspension means having to make lots of savings elsewhere plus cheap suspension tends to be underdamped and boingy. Check the usual thing though - brakes not rubbing, tyres pumped up etc - just in case. Tony |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Ross" wrote in message om... Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Any opinions appreciated, Don't get rid of the 'hopper. Bloody good bikes. T |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
in message , Ross
') wrote: Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Full suspension bikes are obviously and necessarily a little heavier than rigid bikes of similar age and quality, but not very much - perhaps 2Kg over all at most. The riding technique is a little different. Don't get out of the saddle and honk - the suspension will just bob and you'll lose traction. Stay sat down, get into silly low gears, and spin like mad. When on firm, even surfaces like tarmac, it often helps to lock the suspension. You don't say what your new bike is or what it weighs but it should not be much heavier. Broadly a good full suspension cross-country bike shouldn't weigh more than 13Kg ('freeride' bikes may weigh a bit more and downhill bikes may weigh a lot more). In my experience full suspension is just amazingly better than rigid - not only is it much easier particularly on longer rides, but you can easily go places which on a rigid you just could not ride. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ to err is human, to lisp divine ;; attributed to Kim Philby, oddly enough. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Ross wrote:
Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Any opinions appreciated, Ross It sounds quite possible that a well-meaning person has "upgraded" you from a high-quality lightweight rigid bike to a cheap heavy suspended horror story. However, it may just be that you are not used to the slightly softer ride and the new bike is not well set up (or just not suitable for your use). What is the make and model of new bike? James -- If I have seen further than others, it is by treading on the toes of giants. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/ |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
In ,
James Annan typed: Ross wrote: Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Any opinions appreciated, It sounds quite possible that a well-meaning person has "upgraded" you from a high-quality lightweight rigid bike to a cheap heavy suspended horror story. I'm afraid that's exactly what it sounds like to me, too. My full suspension mountain bike is plenty more fun to ride on dry roads in daytime than my mid-market urban bike. Of course, put a bit of rain into the equation, or darkness, or locking it up, and it changes, but it sounds like something's wrong if it doesn't at least feel a bit fun. I'd be wondering how to tactfully arrange a refund and exchange it for something like some forks for the Rockhopper if you've still got it, if I were you. Sorry, I don't like to bring bad news, but it's what it sounds like to me, Ambrose |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Simon Brooke" wrote in message news in message , Ross ') wrote: Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Full suspension bikes are obviously and necessarily a little heavier than rigid bikes of similar age and quality, but not very much - perhaps 2Kg over all at most. The riding technique is a little different. Don't get out of the saddle and honk - the suspension will just bob and you'll lose traction. Stay sat down, get into silly low gears, and spin like mad. When on firm, even surfaces like tarmac, it often helps to lock the suspension. You don't say what your new bike is or what it weighs but it should not be much heavier. Broadly a good full suspension cross-country bike shouldn't weigh more than 13Kg ('freeride' bikes may weigh a bit more and downhill bikes may weigh a lot more). In my experience full suspension is just amazingly better than rigid - not only is it much easier particularly on longer rides Agreed but you can easily go places which on a rigid you just could not ride. Disagree strongly. Where are these places? It may take more skill but theres no-where a full-sus bike can go that a rigid can't follow. If you managed to catch Steve Peat win the 1996 National mtb DH championship on a rigid bike ( when everyone else was on full-susssers or hardtails) you would appreciate how fast you can go too. Steve. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are you still wasting your time with spam?... There is a solution!" Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector The most powerful anti-spam software available. http://mail.spaminspector.com "Ambrose Nankivell" wrote in message ... In , James Annan typed: Ross wrote: Hi there all, I'm just an amateur, occasional cyclist, but enjoy it all the same. I used to have an old Specialized Rockhopper, with a completely solid frame. It was incredibly light, and very fast and easy to ride. At Christmas I received a full suspension mountain bike, which although it has an aluminium frame, is a lot heavier, and imo much much harder to ride. Although it is more comfortable, it takes a hell of a lot more work for the same effect. Has anyone else found this when making the switch from solid to suspension bikes, or have I not set it up right? Any opinions appreciated, I have bothtypes of bike like you. I use my non sprung bike for the road and my dual susser for off road....................Its horses for courses. I used to go off road with my non sussed bike and though I got through I was more knackered and hurt more. Off road the full susser is a delight......on the contrary on road the susser absorbs a lot of energy that I guess would otherwise propel you forward.Who needs all that cushioning on the road?....that's my take on your question. Barry |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
New bicycle idea | Bob Marley | General | 49 | October 7th 04 05:20 AM |
Trips for Kids 13th Annual Bike Swap & Sale | Marilyn Price | Techniques | 0 | June 1st 04 04:54 AM |
Trips for Kids 13th Annual Bike Swap & Sale | Marilyn Price | Recumbent Biking | 0 | June 1st 04 04:49 AM |
Canadian Tire bike: Super Cycle Gravity | cam | Mountain Biking | 15 | March 22nd 04 08:11 AM |
Who is going to Interbike? | Bruce Gilbert | Techniques | 2 | October 10th 03 09:26 PM |