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#1
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
Greetings,
As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The ride is infinitely more comfortable than either of the rigid frame bikes I've ridden in the past (a cheapo one and a reasonable quality Trek one). * Standing up to pedal is a really wierd feeling, as the suspension compresses/rebounds. * The suspension definitely robs some power on uphill runs. * Having the tyres in contact with the ground over the bumpy stuff gives a lot more confidence in the corners. * Not having the teeth jarred out of your head when you land a jump is wonderful :-) * Tear-arsing down a hill and being able to hit the bumps/ruts/whatever at the bottom at full speed (within reason) is also wonderful :-) * Disk brakes are awesome! * Quality shifters and levers are also awesome :-) * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... All I have to do now is find more/rougher places to ride :-) MrBonk www.mrbonk.com |
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#2
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
Rural QLD CC wrote:
Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when anything interesting is happening. penny |
#3
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
On 2004-06-17, pas penned:
Rural QLD CC wrote: Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when anything interesting is happening. penny What she said. But also, you're aware that you can swap out saddles, right? -- monique |
#4
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
I only find it uncomfortable when I'm 'commuting' between the interesting
bits or doing the morning/afternoon ride to/from work on the road. When the interesting stuff is happening, I *am* out of the saddle.....sometimes not by choice :-) I've been looking online for my options re a more comfortable saddle.....just have to get the time to try a couple and decide which one I want. MrBonk www.mrbonk.com "Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message ... On 2004-06-17, pas penned: Rural QLD CC wrote: Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when anything interesting is happening. penny What she said. But also, you're aware that you can swap out saddles, right? -- monique |
#5
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
Rural QLD says:
I've been looking online for my options re a more comfortable saddle.... Don't even think about a new saddle until you've put a few weeks into that one! Itr is your bum that is uncomfortable on the saddle. If, as you say, you are a newbie, you may just need to break in your backside. If the saddle is still umcomfie after that, THEN go look for one. Steve |
#6
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
pas wrote:
Rural QLD CC wrote: Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when anything interesting is happening. penny Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is, let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps. It'll do this better against an opposing force, the rider's weight. Notice I didn't say "sit on it all the time." It still calls for "dynamic riding" as you put it. -- - Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM) |
#7
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
Zilla wrote:
pas wrote: Rural QLD CC wrote: Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when anything interesting is happening. penny Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is, let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps. It'll do this better against an opposing force, the rider's weight. Notice I didn't say "sit on it all the time." It still calls for "dynamic riding" as you put it. up for discussion. |
#8
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
"Zilla" wrote in
: Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is, let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps. It'll do this better against an opposing force, the rider's weight. When I started riding last year, I read almost the exact same thing you just wrote in a book called "Mountain Biking Skills." Helpful book, but I'm still a bit suspiscious of that statement, since when you stand up, the weight does not disappear from the rear suspension. Yeah, it might shift forward somewhat, but the suspension is still loaded as long as you're standing on the pedals. At any rate, I was in a similar position you are in now. I rode my old hardtail for several months, then got a new FS bike. The main area where I found I could sit vs the hardtail was on bumpy trails with a relatively shallow inclines (where I'd be pedaling regardless of going up or downhill). On those type trails, I'd be able to go fast enough on a hardtail that sitting down would be uncomfortable, whereas on the FS, I can stay seated and pedal away comfortably. On "actual" downhills, I'd say I still stand about 90-100% of the time that I would on a hardtail. Part of the reason for that, I think, is that when you get a FS bike, you quickly get used to the cushy feel, and then start riding back at the same bumpiness comfort level you had on your hardtail...that means it'll feel just as bumpy, but only because you're now going faster (so be careful). |
#9
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
Yeah, I got some Netti bike shorts (the 'regular' looking shorts).
Certainly makes a big difference, but I don't wear them on the commute to work. Doesn't matter from here on in anyway......next week I'm moving to a different town and I'll be commuting the 30kms to work on my motorbike instead. I'll be using the Netti shorts when I'm on the bike from then on. MrBonk www.mrbonk.com "Bonehenge" wrote in message ... On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 13:14:26 +1000, "Rural QLD CC" wrote: I only find it uncomfortable when I'm 'commuting' between the interesting bits or doing the morning/afternoon ride to/from work on the road. When the interesting stuff is happening, I *am* out of the saddle.....sometimes not by choice :-) I've been looking online for my options re a more comfortable saddle.....just have to get the time to try a couple and decide which one I want. Are you wearing bike shorts? Barry |
#10
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Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.
"Zilla" wrote in message .. .
pas wrote: Rural QLD CC wrote: Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes. * The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I bought padded Neti shorts...... just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when anything interesting is happening. penny Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is, let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps. Sitting means you can't use your balance and weight-shifting as much as you could. Your legs are really good at doing this, so if you are standing on the pedals, you can put them to work doing those things you've trained them to do over your whole life - weight-shift, balance, shock-absorption. The bike's suspension helps in the latter, leaving you to concentrate on the two former. It'll do this better against an opposing force, the rider's weight. The rider's weight is still on the suspension, whether or not your cheeks are planted on the ass-hatchet. Notice I didn't say "sit on it all the time." It still calls for "dynamic riding" as you put it. I find I use the saddle much more climbing, even for steep grinds. But when I'm descending, my butt hardly ever meets the saddle. Now, if I rode the uber-technical trails of Florida, I would probably sit more. -- Jonesy |
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