First Ride on Hardtail

BurlyShirley · Jun 7, 2003

Originally posted by Serial Midget
Around here the DH trials and XC trails are all the same... BS, normally a fountain of wisdom, is talking out his ass on this one.

If you need to 'dab'... nuf said.

yeah, so what?

im just trying to talk myself into staying with flats and not get psyched out by all you clippy freaks ok? BACK OFF

Skookum · Jun 8, 2003

Originally posted by BurlySurly
yeah, so what?

im just trying to talk myself into staying with flats and not get psyched out by all you clippy freaks ok? BACK OFF

Dabbing is unnecessary and clips help train you against dabbing, there's plusses and minuses with both.
If you learn wait til you move to the PacN.W. like you've been talkin about, so that when you come up to a stall, cannot unclip, and crash like an idiot like we all did when we all learned, i can have a good laugh.

damnit jim · Jun 9, 2003

I'm getting my first hard tail next week, and can hardly wait to not ride my other bikes for a long time.

MikeD · Jun 12, 2003

The proof of which is 'better' is which enables a rider to do what he wants to do more easily.

True bunnyhops (starting in a quick manual and using body english to get yourself up onto a picnic table or whatever with that stylie arcing motion) can be done on flats or clips if the rider is skilled...the hack bunnyhops most of us do (wheels level) can be done on either, but clips make it that much easier.

Is one way 'right?' I dunno...whatever lets you clear that log (the one YOU need to get over on YOUR trail on YOUR bike) is good for me. So if your equipment lets you use your legs to control the bike, is it still 'cheating?' By that logic, riding a bike with any component designed to help you control the bike is 'cheating.' But who is there to cheat, anyhow?? So if Joe XC biker uses his clipless pedals to help him maneuver his bike over a log or Jane DH rider uses her clipless to keep her feet on the pedals in the big rock garden or help get some needed air to clear that double, good on them both...it beats dismounting and walking around the obstacle.

Arguing about it is like people arguing rigid/suspension fork, hardtail/FS, canti-v-disc, whatever. Some people prefer the aesthetic of one over another, and get off on the fact that they can equal the performance of someone on higher-tech gear than they're riding, making up the difference with skill. That's cool. Then again, if they were riding the latest gear, who knows how much better they, too, could become?

I say ride what makes you happy. There are no absolutes here.

MD

[One thing I like clips for in technical terrain...being able to generate power anywhere in your pedal stroke with either foot. Taught me not to dab, either. But I ride flats 95% of the time nowadays.]

Edit: Glad you like your hardtail, Serial Midget...it looks like a really nice woods bike...nice and compact and ready to carve things up. I've been DHing on my Nicolai HT recently; it's a rough learning curve, but well worth it.

Skookum · Jun 13, 2003

Originally posted by MikeD
The proof of which is 'better' is which enables a rider to do what he wants to do more easily.

True bunnyhops (starting in a quick manual and using body english to get yourself up onto a picnic table or whatever with that stylie arcing motion) can be done on flats or clips if the rider is skilled...the hack bunnyhops most of us do (wheels level) can be done on either, but clips make it that much easier.

Is one way 'right?' I dunno...whatever lets you clear that log (the one YOU need to get over on YOUR trail on YOUR bike) is good for me. So if your equipment lets you use your legs to control the bike, is it still 'cheating?' By that logic, riding a bike with any component designed to help you control the bike is 'cheating.' But who is there to cheat, anyhow?? So if Joe XC biker uses his clipless pedals to help him maneuver his bike over a log or Jane DH rider uses her clipless to keep her feet on the pedals in the big rock garden or help get some needed air to clear that double, good on them both...it beats dismounting and walking around the obstacle.

Arguing about it is like people arguing rigid/suspension fork, hardtail/FS, canti-v-disc, whatever. Some people prefer the aesthetic of one over another, and get off on the fact that they can equal the performance of someone on higher-tech gear than they're riding, making up the difference with skill. That's cool. Then again, if they were riding the latest gear, who knows how much better they, too, could become?

I say ride what makes you happy. There are no absolutes here.

MD

[One thing I like clips for in technical terrain...being able to generate power anywhere in your pedal stroke with either foot. Taught me not to dab, either. But I ride flats 95% of the time nowadays.]

Edit: Glad you like your hardtail, Serial Midget...it looks like a really nice woods bike...nice and compact and ready to carve things up. I've been DHing on my Nicolai HT recently; it's a rough learning curve, but well worth it.

Who asked you?!?

MikeD · Jun 13, 2003

Originally posted by Skookum
Who asked you?!?

The magic bike gnomes. They ask me everything.

MikeD · Jun 13, 2003

Look in the Lounge at the thread about the new eggbeater platforms. People are starting the inevitable argument there, too.

I'm going to shut up on it all now. I think clips/flats, mech/hydro discs, Avalanche/Romic, Hope/Hayes, hartail/F-s, 26/24" wheels, and the rest of the old saws have been hashed over quite enough already...we need some new topics to waste time with.

Anyhow, I've gotta go and ride my Turner now. Or should I ride the Titus? Oh, shoot, they're both out of comission at the moment, so looks like I need to ride my bronze-anodized Nicolai BMXtb with Shiver SC...

(It's fun, but it's brutal... :dead:

)

MD

damnit jim · Jun 13, 2003

Is this the bitter XC guy thread or the first ride on a hardtail thread?

Skookum · Jun 14, 2003

Originally posted by MikeD
Look in the Lounge at the thread about the new eggbeater platforms. People are starting the inevitable argument there, too.

It's alright man we all got reasons to do things...
I argue on here just to see if people buy into my premise when i really have not a clue what i'm talking about. We all have hobbies............ :monkey:

pnj · Jun 17, 2003

Originally posted by Skookum
It's alright man we all got reasons to do things...
I argue on here just to see if people buy into my premise when i really have not a clue what i'm talking about. We all have hobbies............

haha, welcome to my world.

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First Ride on Hardtail

Serial Midget

Al Bundy

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again

Skookum

bikey's is cool

damnit jim

Monkey

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists

Skookum

bikey's is cool

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists

Serial Midget

Al Bundy

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists

Serial Midget

Al Bundy

damnit jim

Monkey

Skookum

bikey's is cool

pnj

Turbo Monkey till the fat lady sings