Hey,
Been thinking that I have maybe another season left on my '03 Giant DH Team (with 8" Boxxers) before it should be put out to pasture, and as you might imagine I have been wasting time in work looking at bikes that I won't be anywhere near purchasing for at least a year.
Anyway, it's got me thinking about what I like and don't like about my bike and what I want in my next one. Having thrown my leg over a variety of bikes, I think that the geometry is the most crucial thing to look for. My Giant has what I would call a 'traditional' feel to it, in that it doesn't really feel particularly like a DH bike until you get it moving and it starts swallowing bumps. I also feel like i stand 'on' the bike rather than 'in' it. In contrast, the more modern bikes that I have sat on/rode recentley like the Sunday, 224 Evo and Empire have that 'attack' feel to them. I feel like I'm standing up straighter (maybe due to BB height) but at the same time with more weight over the bars, more agressive basically, I'm sure you know what I mean.
What i can't figure out is exactly why the difference is there and why I can't get my DH Team to ride or feel like the newer bikes? I run my shock fairly soft and the BB doesn't seem crazy high, and I'm running 8" forks which weren't around when my frame was made making the front higher and slacker. Basically, I thought it would be an interesting discussion to see what differences in geometry have occured in 6-7 years, and what factors have the most impact, with the end result being that I can maybe include some more frames on my short list without having to find one to sit on.*
Please discuss.
*Obviously the geometry bit on a bike website is no substitute for actually riding a bike, but as we all know that isn't always the easiest thing to do, and besides I like a bit of geek talk to pass the time!
Been thinking that I have maybe another season left on my '03 Giant DH Team (with 8" Boxxers) before it should be put out to pasture, and as you might imagine I have been wasting time in work looking at bikes that I won't be anywhere near purchasing for at least a year.
Anyway, it's got me thinking about what I like and don't like about my bike and what I want in my next one. Having thrown my leg over a variety of bikes, I think that the geometry is the most crucial thing to look for. My Giant has what I would call a 'traditional' feel to it, in that it doesn't really feel particularly like a DH bike until you get it moving and it starts swallowing bumps. I also feel like i stand 'on' the bike rather than 'in' it. In contrast, the more modern bikes that I have sat on/rode recentley like the Sunday, 224 Evo and Empire have that 'attack' feel to them. I feel like I'm standing up straighter (maybe due to BB height) but at the same time with more weight over the bars, more agressive basically, I'm sure you know what I mean.
What i can't figure out is exactly why the difference is there and why I can't get my DH Team to ride or feel like the newer bikes? I run my shock fairly soft and the BB doesn't seem crazy high, and I'm running 8" forks which weren't around when my frame was made making the front higher and slacker. Basically, I thought it would be an interesting discussion to see what differences in geometry have occured in 6-7 years, and what factors have the most impact, with the end result being that I can maybe include some more frames on my short list without having to find one to sit on.*
Please discuss.
*Obviously the geometry bit on a bike website is no substitute for actually riding a bike, but as we all know that isn't always the easiest thing to do, and besides I like a bit of geek talk to pass the time!